I've read about pilots dropping messages from airplanes (Frank Luke, etc) in various books. Why not just fly a plane over the lines and drop messages on the Allied lines to stop the attack? Maybe I missed something in the film.
I imagine that this might be a security risk unless they were able to code the message.
A guy calls the front lines on a telephone connected by wires: movie over in one minute.
A pilot flies over the front lines and drops a message: movie over in three minutes.
I gave Ranb some reasons why no airplane. As to the telephone, yes, it would have been nice if they explained why they weren't just calling it in. I assume that the Devons just weren't hooked up yet? Mendes & Co. should have clarified the radio/telephone thing, although I can imagine reasons why they didn't.
shareAs to the telephone, yes, it would have been nice if they explained why they weren't just calling it in. I assume that the Devons just weren't hooked up yet?
Ah. I missed and/or forgot that part. Thanks for clarifying!
shareThey just occupied those positions, so no wires would have been placed. A plane dropping a message would have to fly really low and run the risk of getting shot down (That is how the Red Baron died)
They kept stating that the message was basically eyes-only for Mackenzie. When Mark Strong advises to make sure there are witnesses around, Schofield puts up a small resistance, seemingly because he feels the message's contents are only for Mackenzie. Dropping it would be too much of a question mark. Also, having somebody hand-deliver a message ensures that the message gets there; a plane drop would feel too "inaccurate". Finally, in WWI, that would have been a bit of a Sean Bean meme: one does not simply fly over enemy lines to deliver a message. Granted, the same problem occurs on foot, but Firth's character points out that the messengers should be limited for subtlety - they can slip through. Planes don't "slip through".
share