Film makers take note

“I have watched a documentary and read a book about Second World War heroes and found myself enthralled,” writes a Craigie regular.

“The book was Double Cross by Ben MacIntyre about the elaborate deception involving spies, false information, many intelligence personnel, even more servicemen and women and even famous American generals and Winston Churchill which ensured the success of the D-Day invasion and saved thousands of Allied lives. I knew that Hitler held back important reserves in the Pas de Calais area long after the Normandy invasion had begun, but I did not realise how much double agents and false information had contributed to his fatal mistake.

“The documentary concerned the Scottish hero, Captain Eric (Winkle) Brown, who not only holds the record for the most types of aircraft flown – 487 – but was the Navy’s (or Fleet Air Arm’s) top test pilot and the most decorated pilot in the Senior Service. As if his flying achievements were not enough, he also lived history as it was made in Germany after the war, interviewing Goering and concentration camp commandants among others.

“I searched Google in vain for any word of feature films based on the above two subjects. I am sure our film makers are missing out on that one. There is so much dismal news around these days, with lacklustre and trivial films offering little respite. It would be a treat to watch films celebrating the achievements of Eric Brown and the intelligence heroes behind Double Cross.

“I had heard of Eric Brown before, but his amazing career has not been publicised as much as some lesser heroes. Let’s hear it for a Scottish hero!”