STAR AIRCREW

I don’t know about his WWII service, but postwar Glenn Ford was a member of the US Navy Reserves…retiring as a Captain in the late 60s/early 70s.
BTW: He just celebrated his 90th birthday.

” In 1941, months before Pearl Harbor was attacked, Ford joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he was on duty some evenings and occasional weekends. Already a movie star, he asked for “regular duty”, to be treated as one of the guys, not a celebrity. He later put his acting career on hold to fight in World War II, serving in the U.S. Marines from 1943-45 and seeing action in the Pacific. When he was discharged he signed up with the U.S. Naval Reserves, where he served for decades, rising to the rank of captain.”

It’s probably the only one he’s got.

If you have ever noticed ,Sir Patrick Moore always wears his RAF Navigators Tie – without fail!!!

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-Tyrone Power was a Marine pilot
Glenn Ford also served with the Marines…

I don’t know about his WWII service, but postwar Glenn Ford was a member of the US Navy Reserves…retiring as a Captain in the late 60s/early 70s.
BTW: He just celebrated his 90th birthday.

Power flew C-46 Commandos (Navy/USMC designbation R5C).

Correct. Saturday 8th July in the TFC tent where we’re launching Bee Beamonts operational flying logbooks (facsimile copies including combat and intruder reports, ORB mentions etc etc). Sir Ken Adam KB, along with Sir Joe Atkinson, KCB DFC, Jimmy Stewart DFC, and allen Billam should all be attending.

Sir Ken’s brother was also in 123 Wing. I believe that they were the ONLY German nationals in Fighter Command.

patrick moore was a navigator in the Raf

Ken Adam the Oscar winning Bond film set designer was a German national who moved to the UK in the 30’s and flew with the RAF in Typhoons over Normandy.

609 Sqn, Snapper would be able to confirm that. He may also be able to confirm Ken’s location on a certain weekend in early July.

I thought one of the actors in a Bridge too far played himself.

Fairly unlikely as the film was made 33 years after the event, which would put the actor in at least their 50’s

Michael Bentine of the Goons was ops officer at Fiskerton I believe.
In his book on spiritualism he says he could see a death mask on the faces of those about to get the chop.
Ken Adam the Oscar winning Bond film set designer was a German national who moved to the UK in the 30’s and flew with the RAF in Typhoons over Normandy.
Michael Horden was fighter controller on HMS Illustrious.
Anthony Quayle was fighting with Albanian partisans.

I thought one of the actors in a Bridge too far played himself.

I think you are getting confused with Richard Todd / Pegasus Bridge / Longest Day / Maj. John Howard.

Moggy

Didn’t Walter Mathau serve in Jimmy Stewarts unit as waist gunner?

Rod Steiger (Heat of the night and lots of other films) was a US Navy sailor on one of the destroyers that escorted the Hornet on the Dolittle raid.

I thought one of the actors in a Bridge too far played himself.

-Jackie Coogan (Chaplin’s The Kid) flew gliders in CBI.
-Ed McMahon (Tonight Show sidekick to Johnny Carson) got Marines wings in -44, and also flew 85 missions in Korea.
-Gene Autry flew C-47 in CBI
-Brian Keith was a Marine rear gunner
-Tyrone Power was a Marine pilot
-James Doohan (Scotty on Star Trek) lost a finger on the shores of Normandy, retrained as a pilot and flew as an Artillery Observer for RCAF
-Donald Pleasance was a bomber crew with RAF, and ended up as a POW
-Dennis Weaver (McCloud) flew F4U’s
Non-aircrew:
James Arness (sheriff Matt Dillon) was wounded at Anzio.
Jason Robards was a Navy radioman.
Henry Fonda served in the Navy on a destroyer
Ernest Borgnine was a Navy gunner from 35-45
Charles Durning was in the Army’s 1st Div.
George C. Scott was a Marine sgt.
Glenn Ford also served with the Marines
Lee Marvin, too.
Rod Twilight Zone Serling was a parachutist
David Niven was a Lt.col with the Commandos in Normandy

From this side of the pond, of course, we have George McGovern, Democratic candidate for President in 1972, who lost to the incumbent Richard Nixon in 1972. McGovern lost in part because his patriotism was questioned in a bit of a smear campaign for his stance against the Vietnam war, though in fact he had an outstanding war record as a B-24 pilot (sound familiar?).

Also, there was Ted Williams, the Red Sox baseball star who flew Corsairs in WW2, though not called up for combat, and F9F Panthers in combat in Korea, flying as wingman for a time to John Glenn, the astronaut.

Harald

Was about to say “He flew Avengers”, but nevermind! 😉

Indeed he did.

There was a time when you couldn’t go to an airshow without seeing at least three ‘George Bush’ TBMs.

Moggy

Didn’t George Bush Senior Fly in the US Navy in the Pacific Theatre in WWII? I have a feeling he had to ditch at one point?

Kenneth Wolstenholme-They think its all over-it is now-flew Mossies with 105 Sqd.

Charles William (Bud)Tingwell .All time Australian legend,actor,seen in many films,adds and TV shows,most famous for his role as a lawyer in the comedy”The Castle”.Flew with Britain’s Royal Air Force during WW2, where he flew photo reconnaissance Spitfires in North Africa and Mosquitos in the far east..

James Stewart was a highly decorated combat pilot on B17’s and B24’s,he fought a long battle with the top brass to get to Europe.

Major Stewart became Operations Officer for the Liberators of the 453rd BG at Old Buckenham. Walter Matthau was also a member of the 453rd BG.

James Stewart also had a look-a-like in the 8th AF. Bombardier Maj Edwin Millson was Group Bombardier for the 379th BG, and was often mistaken for the film star Stewart.

Steve

PS – Sources “Mighty Eighth War Diary” and “Airfields of the Eighth”