Posted on 07/06/2013 4:42:52 PM PDT by ken5050
I was probably among the last generation of kids to see children's matinees in the theater. In 1961-1962, they were presented every Saturday morning at the movie theater on the American Army base in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Prior to the main feature, we would watch serials, including "Commando Cody"--the rocketeer in question--"Panther Girl of the Kongo" and "Blazing the Overland Trail," both produced in the mid-1950's.
I knew an old B-36 pilot. After he retired from the Air Force, he applied for a job at Ft. Rucker training army pilots in one of the twin engine props they were using.
They asked him if he was qualified for twin engines. He said he told them he was qualified for 10 engines. He got the job btw.
Tallman and Mantz were the best. I think Mantz died making Flight of the Phoenix.
Thanks for starting it. I was an airplane nut as a kid, built so many models it drove my parents crazy, then went into the Navy as a jet mechanic and saw it for real...:)
I LOVE talking with aviation enthusiasts...
My Dad was a B-36 crew member from 1951 to 1955. His B-36 Peacemaker crew was stationed in Texas at that time. I saw the movie a few times. They called them “six turning, four burning”. They were larger than B-52’s. They scared the living daylights out of Russians with the bomb load. The Russians had a re-engineered B-29 rip off at the time.
Your Dad was part of an elite group, for sure.
Yes, some of our B-29’s had to land in Soviet territory and they stole them.
Shatner, Twilight Zone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare_at_20,000_Feet
High Road To China-That’s another worth seeing again.
Thanks for the reminder.
Hahaha...
Joey: I think you’re the greatest, but my dad says you don’t work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of times, you don’t even run down court. And that you don’t really try... except during the playoffs.
And we would absolutely torture the matrons...drive them bananas..
Whirlybirds the series.
The High and the Mighty!
Bess Armstrong makes me drool
I wonder how many people know the original title of “And Then There None”. It wasn’t “Ten Little Indians” btw.
I have always thought the opening scenes of the plane crash in “Castaway” were some of the most impressive in any aviation movie showing a crash.
No love for Jimmie Stewarts’s “Flight of the Phoenix”? One of the best non-military plane flix.
The planes themselves are wildly anachronistic - Stampe SV4Cs - but Bess Armstrong looked very nice in those days.
Thanks! I just watched it again during the July 4th marathon, but I am so bad about remembering a lot of the titles.
Very underrated movie, IMHO. There’s a comedy with Teri Garr - “Miracles” - with some funny aerial scenes.
As for favorite aviation movies:
1. Flying Leathernecks
2. Men of the Fighting Lady
3. Midway
And for the NSA trolls, FU.
Heck, I didn’t know that!
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