What became of all the BoB Film "Heinkels"

What a display that would make – the Cavanaugh Museum’s Heinkel and Buchon scrapping with their Spitfire VIII! 🙂

There were two that came to the UK. G-AWHA is the one that went to Tallichet, and is now with Cavanaugh.
Bruce

I’m sorry Bruce, but that is incorrect. My records show a total of 4 that were as some point in time registered in the UK:

B2-I-25 (Bomber) registered as G-AWHA
B2-I-57 (Bomber) registered as G-AWHB
BR2-I-10 (Recon Bomber) registered as G-BFFS.
T8-B-124 (Transport) registered as G-BDYA

The Cavanaugh aircraft was not one of the above. The Cavanaugh aircraft is B2-I-27 (Airframe number 155)

B2-I-27 was still in active service with the Spanish Air Force until its last “mission” on 21st January 1975. It was then listed as “available for squadron reassignment”, but was subsequently declared “surplus” by the Spanish Government “Department for Air Force asset and material liquidation”
on 16th May 1976.

It was purchased at a military auction in Spain on 23rd June 1976 by Howard E. Jenning, who was the buyer representing “Wings and Wheels”, of South Carolina, USA. After a final military 200 hour service at the air armaments factory in Seville, it was flown (via Zaragosa, Spain) to Blackbushe on 9th September 1977 (registered as N99230). Some minor work was done (transport radios installed, etc) and then a couple of local flights totalling 1 hour and 5 minutes were flown.

On 10th October 1977 it was flown to Strathallen, then Prestwick, then onto Reykjavik in Iceland. Due to minor mechanical issues, it stopped in Iceland for a couple of days, before continuing on to Nassarssuaq (Greenland), Goose Bay (Labrador), Bangor (Maine), Columbus (Ohio) and Little Rock (Arkansas) and arrived in Harlingen, Texas on 15th October 1977, having flown a total of 30 hours over the 5 day period.

A “transfer of ownership” to M.A.R.C. (David Tallichet) is shown on 21st March 1983, and then it was subsequently sold to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum on 18th July 1995.

Apart from some fuel pump work and engine runs, nothing major has been done to the aircraft recently, other than a complete cleaning. As far as restoration is concerned, it is one of the listed projects, but is currently on the “back burner”, due to recent projects and acquisitions such as: Corsair rebuild, re-engine and painting, Mohawk purchase, OH-13 helicopter total restoration, 2nd Bell 47 helicopter purchase and rebuild, Wildcat re-engine, Stearman engine overhaul, 2nd Stearman purchase, T6 rebuild, and the recent purchase of a Sea Fury.

Julian

I looked on IMDB and as the film was mainly shot in Spain and involved the Spanish military as extras, then I presume that they were from the Spanish Airforce, still airworthy as a result of the BoB film, I think that Patton is a great film, George C Scott is perfect in the role, my only problem with it is the p### taken out of the British, Montgomery in particular, but I can imagine that the opinions at the time worked both ways, it’s not surprising is it, great quote from the film is from Patton, ‘Hell, Montgomery and I are both Prima Donnas but I’m the only one that knows it’
Wierd, as I write this Monty has just been mentioned on Radio 2, shudder runs down spine.

I remember seeing “Patton” when it was first released and being very disappointed in it. My two main gripes were the technical inaccuracies – every tank is wrong for the period ,and also the “Anti British” and “anti Patton”
slant of the screenplay.

Colin

I know. I would try to use the limited space indoors for the aircraft that really matter. The AN2 inside is a waste of indoor space. Unfortunately it’s slightly smaller, otherwise …..

almost all the Hermeskeil aircraft are outside. They don’t really seem interested in preservation

the one in Germany is in Hermeskeil

Here’s a picture of the one at Hermeskeil (colour slide 1999). I wonder if it’s still outside. It’s a rare type. It’s worth to preserve it.

One CASA-2.111D is preserved at the “Musee de l’air”, Paris, Le Bourget. I don’t now if it was used in the Bob movie.

Were the two used in desert markings in “Patton” then current Spanish machines or had they been sold on?

I looked on IMDB and as the film was mainly shot in Spain and involved the Spanish military as extras, then I presume that they were from the Spanish Airforce, still airworthy as a result of the BoB film, I think that Patton is a great film, George C Scott is perfect in the role, my only problem with it is the p### taken out of the British, Montgomery in particular, but I can imagine that the opinions at the time worked both ways, it’s not surprising is it, great quote from the film is from Patton, ‘Hell, Montgomery and I are both Prima Donnas but I’m the only one that knows it’
Wierd, as I write this Monty has just been mentioned on Radio 2, shudder runs down spine.

Were the two used in desert markings in “Patton” then current Spanish machines or had they been sold on?

The BoB DVD mentions they build a full size Heinkel replica. Wouldn’t this be used in the crash scene?

I don’t think it was. A while back, I posted a thread about a Spanish BofB website, with TONS of photos that the vast majority of us hadn’t seen, including one of a Heinkel that had obviously suffered some kind of landing accident – the damage from which looked VERY similar to that seen on the crashed Heinkel later on in the movie.

We wondered whether it was entirely possible that this aircraft was simply repainted and used (following a previous mishap), or a filming accident? The replica was a studio mock-up that was used for the cockpit/gunner sequences.

I’ll try to find the thread.

And here it is!

(Whoops! Should have paid attention earlier! :rolleyes: )

the duxford example does indeed belong to the iwm, fuselage is in the north side of hanger 2 and the wings which are in a very very poor state are in hanger 5, no current plans to do anything with it as yet i believe, but i do know that some of the conservtion staff are very eager to get the green light to get on with it, all down to the cost and space at the moment i guess. it’s at the back of the line, victor, shackleton, varsity and F105 are in front.

found the topic 🙂
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=50807

The crashed Heinkel used in “Piece of Cake” was a real one,ex-Whitehall Theatre of War etc as Bruce has described and the CAF’s airworthy one was used in one scene along with their Spit IX.

There was a discussion about the Heinkel crash scene in “Battle of Britain” on this forum about a year ago. Although various publications claim that a replica was used,recently unearthed photos prove that it was a real aircraft which had been accidentally damaged. If you do a search on past posts you will find the photos and discussions.

Colin

I presume that the ex Southend ‘Heinkel’ used in ‘Piece of Cake’ was the one in the crash scene,

The BoB DVD mentions they build a full size Heinkel replica. Wouldn’t this be used in the crash scene?

I presume that the ex Southend ‘Heinkel’ used in ‘Piece of Cake’ was the one in the crash scene, was it not the CAF example that was used for the flying scenes, I watched that episode the other day and was trying to spot the join between the UK and US flying sequences, it’s the landscape below that gives it away, too many straight roads.
A couple of the Spanish ‘Heinkels’ were also used in the film ‘Patton’, I wonder if those survived.

Two came through Blackbushe, the first in June 1976 was T8B-124 G-BDYA which went onto the Confederate Air Force. This was a transport conversion with extra cabin windows and no armament, CAF later refitted these items.
The second was N-99230 in September 1977 which later went on to the USA.
The third for Doug Arnold was the one that crashed en route killing Neil Williams his wife and an engineer. I was led to believe that the Spanish ATC would not let them take a direct route from Spain, across the sea, as the other two had done, which forced them to fly inland up the coast and they took the wrong valley which ended in a cliff.

Well I could turn a blind eye to the cannons being left on. If that helps in their decision.

I personally think what ever colours 434 was wears she would always been seen as Ray’s Spitfire. Wouldnt want to see her the BoB film colours permanently but maybe just a couple of seasons.

I hope its is restored in to Battle of Britain film colours. That would be something worth seeing.

I know the OFMC did have plans to eventually put the Buchon back into its film colours.

Imagine if they had managed that and also do the same with MH434.

IIRC that was mentioned in one of RJR’s books, too.

Couldn’t see the OFMC cutting the cannons off the Spit, though 😉

Imagine if they had managed that and also do the same with MH434.

I think MH434 should stay in her present colours as a tribute to Ray Hanna.

Would be nice to see a ‘Heinkel’ inthe air again though

Martin

It still sat in bits behind the TFC Hangar when i last saw it a few weeks ago.
I thought/heard it was donated by OFMC to the IWM Museum itself,but i am probably wrong.

Yeah, I did, too. Think the IWM were going to restore it as and when, but not sure if it was to BofB markings or Spanish colours.