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This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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How realisitic was this 1970s British WW2 show?

Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:55 am

What do you think of this Lancaster RAF Tv series - http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=oH6 ... =endscreen
Realistic or not?

Re: How realisitic was this 1970s British WW2 show?

Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:57 am

Kind of their version of "12 O'Clock High"? Of course, the Brits always seem to do their TV series with a lot more panache. I don't ever recall seeing this series make its way to the U.S.

Re: How realisitic was this 1970s British WW2 show?

Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:55 am

The technical advisor in the credits was Hammish MacHaddie... didn't he create the Air Force for Battle of Britain....? Was the attacking 109 one of the BoB Hispano's?

Pretty good on uniforms. Mostly proper period Type C helmets with one or two Naval Type C's (zippered cups). Half the parachute harnesses are correct British Air Crew Harness. Those with the dotted pattern webbing are not correct. Probably American A-6. Biggest gaff in "costuming" are the oxygen masks. These are Type H that have the smallish microphone which were in use into the 70s. Period correct would be Type G.

One has to wonder about the audience being in the loop on some of the technical lingo such as reference to "GEE" navigation and "the Sperry"...

Re: How realisitic was this 1970s British WW2 show?

Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:40 am

Yes, Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie was indeed the chap who pulled together the aeroplanes for Battle of Britain, but he was also a Pathfinder bomber pilot in WWII, and he did the technical advisor role on other films too I think.

http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,hamishmahaddie.html

I have watched the three or four episodes of this series that are on Youtube and was pleasantly surprised at how well written and made it was, considering the obviously limited budget of 1970's television. It seems pretty accurate from what i have seen, and very interesting and entertaining.
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