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Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Sara’s Air Group 3 – Navy Ace Butch O’Hare

19 Dec

The USS Saratoga was at Bremerton Shipyard during filming of Dive Bomber. While it was there, however, it’s Air Group 3 was detached to the USS Enterprise in San Diego and nearby North Island Air Base on Coronado, thereby making it possible for it’s aircraft to be included it the film. Most famously, Navy pilot Butch O’Hare was part of Air Group 3 at that time, took part in the movie, and, less than a year later, won the Medal of Honor. The busiest airport in the world is now named after him , O’Hare International. Watch the fascinating on video below on Butch O’Hare. Legend has it Al Capone killed his Dad.

The Saratoga was on it’s way to San Diego from Bremerton when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

USS_Saratoga_(CV-3)_at_Pearl_Harbor_June_1942

uss_saratoga plaque

O'Hare-FDR

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Big E/Air Group 6

19 Dec

The USS Enterprise was filmed for Dive Bomber in the Spring of 1941, with Bull Halsey overseeing operations. Word is Bull did not kowtow to Kurtiz and wasn’t thrilled about having to have Hollywood hanging about his ship and crew, but bigwigs in Washington wanted this film, correctly believing it would be a hugely successful recruiting film. Bull, in turn, was very correctly anticipating and preparing for possible war in the Pacific. This is why many of the Air Groups’ aircraft (the Enterprise’s and Saratoga’s) are painted gray, rather than the much more colorful pre-war colors. At the request of Warner Brothers, some planes retained their original colors until completion of filming.

Uss E and titles

uss enterprise air group

USS Enterprise

Air Group Six Yearbook

USS Enterprise plane

Uss Enterprise B&W

USS Enterprise with Vindicators

Air Group Flying

www.cv6.org…

www.cv6.org…

For Great Clips of the Big E and Air Group 6 in Dive Bomber:

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Brewster F2A Buffalo

19 Dec

The Wrong Stuff. Regarded Weak by the US, but Strong to the Finnish.

worldwar2headquarters.com…

Brewster in flight

Brewster

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Helldiver

18 Dec

The Curtiss SBC Helldiver

www.aviastar.org…

Curtiss SBC Helldiver

Curtiss LIFE

curtiss-sbc-4-hell-diver schematic

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Grumman F3F

18 Dec

The Navy’s Last Bi-Plane Fighter

www.mucheswarbirds.com…

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Devastator

18 Dec

militaryhistory.about.com…

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Vindicator

18 Dec

The Vought SB2U Vindicator Dive Bomber

www.navalaviationmuseum.org…

From the Opening Scenes of Errol’s “Dive Bomber”

Vindicators Opening scene

WWII Carrier Landing of Vindicator:

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The N3N Yellow Perils – with Errol in a Peril

18 Dec

www.navalaviationmuseum.org…

Yellow Peril Gif

Errol in a Peril

Yellow Peril Hotel Del

Yellow Peril with Errol

P.S. The top N3N pilot in the world told me that the crop duster in North by Northwest is a post war converted Yellow Peril. Luckily, though he’s dramatically terrorized on Highway 41, almost permanently dusted in the cornfield, run over by a truck, and nearly exploded, Cary’s hair survives as if he just walked out a Rodeo Drive Hair Salon:

— Tim

 

Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Dauntless

18 Dec

Douglas SBD Dauntless

www.pacificaviationmuseum.org…

www.youtube.com…Dauntless

— Tim

 

Celebration of Errol on Coronado

17 Dec

Only a Month Away!

logo

festival_cover_photo_cropped_498c1f

hotel_del_coronado

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL – JANUARY 15-18, 2016

Renowned movie critic, author and television personality Leonard Maltin joins the Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) in invting filmmakers everywhere, from aspiring student to respected pro, to experience Coronado’s legendary hospitality for one long holiday weekend in the historic seaside village of Coronado, California, where makers and lovers of film have gathered for more than a century.

Dive Bomber

Dive Bomber, the 1941 classic starring the dashing Errol Flynn as a young Naval aviator. Filmed in Coronado, with scenes of the Hotel Del and North Island, this film is a reminder of how exciting filmmaking was, even in the pre-digital age. The film will be introduced by Errol Flynn’s daughter, Rory Flynn, and his grandson, actor Sean Flynn, followed by a Q and A.

Plus, a Special Tribute to Errol’s Fascinating History on Coronado.

Tickets:
coronadoislandfilmfest.com…

— Tim