The Incredible Armada of Aircraft Behind 1969’s Battle of Britain Film | Aviation

On Sept. 15, 1969, cinema audiences were treated to a dramatic portrayal of the famed Battle of Britain of 1940. Made long before CGI was possible, the production of the film was an incredible feat involving around one hundred real aircraft.

Released twenty nine years after the real events of the Battle of Britain took place, the movie production, directed by Guy Hamilton, could spare no effort or expense in their attempt to recreate scenes from the summer months of 1940. Many of those who would watch the film had experienced the battle themselves from various perspectives. Indeed, several of the actors starring in the production had themselves been called into military service during the Second World War.

Complicated computer graphics were still decades away, and while scale models could be constructed and made to look very convincing, nothing but the real thing could truly replicate the sights and sounds of Second World War era aerial combat.

In total, around a hundred airframes were requisitioned for use during filming, with a large number of them being airworthy. This sizable fleet led to the film’s production garnering the tongue in cheek accolade of being the world’s 35th largest air force at the time.

Efforts to assemble the massive collection of aircraft needed for…