Warbird Information Exchange

Since the topic of movies came up here recently I thought I'd ask a few questions I've had related to Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.

1. Does anyone know who the guys were who did the flying sequences?
2. Any information on the planes used?
3. Where was the set for the carrier deck?
4. Are there any photos around besides the movie?

Thanks,
Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Both James H. Farmer's "Celluloid Wings" and Bruce W. Orris's "When Hollywood Ruled the Skies" have detailed articles on the making of this classic. Briefly, the pilots were USAAF personnel from training squadrons at Mather Field in Florida, and the USS Hornet was a 135-foot-long set built inside MGM's Sound Stage 15, along with a 60-foot-long miniature.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

A very cool movie even by today's standards.

What really sold it was the real smoke and fire as they were flying over "Tokyo". I read where this was a fortunate timing type event - a oil storage tank in Texas caught fire and some quick flight planning had the B-25s and camera plane flying past the burning tank. Very realistic.

IIRC they even put up Japanese signs on the surrounding buildings for added effect.

I bet the guys fighting the fire had a great impromptu airshow.

Derek

The tank fire was actually on the Oakland/Alameda waterfront I beleive.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Yes,the burning oil tank was definitely in Northern California.
Tim
(I read it somewhere)

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"WHAT ME WORRY?"

Actually, Mather Field is in Sacramento. During some of the aerial filming that big tank did catch fire in Oakland so it was worked into the filming quite nicely. As I recall, there is a sequence where a B-25 (or some cameraship) was flown under the Golden Gate bridge. Good flick.

Ok, you knew this was coming...
Where can I get ahold of those books or articles? Are they still in print or is it something I'd have to look for wherever it can be found?

Also, I might as well ask here as the other message board:

In your opinion, is the B-25 in the picture below a Doolittle Raider B-25B, is it a 30 Seconds Over Tokyo plane, or is it a model?


(picture borrowed from http://www.doolittleraider.com)


This is part of a discussion I've been in on the message board at http://www.doolittleraider.com/forum/index.php ...

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

If that's the real thing I'll join Col Roar in the wilds of Maine hunting for the White Bird!!!!

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Don't touch my junk!!

I use http://www.abebooks.com to find and buy old books like this.

Dennis

Model...if for no other reason, how would they have shot it if it were the real thing?
The movie film of Doolittle's take off doesn't show a ship in front of the hornet...and having any ship there would be far too risky.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.