Sun May 03, 2009 10:01 pm
tony, from "capn eddies" biography they all stayed together, one crewman died, but you are right on in the axe that rickenbacker drove between the other survivors as to his "on the rag attitude". he defended it though, but only that group will know if it was justified. still a great premise for a movie.
Sun May 03, 2009 10:16 pm
Thanks Tom,
You might be right about some of that towing.
According to Historynet seems Rickenbacker's group was towed a short distance. But several versions of this story suggest that these men had seperated. Cherry was rescued individually; three were found on an island and Rickenbacker's group was rescued at sea. Don't have my original source handy right now.
TonyM.
You might be right about some of that towing.
According to Historynet seems Rickenbacker's group was towed a short distance. But several versions of this story suggest that these men had seperated. Cherry was rescued individually; three were found on an island and Rickenbacker's group was rescued at sea. Don't have my original source handy right now.
TonyM.
Sun May 03, 2009 10:18 pm
sorry tony, maybe we both have crossed wires 
(i've been known to be wrong before!!!! no........ not tommy boy!!)! but it's pretty well documented that the kingfisher that rescued rickenbacker & crew was named "the bug". i've kept an eye out all these years for any tidbits of info on the story. i feel you agree though that the story would make an excellent movie.
(i've been known to be wrong before!!!! no........ not tommy boy!!)! but it's pretty well documented that the kingfisher that rescued rickenbacker & crew was named "the bug". i've kept an eye out all these years for any tidbits of info on the story. i feel you agree though that the story would make an excellent movie.
Sun May 03, 2009 10:20 pm
Tom,
I have been known to be wrong too. We'll get it straight I'll bet.
I'd rather be wrong and corrected than be stubborn and think that I am right.
TonyM.
I have been known to be wrong too. We'll get it straight I'll bet.
I'd rather be wrong and corrected than be stubborn and think that I am right.
TonyM.
Sun May 03, 2009 10:28 pm
Here are 2 books about the event
Lt. James C. Whittaker wrote We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing: (On the Life Raft with Eddie Rickenbacker in the WWII Pacific ,
Eddie Rickenbacker wrote Captain Rickenbacker's Story of the Ordeal and Rescue of Himself and the Men with Him
Lt. James C. Whittaker wrote We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing: (On the Life Raft with Eddie Rickenbacker in the WWII Pacific ,
Eddie Rickenbacker wrote Captain Rickenbacker's Story of the Ordeal and Rescue of Himself and the Men with Him
Sun May 03, 2009 10:29 pm
1 thing for sure........ you type / respond like greased lightening!! 
a footnote....after miles of moving in rough seas with the survivors on the wings, the plane was thoroughly battered & not airworthy, thus after they reached & boarded the sub, the kingfisher was sunk by the sub's deck gun to avoid it from being captured by the japanese.
a footnote....after miles of moving in rough seas with the survivors on the wings, the plane was thoroughly battered & not airworthy, thus after they reached & boarded the sub, the kingfisher was sunk by the sub's deck gun to avoid it from being captured by the japanese.
Mon May 04, 2009 7:03 am
First Light by Geoff Wellum. One of the best personal accounts of the Battle of Britain I've ever read...
Mon May 04, 2009 8:01 am
Arty163 wrote:Failing that I would like to see a movie of WW2 Aces taking on a Mexican drug cartel in the current age. To add to the drama we could have an American Ace, a German Ace (flying a P-51 I think), a British ace in a Spitfire and perhaps a somewhat disgraced japanese ace impersonating another japanese ace who comes clean and earns everyones respect in the end. Perhaps the druggies can have a wonder weapon like a Me 262, but since these are in short supply, I suppose we could substitute one of Burt Rutans weird looking airplnes. Man, I bet that'd be a blockbuster.
Ah cr*p. I have a manuscript with that exact plot in the making right now. Well, well, back to the drawing board... 
T J
Mon May 04, 2009 3:53 pm
Which one of them dies in the end saving the others?
Someone HAS to die, saving the others!!!! HAS TO!!!!!!!!!
I vote for low level B-25 raids in the S. Pacific!!!
Spencer Tracy was in a good movie about Doolittle!.. can not top Spencer Tracy.., except maybe with Matt Damon (ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww)
Ploesti would be great as well.
Someone HAS to die, saving the others!!!! HAS TO!!!!!!!!!
I vote for low level B-25 raids in the S. Pacific!!!
Spencer Tracy was in a good movie about Doolittle!.. can not top Spencer Tracy.., except maybe with Matt Damon (ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww)
Ploesti would be great as well.
Mon May 04, 2009 4:14 pm
the330thbg.......a pappy gunn story would be the ultimate low level b-25 movie, he practically created most of the tactics that the usaaf adopted into s.o.p., including skip bombing!! the 75mm gun nose gun etc.
Mon May 04, 2009 4:16 pm
absolutely agree!!!!! 
Mon May 04, 2009 8:04 pm
There was some talk floating around of a" BoB" type series on " Hell Hawks" based on Robert Dorr's book on 9th AF Thunderbolts. That would make a good story. And there are enough P47s flying now to get some good aerial work.
Mon May 04, 2009 10:15 pm
How about the unsung heroes of the war in Europe, Coastal Command. The story of Walker's 461 Sqn RAAF Sunderland that bested eight Ju-88s and got home would make a great story, although those who don't know the truth of it would probably disregard it as a Hollywood beat-up. Or the Hampdens and Beaufighters patrolling the Norwegian coast, long convoy escorts to Russia, Liberators over the Atlantic.
Walker's story here.
http://www.beauscfs3.leaveningonline.co ... u88_s.html
Walrus
Walker's story here.
http://www.beauscfs3.leaveningonline.co ... u88_s.html
Walrus
Mon May 04, 2009 10:49 pm
I wouldn't mind seeing a remake of Airforce. I thought it was a good movie, coming in in during the attack at Pearl, making their way across the Pacific to help their beleagured comrades, in the Phillipines, and making it to Australia. 
Tue May 05, 2009 2:53 am
TJ, Whats your working title "Iron Eagle 4?"
My vote involves B-25's at very low altitude and should include exactly 3 minutes of leave in Sydney spread out over three 1 minute segments widely spaced out, the rest of the movie should make you leave the theatre brushing dirt off your shirt and pants and smelling like burnt cordite and your eyes WIDE OPEN in amazement!
My vote involves B-25's at very low altitude and should include exactly 3 minutes of leave in Sydney spread out over three 1 minute segments widely spaced out, the rest of the movie should make you leave the theatre brushing dirt off your shirt and pants and smelling like burnt cordite and your eyes WIDE OPEN in amazement!