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Post by chevvron on Nov 3, 2017 15:54:07 GMT
I used to live near there many years ago and have done a bit of research about its present use. Only the western part of the old runway 08/26 owned by 'Berry Farm' in use for aircraft now, the main runway being mainly used for a Sunday Market and of course a prison on the east side. Anyone noticed any aircraft activity recently? I understand a Cherokee used to operate there and the owners were learning to fly in a Eurostar, but no news since about mid 2012.
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Post by Jeff on Nov 3, 2017 15:59:58 GMT
Didnt they film some of the battle of britain there? I used to go banger racing there many moons ago
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Post by davebasing on Nov 3, 2017 16:56:37 GMT
Didnt they film some of the battle of britain there? I used to go banger racing there many moons ago Yes Jeff they did, and held an open day for the film aircraft in October 1968 which marked my final change from black & white to colour slides so quality not necessarily the best as I was still getting to grips with it. Just why they painted some of the Me 109s (really ex Spanish AF Hispano HA1112s) in RAF scheme was not entirely clear. Apart from the film aircraft (and the B25 camera ship) the Southern Communications Squadron hangar was stuffed full of Beagle Bassets. 68-am by dave tompkins, on Flickr 68-al by dave tompkins, on Flickr 68-ae by dave tompkins, on Flickr 68-aa by dave tompkins, on Flickr
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Post by jargon on Nov 3, 2017 18:51:32 GMT
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Post by filair on Nov 3, 2017 19:07:49 GMT
I believe the Buchons were painted in RAF colours to add more "allied" fighters which would be shown in the distance rather than the real ones which would have been filmed closer up,if that makes sense.
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Post by davebasing on Nov 4, 2017 9:38:17 GMT
I believe the Buchons were painted in RAF colours to add more "allied" fighters which would be shown in the distance rather than the real ones which would have been filmed closer up,if that makes sense. Thanks, that would make sense in those long ago days before CGI. Probably the same principle as bald men painting rabbits on their heads as from a distance they look like hares. Dave
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Post by davebasing on Nov 4, 2017 10:39:57 GMT
Thanks John. Good to see that she has finally found a good home in Adelaide. First saw her at Luton in December 67 when she ferried across for the BoB film work. I last came across her back in the 90s looking very forlorn and minus an engine at a quaint little field in Isle of Wight County, Virginia (signposted John Beverly Rose Municipal Airport so thought it worth a look) while I was en route to Norfolk Naval Air Station. Sad when she had once won the best bomber award at an Oshkosh show. I do like Mitchells and was by happy co-incidence at North Island Naval Air Station in California back in April 92 on the 50th anniversary of the Doolittle raid. Reading the local paper there I discovered that they were having a public 'do' that day and took my wife and son along to find 5 flyable Mitchells plus other warbirds on display including this veteran which had once appeared in the Catch 22 film. 92-hd by dave tompkins, on Flickr
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Post by chevvron on Nov 4, 2017 11:31:19 GMT
Didnt they film some of the battle of britain there? I used to go banger racing there many moons ago Bovingdon was used for several films from the 50s onward, the most notable being: The Lady takes a Flyer (1952) Mustangs The War Lover (1962) with 3 x B17s 633 Squadron (1964) with 12 x Mosquitos (one or two only in parts) plus a B25 Mosquito Squadron (1968) with about 5 x Mosquitos plus a Shackleton camera ship borrowed from Farnborough; a Bovingdon based Anson was camouflaged for the closing scene. Parts of the Battle of Britain (1968) with various types including a Proctor modified to look like a Stuka Hanover Street (1978) with 5 x B25. These were ferried to Blackbushe after filming finished and often feature in Peter Brown's Blackbushe proboard. In addition it has been used for various scenes in films/TV series; I saw one the other evening; The Persuaders included vehicles driving in through the main gate then driving across the airfield; I also remember recognising Bovingdon a very short scene (about 20 sec) in an episode of 'The Prisoner'. It was also used for a scene in 'The Man with the Golden Gun' in 1974 and I understand some of the recent Star Wars film 'Rogue One' was also filmed there. I think 'noisy' events like banger racing and motor bike 'sprints' along the main runway were banned by Dacorum Council about 10 years ago. The main use for the airfield nowadays is the sunday market on the old main runway 02/20 and the eastern part of the old runway 08/26, the western part of the old runway 08/26 is a private airstrip, with 'The Mount' prison occupying the eastern part of the airfield where the domestic site used to be. Haven't been past there recently but a new radar head feeding to London Area and Terminal Control Centre (LATCC) at Swanwick in Hampshire has been recently installed plus of course the Bovingdon VOR serving Heathrow arrivals has been there since about 1970.
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