BEHIND THE SCENES

15 Buchons, 10 Spitfires, 2 Hurricanes, and a Heinkel assemble for the movie at Duxford Airfield in the summer of 1968.
(photo from Flypast magazine, October 1989)

2nd Unit Director David Bracknell (right) plans an aerial sequence with aerial cameraman
Skeets Kelly (left) and Wing Commander George Elliot (second from right).

German technical advisor Adolf Galland and British technical advisor Robert Stanford Tuck converse while
on a hunting trip during a lull in the film's production. Both men were wing commanders and top aces within
their respective air forces during the war.

Wooden aircraft replicas are seen being built in a 'factory' (specially constructed tents) at Pinewood Studios.
Some replicas stood in as background aircraft in airfield scenes, while others were destroyed by explosions
in the simulated bomb attacks during the film.

Here we see the full-scale replica airplanes made at Pinewood with a wooden framework and covered with a fiberglass covering.
(unknown source)

Another view of the replica production line at Pinewood. Some of these 'flimsies' still survive in museums.
(photo from Flypast magazine, September 1989)

Perched alongside the camera, Director Guy Hamilton calls 'Action' and the filming
of the Battle of Britain gets underway at Tablada Airfield in Spain on March 13, 1968.
(Photo via Francois Prins, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


An impressive spectacle was this line-up of 18 Spanish-built Heinkel 111 bombers. Lights and cameras are moved into position, while
actors and extras stand on their marks ready to shoot the film's opening credit sequence at Tablada Airfield in Spain on March 13, 1968.
(Photo from BFI Stills, Posters and Designs, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

The air aces of 1940 with Lord Dowding visiting the film set. From left to right: Al Deere, Tom Gleave, Robert
Stanford Tuck (seated), Boleslaw Drobinski, Douglas Bader, Ludwik Martell, Johnnie Kent, Peter Townsend,
Lord Dowding (in wheelchair).


Squadron Leader 'Ginger' Lacey, with Director Guy Hamilton, teaches Susannah York to salute.

Adolf Galland with Manfred Reddermann, who plays Major Falke,
the squadron leader character loosely based on Galland.


Actor Michael Caine (sitting in Technical Advisor Ginger Lacey's chair) chats with Bianca de Marcias between 'takes' at Hawkinge.
Caine's companion would later become Bianca Jagger after marrying the lead singer of the Rolling Stones rock group!
(Photo from Kent Messenger, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

  
Director Guy Hamilton perches atop a ladder, while actor Robert Shaw waits patiently in his Spitfire for the next 'take'. Director of Photography, Freddie Young, is standing to the left of the camera.
(Leftmost photo from BFI Stills, Posters and Designs, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

Director Guy Hamilton steps carefully over Battle's Director of Photography, Freddie Young, during the filming of a scene at North Weald, Essex.
(Photo from the Peter R. Arnold Collection, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

The cameras roll as actor Trevor Howard, playing the part of Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, gets out of the cockpit of Hurricane PZ865 at Hawkinge.
(Photo from Kent Messenger, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

Markings were changed on the aircraft after almost every sortie.
Sometimes Fablon-style material was used for the codes, while on other occasions they were painted on.
(Photo from the Chris Chandler Collection, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")

Planning out the aerial sequences from the cameraman's point of view

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