Operation Crossbow – 1965

Tail of the bomb in the photo does not look like that of a Tallboy or a Grandslam.

Blue Danube ? Seems unlikely there would be one on public display though.

Front and rear turrets were fitted in 1966, she join BBMF in 1973 and the unit’s name was changed to the “Battle of Britain Memorial Flight”.
The mid upper turret was brought back from Argentina aboard HMS Hampshire and fitted in 1975.
Then in 1976 the flight moved to Coningsby.

The airfield scene from Force 10 from Navarone was filmed here in Jersey, and in fact actually no where near an airfield.

The island is only nine miles long, EVERYTHING is near the airfield.

Either the above statement ‘on one side’ is wrong, or the port side was filmed for the airborne shots and reversed in the print, something quite possible for continuity, saving on painting costs, an error and so forth.

Another little question mark though.

Definitely NOT reversed – you can clearly see the pitot head (port wing) in the aerial shots provided.

The Spitfire sequence in Operation Crossbow was filmed at Abingdon on 14 August 1964. Owner Tim Davies flew G-ASJV from Elstree to Abingdon (15 mins) the temporary paint scheme was applied – only on ONE side – and two 10 minute flights were made for the film. The paint was then removed and Tim flew ‘SJV back home to Elstree (15 mins). Tim is seen putting his parachute on in the film sequence. A photo – and many more – will be in the forthcoming new edition of Spitfire Survivors. 🙂

Either the above statement ‘on one side’ is wrong, or the port side was filmed for the airborne shots and reversed in the print, something quite possible for continuity, saving on painting costs, an error and so forth.

Another little question mark though.

Here you go.

They might be a bit on the dark side (well they always are on my monitor!) but here’s a few screen grabs from when I saw it on TCM a few weeks back.

I’ve boosted the gamma on one and you can Clary see the white paint on the underside of the starboard wing from the original scheme (aft of the main spar) where they haven’t bothered painting it PR Blue.

The pilot looks very much like Tim Davies to me!

Cheers

Paul

Paul,

Very many thanks for solving that. Of all the schemes that MH434 has carried and been recorded in over the years, I have never seen this one.

I would have been tempted to suggest that MH415 and MK297 were the most likely candidates.

I attach a severe crop from a Richard Riding shot showing the blue tips to the civilian scheme and you can see this in your bleached out shot where they have painted colour wash just back to the spar boom.

Could you possibly please bleach out that front end shot and we might even just be able to see the serial under the port wing.

I think I can just about see that little belly aerial that became a significant identifier in the BoB film shots.

Mark

Funnily enough, the film was on BBC2 on Saturday evening…! :rolleyes:

Yeah thats’ what reminded me to post these! 😮

However, when I managed to remember and turn over for it, I did manage to spot the white parts beneath the wing – hadn’t noticed them before!

I only noticed the white parts after a closer look and freeze frame after I recorded it!

I meant to get the captures of the Lanc too (I could have rewound it as I have Sky+!) but sadly didn’t! :rolleyes:

Cheers

Paul

Funnily enough, the film was on BBC2 on Saturday evening…! :rolleyes:

However, when I managed to remember and turn over for it, I did manage to spot the white parts beneath the wing – hadn’t noticed them before!

Can anybody possibly download a still from a DVD of Operation Crossbow for discussion?

Mark

Here you go.

They might be a bit on the dark side (well they always are on my monitor!) but here’s a few screen grabs from when I saw it on TCM a few weeks back.

I’ve boosted the gamma on one and you can cleary see the white paint on the underside of the starboard wing from the original scheme (aft of the main spar) where they haven’t bothered painting it PR Blue.

The pilot looks very much like Tim Davies to me!

Cheers

Paul

its out in february next year.

Don’t think there is one, although I have a copy of it on DVD-R via another source.

Does anyone have access to a UK version DVD ofOperation Crossbow I can only find US versions.

G-ASJV film sequence

The Spitfire sequence in Operation Crossbow was filmed at Abingdon on 14 August 1964. Owner Tim Davies flew G-ASJV from Elstree to Abingdon (15 mins) the temporary paint scheme was applied – only on ONE side – and two 10 minute flights were made for the film. The paint was then removed and Tim flew ‘SJV back home to Elstree (15 mins). Tim is seen putting his parachute on in the film sequence. A photo – and many more – will be in the forthcoming new edition of Spitfire Survivors. 🙂

re

[QUOTE=colin.barron]Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie was the aviation adviser on this production and the Lancaster used was indeed PA474 which at that time lacked a nose turret

if you notice the angle crops to hide the lack of nose turret as pa474 taxis in!

I’d have to dig out the relevant source to be sure and as usual it’s ages since I read but, IIRC, the Lancs mid-upper wasn’t fitted until the mid-70s (1974, I think) and was brought back from Argentina by the Royal Navy. Which would makes sense as the Argies operated the type (MR.10, wasn’t it?).

BBMF website has it that both front and rear turrets were fitted in 1966 and the mid upper was fitted in 1975 after being bought back from Argentina aboard HMS Hampshire.

I’ve just noticed after all these years, there appears to be a Grand Slam on a trolley under the wing, if I recall, I took the picture at Waddington, possibly 1964.

Tail of the bomb in the photo does not look like that of a Tallboy or a Grandslam.

The City of Lincoln’s mid upper turret was fitted after the BBMF got to Coningsby.

The book “Battle of Britain Memorial Flight” by Bill Taylor says that ‘474 made her first flight after restoration on 7th November 1967 with front and rear turrets fitted, but without guns.

Also:

Immediately after the BBMF arrived at Coningsby, PA474 took part in the French film Lieutenant Karl, after which work began on installing a mid-upper turret.

Cheers for that. The book I’m referring to a is little hard-backed thing called ‘Still Flying’ I don’t remember the author though. I’m also sure in the same chpater on the BBMF it also mentions the Shackleton connection with the U/C and was something along the lines of due to lack of available Lanc parts, the rims, tyres and brakes are all Shck-derived. There was also something about purists noticing this as the wheel/tyre dimeters were smaller than those of a Lancaster (?). The book is written by submission and the BBMF section was by the then OC BBMF, whose name eludes me. I think it was published in the late ’70s or very early 80s.

I may be wrong on this memory so I’ll sit and wait for a barage of something and be told get new brain cell and secure flip-top head to prevent loss of, erm….loss…

That’s correct regarding source and transport, I’m not sure of the date either. However the nose turret source was different (dunno where though!) and I believe was installed earlier than the upper.

Thats my recollection as well also I believe the mid-upper was, indeed from Argentina. IIRC the wheels have somewhat of a part Lincoln ancestry