On Location - Cine film - Battle of Britain Production

[@johnnr338gl]

I was the airframe and engine mechanic on the film, started with Spitfire and Hurricane I was seconded to work with the Spanish mechanics on the Messerschmidt and Heikels. Delegated to be personal engineer for Col Connie Edwards of the Confederate airforce who did much of the special effects flying. Just before the Spanish mechanics returned to Spain I was given about 15hrs flying instruction [in Spanish] on the Heinkel [I still have the poorly translated pre-flight check list] and was the only person in the UK with any knowledge of them when they found a pilot daft enough to fly us from Bovingdon to West Malling. After an hair-raising first trip with just the pilot and me aboard the second plane was full of passengers. No health and safety then!! That was the last I heard of the only two Heinkels in the UK.

[@iancurtis1152]

It’s a pity the whole Heinkel fleet were not permitted “to attack London”

[@Dackah]

I was lucky enough to fly in this B-25 in Titusville Florida in 1991 on the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbour when it was known as Chapter 11. What a solid machine it was and the seemingly low power take off was impressive was capable of so much more.

[@adrianallain2622]

Thanks for posting this Martin. In 1968 I worked as an Air Traffic Controller for the film in both the Duxford and Debden ATC towers. The participating aircraft were held on the ground at RAF Manston on the day that the large formation of 23 aircraft were to arrive at Duxford. Shots of the formation over the 'White Cliffs of Dover' were required after departure from Manston; bad weather delayed this. Location Caterers had laid on a magnificent lunch in Duxford officers' mess which was enjoyed by just a handful of us in the absence of our expected guests. They eventually arrived in the afternoon, unable to find Duxford, without me getting radar help from Bassingbourne ATC.

[@grahamaindow8894]

Great that you mentioned RAF Debden. I was an ATC Cadet at 614 Gliding School at Debden and remember walking through one of the hangars...and to my disbelief finding it full of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Buchons and a CASA. I was told to keep it quiet as they were making a movie. If only I had a camera with me! No one believes me as RAF Debden never gets mentioned in books about the movie. I was told they were kept there as the airfield was secure, being the RAF Police HQ at the time.

[@PulkVideo]

Nice detail, the Mitchell is now based in Adelaide with Reevers Warbirds. It had the Dutch registration of the 18 sqn based in Australia during WWII.The Mitchell is called “Pulk” after my father.

[@Spaceman042]

Many thanks for sharing this piece of film history.

[@lautoka63]

Great footage. I counted only 1 3-wheeler landing for each of the 109s and Spitfires.

[@graemejwsmith]

Tanks to all concerned for sharing this. LOVE the shots of the rig for the dummies to "bale out" and the authentic patina on the aircraft.

[@watchit65]

Thank you, Matin, for the work you have done to recover this video and to the Bellamy family for allowing it to reach the public domain. Thanks.

[@soppdrake]

Good grief! That was amazing! Like staring through an airfield fence during the war, as I often did at Farnborough growing up during the sixties and seventies 😊

[@richardcooke5415]

A gold mine of a fine film. the nearest any of us will get to hanging around on the set of our favourite film. Thanks for posting.

[@ZacYates]

Martin, this is utterly fantastic! I’m grinning like I rode in one of the 2.111s - what a truly marvellous piece of film! Oh to have someone restore it and add some sound…

[@Dreamsofwings]

This really is incredible to see, no matter how many times you’ve watched it!

[@louisfortin7824]

One wow ...all this stuff flying in the days ..Saw the movie first hand ...But in a 2021 perspective it was a disaster as most of the planes went to scrap after the movie debut.Great footage thanks.

[@Tillerman56]

Just for the record: the Heinkels in the BoB movie were not Heinkels, they were CASA 2.111's and they were license built in Spain. Engines were RR Merlin. There are only three surviving original Heinkel He 111H's (the model with the glass nose) against 14 CASA 2.111's. And one He 111E3, with stepped cockpit and Jumo engines is in the Museo del Aire in Madrid.

[@saucerman110]

Turns out that at least one of the CASA 2. 111s, is in fact a genuine Heinkel 111, which was manufactured in Germany in 1940/41, and has been accounted for battle damage, later going to Spain in 1946, and converted to CASA 2 111. Used in the Battle of Britain Film, Stored at Duxford for many years, now at the Biggin Hill Museum. As believed by many, it would appear that a vast amount of CASA's were in fact converted Heinkel's, same appears with the Spanish Bouchon's were indeed MESSERSCHMITT ME109's

[@joey95661]

The main airframe is a he111 just like the buchons the airframe is a 109 so yes they are he111s just with upgraded engines

[@AndyJ_Media]

Truly incredible footage, the Quality is excellent. One of my all time favourite films to watch. Many thanks for sharing this with us.

FUN FACT: The B25 Mitchell was the camera plane, and was painted this way so that other aircraft could find and formate on it with ease. It was known in the movie as the "Psychedelic Monster". The same aircraft was used for filming the movie, "633 Squadron". It can be seen briefly as it supposedly takes the Norwegian agent to his parachute drop in Norway.

[@thewatchman1078]

Fascinating, it’s clear a lot of fantastic footage was shot that was never used in the film and a sense of scale of aircraft numbers actually used is lost as a result.

[@danielbritton8588]

The flamboyant aircraft are assembly ships. Painted high vis so planes could see it to get into formation. Much like a pace car. The enemy plane formation could be increased for realism to a staggering amount.

[@fredMplanenut]

I was lucky to see the whole British assembled aircraft fleet on approach to Newmarket - the noise was fantastic. Then for weeks we were treated to numerous dog fight scenes overhead, and luckily, nobody hurt.

[@zzzyxwv]

Fantastic footage. You realise the logistics behind the film

[@Skyraider3D]

That's about as cool as actual wartime footage! Love it! Thanks for sharing Martin! :)

[@TCMontyDibs]

Brilliant -- please thank everyone for the hard work and sharing.

[@johncarpenter1093]

Fantastic footage, thanks for posting this, it gives a great impression of wartime formations & the old film adds to the feel, brilliant !!

[@grahamaindow8894]

Wow, brilliant! I saw some of the filming at Duxford, but never a big formation like that!

[@sgt13echo]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing!

[@dale3852]

Wow

[@beachem1]

Thanks!

[@SR71ABCD]

wow it was amazing...

[@Ztex]

Amazing!

[@bovingdon2002]

Two late great pilots John (Jeff) Hawke at 3:57 wearing blue shirt at Duxford. John Crewdson at 5:14 sitting in G-AWAP at Bovingdon.

[@olesuhr727]

According to the book about the making of the film, the B-25 was known as the "Psychadelic Monster".

[@MavAuto-Pete]

When they were filming at Duxford it must have looked like there are really having a proper Battle of Britain but without the loss of life

[@MavAuto-Pete]

Great footage PT there's no sound

[@goojedooje660]

An excellent film only showed a small part of the the real battle of britain

[@kpd314]

I had thought the HE-111s were models. If they had this many flying, what happened to them? I know the CAF one crashed some years ago.

[@58biggles]

Kevin Dahlhausen At the time they were still in use with the Spanish Airforce. I dont know whay became of the all though.

[@kpd314]

Thanks. That would been something. Still in active duty.

[@YDDES]

Some are in museums. Regrettable, most were scrapped. They had 32 "Heinkels". About half the number flyable. At least 2 crashed fatally after the filming. The CAF one and one during a ferry flight to England.

[@johnnr338gl]

I was airframe/engine mechanic on the film initially on the Spitfire and Hurricanes and then the only Brit to go on to the Messerschmidts and Heinkels. When the Spanish crew went home after the film I was the sole person in the UK with flying time on the Heinkel and helped fly the two in the UK to West Malling. I still have the 'flying procedures' check list that I was issued with for the HE 111, probably the only copy left .

[@johnnr338gl]

They were used in a similar role to our old Shackletons.

[@steveharrigan7811]

So, does anyone know what happened to the Heinkel's and Buchon's ?

[@blockheadgreen_]

The Buchons all survived, most are in storage in America. The Heinkels were returned to the Spanish and most were scrapped.

[@Flightgearsim]

More about the making of the Film forum.keypublishing.com/forum/historic-aviation/147038-battle-of-britain-film-cine-film?143562-Battle-of-Britain-film-Cine-FilmYOU=

[@TravelStyleNews]

Anyone remember Garth Thomas?

[@flutter8712]

14 million dollard of production costs