THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
B-25 MITCHELL
This North American B-25 Mitchell bomber was converted into a camera ship for
the movie.
(photo via Aircraft Magazine)
It was known as The Psychedelic Monster because of its bright
multicolored paint scheme, which was done to allow the other flying aircraft to
easily find it in the sky.
Most of its various gun positions now were covered by plexiglass blisters that allowed
filming in almost all directions.
(unknown source)
The B-25 with an escort of Spitfires flies over the English (?) countryside.
(unknown source)
The tail of the B-25 was open to allow for easier filming, though it was awful
windy for the cameraman.
(FlyPast magazine September
1989)
B-25 Mitchell N6578D, The Psychedelic Monster, was used as a flying
camera platform to film the many aerial sequences. At the end of filming it
returned to the
USA and was left to become derelict before eventually being rescued and rebuilt
by Tom Reilly at Kissimmee, Florida. After passing through a number of owners
it was reported during 2000 as lapsing into semi-deriliction again.
(Photo from Peter Sargent,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")
Aerial cameraman Skeets Kelly in position for action in the plexiglass nose.
(unknown source)
The Psychedelic Monster taxies out at Duxford. Note the cover over the
camera-nose blister.
This was to prevent flies hitting the Perspex at low altitudes and was ripped
off when the aircraft had reached its filming height.
(Photo from Peter Sargent,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")
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