Found on the airshows UK Web pages, credits on the pics

One of my Squadron Commanders summed up the wartime crews succinctly:

“They were ordinary men who achieved quite extraordinary things”

Now if you can get a title out of that it will say it all.

exmpa

how about ‘Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Things’

Martin

How about “Bombers Moon”?

Martin

I sense a bit of anger here…or maybe an inferiority complex. 😀

If you can put aside your ranting for a moment, go back and read the other posts, it’s clear that most people here understand the reason why films like “Memphis Belle” get made. If you’re paying $100 million to make a film, you’re going to make it appeal to the largest audience. The same reason you don’t see “FlyPast” on BBC instead of Top Gear. (If I must explain it…more people drive and buy cars than give a toss about ancient warplanes).

Remember, a US studio financed the BoB film and “A Piece of Cake” was shown in the US as well….I guessing the producers got more money for the TV rights in North America than they did from ITV.
UK productions large (Harry Potter and James Bond, to name two) and small (BBC costume dramas, and small films) are popular in the USA and Canada. And, they don’t seem to have a problem with the English winning WWII. Just because you seem to have issues with North Americans, don’t assume everyone west of Greenland is a xenophobe.

I apologise now if I upset anyone it wasnt meant as a rant. I have no problems or issues with North Americans some of my best mates are American and I have relatives all over the States. I also understand the reason why films like “Memphis Belle” get made. I think even with their faults they are damn good films and I enjoyed them immensely. I think the Britain seems to have “lagged behind,” for want of a better phrase and I think it is about time this is addressed. I have read and heard several opinions as well as the ones posted here about a remake of the Dambusters and from what I have seen the biggest problem is the what to call Gibsons dog! Britain has made some classic war movies and hopefully this could be a chance to say ‘yes we still can’. The only hold up I can see apart from the financial backing is the fear of upseting some minority somewhere over something that is historically fact.

I wasn’t even born when the original was released and I would like the chance to see Lancs roar across the screen again whether they be real, model or CGI. Real would be nice though after all the original only used four Lancasters all the backdrop aircraft were Lincolns

Sorry I’m ranting again 😀 No offence meant 😀

Martin

Just had another thought. Its all very well harping on about how many airworthy Lancs we have or could have but has anyone approached the people that own and operate the machines we do have (BBMF, CWH et al) for any support in either possible supply of aircraft or technical support? iwould hazard a guess at no or not yet. so at the moment we can only speculate whether the film will get off the ground. Also in view of the plans that were put forward last year of bringing FM213 over for a tour maybe with the right support in the right areas and the extra carrot of funding from a film company and a portion of the takings for continual preservation of these memorials maybe? who knows?

That aside though, after reading the views on here with interest I hope it will get made just to prove to the blasted yanks that the British actually did more than just win the Battle of Britain, that we had help from a few more countries than the US and that we can make a decent war film. Plus it will be nice to see and hear Lancasters flown in anger on the big screen rather than on a postage stamp sized TV screen.

yes, shame, they did get crushed in the end, I think one or two were moved in with th vc10’s in the fire training ground just over the fence behind the terminal building. Those chutes were a menace on the old knackers! very uncomfortable, I’m sure the stores fitter used to take please in yanking them straps up extra tight! :diablo: a bit of a wake up call, after falling asleep during the “jump john” safety briefings and video, prior to kit fitting. I seem to remeber the young lad in the videos being called John. I also remeber the briefing rooms being covered in posters of cartoons featuring chipmunks, with dozy plonkers walking into the props, and claret spraying all over the place. I cant remember for the life of me exactly what the warning slogan was though, something like “VIGILANCE SAVES LIVES AND FOD KILLS”, presumably, the fod was the silly sod walking into the prop 😀

What became of Abingdon, after its wind down?, anyone have any piccies of Abingdon, during RAF days?

MJR

Abingdon now belongs to the army renamed Dalton Barracks. Fond memories of the AEF Experience though. IIRC John was actually called Paul Young anyone know what became of him?

Martin

The original film (though excellent ) wasn’t entirely accurate.

There is only one way to remake The Dam Busters and that is to not bother. Yes the original has a few holes but the remake will have more holes than a teabag. Yes the effects are a bit iffy but what you have to remember is this was 1954 and most of the research we have now was still secret. I think they did a great job with what they had.

In 1954 they had less than a handful of Lancs to use – all the backdrop aircraft were Lincolns, as has been said earlier both are too valuable to be hacking and thrashing about the countryside and one that is taxiable. You only have to look at ‘Night Flight’ yes it was good footage they had with ‘Jane’ with a little dusting of PA474 thrown in but it is hardly ‘Dam Busters’ standard. You could use colourised and remastered out takes of the original as they did with a recent Battle of Britain doc but how much still survives? Not a great deal I would bet. (Yes I know BoB was clouor to start with) There is always the CGI option but no CGI at the moment is of sufficient quality to pull it off just look at the Paratroop drop in the D.Day scene in Band of Brothers – the only blot on an otherwise excellent series. The original was not just based on Paul Brickhills book it also was based on Gibsons own account in ‘Enemy Coast Ahead’ so it was not totally inaccurate especially for Joe Public. And using the original tune? 😮 Oi! Frost! NO!!!!

No, nice as the idea is with all the research we have now, lets just stick to the original. But if against all that is holy they do decide to go ahead my nominee for Gibson would be Ewan Macgregor.

Sorry, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Martin

I never had the good fortune to meet Ray either but his passing is a great loss. Now where he really felt at home with his son Mark highabove the clouds Rest peacefully Ray – God bless you

Martin