Me thinks the Beverly’s are in the Middle East, 34 Squadron at Seletar aircraft were silver with black spinners. The Hastings look like they are at Changi with a visiting Brit. The blast wall is familiar too.

I would agree with that, perhaps your Dad staged through Khormaksar as the place looks too dry for Singapore? The Beverley with the red spinners is 30 Squadron, Middle East Air Force and on the right is camouflaged XM111/D of 84 squadron.

Indeed MEANT to be safe James. Remember that up until it explodes it is still a solid package that will easily go through a windscreen 😮

With the bursts as close as they look on Albert Ross’ photos I’m surprised that the pilots volunteered to fly through it! My option would’ve been to have the flak bursts in an otherwise empty bit of sky, and fly along a line that passes through the flak from the camera’s standpoint, but is actually behind the flak field. The downside is that you can only film from one or two angles, which means more runs for different camera angles, but it is safer in the end! Leaves less dents in wings too! 😉

What do you expect – Jeff Hawke was directing on the ground….”Quite safe, he said” 😮 I was in one of the B-25s on another run and they were bursting all around us!

A little off-topic, but does anyone know what the special effects boys did to get their “flak”?

Sorry, no idea but bloody frightening flying through balls of exploding smoke!
Seemed very realistic at the time!

This is the second issue and for me, there is no value in it, just an ‘arty’ PR tool for the RAF. More like a glossy version of RAF News without anything historical.I think it held 2 seconds of my attention in Smiths. There were giving them away free at the Kemble Air Day!

Hanover Street filming

Those are great photos, thanks Mark. They really do look like genuine wartime shots.

I’ve seen the film about a decade ago but truly cannot recall a thing about it. I’d love to see your coloured shots too please Albert if you’ll allow us to see them. Thanks.

Okay, here we go! Here is “Amazing Andrea” (N7681C ‘151790’) and “Gorgeous George-Ann” (NL9494Z) taking off for filming. I took the cockpit shot inside her during filming with American pilot Eric Lorentzen on the left. Then we have a landing shot of “Brenda’s Boys” (N86427). This machine gave the film crew the most trouble as it contstantly had engine problems and was coughing and spluttering all the time!
The last shot is interesting. which I took during the filming, showing the formation being shot at by flak. Now although this is mock flak, the third aircraft from the left has actually been hit and lurching to port with a real dent in it’s wing!

Farnborough 1982…

I remember standing under the B1!!!! I was only 9 years old 🙂

…you mean this one? Is that you there?

Very nice, but do they still try and stop you taking photos there without prior written permission?

White Waltham 14 May 1977

…three more from this display at White Waltham on 14 May 1977.
Fairchild Argus ‘ EV-851’ (G-AJPI) with radial engine then; Fokker DR.1 replica (sorry about the ATC cadets and even ATC officers in the background!!) G-BEFR that was later written off killing pilot Robin Bowes and finally Fairey Surveys DC-3, G-ALWC on finals on one engine after its display.