A Bridge Too Far Film C-47 / Dakota's

[Boghopper Mk 11a]

The 1977 epic film A Bridge To Far, anyone know where it was filmed for the takeoff scenes? And who's C-47's & Dakota's were used?

For the younger's on Ukar that may not have seen this film, here;s a clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJuJBGIZtcc

And one of the best scenes, but I doubt true
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Li65P_3 ... re=related

Mart

[Arthur Tee]

Fairly certain the C-47's belonged to the Danish and Finnish Air Forces.

Think most of the filming was done at Deelen.

Arthur

[T_J]

Currently on Bravo+1 Channel 124

30 mins left on Bravo Channel 123

TJ

[Rob Leigh]

From Wikipedia:

Air filming was done in the first weeks of September 1976, culminating in a series of air drops of a total of 1,000 men, together with the dropping of supplies from a number of Dakota aircraft. The Dakotas were gathered by the film company Joseph E. Levine Presents Incorporated. All aircraft were required to be CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) or FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) registered and licensed to carry passengers. An original deal for the purchase of ten fell through when two airframes were rejected as passenger configured without the necessary jump doors. Eleven Dakotas were procured. Two Portuguese, ex-Portuguese Air Force, 6153, and 6171, (N9984Q and N9983Q), and two Air International Dakotas, operating from Djibouti in French Somaliland, F-OCKU and F-OCKX, (N9985Q and N9986Q) were purchased by Joseph E. Levine. Three Danish Air Force, K-685, K-687, and K-688, and four Finnish Air Force C-47s, DO-4, DO-7, DO-10 and DO-12, were loaned for the duration of the parachute filming.

Some photos from an old copy of After The Battle

[patrouille2001]

In the film, have you noticed the Harvards being used in one of the battle scenes.

Paul

[SpitfireSteve]

In the film, have you noticed the Harvards being used in one of the battle scenes.

Paul

Doubling up as Thunderbolts I think .Don't forget the Spitfire MkIX, which I believe was MH434 while still in the markings for Adrian Swire when he owned the aeroplane.

[Rob Leigh]

In the film, have you noticed the Harvards being used in one of the battle scenes.

Paul

[Rob Leigh]

And one of the best scenes, but I doubt true
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Li65P_3 ... re=related

"Shortly afterwards the Germans appealed to the British to surrender by sending a captured sapper, Lance-Sergeant Halliwell, to pass on the message to John Frost. The Germans were of the belief that the British troops ought to lay down their arms as they had no hope of being relieved by friendly forces. Frost thought the offer to be rather absurd as, despite being surrounded, he held a strong position and had no reason to suspect that either the remainder of the 1st Airborne Division or XXX Corps would not be arriving at any moment, and so he did not even bother to reply to the message."

There's a very thorough account of the battle on the Pegasus Archive site: http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/depth.htm

[mowgli]

Snip

[SCARECROW 451]

One of my current work mates actually jumped in the film and was seen with a dutch bird on either arm in the film. He said it only lasted for the
actual filming then they buggered off !
He can see himself jumping as well, all looked the same to me !

[jaguar]

I beleive some of the Daks were from Intra Airways a Jersey based airline at the time.

Regards.

Paul.
CP Aviation Photography