In Ice Cold In Alex theres a scence where a Beaufighter does a couple of passes then dissappears (I did notice that it dropped something). One thing that gets me is that I think the aircraft used was a Target Tug, it had Yellow and Black diagonal stripes all along the underside of the aircraft.
Anyone notice this?
Also the aircraft's engine noise is that of an Avro Lancaster, it was used in The Dambusters (1954).
I think the RAF only used the last few Beaufighters as target tugs by then. It was probably the only WW2 vintage type available in Libya and it wouldn't have been worth the bother of repainting for it's brief appearance. In the novel it's a Spitfire.
"Trust me. I know what I'm doing."
Its always a Spitfire or a Hurricane, why not a P-40 or Martin Maryland, some other Desert Air Force aircraft instead of the ones people most recognise.
I can reasure you, it was a Target Towing Beaufighter, from Malta Communication Sqn. Most probably, at Takali. I was a Junior Tech. Airframe Fitter on the Sqn. I seem to remember they wanted a volanteer crew to see the Bea. off when required for the film, sometime after normal working hours.(Maybe weekend). The pilot was Flt/Lt Brown and the target towing operator was Tich Brown. I took the liberty of taking my camera onto the airfield (Strictly not allowed)! and took a photo of them leaving and returning.
For the real enthusiasts, I might have the registration number, somewhere.
When the film first came out, I went into the Astra (RAF cinema) projection room and looked at the film frame by frame and the shots were so blurred, to the point of no definite recognition.
Ian Smith.
Faringdon.
Further to my last blog. Now seeing the film, first time since 1958! (Good old Daily Telegraph)! The bits they showed me in the projection room were of the first flypast. The next pass is chrystal clear! --- RD 788. In fact seeing the beatup in slow motion is quite dramatic for me. As was said earlier, the engines are not the "Wispering Death's)!!!
I scrounged flights in all three Beau's we had.
I have photos taken of various of them, including one we scrapped and took across the airfield. We robbed bits off it (Against training military rule books,then)! Before it was finally taken over the fence and scrapped, at Takali, Mosta side.
I must have been on Malta Comm Sqn at the same time as ianlinsmith when Rd 788 was used in "Ice Cold in Alex" If I remember rightly, the Pilot was Flt.Lt "Nobby" Clarke. There wasn't a Flt. Lt Brown. It was a TT10 target tug and the only alteration was to remove the winch propellor from the starboard side to make it seem less obvious. By the way, we had the last Beaufighter ever built, SR 919, which had to be scrapped as the tail was falling off.
shareYou are absolutely right! Age dampens down the memory! I thought they both had the same name. Titch was, an LAC and was promoted to SAC, later. I had flown with him quite a few times.
What was your job on Malta Comm?
Not quite sure if this site will take photo's. I have numerous shots as I said in my previous note, including the chunk of nose that said last B. made, some where. I was there when it was cut out.
Ian S.
Hi! Nice to hear fom you. I was with Malta Comm from July 1956 to Jan 1958. I was an Air Wireless Mechanic but also drove the Landrover and the David Brown tractor. I used to tow the aircraft for compass swings and tow the air and oxygen trollies. I was also on the detachment to Acrotiri, Cyprus when Brown got his Queen's commendation for leaning out and cutting the wire when it jammed. Do you remember that? I have been back to Malta a few times over the last few years, it has changed a lot since our time but the old barrack blocks are still there. I was invited by the Maltese army to have a look round the first time I went back. The old Astra cinema is now a catholic church.
Regards,
Brian Turner