Posters Artwork Documents

Heinkel 111 - a cuckoo ...?

United Artists.

Not exactly a He-111 H-3 taking part in the Battle of Britain, but a pretty good imitation; a CASA 2.111 taking part in the movie, "Battle of Britain", 1969. The Construccions Aeronauticas SA (CASA) 2.111 was a Spanish version of the later-war German Heinkel He-16,, built from 1945 by the named Spanish aircraft construction company on the basis of a German license. Some 130 examples of the type were produced for use by the Spanish Air Force. These were still in service (albeit arriving at its end) in Spain in the late-1960s. The producers of the movie, "Battle of Britain" obtained the use of 32 of these aircraft for air and ground sequences, part of a major effort made to achieve the greatest possible authenticity. In this area, as in others, the result is most successful, though purists will quibble. One interesting point - the demise of Nazi Germany in 1945 created a problem for CASA, insofar as the intended German engines became unavailable. The company found an alternative - the Rolls Royce Merlin 500. As a result (and somewhat ironically) most of the aircraft used in the "Battle of Britain" movie mounted the classic Rolls Royce Merlin engine. I find the "Battle of Britain" movie a bit of a "curate's egg" in some respects. The script is rather wooden and "worthy", but bearable. It certainly takes some liberties with history, but not too many. After all, composite and "representative" characters are unavoidable in such cases, and it does a much better job in this respect than, for example, the movie, "Battle of the Bulge". Equipment and period authenticity are to a very high standard, and the cast (especially the British cast) is stellar and on top form. And as for Susannah York in suspenders .... plug in my pacemaker there, Doc ... The aerial combat sequences are superbly done. Then there is the magnificent opening credits - worth watching the movie to see this sequence alone. I like it more now than I did when I saw it first. Must be Getting Old ... Best regards, JR.