THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Bf-109s
The Messerschmidt Bf-109 fighters used in the movie were actually Spanish-built Buchons, built under license by the Spanish and being very similar to the Me-109 (Bf-109). The main difference was that a Merlin engine was used instead of the Daimler-Benz engine used in the German WWII fighters. In order for the aircraft to better represent a 1940 Bf-109E fake cannon barrels were added to the wings and fake machine guns were added to the upper engine cowling. Tailplane struts were also added, and the rounded wingtips were removed. The movie production company was fortunate in that as they started their search for available German fighters the Spanish air force had just retired their entire fleet of Buchons. A large pile of scrapped Buchons was purchased at auction, and 19 aircraft were reconstructed from the salvage to be used in the movie.
Eight Hispano Buchon/Messerschmitt 109s can
be seen in this shot taken at El Corpero Airfield, Spain, in the spring of 1968.
Great lengths were taken by Spitfire Productions to make the Spanish locations
resemble northern France in 1940.
(Photo from the Brian
Williams collection, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The
Photo Album")
Four Spanish-built Messerschmitt 109s maintain close
formation for the cameras.
(Photo from the Brian
Williams collection, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The
Photo Album")
Hammish Mahaddie, the film's Chief Technical
Advisor, stands by one of the Messerschmitt 109's, while a colleague inspects
the cockpit.
(Photo from Donald MaCarron,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")
To get the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine into the
Messerschmitt 109 airframe was a real 'shoehorn' job, as can be seen from this
uncowled run-up shot.
(Photo from Peter Sargent,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's book "Battle of Britain Film - The Movie")
Groundcrews prepare the Messerschmitts for a
'scramble' at El Corpero Airfield, which has been 'dressed' to resemble a
forward
operating base in northern France. Six taxying Buchons were available in
Spain, all of which were fitted with three-blade propellers.
(Photo from BFI Stills,
Posters and Designs, text from Robert J. Rudhall's book "Battle of Britain Film
- The Movie")
The sole remaining airworthy two-seat Hispano Buchon C4K-112 (G-AWHC) was
also used as a camera-ship during the flming of 'Battle'.
(Photo from Chris Pointon, text from Robert J. Rudhall's book "Battle of Britain
Film - The Movie")
One of the flyable Messerschmitts was this rare
two-seat Hispano HA 1112 K1L C4K-112 (G-AWHC).
One several occasions, especially during the dogfight sequences, a camera was
mounted on the front
seat and the fighter was flown from the rear seat.
(Photo from R.A. Edwards,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")
At least three Hispano Buchon airframes were
brought to the UK to be used as spares back-up for the flyable examples.
C4K-154 is pictured inside one of the hangars at Henlow.
(Photo from Peter R. March,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")
One of the Spanish Messerschmitts, C4K-61 (G-AWHF), came to grief when it
ground-looped at Duxford
on May 21. It was retired to the hangar and never flew again during the filming.
(Photo from Peter Sargent,
text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")
A line-up of yellow-nosed
Buchons in the summer of 1968.
(photo by Peter Sargent via
Tony Overill, appearing in FlyPast magazine October 2007)
Buchon
C4K/G-AWHK arrived
at Duxford airfield in 1968.
(photo by Mike Springett via
Aircraft Magazine)
After the movie was done, this Buchon was repainted in its old Spanish
A.F. colors and is on display in the Air Museum
in Madrid, Spain.
(Photo from this website:
http://www.jaon.es/batallainglaterra/batallainglaterra.htm)
For the modeler and true fan of the movie, HobbyCraft issued a plastic model kit
replicating
the Spanish-built Buchon as seen in the movie.
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