Author Topic: Brits, especially Dowding, will LOVE this movie.. (Read 2967 times)

Pei · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2004, 08:27:26 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Actually, 10, but your right,

The BoB Fighter Association and the RAF state 7 but it probably depends on what dates you take for the battle itself.

-tronski- · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2004, 08:35:55 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding
I will probably go see it and give it a chance. As soon as it starts to get a bit 'the US saved your asses', I'll just leave the cinema and go see something more realistic like 'Gothika' or 'Starsky and Hutch'.

Bugger...if only the Aussies had thought of it first....I mean we had only 21 pilots in the BOB (14 KIA) which means we saved your pommy arses 3 times more than the yanks!!!!

Of course if the kiwis (103 pilots/14 KIA) beat us to it they could claim to have saved your pommy tulips at least 14 times more...unless those crafty buggers the canadians get involved of course (90 pilots/20 KIA).....

Hrmmmm on second thought better just stick to Starsky Dowding...

Tronsky

Ripsnort · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2004, 08:36:20 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pei
The BoB Fighter Association and the RAF state 7 but it probably depends on what dates you take for the battle itself.

Could be Pei, my dates show 10 American pilots flying with units under the command of RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940 apparently qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939-45 British campaign star.

Dowding · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2004, 08:41:34 AM »

lol Tronski

I've seen 'Starksy and Hutch' already. It's a great film, and Hollywood should stick to films like it or historical dramas that don't involve people that are still alive.

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2004, 08:46:24 AM »

The only problem I see with that article is the one British pilot who makes light of the character portrayed By John Wayne in "The Longest Day".

Actually, that particular paratrooper was pretty heroic and a great leader. He picked a pretty poor example of a character to say what he said.

And no, I'm not saying the British pilot was anything other than another fine example of what the RAF was made of.

-tronski- · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2004, 08:50:58 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding
lol Tronski

I've seen 'Starksy and Hutch' already. It's a great film, and Hollywood should stick to films like it or historical dramas that don't involve people that are still alive.

Generally they do make good historical movies imo...ie. Glory, Gettysburg, Thirteen Days, Gods and Generals, days of thunder, Behind Enemy Lines (errrrrr....maybe not the last two)...

I'm a big fan of Ben Stiller, and Owen Wilson and might even try to catch it tommorrow..

Tronsky

Torque · « **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2004, 09:01:43 AM »

I lost an uncle he was in a twin engine doing recon over France in '39. I think there was somewhere between 80-100 Canadians in figther group and aboot 200 in coastal command. Such a pivotal point in history i'm glad we could offer a liitle help to kick some Nazi anus.

cheers...

Ripsnort · « **Reply #22 on:** April 17, 2004, 09:04:31 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Torque
I lost an uncle he was in a twin engine doing recon over France in '39. I think there was somewhere between 80-100 Canadians in figther group and aboot 200 in coastal command. Such a pivotal point in history i'm glad we could offer a liitle help to kick some Nazi anus.

cheers...

http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=114351&referrerid=3203

Torque · « **Reply #23 on:** April 17, 2004, 09:35:41 AM »

Riptort:

"I told him that it didn't surprise me. Since we had come to France's rescue in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the Cold War, their ingratitude and jealousy was due to surface [again] at some point in the near future anyway.'

Yes Riptort as always it is the kettle and pot with you.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #24 on:** April 17, 2004, 09:37:55 AM »

Ahh, progressive "spelling" of BBS names, a sure sign of "disgruntled submission"

Rino · « **Reply #25 on:** April 17, 2004, 09:49:13 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding
I will probably go see it and give it a chance. As soon as it starts to get a bit 'the US saved your asses', I'll just leave the cinema and go see something more realistic like 'Gothika' or 'Starsky and Hutch'.

Could care less about the movie, but before Dec 41 the
UK was in severe backup mode. Less than a year later, the
first counter offensives were starting. Oh yeah, and June 42
was a very good month in the Pacific.

Knowing what a big fan you are of America, Dowding...
this probably annoys you greatly.

ravells · « **Reply #26 on:** April 17, 2004, 03:49:38 PM »

Well Rino...

The thing is that America had so many heroes during the second world war...why try to nick other peoples? I am sure that there are numerous untold stories of US servicemen (which say, Band of Brothers just scratched the surface of) which would make equally good material.

Crumbs, if they want to do a great WW2 air war film, why not get Tom Cruise to paint his face black (or even better use Denzel Washington) and do a film on the Tuskegee (sp?) airmen.

U571 was just insulting to the Poles and the Canadians.

Anyway, as far as the film is concerned, I shall just be watching it for the flying scenes. Hope they're good!

There was a novel I read a while back called 'a piece of cake', written by an Englishman, about the early airwar. One of the only sensible people in the squadron of spits was an American, who thought of looking behind him rather than flying in tight formation. That ruffled a few feathers when it was published amongst the old guard.

Ravs

VOR · « **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2004, 04:06:58 PM »

Ravells, I have read the book "Piece of Cake" and thought it was a great story. (Not because the only sensible flyer is a Yank).

I suppose I can see how it might have ruffled some feathers. On the other hand, the "Dowding Spread" and airshow-tight formations were abandoned early on by the RAF.

Loved the depth of technical info the author put into his descriptions of the machines and flying them. The characters social lives aside, it seems to have realistically portrayed life in an RAF fighter squadron during France and the BoB.

Remember the part where they were sliding down the stairs on tea serving trays?

I have heard that there was a TV series in the UK with the same title. Has anyone seen it, and was it any good? Was thinking of searching for it.

ravells · « **Reply #28 on:** April 17, 2004, 04:11:49 PM »

I loved the book, VOR. I think they made it into a film for television. I've been hunting for it, but havn't found it yet - ebay calls.

The bit about the unpopular flight leader who the rest of his flight just leave in the lurch sticks in my mind.

At one of our cons in the UK, we had a WW2 veteran who was quite scathing about the film. Not sure why.

Ravs

[edit] I can see why the author used an American in the way he did. I think he was just trying to illustrate the fact that it took someone who was not 'of the RAF' to realise that tight formation was not the way to go - just a literary device. [edit]

Ravs

AdmRose · « **Reply #29 on:** April 17, 2004, 04:19:22 PM »

How does anyone flying a Spit/Hurry Mk1 get killed by a frickin' Stuka? Unless he was really stupid or that Stuka pilot/gunner was extremely lucky, it shouldn't have happened.