Create an RNZAF TV series

[Dave Homewood]

Here's a chance for some use of the imagination...

I've was thinking about the TV series's that have recreated real wartime units. Band of Brothers is of course one of the best there is. On the other end of the scale is "Black Sheep Squadron" (also known to some as Baa Baa Black Sheep). It was a 1970's TV series that supposedly told the story of the real US Marine squadron that Col. Pappy Boyington lead in the Pacific.

It struck me as interesting how they picked real sqns or units and real people to make a series. It got me thinking, if someone decided to make a TV mini-series (up to 10 parts) telling the true story of a real RNZAF squadron in WWII, which squadron would you most like to see covered? Have a go here, use your imagination and create a draft plot for the series.

There are plenty of Sqns to choose from, but not are all practical in filmic terms.

No.'s 40 and 41 Squadrons could be done easily as C-47's are still abudant, as are Lodestars. but their story is not as interesting as one of the fighter or bomber squadrons.

Others that could be done are No.s 30 and 31 Sqns, as Avengers could be found, and No. 485 as plenty of Spitfires are around in the UK where it could be filmed. How about 490 Sqn's Catalinas in West Africa?

If you choose to, aircraft could be represented with mock-ups, models and cgi. Then you could have Mosquitoes, Beaufighters, Dauntlesses, Venturas, whatever you like.

So, have you got a pet wartime RNZAF squadron you'd like to see recreated for the big or small screen? If so, why that Sqn in particular? Which stories would you pick to focus on from their history? Which Sqn members would come to the fore as main characters? Which aircraft would you use, and which would be cgi or models, etc?

Over to you and your imagination...

[Bruce]

I reckon 5 and 6 Sqns and thier predescessors - Singapores, catalinas etc - travelling around stunning Pacific atolls, rescuing airmen, attacking submarines, liberating POWs, even some accidents and near misses - even special courier flights to Japan immediately after the end of hostilities. Sort of a better version of "South Pacific" (if you ever see the original 1950s? movie you'll know what I mean....) The actual incidents etc would be hard to choose from..... ZK-PBY could be used, but would need CGI to loose its wheels and get the correct scheme, would probably need a mock up for ground scenes on the hard. Maybe could put a scene with a young Navigator called Hillary....

[Dave Homewood]

Ooh, good choice Bruce.

By the way you have a huge budget so you could rent some Aussie or US based Cats too.

Singapores are harder to come by though. 5 Sqn also had Vincents in Fiji, don't forget.

[steve]

BAck in the mid 60s there was a tv show called The adventures of Sea Spray...the comings and goings of a yacht family cruising the south pacific...RNZAF Sunderlands were regular guests in rescue opeartions out of Fiji and Hobsonville!

[Dave Homewood]

That's interesting Steve, I've certainly never heard of this before. Was it a NZ made show? Or foreign?

I've been giving this some thought. Though I'd love to make a mini-series about No. 3 Squadron going from Baffins in 1941 through to Guadalcanal in 1942-43, it would be impractical unless you could use the Temora Hudson and build mock-ups of Baffins and Hudsons and use lots of cgi.

But I think a practical sqn to attempt would be No. 30 Sqn. I'd start from the formation of No. 8 GR Sqn at Gisborne, building up the aerodrome, patrols in Vincents and Vildes (large models, mockups, etc), the social side where the Sqn mixed with Gisborne locals; accidents; alerts, etc. Then move onto their name change to No. 30 (Dive Bomber) Sqn with Avengers. And follow their trianing and evental move into the Pacific. This is a hugely documented squadron thanks to Wally Inham's books and many of the Sqn members writing their memories down, or committing the to tape, for Wally who runs their Sqn Association. Colourful characters in the story include Ian Morrison (late CAS), Fred Ladd and many more.

[steve]

Dave...Sea Spray was a weekly tv show (US)from memory of a an american family exploits... exploring the south pacific. I tried a search on the internet and have not found it..same time as hogan heros etc.... however i do recall every second or third esposode featuring a rescue whatever by our Sunderlands which was really exciting..... to hear them talk of the kiwi airforce saving the day...really cowboys and indian stuff but entertaining.

Do you remember the sullivans TV show of the 80s ...that aussie family in Melbourne in WW2..i used to be spell bound to it and the era...your idea is excellent and would make an great series that would appeal across the board with the right cast...Auntie Helen has given the arts so much money since coming to power..you think this would be a genuine uptake of some subsidy rather than the usual fringe green and rainbow brigades for their projects?

[corsair67]

Any series about the RNZAF in the Pacific would be excellent I reckon! I have just started reading Chris Rudge's excellent book Air-To-Air in the past couple of days, and I think that some of the stories in this book would make for great television.

As for Helen Clark, well her idea of a NZ war epic would probably go something like this -

It's June 1942, and two female RNZAF fighter pilots fall in love with one another while discussing their mutual hatred of war. They decide that they must do everything they possibly can to stop the war, so they hop into their lavender and pink coloured P-40 Kittyhawks and fly through hundreds of Japanese fighters (and remarkably get through without firing a single shot) to get to Rabual. Once safely landed at Rabaul they ask to meet the beautiful Admiral Yoko Yamamoto. Yamamoto is so impressed by their courage, that she asks them to join her for herbal tea and vegetarian snacks, and to come and swim with the dolphins afterwards.

The war then ends, and the two brave NZ womyn are decorated and made joint Presidents of the Republic of Aotearoa, and honourary citizens of Japan.

;D

[Dave Homewood]

I also really loved watching The Sullivans. It was superb. Lots of Kiwis in it too.

This must be the series you refer to, The Adventues of the Seaspray. It sounds good, and was apparently Australian
www.imdb.com/title/tt0163430/


Regarding my idea for No. 8 GR and 30 Sqns, it'd make great TV because when the advancxe party turned up at the station they found just horsepaddocks. They washed in the horse troughs till the local hotels let them come and shower or bathe there. The station was dispersed, the first to do so. So there were no real boundaries to it and men could go into town and fraternse with locals freely. Many a romance blossomed, and many friendships too. There is drama, action, despair from the cold winter of 1942 when the station became depressed. there's mutiny over the bad food, controversy when the railway was laid across the airfield. All sorts there. Then there's action in the Pacific and all that brings with it, snipers, bugs, disease, weather... I think it'd make a superb mini-series. The Pacific parts could be filmed in northern Queensland perhaps and use the now several TBF's and TBM's in that country.

I agree that a fighter squadron would also be amazing to follow in a mini series. I think I'd pick No. 14 Squadron, but step back a bit to when it was No. 488 Sqn in Malaya for the first episode, and show the preparations for and advent of the war, their escape and then the formation of the dregs into No. 14 Sqn. Then follow their training at Masterton through to combat in the Pacific. It would be excelent.

[Dave Homewood]

Regarding The Adventures of the Seaspray:

Here's an episode guide and more detail
www.angelfire.com/retro/cta/Aus/Seaspray.htm

And this one even has lots of coloured photos
www.classicaustraliantv.com/AdvSeaspray.htm

Why don't they repeat this? It looks cool. And seeing RNZAF Sunderlands in action in colour would be brilliant.

[corsair67]

14SQN would also be interesting because the series could also cover the BCOF duties in Japan post-war too.

One of the sad parts about choosing 14SQN would be that they were involved in the tragic events of the RNZAF's Black Day - 15 January 1945.

[Dave Homewood]

Indeed, but it would be nice to pay tribute to those who were lost on that night by telling their story on screen for future generations to learn from.

Regarding that website I posted above about The Adventures of Sea Spray, the home page has loads of Aussie shows I've never heard of. Great site
www.classicaustraliantv.com/SeriesIndex.htm

[corsair67]

Has anyone made a documentary about the RNZAF's Black Day? Shame if it hasn't been done already, because I think it would really make some people think a bit more about the sacrifices that people made during the war, and mateship in general.

Dave, do you remember a Aussie series "Patrol Boat"? I recall that it was on tv in NZ in the early-80s and that one particular episode had some great footage of A-4G Skyhawks in action.

[Dave Homewood]

I don't think there has ever been a documentary about that day. Bryan Cox has of course written about it in depth, being one of the few survivors (now the only survivor). He was on the news when he unveiled a plaque to those killed at Motat about a year ago.

I don't recall ever seeing Patrol Boat. One excellent Aussie miniseries I recall was "The Heroes" starring John Bach and Jason Donovan, a true story of Australian WWII Commandoes who took an old boat into enemy waters. I'd love to get it on tape or DVD but it's not awailable.

[steve]

Oh good Lord...Corsair....so many feelings have been hurt..and those womym upset..Shame on you! Lets hear from real women especially those not anti man...and really pro airforces and aviation...they are out there...I have met a few ...boy are they delightful and often beautiful! not that you are advised to say that!....

Thanks for the info on seaspray Dave..I can only remember the B+W ...I love to see those sunderlands again in rescue ops..I have looked through the series...could be in a variety of them.

Mr Cox is a treasure..too young to die ..etc and the Pacific War would really be be great mini series in realationship to our nationhood and the RNZAF. I believe we destroyed 100 ememy aircraft in the south pacific operations...Auntie Helen as Minister of Arts would be the one to contact...with a copy to NZ on Air

Although many inc myself cannot forget her destroying the air combat capability... i willl give her the credit in looking after the vets more than the national party and giving them the appropiate recognitiion via medals etc.. long overdue...i believe she is very genuine in that regard...Bottom Line:... an RNZAF Mini series centrered around the Pacific war is an excellent idea that some one should run with!

[steve]

Corsair..your politically incorrect story lines are delightful>>a little scary though ..to close to the truth...Uncle Johney is going to speak to Auntie Helen this week in your captital..I think the aussie govt has given up... same relationship as US and Canada ..STRAINED!!

[Dave Homewood]

NZ did not get coloured television broadcasting till 1974, brought in only for the Commonwealth games, and then only sporadic till 1975 when TV2 launched, and everything started to go colour. So what you saw in b&w was probably originally in glorious colour, but broadcast in 425 line b&w.

I hope The Adventures of Sea Spray still exists in an archive somewhere. So much 1960's TV has been lost. Most of Aussie's ealry film too (blown up in a ship as a special effect for a later film!)

[phil82]

Having returned to NZ from a two-year Singapore posting in 1976, I had a durty-free Phillps 25" colour tv! I still recall all the neighbours kids joining ours in front of it and being spell-bound!

[phil82]

That series, '"he Heroes" was based on this:

www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A5536190