Yank Knights

• Nov 16, 2006

• #1

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Harp

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Just heard about a new book by Alex Kershaw titled,
The Few: The American "Knights of the Air" Who Risked Everything
to Fight in the Battle of Britain.The author was recently interviewed
on Chicago radio, but I missed the broadcast. Will visit my local
bookstore tomorrow, sounds like a good read.

 

• Nov 16, 2006

• #2

Smithy

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It is this book upon which the story of Billy Fiske is being taken for Michael Mann's (and Tom Cruise's) upcoming movie "The Few".

Kershaw's usually not a bad author and researcher, I'm interested to have a look at it, especially the bits on Fiske as I've been collecting information on 601 Sqn for some years now. Nice to see if there's anything new in there.

 

• Nov 19, 2006

• #3

Spitfire

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It's quite amazing really, when you think about it. There were maybe 10 american pilots in battle of Britain. Billy Fiske was absolutely NOT an ace or one of the best - and still Hollywood decides to make a movie about him.
One can fear that it will show how a few american pilots won the battle of britain all by themselves.

 

• Nov 19, 2006

• #4

Dixon Cannon

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Billy Fiske

Billy Fiske’s grave at Boxgrove graveyard in Sussex, England is distinguished by a small stars and stripes flag. Fiske was praised by Lord Brabazon ( Lt. Col. JTC Moore-Brabazon) with the words, “We thank America for sending us the perfect sportsman. Many of us would have given our lives for Billy”

Here is a great article about our hero: http://daddicade.livejournal.com/856572.html

-dixon cannon

 

• Nov 19, 2006

• #5

Dixon Cannon

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Billy Fiske's gravesite

PILOT OFFICER
WILLIAM MEADE LINDSLEY
FISKE III

ROYAL AIR FORCE

AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO DIED
THAT ENGLAND MIGHT LIVE

18 AUGUST 1940​

Memorial tablet to Billy Fiske,
installed in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral,
London on 4 July 1941.

 

• Nov 19, 2006

• #6

D

"Doc" Devereux

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To fight for another country because one believes it to be right is an act of astonishing selflessness, and every man who flew during the summer of 1940 made a difference. Nothing anyone says can take away from that quality shown by the Eagle Squadron or the AVG. I would certainly not wish to detract from Pilot Officer Fiske's courage nor, I think, would any other member of this community.

It would be nice to see tales of British pilots, or those of the other Allied nations, but it seems that the market is not felt to find those stories as interesting and that is what rules the motion picture industry.

 

• Nov 20, 2006

• #7

Spitfire

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Doc, you are absolutely right.
I just fear the "Hollywood treatement" of history.

 

• Dec 6, 2006

• #8

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Harp

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Hornet Sqdn

A Piece of Cake, comes to mind. An excellent RAF drama.

 

• Dec 6, 2006

• #9

Spitfire

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Harp said:

A Piece of Cake, comes to mind. An excellent RAF drama.

Click to expand...

Ahhh yes. Great story. And a great book too. I suddenly remembers that I have it somewhere on dvd....so it's goodbye for now:eusa_clap

 

• Dec 6, 2006

• #10

Story

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[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]
It would be nice to see tales of British pilots, or those of the other Allied nations, but it seems that the market is not felt to find those stories as interesting and that is what rules the motion picture industry.[/QUOTE]

Doc,
Whose story would you tell, if you wanted to sit down and watch it on the big screen?

I ask in the voice of the Devil's Advocate, considering the number of independent producers and scriptwriters at work (with stock footage and CGI in mind as well - just look at how vivid the air-to-air combat pc games are).

*ahem* To wit -
http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=10124&highlight=Cthulhu

 

• Dec 7, 2006

• #11

Spitfire

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A few movie suggestions.

The story of the irishman who flew for Britain: John Kilmartin

Or the story of one of the first Ace in a day pilots. Albert Lewis from South Africa (Standing to the right with his friend "Dickey" Lee - who btw score the first kill of the 85. squadron)

Finally there are the fantastic story of Godfrey and Gentile.
Their partnership and Godfreys amazing escape from POW - not to mention his tragic end. Far too early.

That's the stuff dreams are made off!

 

• Dec 7, 2006

• #12

Spitfire

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...not to forget

The amazing story of Wingcommander "Johnnie" Johnson. The highest scoring pilot in RAF.

 

• Dec 8, 2006

• #13

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Harp

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Gallant RAF

With all the colorful and heroic heritage of the RAF,
as well as other British arms and units (particularly the Paras),
I wonder why the British film industry does not avail such
magnificent history--more than what films/series I have seen.

 

• Dec 14, 2006

• #14

Story

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Harp said:

With all the colorful and heroic heritage of the RAF,
as well as other British arms and units (particularly the Paras),
I wonder why the British film industry does not avail such
magnificent history--more than what films/series I have seen.

Click to expand...

Because the right project hasn't met the right backer. It's definately not for a lack of artistic inspiration, since the tales of 1940 had a very definate impact on many, many young boys across the globe - including these guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCPFybWCnFY

Warning: 'Heavy metal' music, although I've always thought it captured the feel of 87 Octane flowing through 12 cylinders. Maybe one of you Brits should go look up Bruce Dickinson and see if he'd be interested.

 

• Dec 14, 2006

• #15

Smithy

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I actually believe that a movie about Fiske could be fantastic so long as it focuses on his whole life and no Hollywood sensationalism.

He was an Olympic bob champion, held the fastest time from Top at the Cresta Run (which incidentally was only broken in 1955), drove his Stutz at Le Mans, held the "unofficial" record of the Cambridge to London run in his Bentley, produced a film, and flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain. Very Boy's Own. If done correctly it could be an absolute cracker of a flick.

Shame nobody's made a film about Cobber Kain, as that could be a corker as well!