Pete in Lincs Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 The 1964 film 'The Train' starring Burt Lancaster was about attempts to delay a train full of art treasures that was to go to Germany just as the Allies approached Paris. Filmed in black and white and directed by John Frankenheimer, this film is something of a forgotten treasure and well worth the effort to track down a copy. At one point out hero has to deliver a repaired steam engine in broad daylight. This attracts a Spitfire which carries out a beautifully filmed strafing attack. The point of this entry is, I wonder which aircraft they used. What was flyable back then? This was of course before anything suitable was revived for The Battle of Britain. Clipped wingtips and cannon are obvious. It also wore full D Day stripes. BTW I love the sounds during the attack. A Merlin always does it for me! Thanks for looking Pete Here's a link to the attack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3yR0aNriPM And here's a link that explains the background to the film https://www.cliomuse.com/the-train.html 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 I can;t vouch for it personally but the movie industry database for these things says it was one of the four used for The Longest Day, but that which one of the four is unknown. The four used in Longest Day were: MH415 ; MH434 ; MK297 and MK923. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 That's a big help. Thank you. I'll do some digging on t'net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 (edited) This might help. http://www.sonsofdamien.co.uk/MH415.htm It was based in France at the time according to this and there's a photo with clipped wings and D Day stripes. Circumstantial but compelling. Agree that The Train is s great film. I've seen it several times. Edited November 18, 2018 by noelh 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 And I think we have a winner. MH415 was indeed used in The Longest day and then I found this... MH415 had by this time been purchased from COGEA by Rousseau Aviation of Dinhard in France, where the aircraft was in open storage for some years. And this picture showing clipped wingtips and stripes. http://www.sonsofdamien.co.uk/images/MH415-2.jpg We must have been searching the same sites at the same time! You just posted before me. Thanks for the help guys. I'd have lain awake at night wondering otherwise. I only caught half an hour or so of the film yesterday as I had lunch. I must watch the whole thing again. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 One of my all time favorite films. I agree about the flight sequences in the film including the strafing scene on the railyard with A-26’s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) I read the title and thought that Spitfire In The Train would be a very curious film! 12 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: And I think we have a winner. MH415 was indeed used in The Longest day and then I found this... MH415 had by this time been purchased from COGEA by Rousseau Aviation of Dinhard in France, where the aircraft was in open storage for some years. And this picture showing clipped wingtips and stripes. http://www.sonsofdamien.co.uk/images/MH415-2.jpg And some good news: the website needs to be updated as she was sold to Australia and is well on her way back to airworthiness!! http://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2018/10/22/spitfire-restoration-news-vfr-update/ Some more restoration updates inbetween those two: http://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2017/03/13/spitfire-restorations-update-march-2017/ http://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2017/08/15/spitfire-mh415-restoration-news/ http://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2018/01/08/spitfire-mh415-mh603-restoration-news/ Edited November 19, 2018 by k5054nz 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 Thanks for that, Zac. Any day another Spitfire takes to the air is a GOOD day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 I was watching the film about three weeks back. It is quite good, I assume that when it was made the French were disposing of their steam locos and so it may have been a golden opportunity. The Invaders were still in service or about to be retired when the film was made. Usual US vehicles pretending to be German, but I should imagine it was difficult to find much at that time on a time scale and cost that would not break the budget. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 I recall watching this years ago, probably not too long after it came out, looks like another DVD to track down. Thanks for the nudge Pete. Steve. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 My copy is on my computer and I have no idea where it came from. It is on Film4 at 16.00 on 23rd November, which is probably not much good to you in NZ. YouTube and Google play will let you download for £2.49 in the UK. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 I think I have it on hard drive. Along with umpteen other favourite films. I just need the time to watch them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 Thanks for the link to the footage. That's one film I haven't seen before so will have to rectify that. Probably slightly un-PC in this day and age but one of the Spitfire pilots I knew told me that he used to love shooting up trains! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre B Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 I still have it om VHS. And agree it is an great film. Real things and not computer animated. Peter Jackson, live an learn! /André 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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