Captains of the Clouds

Just watching this movie with Jimmy Cagney and the usual all star crew.

Set in Canada in 1941 at the Central Flying School & Air Navigational School in Trenton Ontario & No1 Bombing & Gunnery School Jarvis Ontario.

View attachment 99

 

There's a clip on youtube from the film that used real treainers and trainees. The aircraft shown are Fariey Battle, Anson and Fleet Finch (biplane) - I think I've got them all.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PSIGgHVlGZw

I've never seen the film though - is it any good?

 

Its a good film because it shows real aircraft in a training role and gives glimpses of people at work.

George Formby, made a film in 1938 about the RAF which was interesting because it was filmed on an actual airfield with real RAF personnel and included a long dead position in the RAF, that of Sargent Major, which was a throwback to the RFC

 

It has the corny "heroics" of the early propaganda films but the aircraft and story line is good.

 

I've since discovered that Air Marshall "Billy" Bishop made a cameo in the film (suppossed to be the bit when the pilots are awarded their wings).

 

That is correct, the canadian VC winner did make an appearance in the film