Thanks Moggy for the great shot of the pub.

Thanks Gary for the great shot of the girl!

I agree it looks like Kenneth Moore. Gary, is it actually Bader? I’m confused.

Also, which Spitfire is that. I don’t recall seeing any in the film coded BO-J. Any Spit-spotters out there?

Moggy, is the interior of the Jackdaw in the film actually in the real pub? Or is it a studio set? It looked pretty real. If so, does it look the same inside?

Wasn’t Budgie an invention of Sarah, Duchess of York?

Allegedly though some dispute this.

This from Wikipedia here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Ferguson

“In 1987, she was inspired by the helicopter lessons she was taking to create the character of ‘Budgie the Helicopter’. The plot, style and illustration of the first Budgie book was alleged to be remarkably similar to an existing children’s book, Hector the Helicopter by Arthur W. Baldwin. “It is difficult for us to say that anything has been literally copied,” wrote Jane Moore, group legal adviser of Reed International Books in a letter, “but if this was not a major source of inspiration for the Budgie books then it is a remarkable coincidence”1. Reed International did not pursue a claim for copyright infringement, and Sarah has always vigorously denied accusations of plagiarism. “

There was an article in Flypast at the time of when Perfect Hero was made about the making of the mini-series. It featured a photo of a ‘flat’ prop of a Spitfire used. This may mention who flew the aircraft if someone wants to look it out.

I have found this. Five photos, all taken by one Barry Tempest (a member of this forum, and others). It can be found in the July 1990 issue of FlyPast, page 8. No mention is made of the pilots, but maybe Skybolt knows?

Spit IX MH350?

Wow, looking into this and doing my maths, yes it does seem right that this Spitfire and Johnny Houlton must have been with the squadron at the same time. And as Johnny always claimed the OU-V aircraft as it was V for Vicky, his fiance’ then wife’s name, this must have been his I guess.

Did he ever go to visit it when he was up-over visiting ML407 I wonder? Did he see any action or claim kills in MH350?

Let’s not forget the multiple “OU-V” Johnny Houlton steeds!

There are more than one of Johnny’s Spitfires extent?

The only other OU-V marked aircraft I know of is the Mk XVIe in the RNZAF Museum, which is painted to represent a different 485 Sqn aircraft from 1945, with no connection that I know of to Johnny Houlton. Is this the one you mean?

Interesting question James.

Lots of Spitfires seem to have worn the codes of Douglas Bader and Johnny Johnson over the years it seems. I don’t know identities other than TB863 which I believe temporarily flew as J-EJ at an airshow where Johnny was guest.

On this page the full cast of ‘The River Wild’ reveals the Helicopter unit as being
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800220730/cast

Cliff Fleming underwater helicopter coordinator
Bruce Benson helicopter unit
James Hanna helicopter unit
Jopseph Hartman helicopter unit
Jack Scanlon helicopter unit
Cory Fleming helicopter unit
Ray Hanna helicopter unit
Robert Gust helicopter unit
Doug Uttec helicopter unit

I don’t recognise the other names in relation to OFMC. I suspect this is a different chap, and he was billed as Raymond G. Hanna so as not to be confused with the already established Ray Hanna of OFMC (Equity/Actors Union rules, no name double ups)

The really intrigueing thing is, underwater helicopter?

Didn’t Ray fly one of the Spitfires in the mini-series ‘A Perfect Hero’? Or am I confused.

I think he may have been the pilot of MH434 when it appeared in Poirot too.

IMDb has Ray listed as the helicopter pilot in The River Wild. Did he fly helicopters? I’d never heard that before.

I just saw a report from Eastleigh on the five-ship formation on the news. It was wonderful to see Alex Henshaw climbing into the two-seater, to take part in the flight. At 93 he was saying this was his last Spitfire flight. Also interviewed was Dr Gordon Mitchell, Reginald’s son. What a great event, thanks for the photos Gary.