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Battle Formation: The Story of the Royal Air Force Coltishall

1959 , Coltishall (Norfolk)

Cat no. 209623

Anglia Television programme profiling twenty years of RAF Coltishall.

The scrambling of modern fighter jets opens this Anglia Television documentary, which traces the illustrious history of fighter commands operating from RAF Coltishall. Presented by television game show host and former Canadian Air Force officer Hughie Green and former RAF airman Colin Hodgkinson, the programme features contemporary interviews and archival film. Green covers many aspects of modern RAF operations at Coltishall, meeting with commanding officer Group Captain Bird-Wilson, speaking to Javelin pilots and navigators, and profiling the 'Fighting Tigers' of the 74 squadron. Hodgkinson visits the hangars, where engineers service aircraft and fit specialist equipment. Later, Green visits the Air Fighting Development Squadron, where pilots undertake training in flight simulators, and tours the control tower. At the end of the day, Green retires to the officers' mess to talk about modern flying, whilst Hodgkinson and a succession of World War II pilots - including prominent fighter ace Group Captain Douglas Bader - share their memories.

Featured Buildings

RAF Coltishall

Keywords

Aircraft; Air Force; Aviation; Defence; Fighter jets; Military; War

  • Production company : Anglia Television

  • Producer : Stephen McCormack (executive producer)

  • Director : Forbes Taylor

  • Script : Forbes Taylor

  • Presenter : Hughie Green

  • Presenter : Colin Hodgkinson

  • Camera : Ian Craig

  • Camera : Peter Fuller (assistant cameraman)

  • Sound : Charles Earl

  • Editor : Harry Aldous

  • Music : John Hollingsworth

  • Music : Central Band of The Royal Air Force

  • Music : Wing Commander A. E. Sims (conductor)

Manifestations

Battle Formation: The Story of the Royal Air Force Coltishall

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