[Tyler109]

I was watching Battle of Britain today and I noticed in the scene where the Polish Squadron intercepts the flight of He-111's it seems like when they break formation the rear 3 a/c are Me-109's in RAF markings....has anyone else noticed that?

[STARMAN 352ND]

Hey.....You were watching that today...Cool i saw it the other day.
You remember that pilot you saw with a burned up looking face.
Was he a real pilot in the real Battle of Britain ?
I first saw that as a kid in the theaters and i remember someone telling he was.
JP

[Louie]

He was a real pilot. I saw a show about it. Many many pilots got horribly burned on face and upper torso when engines and oil coolers went aflame. Sad.

[Tyler109]

I'm watching the special features right now....I didn't know all the German aircraft used in the movie were from the Spanish Air Force..

[SkyBuffalo]

That kind of makes sense, Tyler109. I just read in a WW2 aircraft book that the Spanish got a license from the Germans to build and fly the Messerschmitt BF109s in Spain. The Spanish built them and still flew them until the mid-60s. Those Spanish 109s were called HA-1112-M1Ls.


Since we are on the subject of WW2 planes in movies, I was watching "A Bridge Too Far" last week. When the tanks begin to roll up the road toward Germany and the artillery starts laying down fire, several "British" planes come zooming overhead to attack the German emplacements. I can't recognize what planes these are. Does anybody know?

[STARMAN 352ND]

Good info guys.
a 109 still flying in the 1960's wow i wish i saw that.
JP

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by SkyBuffalo

Since we are on the subject of WW2 planes in movies, I was watching "A Bridge Too Far" last week. When the tanks begin to roll up the road toward Germany and the artillery starts laying down fire, several "British" planes come zooming overhead to attack the German emplacements. I can't recognize what planes these are. Does anybody know?

Well i just checked out the part you were talking about i liked the Spitfire that flew low as the kid was on the bike.
The others looked like they were modify AT-6's painted up with the British D-day markings as i saw them flyby i could clearly see the wing area and tail.
JP

[pieceOfCake]

Originally Posted by Louie

He was a real pilot. I saw a show about it. Many many pilots got horribly burned on face and upper torso when engines and oil coolers went aflame. Sad.

The Hawker Hurricane had a header fuel tank just on the other side of the instrument panel to feed the carbs. For some reason, Hawker never saw fit to better protect this tank and many, many Hurricane pilots were horribly burned as a result of the header tank blowing up in their faces.

Geoffrey Page being one of the more famous examples. Was apparently like sitting in the face of a rather large blowtorch as the cockpit heated up well over what your kitchen oven is capable of in a few seconds.

Survivors involuntarily become members of plastic surgeon Archie McIndoe's famous Guinea Pig Club.

Cheers, pieceOfCake

[pieceOfCake]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Well i just checked out the part you were talking about i liked the Spitfire that flew low as the kid was on the bike.
JP

I believe that Spit was the Mk IX currently on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle - formerly owned by actor Cliff Robertson. I think it also flew on D-Day.

I've been wrong before tho.

pieceofCake

[Shuttle]

I think the Spitfire in the film was the famous 'MH434' based at Duxford.

http://www.ofmc.co.uk/aircraft/spitfire_hist.htm

Shuttle