633 Squadron ID Codes...

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Anyone have a copy of the movie and can tell me the Squadron ID letters used on the Skeeters?? I’ve looked through Google and can’t seem to find a decent still shot of any of the four Mossies used in the filming that show the codes… "SY’ seems to be the prevalient one, but I’ve also found FE and HY as well…

2

Is it possibalt they just left the codes on the aircraft they had and all are correct.

I always assumed 633 was a real sqn, but have just checked the bomber commd site and theres no mention. So if they made it up, i guess any of those 3 could be right.

3

All these came up listed “633”, I dunno?

So did this… Maria!!!

Couldn’t resist…WOW!!!

4

Ya, yer gettin’ the same hits I did, Fermis…

5

Figured so, but, never know! good luck

6

Hi Hans

Have looked and certainly seen HT (roundel) C

I ( roundel) TH

HT ( roundel) G

Any help?

7

633 sqd was a bogus squadron and was filmed at Bovingdon UK and also in Scotland. The RAF told the film crew they no longer wanted Mossie’s so can go ahead and ‘right any off’ if needs be [tdn] i bet there wishing they hadn’t now [#oops]

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/B/Bovingdon_633_Squadron.htm

Some codes i’ve seen from the film are HT * C, HT * F, HT *[blank]

8

I have a copy of the movie at my Sister’s house, but didn’t want to wait on her to mail it to me… THe Skeeter’s on the bench right NOW, lol…

Thanks fer the efforts so far though, guys…

I know… It’s for my “Hollywood Goes to War” GB entry… Plus, I always make up spurious codes and serials for aircraft. Keeps the rivet-counters at bay, lol…

9

I have this movie, but right now I’m at my office pretending to work… I’ll send you some screenshoots I just get home in a few more hours…

10

That’ll work pard… Tausand Danke…

11

You can add HT-A and HT-M to the list that appear on screen.

The aircraft themselves are a bit of a kludge.

They’re actually “glass nose” (bomber/recon?) models with the glass painted out and fake .303 barrels added. “V” shaped “bomber” windshield with the nav dome in the canopy.

At least one has bulged bomb bay doors. Also interesting to note that the interior scenes show a control wheel/yoke. If I recall correctly, the fighter-bomber Mosquitos were built with a stick type control column and the bombers had the wheel/yoke. However, they do have paddle-bladed props rather than the slender pointed ones often seen on “bomber” Mossies.

Yeah, I probably have too much time on my hands…

12

Here’s a bunch of screenshots from the movie.

As any cinephile, as I am, could not resist also point out some curious facts about this movie:

Cliff Robertson who was actually a pilot, wanted to buy one of the Mosquitoes after filming had finished, as he was so impressed with the type. He was not permitted to do this but he later bought a Spitfire Mk IX which he owned until the late 1990s.

Most of the attack on the Fjord at the end of the film was done with 1/48th scale Mosquito models.

Three of the airworthy Mosquitoes used in the film were TT35 models (target tug versions of the B35 bomber). These were made to resemble FB MkVI (fighter bomber) versions by painting over the clear perspex nosecones and side windows and fitting dummy machine gun barrels. The fourth airworthy Mosquito was a T3 model with a solid nose which only required the fitting of dummy gun barrels.

George Lucas stated that the fjord sequence inspired him for the “trench run” sequence in Star Wars.

Anyways… Do not forget to show us your progress! And hope do not try to blow up your model stuffed with fireworks as they did for the movie. :slight_smile:

13

:stuck_out_tongue: Phil just got me first with some facts about the movie… and speaking about having a lot of time in my hands, I gonna watch Empire of the Sun right now… --Cadillac of the sky!!!–

14

Thanks a buch, Me… HT*C it is… Even had the shot I wanna do in there… Where they’re examining the danaged tail and Robertson is going to “pin a medal right on his tail”…

Now, although I’m recreating a scene from 633 Squadron, I’m still doing the Mossie with athe proper gun nose and canopy for the Mk VI fighter-bomber…

15

Gee, looking at this thread, if it wasn’t a college football day, I’d feel the need to watch 633 Squadron. I always loved that movie because I always liked the Mossie.

In the movie it really looked like they crashed real Mosquitos in several of those landing sequences. I can’t imagine that any movie crew would actually do so, so perhaps very good miniature work?

16

Sure they would. In 1960 something the sentiment to preserve WWII aircraft was not like it is today. Catch-22 destroyed a B-25 for the movie. I’ve got an old Airpower magazine with a article about the making of the movie.