I would love to know what he would have thought of all this! Do you know what balloon section he served with? To find out more visit the aerodrome forum or the greatwar in the air forum.
This show was filmed in and around where I used to live, in Cardington Bedfordshire. A lot of it was filmed on the village green, opposite where I used to live and they used the Shuttleworth collection at Old Warden.
Haha, well I've learnt a lot over the last 2 years. I've also brought Wings on DVD myself now. Would loved if they made a series covering the second half of the war, wasn't the Sopwith Strutter the first british machine to be fitted with a synchroised gun? I know the constantinquo gear came out later.
I remember one episode, where a pilot got the idea of fitting a Tractor seat (thank you 'farmer's gazette annually') to his plane to stop rear entry. lol.
Bad historical accuracy, they used hydrogen in balloons back then so they turned into a fireball once punctured, can't exactly patch it back up the next day.
Actually the historical accuracy is fine. Regular rounds often failed to ignite the hydrogen fill balloons. It was only with the introduction of the Brock and Pommeroy incendary rounds that they started to get better results. Even then the highly flammable hydrogen sometimes, frustratingly, failed to ignite. Plenty of historical accounts relate these facts.
Point taken. Also noticed the plane fires from the side instead of through the prop, despite the BE2 did have a syncronised machine gun. Still it does indicate that this portrays the early years of the war.
Actually no Be2's were fitted with syncronised machine guns, the first BE fitted with a synchronised gun was the BE 12. The first British fighter to have a syncronised gun was the Sopwith Pup. They tried all sorts of mountings on the BE 2's, above the top wing, the side mount shown, underneath mounted on the undercarriage spreader bar, attached to the wing strutts plus various observer type mountings.
OK, wasn't the BE12 the plane that suffered worse of all during bloody april? I could of sworn reading up that some BE2's (b's or c's) were fitted with a syncronised vickers, will post a link if I can find it again.
You can have as large a caliber gun as you'd like w/ plenty of ammo and high rate of fire and you still would be damned lucky to ignite a "sausage" in the damp early dawns on the Western front. Most balloon "kills" were at dusk or in the afternoon when the fabric was dry. Do your homework man! There were very few true "Balloon Busters" and even fewer who survived the war (Josef Jacobs of Jasta 7 was one of the very few to live to a ripe old age). This is a GREAT clip and VERY accurate.
Very hard to get a copy fo this series it seems....also I don't believe it has been replayed on TV since/much the original broadcast back in the late 70's. Shame - it was fantastic drama - and deserves a replay!!
I worked on the Radio \Control Model Albatrosses taht were made and flown in the programmee. i have searched everywhere for Video or DVD of the series; no one has it. Someone could virtually name their own price if I could get hold of a copy. A friend of mine has since passed away who was also there.
I would love to know what he would have thought of all this! Do you know what balloon section he served with? To find out more visit the aerodrome forum or the greatwar in the air forum.
standallas 2 months ago
My great-grandfather flew observation balloons.
sanitydefied 2 months ago
This show was filmed in and around where I used to live, in Cardington Bedfordshire. A lot of it was filmed on the village green, opposite where I used to live and they used the Shuttleworth collection at Old Warden.
MaltingFarm99 8 months ago
I don't know, a lot of paratroopers came down firing - which makes them active combatants and certainly undeserving of any immunity!
standallas 8 months ago
A third series was on the books but the BBC didn't think it worth the cost!
standallas 10 months ago
Haha, well I've learnt a lot over the last 2 years. I've also brought Wings on DVD myself now. Would loved if they made a series covering the second half of the war, wasn't the Sopwith Strutter the first british machine to be fitted with a synchroised gun? I know the constantinquo gear came out later.
dcikaruga 11 months ago
I loved this series when I was a lad.
Glad I'm not alone.
I remember one episode, where a pilot got the idea of fitting a Tractor seat (thank you 'farmer's gazette annually') to his plane to stop rear entry. lol.
Should never have been cancelled.
osummuso 1 year ago
WINGS on DVD now available from the BBC
standallas 2 years ago
i have been looking for this show for years but never have any luck . there a company offering it
but there out of business now .
the was listed as public domain now.
wwmoggy 2 years ago
Bad historical accuracy, they used hydrogen in balloons back then so they turned into a fireball once punctured, can't exactly patch it back up the next day.
dcikaruga 3 years ago
Actually the historical accuracy is fine. Regular rounds often failed to ignite the hydrogen fill balloons. It was only with the introduction of the Brock and Pommeroy incendary rounds that they started to get better results. Even then the highly flammable hydrogen sometimes, frustratingly, failed to ignite. Plenty of historical accounts relate these facts.
standallas 3 years ago 2
Point taken. Also noticed the plane fires from the side instead of through the prop, despite the BE2 did have a syncronised machine gun. Still it does indicate that this portrays the early years of the war.
dcikaruga 3 years ago
Actually no Be2's were fitted with syncronised machine guns, the first BE fitted with a synchronised gun was the BE 12. The first British fighter to have a syncronised gun was the Sopwith Pup. They tried all sorts of mountings on the BE 2's, above the top wing, the side mount shown, underneath mounted on the undercarriage spreader bar, attached to the wing strutts plus various observer type mountings.
standallas 3 years ago
OK, wasn't the BE12 the plane that suffered worse of all during bloody april? I could of sworn reading up that some BE2's (b's or c's) were fitted with a syncronised vickers, will post a link if I can find it again.
dcikaruga 3 years ago
No, that would be mainly the BE2 c's in Bloody April.
standallas 3 years ago
@dcikaruga keep posting your expert comments! love the way standallas comes along and puts you right! lol
ryko26 11 months ago
You can have as large a caliber gun as you'd like w/ plenty of ammo and high rate of fire and you still would be damned lucky to ignite a "sausage" in the damp early dawns on the Western front. Most balloon "kills" were at dusk or in the afternoon when the fabric was dry. Do your homework man! There were very few true "Balloon Busters" and even fewer who survived the war (Josef Jacobs of Jasta 7 was one of the very few to live to a ripe old age). This is a GREAT clip and VERY accurate.
BavarianBomberWrench 3 years ago
yes by tracer bullits not normal type 303
tj
terryjohn 3 years ago
full series available through Ioffer . com
Deaks100 4 years ago
Anyone know if the theme songs on youtube, cant seem to find it. Can some kind person plse let me know? Ty.
urrachunt 4 years ago
I have the credits music if that's what you mean - don't know of any theme song.....
standallas 4 years ago
Oh sorry. Yes plse the credits music. Can you plse link me. Ta very much. :)
urrachunt 4 years ago
i have vocal record brought in 1978
tj
terryjohn 2 years ago
Very hard to get a copy fo this series it seems....also I don't believe it has been replayed on TV since/much the original broadcast back in the late 70's. Shame - it was fantastic drama - and deserves a replay!!
rugbyballbounce 4 years ago
I helped out on the programme years ago. Is there anyway I can get acopy of the two series ? Its not available anywhere.Thank you so much
Long Live WINGS !!
radiomodeller 4 years ago
What was your role?
standallas 4 years ago
I worked on the Radio \Control Model Albatrosses taht were made and flown in the programmee. i have searched everywhere for Video or DVD of the series; no one has it. Someone could virtually name their own price if I could get hold of a copy. A friend of mine has since passed away who was also there.
radiomodeller 4 years ago
The whole of both series but not for posting as I don't want to break copyright :)
standallas 4 years ago
i remmeber this prog when i was a wee nipper..have you got more?
charliedirk 4 years ago