Comments on: Screening the knock-out blow http://airminded.org/2008/08/26/screening-the-knock-out-blow/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=screening-the-knock-out-blow Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Fri, 25 May 2012 16:07:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/08/26/screening-the-knock-out-blow/comment-page-1/#comment-112181 Brett Holman Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:18:02 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=545#comment-112181 <blockquote>I think one or the other of these was the source of a similar scene in a British film from the 1930s or 1940s, or perhaps it was from the Korda documentary <em>Conquest of the Air</em> (1936, but not released until 1938). I can’t for the life of me remember what film I saw it in, but the scene was too short and too lavish to have been made specially.</blockquote> <em>Conquest of the Air</em> (a 1940 version with extra defiance) was on TV here tonight and the footage I referred to was definitely not in it. While there was a great montage of WWI air combat, including bombing (how much was real? not much, I'd imagine but some of it looked convincing) but no Zeppelin bombing.

I think one or the other of these was the source of a similar scene in a British film from the 1930s or 1940s, or perhaps it was from the Korda documentary Conquest of the Air (1936, but not released until 1938). I can’t for the life of me remember what film I saw it in, but the scene was too short and too lavish to have been made specially.

Conquest of the Air (a 1940 version with extra defiance) was on TV here tonight and the footage I referred to was definitely not in it. While there was a great montage of WWI air combat, including bombing (how much was real? not much, I'd imagine but some of it looked convincing) but no Zeppelin bombing.

]]> By: Things to Come « The Whirlwind http://airminded.org/2008/08/26/screening-the-knock-out-blow/comment-page-1/#comment-94275 Things to Come « The Whirlwind Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:51:29 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=545#comment-94275 [...] 30 seconds in). The film - whilst probably more of a critical than a commercial success - was fairly popular on its release (thanks to Brett Holman for this information). Things to think about: What does this extract tell [...] [...] 30 seconds in). The film - whilst probably more of a critical than a commercial success - was fairly popular on its release (thanks to Brett Holman for this information). Things to think about: What does this extract tell [...]

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/08/26/screening-the-knock-out-blow/comment-page-1/#comment-82035 Brett Holman Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:14:05 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=545#comment-82035 I wonder if the reference to 'Air Defence exercises' is the key -- in the late 1920s and 1930s ADGB ran annual exercises, usually simulating an enemy offensive against London. Perhaps one year they tested the feasibility of using Hampstead Heath as an emergency aerodrome? Chris: Yes, it was very sudden, I had no idea David was ill. He was actually my supervisor for part of 4th year, so I should write something, probably closer to his memorial service week after next. I wonder if the reference to 'Air Defence exercises' is the key -- in the late 1920s and 1930s ADGB ran annual exercises, usually simulating an enemy offensive against London. Perhaps one year they tested the feasibility of using Hampstead Heath as an emergency aerodrome?

Chris:

Yes, it was very sudden, I had no idea David was ill. He was actually my supervisor for part of 4th year, so I should write something, probably closer to his memorial service week after next.

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2008/08/26/screening-the-knock-out-blow/comment-page-1/#comment-81962 Chris Williams Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:31:33 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=545#comment-81962 At firs glance it looks like an intervention from the Department for Allowing For Improbable Contingencies to me. A bit like the Bloody Code of the C18th, really. On the other hand, in 1932 the RAF was still a biplane force, and they had very short take-off runs: the Fairey Flycatcher, for example, could take off from the lower deck hangar of HMS Furious. PS - Brett, I heard today that Melbourne-based historian David Philips has died. Sorry to hear about that: he was a nice man and a brilliant researcher. At firs glance it looks like an intervention from the Department for Allowing For Improbable Contingencies to me. A bit like the Bloody Code of the C18th, really.

On the other hand, in 1932 the RAF was still a biplane force, and they had very short take-off runs: the Fairey Flycatcher, for example, could take off from the lower deck hangar of HMS Furious.

PS - Brett, I heard today that Melbourne-based historian David Philips has died. Sorry to hear about that: he was a nice man and a brilliant researcher.

]]> By: Alex http://airminded.org/2008/08/26/screening-the-knock-out-blow/comment-page-1/#comment-81928 Alex Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:27:36 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=545#comment-81928 Weirdly, I noticed yesterday that the bylaws of Hampstead Heath include a truly odd provision to stop you from landing or taking off in any aircraft, except from such landing ground provided for Air Defence exercises. And the whole document was signed by the Home Secretary and also the Secretary of State for War, with the last revision apparently being 1932. Surely no-one in 1932 thought that RAF fighters would be based on the heath? I mean, WW1 biplanes had fairly minimal runway requirements, but still. Weirdly, I noticed yesterday that the bylaws of Hampstead Heath include a truly odd provision to stop you from landing or taking off in any aircraft, except from such landing ground provided for Air Defence exercises. And the whole document was signed by the Home Secretary and also the Secretary of State for War, with the last revision apparently being 1932.

Surely no-one in 1932 thought that RAF fighters would be based on the heath? I mean, WW1 biplanes had fairly minimal runway requirements, but still.

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