Battle of Britain movie fighters to fly again after 40 years
Aug 27, 2014 20:34:17 GMT 12
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Post by raymond on Aug 27, 2014 20:34:17 GMT 12
www.express.co.uk/news/uk/502635/Battle-of-Britain-fighters-fly-again-after-40-years-in-barn
Battle of Britain movie fighters to fly again after 40 years in barn
A GROUP of historic fighter planes that starred in the 1969 film The Battle Of Britain has been sold for nearly £10million after languishing in a barn for more than 40 years.
By: Andy Gardner Published: Sun, August 24, 2014
Battle of Britain, Fighter planes, fighter jets, planes bought at auction, battle of Britain film, battle of Britain movie,One of the neglected Buchons on a ranch in Texas [PH]
They have been snapped up by a European dealer and after restoration could before long be flying over British skies at historic air shows.
A 1943 Spitfire that actually fought in the Second World War fetched £4million while the rest went on nine rare Buchons, the Spanish-built version of the Messerschmitt 109, Germany’s top fighter in the key 1940 battle.
They played “the enemy” in the movie and were given to stunt pilot Wilson “Connie” Edwards in lieu of payment, along with the Spitfire he flew in the film. Now over 80, he decided to put them on the market after keeping them on his ranch at Big Spring in Texas.
He explained: “I was contracted for six weeks and 11 months later I was still getting shot down. The weather was foul and money tight by the end of filming, so I said, ‘Fine, I’ll take the aircraft as IOUs’.”
Simon Brown, of Platinum Fighters, which conducted the US sale, said: “The movie The Battle Of Britain was the largest aerial production of the Second World War aircraft ever filmed.
Battle of Britain, Fighter planes, fighter jets, planes bought at auction, battle of Britain film, battle of Britain movie,Actor Robert Shaw in a Spitfire in 1969 film The Battle of Britain
They have not been touched and even have the same oil in the engines that they did back in 1968
Simon Brown, of Platinum Fighters
“In the movie the German Luftwaffe was actually represented by the entire Spanish Air Force. The importance of these aircraft is that they are the last collection of unrestored Second World War fighters in the world.
“They have not been touched and even have the same oil in the engines that they did back in 1968. The buyer plans to restore several of them for himself and subsequently others may be sold on.”
The Spitfire IXb, which last flew in 1973, is said to be in “remarkable” condition. After RAF service it flew with the Dutch and then Belgian air forces and was also used in the 1962 film The Longest Day.
The Buchons had served with the Spanish air force until 1965 before being bought for their aerial combat scenes in The Battle Of Britain.
Battle of Britain movie fighters to fly again after 40 years in barn
A GROUP of historic fighter planes that starred in the 1969 film The Battle Of Britain has been sold for nearly £10million after languishing in a barn for more than 40 years.
By: Andy Gardner Published: Sun, August 24, 2014
Battle of Britain, Fighter planes, fighter jets, planes bought at auction, battle of Britain film, battle of Britain movie,One of the neglected Buchons on a ranch in Texas [PH]
They have been snapped up by a European dealer and after restoration could before long be flying over British skies at historic air shows.
A 1943 Spitfire that actually fought in the Second World War fetched £4million while the rest went on nine rare Buchons, the Spanish-built version of the Messerschmitt 109, Germany’s top fighter in the key 1940 battle.
They played “the enemy” in the movie and were given to stunt pilot Wilson “Connie” Edwards in lieu of payment, along with the Spitfire he flew in the film. Now over 80, he decided to put them on the market after keeping them on his ranch at Big Spring in Texas.
He explained: “I was contracted for six weeks and 11 months later I was still getting shot down. The weather was foul and money tight by the end of filming, so I said, ‘Fine, I’ll take the aircraft as IOUs’.”
Simon Brown, of Platinum Fighters, which conducted the US sale, said: “The movie The Battle Of Britain was the largest aerial production of the Second World War aircraft ever filmed.
Battle of Britain, Fighter planes, fighter jets, planes bought at auction, battle of Britain film, battle of Britain movie,Actor Robert Shaw in a Spitfire in 1969 film The Battle of Britain
They have not been touched and even have the same oil in the engines that they did back in 1968
Simon Brown, of Platinum Fighters
“In the movie the German Luftwaffe was actually represented by the entire Spanish Air Force. The importance of these aircraft is that they are the last collection of unrestored Second World War fighters in the world.
“They have not been touched and even have the same oil in the engines that they did back in 1968. The buyer plans to restore several of them for himself and subsequently others may be sold on.”
The Spitfire IXb, which last flew in 1973, is said to be in “remarkable” condition. After RAF service it flew with the Dutch and then Belgian air forces and was also used in the 1962 film The Longest Day.
The Buchons had served with the Spanish air force until 1965 before being bought for their aerial combat scenes in The Battle Of Britain.