Mission of the Shark

Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:39 am

I bought the DVD of the film "Mission of the Shark" this week and watched it yesterday. This film is about the USS Indianaplois making its delivery of the atom bomb to Tinian Island and then getting sunk on the return trip to Leyte. It's a true story, and a great deal of the men were eaten by sharks, drowned or went mad as they waited five days for a rescue plane to find them. Great B-grade cast, and not bad for a lower budget film.

I noted two pieces of aviation in the film. B-29 Enola Gay and a grumman flying boat.

Was this the real Enola Gay? Or was it Fifi in make up? It was a ground shot so could have been the real deal I guess.

Also, what was that Grumman called? It's bigger than a Goose. Is it the Widgeon? Where did it come from? Is it still flying?

Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:57 am

Probably an HU-16 Albatross?

I believe that it was not in service during WW-II though.

Saludos,

Tulio

Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:27 am

Ah yes, that's the one I was trying to think of, the Albatross.

Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:33 am

The real type of aircraft that found the survivors was a PV-1 Ventura. http://www.amhf.org/ussindpls.shtml

I guess the film's premise of the plane landing and them all climbing aboard is bollox.

Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:21 am

It was a made-for-TV movie..I think from the late '80s / early / '90s. I saw it a few years ago, and they definately used a Grumman Albatross as a stand-in for a PBY (painted overall dark blue.) Tulio is correct..the Albatross didn't enter service until after the war, but like most films, the producers figured any piston-engine flying boat would fit the bill, and the layman wouldn't know the difference.

SN