Texans in The Great Escape

I thought that was inaccurate, but it’s not technically – the CAF do own a Zero, but it was owned by another concern during the filming. The one they had before (the ex-Bob Diemert one) went elsewhere – possibly Hawaii?

If I remember correctly the Diemert one is now in the pearl harbor navy museum in Hawaii.

The luftwaffe operated a number of CCF Harvard IVs postwar- they were current kit then – simply repainted in wartime camo -cf also Where Eagles Dare…

I thought that was inaccurate, but it’s not technically – the CAF do own a Zero, but it was owned by another concern during the filming. The one they had before (the ex-Bob Diemert one) went elsewhere – possibly Hawaii?

According to this site:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213149/trivia

I stand corrected….I forgot about the CAF example. 😮

According to this site:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213149/trivia

Unlike Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), real Mitsubishi Zero fighters were used. Three original Japanese aircraft were used – one operated by the Planes of Fame Museum (Chino, California), one from the Museum of Flying (Santa Monica, California) and the third from the Confederate Air Force.

Pearl Harbor had genuine Zeros, also.)

I think that needs to be singular…a zero.
IIRC, only two originals fly, Planes of Fame from Chino (who did the film work) has one.

It’s said that one of the few entertainment films (as opposed to a documentary like the original Memphis Belle) to use the correct aircraft was 30 Seconds over Tokyo..the correct mark of B-25 were used, IIRC.

I had noticed the Spanish Heinkels and ‘109s, but was making more of a point about the other films (Memphis Belle DID have a B-17F, the others obviously were G-models. Pearl Harbor had genuine Zeros, also.)

I don’t think an original Bf109 has appeared on the big screen in any way since The Land Girls, and even then only on-screen for a few seconds.

Not strictly true. In most of those mentioned, there are examples of the correct types of aircraft (Battle of Britain had two correct Spitfires in it

That’s why I only mentioned mock Heinkels and MEs.

As with poets, film makers need to be granted license.

Battle of Britain was made using Spanish made CASA 2-111 aircraft with Merlin engines and Spanish built 109 copies.

Makers of post war films depicting air war sequences, like Tora! Tora! Tora!, Memphis Belle, Pearl harbour et al, found it impossible to find authentic aircraft.

Not strictly true. In most of those mentioned, there are examples of the correct types of aircraft (Battle of Britain had two correct Spitfires in it, the rest were to make up numbers), but I think for The Great Escape, the Harvards/Texans are meant to depict the FW-190. To be honest, 99% of those watching wouldn’t know what they were in the first place! :rolleyes:

Here are a few photos of NAA-57 (BT-9s) and NAA-64 (BT-14) trainers in use with the Luftwaffe.

Martin

As with poets, film makers need to be granted license.

Battle of Britain was made using Spanish made CASA 2-111 aircraft with Merlin engines and Spanish built 109 copies.

Makers of post war films depicting air war sequences, like Tora! Tora! Tora!, Memphis Belle, Pearl harbour et al, found it impossible to find authentic aircraft.

Sorry No there were Texans in the Great Escape Film

The Americans were born is:

Steve McQueen: Indiana
James Garner: Oklahoma
Charles Bronson: Pennsylvania
James Coburn: Nebraska

🙂

Funnily ehough I was looking at the placard for the Yale at Duxford this morning and for what it’s worth it says that 111 Yales were delivered to France before the conflict. Those left after the occupation were used to familiarise German aircrew with the Allies control and instrument layouts. The remaining 139 (?) of the order were diverted to Canada.

If you look atthe film again, study the canopy.
If they have the larger one-piece side window of the post-war T-6G modification, that will go a long way in helping narrow down the possible operators.

I think the Germans were using French Texans for pilot training.
Ive asked The Great Escape question before, are they German Texans or are they playing the part of some thing else.

I think you will find these were all simply “background warplanes) possibly Swiss as in Where Eagles Dare. The borrowed plane by the way was a Bucker Bestman, at least an authentic Luftwaffe type. The Luftwaffe did have a few “borrowed” NA Yales.

John