Operation Crossbow

‘Operation Crossbow’ has always been one of my favourite films to watch; not exactly historically accurate and with plenty of movie nonsense in it but I just love the series of vignettes that make up the film. The ending with George Peppard in the power-house couldn’t be more dramatic and I loved Jeremy Kemp as the ‘German’ professor yelling at the German police!

The ‘special effects’ of houses being blown-up were simply created by ‘blowing-up’ (special effects) real houses and demolishing them (for real)!

I’m certain the V2 and trailer were genuine wartime examples.

The Hanna Reitsch V1 scenes were shot on Holkham Beach in Norfolk, a beach I know really well.

Looks like the truck was a Diamond T. Not sure what the other truck seen in the link is. Looks kinda post-war Leylandish.

The RAF Museum has a genuine Miellerwagon trailer, a Vidalwagon trailer, gantry crane and launch table to accessorize their V2.

I’ll need to watch it again!

So the one that veers right and crashes onto the beach; and the one Hanna Reitsch flies around under control, do you think they’re on wires?

I love Operation Crossbow – I watched it again while I was on holiday last week, and it gets an airing at least a couple of times a year.

The ramp-launched V-1s are models guided by wires (on my DVD copy, you can actually see the wires in certain shots, but only if you’re looking closely).

As for the models in the shoot-down sequences, I’m presuming they are also on wires. But yes, very impressive!

As for the real aircraft, the PR Spitfire is MH434, while the Lancaster is PA474.

Thanks Paul will Sky+ it this time!

Just a “Heads Up” it is being repeated tonight on BBC 2 tonight at 11.20PM

Scott, a great set of photos on Flickr..thanks for posting the link, and also sincere thanks to your father and his buddies for what they achieved back then, and at what cost.

Thanks Bluenoser352

You are right about “Warby.” He was with the 7th Photo Group at Mount Farm for less than two weeks I believe before heading out on his fateful mission with Carl Chapman on April 12, 1944. There is an interesting 5 part program on “Warby” on You Tube called “Mystery of the Missing Ace” or something like that. My father talked to him on several occasions and says they tried to teach him American style baseball which he was not very good at. They would toss the ball and instead of catching it he would take it on the forehead. Glad you enjoyed the photos and yes, it is just a matter of time before we will be able to see it over here.

Cheers
Scott Blyth

Scott great photos …thanks for sharing!

Scott :

Wonderful photos from Mt Farm….those men did a wonderful jod during the war… I believe this is where WC Adrian Warburton flew his last mission from. Wonderful photos Scott……….. BlueNoser352 ( Bodney 8th FG) says thanks for sharing here. Hopefully this program will make it on Youtube or the dvd market! Maybe US History channel ?????????? Lets hope…

BlueNoser352!

BBC send it our way please !!!!!!!!!!!!

GGGGGRRRRR….fustrating not to have it shown here on BBC America at least. Let’s hope it makes it across the big pond. Like the reviews you good forum members have written here. Sounds like a great production !!!

BlueNoser352 !!!!

Thanks for the positive comments

We haven’t seen the programme yet since we are on the wrong side of the pond and don’t have the required BBC license. I have probably posted this here before but some of you may have missed it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24554019@N06/collections/72157610764283088/

The collection has a number of sets of high res aerial photos including a set of noball (v-weapons) targets and a low res set of the Operation Dilly pilots from the 14th Squadron at Mount Farm. My father did only verticals from an altitude of about 9,000 metres for standard targets and 4,500 metres for the v-weapons targets. There were also a number of oblique photos taken at very low altitudes by F-5 Lightnings of the 7th Photo Group.

All the best

Scott Blyth
son of
Lt. John S Blyth

As above. Excellent programme.

I agree…definitely 10/10 +

10/10

Mark

As everyone has said, a really excellent documentary, well put together, not the usual well worn archive films, but appropriate footage, beautiful Spitfire filming, and an intelligent and informative commentary.

I knew the story from reading Constance Babington-Smith’s excellent book about it years ago..she was the PI who identified the first V2 site …http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_Babington_Smith..
and RAF Medmenham, (now a hotel and health spa) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danesfield_House) is near a favourite riverside walk of mine.

Is there a museum dedicated to PhotoReconnaisance in the area?

Thoroughly enjoyed the programme. Good to see so many veterans are still with us and hear from those who were actually involved.

Great emphasis was placed on the role that photo recce Spitfires played in covering Peenemünde but ironically the 23 Jun 43 photo shown extensively in the programme of the V2 test stand was taken by a photo recce Mosquito.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

“BBC at its best, this is what I pay my licence fee for”

I agree 100% – if only they did it rather more often, then I’d feel I was getting value for money!!:(

Fantastic television, only caught it last minute myself.
Should be considered ‘benchmark’ for any dramatised and documentry based aviation history programme.
Fascinating just how quickly the Germans would set up sporadic V1 & 2 sites in the remotest of locations, transport the missiles there, launch them and move on again, the story of the human cost of these weapons was incredible.
Also have to say that the Spitfire PR looked stunning and great to se the American pilot in colour archive footage with USAF Spitfires.

BBC at its best, this is what I pay my licence fee for!:)

Oh sheesh , missed it because I thought it was that awful feature film of the same name. Heading for I player later in the week.