Spitfire XVI

Geoff,

I do not believe that RR263 participated in the film. I can find no photographic evidence to support it. I just think that because the aircraft was allotted to RAF Kenley as a ‘Gate Guard’ in September 1955 that people have assumed a connection.

As for TB863 – well maybe. If you study sections the film frame by frame, the bail out shot and the ‘leg’ trapped in the pedal is partially a model but I am pretty sure the close up is ‘real’ Spitfire.
On the attached photo, taken in circa 1966, on the lot at Elstree Studios you can see that the not only is the screen missing but also all the cockpit decking above the datum longeron. I believe that this was removed for the camera to take said shot of trapped ‘leg’.

Mark

PS Make that reported as on the lot at Elstree as it may have been taken at ‘Trading Post’, the film props company.

If memory serves me correctly, “Angels One-Five” was made a couple of years before “Reach for the Sky”, and I’m sure I read that the director thought he could get a couple of scramble scenes out of that and “flip” them over so that the US-coded Hurricanes looked as though they carried the SD markings.

Cheers Geoff,
Top notch info as always. 😎

“Did you spot the huge clanger dropped by the film’s makers in the above list? 92 sqdn Spitfires carrying 501 sqdn codes!!!”

Erm,shouldn’t that be 242Sqn Hurricanes carrying 501Sqn’s ‘SD- ‘ codes?? Any ideas why they painted the Hurri’s up with those markings instead of the correct ‘LE- ‘ codes?

Ant,

A full size Bulldog replica was built specially for the film, for use as background dressing, for studio cockpit close-ups, and after being broken up, for the wrecked Bulldog. G-ABBB was given the s/n K2496, though the Bulldog Bader crashed in was K1676. The replica carried the s/n K2494, but became K2496 for the studio scenes and the crash. The Bulldog which was seen to crash was actually a model.

Did you spot the huge clanger dropped by the film’s makers in the above list? 92 sqdn Spitfires carrying 501 sqdn codes!!!

Geoff.

Blimey Geoff,I ddin’t realise there was so much information available on the aircraft used in Reach for the Sky!You wouldn’t happen to know what wreck was used in the Bulldog crash scene would you?It looks very realistic and very much like a Bulldog.It’s perhaps a bit ironic that it looks a bit like G-ABBB after her crash at Farnborough a few years later 🙁

DDM,

The answer is no, but it almost did (see below).

The Spitfires used were-

RW352 as RA617/QV-S, SL574 as RV214/QV-R, TE358 as AR251/QV-X, TE456 as TE425/PD-S, RW345 as TA614, SL745 as TR627/QV-T, TB293 as RV415/QV-U, TE288 as AR251/QV-X & ZD-S, TE341 as VT151/ZD-S & QV-S, and TB885 as R1247/QV-V. Note- the s/n ‘AR251’ was carried by two Spitfires in the film.

Apart from the above, TB863 & RR263 have also been credited with appearing in this film.

RW352, SL574, TE358 & TE456 were the flyers.

Four other spits were taken to Lynham, but were not selected for use, these were- RW394, TB752, TE311, & PK608.

Other aircraft used were-

Hurricane LF363 (the only flyer) as T4125/SD-K, -N, -R, -X, -W. Possibly P2617 as T4107/SD-P, -W, -X. Unknown as V5276/SD-Y, -W. Replica as R7141/SD-T, -F.

Bulldog G-ABBB.

Bristol Fighter D8096

Avro 504 E3404. Unknown 504 in background, pos E449, H2311, or replica.

Next question DDM 😉

Geoff.

Ahhh, it was TE311 I saw! Think it was at IAT 93, Fairford.

Thanks guys! 🙂

Was TE311 used in Reach for the Sky??

Cheers Geoff,
That’s definately the one I remember from the Abongdon show. 🙂
I have a vague memory of seeing TB382 aswell during the time it wore those BofB colours,and I remember I spent ages arguing with my brother about whether it was a real one or not-I win! I can’t remember which show it was at,but think it might have been a Biggin show about 10 years back.
Thanks again Geoff,killed two birds with one stone there…

TB382 again, same place/date.

Geoff.
(why is the photo you’re looking for always in the last album? I’ve tried starting at the other end, and it’s still the same!)

and this is TB382/7244M as ‘X4277’ at Mildenhall, 26-5-90.

There were two DDM. This is TE311/7241M as ‘X4474’ RAF Abingdon, 15-9-90.

I can’t give you a positive ID,but I think the one you’re talking about is the one I saw at the BofB At Home display at Abingdon in 1990.It was marked up as ‘QV- ‘ (can’t remember individual code letter), which were apparently the markings it wore for the making of ‘Reach For The Sky’,the movie about Bader made back in 50’s,or so the info board in front of it said.