Movie Rewind - The Dam Busters
April 1st 2007 08:03
Hi everyone
Sorry there hasn't been any posts for a few days, seems to be a tech problem with site, but all okay now, so back on with the show. Decided to get some dvds out over the weekend and as I have been reading a non fiction book called Bomber Crew which is about bomber command during WW2, I thought I would watch the classic Dam Busters movie.
This stars actors such as Richard Todd and Micheal Redgrave, but in my book the real stars are the Lancaster bombers themselves as in 1954 ( date film made) there would have still been a surplus of these wonderful old planes still around, unlike today with only two airworthy planes flying left in the world!
Now I enjoy these old b&w movies as they are like a living time capsule and its enjoyable to see how people lived 50 yrs ago, a bit more simple way of life really, comapred to our fast paced world now. For everyone who isn't familiar with the story, here is the the movie synopsis:
The film falls into two distinct halves. First, Wallis struggles to develop a means of attacking Germany's dams, in the hope of crippling German heavy industry. Working for the Ministry of Aircraft Production, as well as doing his own job at Vickers, he works feverishly to make practical his theory of a bouncing bomb which would skip over the water to avoid protective torpedo nets. When it came into contact with the dam, it would sink before exploding, making it much more destructive. Wallis calculates that the aircraft will have to fly extremely low (60 feet) in order for the bombs to skip over the water correctly. But when he takes his conclusions to the Ministry, he is told that lack of production capacity means they cannot go ahead with his proposals.
Angry and frustrated, Wallis secures an interview with Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris (played by Basil Sydney), the head of Bomber Command, who at first is reluctant to take the idea seriously. But he is eventually convinced and takes the idea to the Prime Minister, who authorises the project.
Bomber Command forms a special squadron of Lancaster bombers - 617 Squadron - to be commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson. He recruits experienced crews, especially those with low-altitude-flight experience. Whilst they train for the mission, Wallis continues his development of the bomb, but experiences problems. With only a few weeks to go, he succeeds in fixing them and the mission can go ahead. (net sourced)
As this movie is based on actual events, then its well worth a viewing and even today, it stands up well, although there is talk of Peter Jackson doing a remake, so should be exciting if it happens.
For everyone who isn't upto to speed on their British bombers, then I have provided some photos.
Avro Lancaster
Now if you are interested in other British heavy weights then these are pics of:
Handley Page Halifax
Short Stirling
I won't go into a full history of these planes but out of the three, the Short Stirling was the least preferred, mainly due to the fact it couldn't fly as high as the other bombers, which meant you either would attract more flak ( exploding shells) or get bombed on by planes flying higher than you.
As to the german planes, one of the main ones used would be the Junkers Ju 88
Note the radar atenna at the front, generally a night fighter variant.
If you want to know more about the bomber offensive during WW2, then there are many good books out there, I am reading Bomber Crew at present, but have a look down the library in the history section.
So I recommend a viewing of this movie, just to get some idea what our grandparents fought and died for all those years ago.
thought for the day 'Make the best of bad situations'
Hal
Sorry there hasn't been any posts for a few days, seems to be a tech problem with site, but all okay now, so back on with the show. Decided to get some dvds out over the weekend and as I have been reading a non fiction book called Bomber Crew which is about bomber command during WW2, I thought I would watch the classic Dam Busters movie.
This stars actors such as Richard Todd and Micheal Redgrave, but in my book the real stars are the Lancaster bombers themselves as in 1954 ( date film made) there would have still been a surplus of these wonderful old planes still around, unlike today with only two airworthy planes flying left in the world!
Now I enjoy these old b&w movies as they are like a living time capsule and its enjoyable to see how people lived 50 yrs ago, a bit more simple way of life really, comapred to our fast paced world now. For everyone who isn't familiar with the story, here is the the movie synopsis:
The film falls into two distinct halves. First, Wallis struggles to develop a means of attacking Germany's dams, in the hope of crippling German heavy industry. Working for the Ministry of Aircraft Production, as well as doing his own job at Vickers, he works feverishly to make practical his theory of a bouncing bomb which would skip over the water to avoid protective torpedo nets. When it came into contact with the dam, it would sink before exploding, making it much more destructive. Wallis calculates that the aircraft will have to fly extremely low (60 feet) in order for the bombs to skip over the water correctly. But when he takes his conclusions to the Ministry, he is told that lack of production capacity means they cannot go ahead with his proposals.
Angry and frustrated, Wallis secures an interview with Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris (played by Basil Sydney), the head of Bomber Command, who at first is reluctant to take the idea seriously. But he is eventually convinced and takes the idea to the Prime Minister, who authorises the project.
Bomber Command forms a special squadron of Lancaster bombers - 617 Squadron - to be commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson. He recruits experienced crews, especially those with low-altitude-flight experience. Whilst they train for the mission, Wallis continues his development of the bomb, but experiences problems. With only a few weeks to go, he succeeds in fixing them and the mission can go ahead. (net sourced)
As this movie is based on actual events, then its well worth a viewing and even today, it stands up well, although there is talk of Peter Jackson doing a remake, so should be exciting if it happens.
For everyone who isn't upto to speed on their British bombers, then I have provided some photos.
Now if you are interested in other British heavy weights then these are pics of:
Handley Page Halifax
Short Stirling
I won't go into a full history of these planes but out of the three, the Short Stirling was the least preferred, mainly due to the fact it couldn't fly as high as the other bombers, which meant you either would attract more flak ( exploding shells) or get bombed on by planes flying higher than you.
As to the german planes, one of the main ones used would be the Junkers Ju 88
Note the radar atenna at the front, generally a night fighter variant.
If you want to know more about the bomber offensive during WW2, then there are many good books out there, I am reading Bomber Crew at present, but have a look down the library in the history section.
So I recommend a viewing of this movie, just to get some idea what our grandparents fought and died for all those years ago.
thought for the day 'Make the best of bad situations'
Hal
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