Some time ago there was a discussion (here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42059&start=30 ) that touched on aspects of the filming of the Mustang sequences in
Empire of the Sun. Some time ago, I dug out the article by Mark Hanna from Warbirds Worldwide Journal No.2, back in 1987, and with kind permission recently given by Sarah Hanna at the Old Flying Machine Company, I've reproduced it, and the pictures, in its entirety, on my blog.
It's an interesting article, and worth, I'd suggest, grabbing a tea, cocktail or brew according to preference, and sitting back for a read of the way things were...
"...Next was my turn. G-PSID – Tugboat - has an electric bomb release which pickles both bombs simultaneously. Being an Air Defence pilot with no bomb dropping experience since my 1980 Hunter Weapons Unit course, I thought I had better try what I know and set up an academic 10° dive attack As the target disappeared under the nose I pickled, paused and pulled and got a couple of 100 yard short bombs - considerably better than my aimed averages on the Hunter back in 1980 I might add! The next trial was Ray’s remaining bomb. This, we had decided, would be from a level skip-bomb attack. with the release height being 25 to 30 feet, a-la-Venom Pilot Attack Instructors Course of 1956 I believe. The result was a bomb skipping once, bouncing to about 10 feet and then straight through the target. Having explained to the film people that skip-bombing was an approved World War II tactic they eagerly took up the suggestion that we could place bombs right through the front doors of any target they chose - with the mock Japanese hangars being the preferred targets!"Read the whole article here:
http://vintageaeroplanewriter.blogspot. ... f-sun.html
Regards,
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