Band of Brothers of the air?

Simcoe Warrior · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:51 am

Dave Homewood wrote:

daveymac82c wrote:

Dave Homewood, I love the sound of the 14 Sqn RNZAF series. I bet that would be a great series, but I just worry about how sellable it is. Besides us warbird nuts here in North America, I don't know how many people in the United States (being the 'big' target market) and Canada too, would be terribly interested in a non-US themed television program. Regardless of that, it is something that SHOULD be made.

Cheers,

David

Hi David,

That's a fair point. However, it would be able to show both New Zealand audiences and the worldwide market that kiwis did fly in the war, and that the Yanks and Poms were not the only ones.

I'm sure it would have an international appeal in that they flew with amd alongside the RAF in Singapore and Malaya, and later escorted the US bombers and protected US ships from Henderson Field, etc. A lot of American tie-ins could be made, they were under US command at Guadalcanal of course, and living on the same airfield as the Yanks, working alongside them.

Having the Empire's top ace of the Pacific war Geoff Fisken for example, and Battle of Britain pilots etc, would surely appeal to a wider audience than just NZ? I think it's time a decent film was made simply about the debacle that saw Singapore and Malaya capitulate, and this could easily encompass that story into it.

Put it this way, I'd like to hope that an American audience was open enough to watch an Allie's war efforts, but I guess it would remain to be seen.

Did you know that they arrived at Guadalcanal, settled in, and next day the squadron shot down six aircraft for no loss. Just amazing!

I'd like to hope so as well, but I doubt it would be ther case unless there
was some way that you could write an American or two in to the script in some way. I like your idea however, I'm more interested in seeing the lesser known battles covered well IMO.

I've always thought that the book "War in a Stringbag" would make a terrific film, or perhaps a film about the defense of Malta.

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 12:30 pm

Me thinks that doing a mini-series with P-51's would most definitely be the easiest to do the aerial sequences, and airplanes en mass scenes with.

Having recently changed my JDK-esque Cessna views of the P-51 towards a greater admiration of the machine, I am still rather virgin to the exploits of the Mustang squadrons in Europe during WWII.

My reasons for brushing over the P-51 for so many years is because of their over-the-top popularity, I wanted to appreciate other types more, and really never learned much about the P-51. You could call it an attempt to support the underdog.

I know a little about the Tuskegee Airmen, but of the Blue Nose boys, I'm practically entirely unknowledgeable about them.

Does anyone have links or URLs for where I can learn about them, or perhaps stories of your own, or even books I should get my hands on?

Cheers,

David

P.S. One day I'm going to own a P-51.

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 12:55 pm

Here is the FG's Association site, lots of good data, pics, stories, links. IIRC, a lot of them came out of P-47s and not all transitioned to P-51's either, so it wouldn't just be a Pony Show!
http://352ndfightergroup.com/assoc/main.html

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:13 pm

Thanks Holedigger,

that's a great site.

The quick history of the 352nd was fantastic. They sounded like a hard working, never say quick group of guys.

I worry though, that the amount of movie worthy material in the 352nd brief history would simply be too much to fit into a feature film or even a 12 part mini-series.

Has there ever been a movie done of the 352nd? Even a tv-movie?

Cheers,

David

DarenC1 · **Joined:** Sun May 07, 2006 8:10 am **Posts:** 235

First Light

:wink:

Ken · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:03 pm

I suspect you could find a riveting human & historical story in nearly any frontline squadron from WWII.

You asked for WWII ideas, but I hope that the story of A-1 Skyraider/Sandy pilots is one day told accurately.

rreis · **Joined:** Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:42 pm **Posts:** 441

I, for once, would like a series on the women units of the VVS (Soviet Air Force) during WWII... they even got a good name already, "Night Witches"...

at least there is a comic book series (haven't read it yet, though...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefields_(comics)

a film on the women role in the TAC (transport air command) of the UK would also be nice...

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:19 am

I agree about Zemke's Wolfpack. A group of a~~ kickers and name-takers that made America proud. However, a fighter group with a more colorful story line might be ...

The WWII gathering of intrepid young men who braved many obstacles to get into the fight early. Many were previously rejected by their own country as unfit for service for various reasons ... so they did what they needed to do to get into the fight. Most who found their way into Spitfire and Hurricane cockpits were assembled into three RAF squadrons (71, 121, and 133) and, when the time came, their home country decided that they were indispensable and wanted them 'back' ... some didn't go, preferring to stay with the RAF, but those that did make the transfer to the USAAF went on to kick some serious tushy. Their leader (along with Hub Zemke of the 56th) was singled out by the Luftwaffe as "Public Enemy No. 1", or German words to that effect.

BTW, one of the 133 (Eagle) Squadron Spit Vbs flies today in the UK (AB 910).

Hold on a minute, I'm trying to think of their name ... :lol:

Wade

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:24 am

I'm a red-nose fan, too!

Ryan

drgondog · **Joined:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:50 am **Posts:** 237

I think the idea has merit. Multiple dimensions to consider.

1. BoB squadron starting early (say in France) then through BoB and all the way through the invasion and tactical ops on mainland. Longevity and a complete tour of the fighter/Fighter airwar with JG2 and JG26.

2. 8th AF. Eagle/4th starting in late BoB period, working into escort role with Spits, converting to 'hated' jug and second fiddle to 56th FG, then converting to Mustangs at same general time as 357th and 354th and 355th - fighting the big air battles over germany to take control of the air - the ground support role during the Invasion - then closing out the war with both escort and strafing airfields and rail and barges.

3. The 352nd and 355th had very similar stories starting Ops together - with 352nd having higher air to air, 355th good air to air but tops strafers.

All (4th, 352nd, 355th) losing 2x air to ground (flak) versus air to air

4. 8th AF or RAF Bomber Command. First of the Many for both AF in carrying the war to Germany and surviving punishing losses -

my problem with the latter is that all Bomber stories are about receiving punishment and dependent on other factors for survival (Mustangs.. Mosquitos.. evasive tactics, whereas the Jug to Mustang story is "see the hun- kill the hun" and take control by being aggressive.

I think the Wolfpack was arguably our best fighter Group during WWII - but they cut themselves out of the greatest battles over Germany by refusing to take the Mustang and were largely stuck doing Penetration and/or Withdrawal Support to German border and slightly beyond when the 51's were running wild from Posnan to Berlin to Brux and Leipzig and Munich

SaxMan · **Posted:** Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:44 pm

I'm surprised no one mentioned VF-17 and Tom Blackburn. His book "The Jolly Rogers" completely lends itself to a mini-series. Too much like "Baa Baa Black Sheep"?

Harold Buell's "Dauntless Helldivers" would be another great book that lends itself to a mini-series. You have all the major carrier battles covered.

For the bomber folks, Dale Smith's "Screaming Eagle"...one of my favorite books on ETO B-17s...or Harry Crosby's "A Wing and A Prayer". If any bomber group has that "Band of Brothers" appeal, I'd say it was the 100th.

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