For all devoted Dive Bomber students and scholars:
Anyone know the manufacturer and nomenclature of the planes in this photo with Lt. Lee?
— Tim
Archive for the ‘Flynn-related’ Category
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.
— 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.
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.
— Tim
Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The Vindicator
18
Dec
The Vought SB2U Vindicator Dive Bomber
From the Opening Scenes of Errol’s “Dive Bomber”
WWII Carrier Landing of Vindicator:
— Tim
Warbirds of “Dive Bomber” – The N3N Yellow Perils – with Errol in a Peril
18
Dec
Errol in a Peril
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
