MovieChat Forums > The Wings of Eagles (1957) Discussion > Did the real 'Spig' Wead actually crash ...

Did the real 'Spig' Wead actually crash into a swimming pool?

posted 15 years ago by rac701
11 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone know whether or not the real-life Frank 'Spig' Wead actually crashed a Navy biplane into a swimming pool (at an admiral's tea party), or was it just a movie fiction?

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dobbin-4 15 years ago

It's like 3 minutes into the movie, dont worry about it fatalbertqueenlatifahsameperson

[–] mojo2004 15 years ago

Does anyone know whether or not the real-life Frank 'Spig' Wead actually crashed a Navy biplane into a swimming pool (at an admiral's tea party), or was it just a movie fiction?

Many pages here at IMDB have trivia sections and FAQ's about the film.

Trivia for
The Wings of Eagles (1957)

* Most of the extras in the Pensacola Florida scenes were actual Navy flight students and flight instructors. Although the Navy objected, director John Ford made certain that the military men were paid "extra" wages.

* There is a scene in the movie where we see the director, played by Ward Bond, looking at a clip of a film written by the main character. The clip is from the film Hell Divers (1931), which was actually written by Frank Wead.

* According to director John Ford, "Everything in the picture was true. The fight in the club - throwing the cake - actually happened. I can verify that as an eyewitness. I ducked it. And the plane landing in the swimming pool right in the middle of the Admiral's tea - that really happened."

[–] cattard-1 13 years ago

According to director John Ford, "Everything in the picture was true. The fight in the club - throwing the cake - actually happened. I can verify that as an eyewitness. I ducked it. And the plane landing in the swimming pool right in the middle of the Admiral's tea - that really happened."

With all due respect, that's what John Ford said about My Darling Clementine, but we all know that the gunfight at OK Corral was different than depicted in the film.

.

[–] theshootist40 13 years ago

...Ford was known to stretch the truth to tell a good story, on and off the screen.

...and if you need further proof... just look to the great line from The Man who Shot Liberty Valance...
..."When the legend becomes a fact... print the legend" ...Maxwell Scott

[–] barrylane-1 11 years ago

'Print The Legend" is a criticism of the popular press. He has just shown you the truth of who shot Liberty Valance. The editor is a fool in Ford's view.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

...Ford was known to stretch the truth to tell a good story, on and off the screen.

Agreed!

Very hard to believe that scene and the flying under the bridge etc. were true of a first time pilot.

[–] Tartouf 9 years ago

My grandfather was one of the two pilots who flew in the movie. He was the one making the perfect carrier landing at the end. He never crashed and never needed to eject from his plane.

We watched the movie with him last night so that he could tell us where he was in it. Turns out he didn't show up until almost the very end of the movie. Oh well.

From what he remembers, he didn't get any extra pay. But that was 65 years ago, so maybe he did, though I doubt it.

[–] ajprice-1 9 years ago

Delightful story, Tartouf! You were wise (and lucky) to watch the movie with your grandfather. These are the historic moments that can so easily be lost. I hope you write it all down somewhere for your family.

[–] Gadare 8 years ago

Ahem.... 1957 was 58 years ago. Not 65. Don't rush us 1957 babies to the graveyard!

"I slept with you and you're in love with my husband. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?"

[–] lottapaws 7 years ago

My daddy was in the USAF in WWII. He was stateside as an engineer and flew as a test pilot. He said when movies needed pilots, they used military pilots. My daddy belly landed a plan for Winged Victory. They were not paid, but were given all the beer to drink they wanted and were usually the extras in the "beer drinking and brawling" scenes.