The plane that gave such a buzz to wartime derring-do
SO old is the film 633 Squadron that about the only cast members left are former dancer George Chakiris, 82, and Coronation Street stalwart Johnny Briggs, 81. Even Angus Lennie – who went on to find a sort of fame as chef Shughie McFee amid the shaky sets of the Crossroads Motel – has gone to the great casting call in the sky. But my heart skipped a beat when I read the real star of the film – about a fictional mission to destroy a rocket-fuel plant at the head of a Norwegian fjord – is making a comeback. I’m talking about the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber, as plans are afoot to return one to the skies. Nothing sums up Britain’s war more than an aircraft made of wood. We faced the high-tech German war machine and defeated it with hand-crafted Rolls-Royce engines on wings of spruce. Luftwaffe commander Hermann Goering knew the game was up when the Timber Terrors appeared over Berlin. He said: ‘In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito.’ Much of the film was shot here – aerial sequences feature Glen Coe, Loch Nevis, Eigg, Lairig Ghru, Lochgilphead and Loch Morar. But the film is art imitating life. Mossies flew risky sorties and early versions were unarmed, relying on speed alone. Many operated from Scotland and the Banff Strike Wing was a successful raiding force. Their brave aircrews are a big part of the reason I got to sit on far-off Sunday afternoons to enjoy the film – and to write this in English. So I’ll be sending a few quid to The People’s Mosquito appeal (www.peoplesmosquito.org. uk) in the hope that soon we can hear again the roar of twin Merlin engines, the authentic sound of freedom.