Pilot Identity in "Midway" footage

[NormH3]

 In the movie "Midway" there is quite a bit of footage used from WWII carrier operations. In one scene an aircraft is landing on a carrier deck and when he hits the plane breaks just behind the pilot and he spins toward the super structure and apparently comes to rest safely. Does anyone know if this pilot was ever identified? It's just one of those curiosity things.

[Ripsnort]

Yes. This pilot actually went onto a post-war career in one of the largest theme parks in it's day as well. Very successful chap.
Pilot in Question

[NormH3]

Yes. This pilot actually went onto a post-war career in one of the largest theme parks in it's day as well. Very successful chap.
Pilot in Question

nice...had me there for a moment 

[Meatwad]

Yes. This pilot actually went onto a post-war career in one of the largest theme parks in it's day as well. Very successful chap.
Pilot in Question

Goofy?

[ROX]

That footage of that crash has been used in (just about) every flippin' movie about carrier warfare in the Pacific in WWII.

Why every director thinks that totally worn out footage needs to have "must include" status is beyond me.

It got worn out in the theater News-Reels before the war ended.

Modern film makers have digital options to have even far cooler effects--new--fresh--and I hope they use them. 

I can't really blame the "Midway" director...it was 70's vintage movie and for all I know he included it simply because it was historically accurate and actually happened at Midway.

[NormH3]

I can't really blame the "Midway" director...it was 70's vintage movie and for all I know he included it simply because it was historically accurate and actually happened at Midway.

That answered my other question...that it did actually happen at Midway. I remember seeing it in other movies/news reels as well. I've googled it to death and just haven't come up with anything yet. It's a little more than a curiosity for me. While in high school, i remember a teacher I had who was USN during WWII saying it was one of the councellors at our school who was a USN aviator. Both gentlemen were senior members of our CAP cadet squadron which was also based at the school. I don't know if he was pulling our leg or not.

[ROX]

That answered my other question...that it did actually happen at Midway. I remember seeing it in other movies/news reels as well. I've googled it to death and just haven't come up with anything yet. It's a little more than a curiosity for me. While in high school, i remember a teacher I had who was USN during WWII saying it was one of the councellors at our school who was a USN aviator. Both gentlemen were senior members of our CAP cadet squadron which was also based at the school. I don't know if he was pulling our leg or not.

I have no difinitive answer myself if the director actually knew or not.  Wish I did. 

Same goes for those stock footage of those Hellcats and Corsairs ditching next to a navy ship/carrier and getting  out.  The TV show Baa-Baa Black Sheep used to use the same Newsreel stock footage over and over...I guees they thought nobody noticed.

Many US Navy Newsreel camera stock was just that, stock footage...so pretty much everybody & their grandma could use it.

[AWwrgwy]

That answered my other question...that it did actually happen at Midway. I remember seeing it in other movies/news reels as well. I've googled it to death and just haven't come up with anything yet. It's a little more than a curiosity for me. While in high school, i remember a teacher I had who was USN during WWII saying it was one of the councellors at our school who was a USN aviator. Both gentlemen were senior members of our CAP cadet squadron which was also based at the school. I don't know if he was pulling our leg or not.

No streaming media right now.

If it's the F6F that hits the 5" gun mount at the rear of the Island and breaks in half, it didn't happen at Midway. No F6fs there.

This one maybe?

Pilot Ensign R. Black climbs out of an F6F fighter aircraft following a crash landing onto the <USS Yorktown>.

But that would be the second Yorktown.

Now, from memory, there's a film of a plane landing short and hitting the end of the flight deck and bursting into flames that's been used over and over in WW2 movies.

It's an F9F Panther, jet fighter.



http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/F9F-Duncan.htm

EDIT: Just read the full article about the F9F crach linked above. 

Film footage of this accident was used as a SB2C "Helldiver" striking the ramp before turning into an F9F "Panther" jet fighter bomber as it explodes, in the 1976 film "Midway".

(There were no SB2C Helldivers at Midway either)

The pilots in each of these incidents survived to fly another day.


wrongway

[Obie303]

Here's an observation.....the crash of the Panther took place on CVA-41.  The USS Midway.

[curry1]

Here is one of an f4f

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gpCLeWqY0w

[NormH3]

The one at about 1:14 is what I refer to. I guess its the same as the still photo

[Buzzard7]

F6F number on the side I think is 27 is 1:14
Looks like Wrongway got it.

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

Who gives a damn, have you ever landed a plane on a carrier? Its shown because that is exactly the kind of risks involved with carrier landings, AND dispite the damage to the plane the pilot could walk away from it.


Its the same reason the really horrible nascar wrecks are shown time and time again.

[Reschke]

Just like them using some footage in "The Hunt for Red October" that was not from that era. Kinda hookey if you think about it for more than a second but then you are dealing with hollywood.

[Babalonian]

<snip>
Why every director thinks that totally worn out footage needs to have "must include" status is beyond me.

<snip>

If it's the footage I'm thinking of, I believe it's one of the few (maybe one of less than a handful) pieces of footage that shows a dramatic carrier event resulting in an aircarft that is beyond less than whole and in one-piece after returning from combat, but the pilot, without assitance, calmly vacates the aircarft and is unharmed.

I know it's played out, but I personaly haven't gotten tired of seeing it yet and it always gives me a smirk to see.  It sure beats most of the similar footage I've seen, even if it's newer or rarer, that shows shot-up or flaming wrecks coming back to the carrier after battle with the crew having to fight and strugle to remove and pry the injured or incompasitated pilot from the often shattered and bloodied cockpit.