Dave HomewoodMany pilots didn’t like Galland.
That seems about right, I have not heard of many people who did like the man, except Bob Stanford-Tuck of course.
If you want to make a movie in Germany about a german pilot in WW2, he just not have to be a sucessfull pilot or have an interesting C.V., he must also have done something honourable, like rescued Jew’s from the KZ’s or fought against Hitler/Nazi system like the officers from “20th July 1944”.
I don’t see why. Hollywood might go down that glorified and sychophantic path, but I’m sure many good films could be made about ordinary German pilots’ stories – they don’t neeed to have lead a personal crusade against Nazism to make a good story. Maybe a film about the war in Russian skies, or over the Atlantic, or following a bomber crew during the Battle of Britain. Even a story about a crash and the survival and escape afterwards…
There was a true film made in the 1950’s about the German pilot who escaped from a POW camp/train and made it back to Germany (I think via the USA). He was the only one who ever did according to the film, and it was quite a good story but it’s a very old film. That could be updated. I think it is called ‘The One That Got Away’.
Pilots like Udet or Steinhoff are not known outside Germany.
Udet is certainly well known. I’ve heard of him and I don’t know much at all about the Luftwaffe.
Why not a female pilot like Beinhorn or Beate Uhse 😀 ???
Not a bad idea there. Could be a really good film in that.
Again, Nazi Germany and their pilots lost WW2, so who wants to make a movie about losers! Would the British make a movie about losing in penalty kick??? 😀 :rolleyes:
Well Hollywood has made plenty of films about the Vietnam war, which America lost. And there is Black Hawk Down, another of their losses…..
Dave HomewoodI agree. There has been new production runs of:
Me262
Fw190
Yak 3
Nakajima Oscar
(any others?)
so why not a handfull of new Typhoons? Or other British fighters for that matter.
Several aircraft types have been brought back to flying from virtual extinction like the Polikarpov I16 and I153’s, using minimal original material. And those Grumman biplanes rebuilt by Doug Champlin too. Surely at least one Typhoon could be rebuilt from all the existing bits and pieces around.
Someone has mentioned that the rear fuselage on that Typhoon reconstruction comes from a Sea Fury. Can that possibly be right? I’d have thought the Sea Fury was much bigger.
Dave HomewoodPerfect Hero
(Also, if anyone has a video/DVD copy of “Perfect Hero”, let me know as I’ve never seen it!)
Daz, I don’t have a copy of the series but I did watch it at the time and it was a little disappointing aviation-wise I thought, though I did see it shortly afetr seeing Piece of Cake which as you know is very impressive in its flying scenes. Perfect Hero is quite disturbing. Most of it seemed to be in the hospital and for most of the series it was Nigel Havers trying to come to terms with his badly burnt face if I recall correctly. But it has been many years so maybe I have forgotten many details in the mists of time.
You can get it on a commercial release but I don’t think I’d buy it.
Dave HomewoodThanks for sorting that out about ‘Screwball’. Was he the chap who would not take orders and wouldn’t stay in formation? He would go hunting solo and got such good results that the RAF just left him to it. Is this that guy?
If he was hunting solo I don’t know how he could claim confirmed kills.
The man I refer to (not sure if he is ‘Screwball’ or not) is mentioned in some detail in Johnny Houlton’s book ‘Spitfire Strikes’ in the chapters about Johnny’s time in Malta.
Dave HomewoodHmm, some really great suggestions here guys.
Galland would be a great one to do, yes, especially now that there is the prospect of several Fw190’s and Me262’s going to be flying soon, as well as a few Bf109’s. It seems he caused a lot of trouble on the set of ‘Battle of Britain’, I wonder what he’d have thought of filmmakers doing a film fully about him.
In fact, Erich Hartmann would be interesting too. Plenty of scope for aerial action there!
Daz, wasn’t ‘Perfect Hero’ based losely on Richard Hillary? Or am I confused there?
Moggy, who is Screwball? Sorry, I think I have missed something there. :confused:
I like stories of POW ecapers too, such as Richard Pape’s book ‘Boldness Be My Friend’. That would make a good film, as would Johnny Checketts’ story of both being a fighter pilot and evading the Gerries after being shot down.
Apart from the ‘Colditz’ series and ‘The Great Escape’ have any true RAF escapers been dramatised for film or TV? In fact, thinking about it there was apparently a BBC series in the 1960’s called ‘The Long Road Home’ about aircrew making the escape and evade trip back to Britain. Sadly only 6 of the 7 episodes exist. 😡
My best mate’s Dad was in the RAF in the 1960’s & 70’s and he told me he served with a chap who was Polish. In September 1939 he was in the Polish Cavarly and they apparently made a full cavalry charge against the invading German tanks! 😮 Of course most of his unit were decimated, but this chap escaped, and walked undetected as a Polish soldier across occupied Europe to Switzerland, and then got to go to Britian where he joined the RAF and learned to fly, so he could take the war back to the Germans that had overun his country. I’ve forgotten more of the story but at the time I was told this I thought it’d make a great film, but sadly the man is long dead.
Dave HomewoodWow Trumper, that must be a unique experience seeing such a great artist in the creation process. You’re very fortunate, well done mate.
Were you allowed to take photos at the exhibition? I guess that is unlikely.
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodWelcome Matt,
Good to have you here. So, are you a Wirraway owner then?
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodI love the idea, but agree witgh others that the game would be better if you could also fly the aircraft in the shows. Imagine if you were flying a fighter like a Corsair in a Breitling-style display having the keep with the Spitfire, P40 and P51D. 🙂
Perhaps one idea I could suggest is maybe thinking about basing the game around a real warbirds operator. For example, if you did a deal with, say, the BBMF, TFC or OFMC, and used their aircraft in the game, then the game would benefit from the known ‘brand name’ that’ll assist its commercial value, and the operator may benefit from a percentage of profits to help keep their aircraft flying. This is merely a suggestion, an idea.
Would you be able to take your planes international (as in with most racing car games), say doing airshows at Duxford, Oshkosh, Reno, France, Hamilton in Canada, Wanaka, etc., etc. That would help international sales.
Dave HomewoodThanks Crazymainer,
I did not know about this sale till now. Yes it seems another relic is to go offshore. A puity, but if the plane returns to the air, it’ll be all good (so long as some idiot doesn’t make it into one of those hideous Reno racers!!!!!)
Jeepman, sorry I wasn’t trying to have a go at you mate. I do understnd the sense of loss that can be felt in a case like this, but remember that some day the Walrus may well return to the air (and the water) which has to be a fantastic prospect wherever the airframe is.
Firebird, where is that FHC website please? Thanks.
Dave HomewoodThanks Denis.
I interviewed the last CO of 488 (NZ) Sqn who was with the Sqn for that whoie period on Mossies, a fascinating chap. Funnily enough he (Ron Watts) and Keith Caldwell both lived in my home town of Cambridge, which is why I am researching the career of the latter man.
Even the RNZAF museum has been able to provide little info on Caldwell’s WWII career, and nothing on his between-the-wars days, as most of the focus is always on his WWI glory days. Pity.
Dave HomewoodMy condolences to all the serving RAF staff and civvies who will lose their livelihoods through this beauracratic medling. I have been through it in the downsizing (ie killing) of the RNZAF, and it sucks big time.
I have heard from a mate who was in England earlier this year that he saw on the news that all the Harriers and Sea Kings are also being completely withdrawn from service. Is this correct?
If Blair’s government cannot balance the defence spending and need to make so many drastic cuts at once, they have surely got their priorities very wrong. The defence of your own country is much more important than the invasion of another.
One thing I have to wonder, when all these aircraft are withdrawn from RAF service, who will they sell them onto? The Iraqis need a new air force don’t they?
So is the BBMF moving its Spitfires to Duxford or was that a joke? I don’t get it if it was… :confused: If it’s not a joke, why split up the Flight? Seems very odd.
Dave HomewoodThanks Mike,
That FAA Museum example looks nice.
Dave
Dave HomewoodThanks Melvyn,
Hmm, you could be right there. The book was from the 1970’s I think – it is undated – but was produced by Motat (The Museum of Transport and Technology) who in those days were very much an amatuer outfit, so it may be an error.
Has anyone any idea if Keith Caldwell was in command of any RAF stations in Hertfordshire in 1945?
Cheers
Dave
Dave HomewoodThanks Mike J for clearing up the Mossie thing, I was a little confused on that one.
I think it needs to be realised that the warbirds community is global and airframes move around from country to country often. It is a fact of life. It can be disappointing when it seems part of your heritage is going abroad. Here in New Zealand we’ve lost many of our favourites overseas in recent years, and it hurts to see them go, whether they were longterm residents like original wartime NZ aircraft such as Harvard NZ1099 (now in Aussie) or if they had arrived more recently on the warbirds scene like the recently departed Miss Torque. I agree it is sad to see them go offshore. But something always comes along to fill the gap.
Britain may possibly be losing a Walrus but it has recently gained a P39, plus recently a Spitfire Mk XI returned to your country after a stint away, and you are soon to get back a Gannet returning from off-shore too. It is a continuous flow backwards and forwards. Our ex-RNZAF fighters, the P40 and Corsair that were taken off-shore and ended up with the OFMC are now back here which is a joy. They may well not stay here forever though. It’s all swings and roundabouts… it is a continuous flow and who’s to say the Walrus won’t someday return to England too. So long as we get a good look at the old girl first I’d be happy.
Can you guys remind me please – where’s the fourth Walrus. I know of the one at Hendon, one in Aussie, and the Melton one.
Dave HomewoodJeepman,
The magazine does not specify which Walrus is being purchased, nor where from. It simply says “There are moves afoot to purchase a Supermarine Walrus project and ship it to New Zealand for completion to fly.”
I think it would be great to get a Walrus flying, no mater where it is, but the fact that it will be in New Zealand (hopefully) makes me very happy indeed. The RNZAF operated several Walrus during the war as both crew trainers for Catalina and Sunderland crews, and as SAR aircraft, etc. Also the Royal New Zealand Navy ships HMNZS Achilles and HMNZS Leander each had a Walrus onboard which were maintained by RNZAF personnel, one of whom I recently interviewed. They are an interesting plane and it’d be great to see one back in the air. Presently there are no examples of the type in New Zealand, so having a representative here will be smashing.
I didn’t know that there was a Mosquito TIII in NZ. Who’s got that???
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