Mosquito Squadron

Date: 1969
Director: Boris Sagal
Production Company: Oakmount Productions

Stars: David McCallum, Suzanne Neve, Charles Gray, David Buck, David Dundas, Bryan Marshall, Vladek Sheybal
Location(s): Hampshire, Hertfordshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

WWII bomber pilot falls in love with best friend’s widow and then finds out his friend is a POW in a castle to be bombed in his next mission. SJ

Additional Information:

On the to-do list, Mark Bailey has identified some early scenes in North Norfolk, viz. 4-6 minutes Holkham beach & Holkham Hall; 6-7 mins. RAF North Creake (after the war mosquitoes were flown there for scrapping); 7-8 mins just north of Thetford, Suffolk; 10mins low over little Walsingham heading for RAF Little Snoring (ww2 mosquito base) North Norfolk, all mostly unchanged after 50 years.

Jimmy Snow worked on special effects at both Pinewood and Denham Studios but a name that often remained uncredited, as with this film. An interesting Biography and her Memories of him has been written for us by his granddaughter Brigitte, all of which can be read here.

“I was a Corporal i/c P.O.L. at RAF West Raynham in 1968 and 69. One day, while sitting on top of the bulk fuel installation next to the peri-track, I heard an unusual noise. Standing up (for the BFI had a hollow on the top) I saw a Shackleton taxiing past. It was marked as belonging to Farnborough. About the same time, I also saw a number of Mosquitos taxi past
I went home, grabbed a camera and headed for Air Traffic Control. I went in and asked the SATCO if I would be permitted to photograph the aircraft. After assuring me that “I’m sure there is no security risk”, he agreed and off I went. I have a total of 15 photos of the aircraft, parked, taxiing, taking off and flying over the station. The squadron codes shown include HT-S, HT-J and HT-E (with a Shackleton in the background). I always suspected that the aircraft were part of a film but never made any enquiries about them (it would seem that they weren’t filmed at West Raynham, anyway). The photos were put on my computer years later and I dated them June 1968 – which may well be wrong, of course. It was only when I saw “Mosquito Squadron” advertised on TV a few days ago that I decided to record it and check the codes, if any were shown.” Malcolm Dodd to whom my thank you mail rebounded.

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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 25 Dec 2025

Footage culled from "Operation Crossbow", so they say. Phil Bailey has been watching "Operation Crossbow" and confirms that footage is shared with "Mosquito Squadron". "Crossbow" has a longer sequence that makes identification easier, and is pretty certain that this Capture is looking north on Allcroft Road, NW5, towards Queen's Crescent. It's all been redeveloped now, of course, but picture number 3 on this site: http://www.kentishtowner.co.uk/2016/02/22/13-brilliant-old-pictures-of-kentish-town/ shows houses with the characteristic deep external sills. The building in the centre of the shot, in Queen's Crescent, is visible for further confirmation in "Operation Crossbow" (and perhaps also in "Mosquito Squadron"). (RL)

This is the view south of what was the northern extension of Allcroft Road looking towards Queen's Crescent. If I should be on what is still Allcroft Road looking north, then this, as well as Operation Crossbow 12, is wrong. SJ

  • Capture 2
  • 'Now' required

McCallum and Neve enter a nice house. Stephen Lee identifies this as The Chantry on Barnet Lane, Elstree in Hertfordshire, which also appears in 'The Anniversary'.

  • Capture 3
  • 'Now' required

And this is the back of the building.

  • Capture 4
  • 27 Mar 2012

Sphinxes again: the Edgwarebury/Corus, Elstree in Hertfordshire. The popular filming location also appears in ‘School for Scoundrels’, ‘The Devil Rides Out’, ‘Spider’s Web’, ‘Never Too Young to Rock’, ‘Stardust’, 'Sons of the Sea', ‘The Rough and the Smooth’, 'For Members Only', ‘Stranger from Venus’, ‘My Lover My Son’, 'The Liquidator’, ‘Not Now Comrade’, ‘So Evil, So Young’, ‘Mosquito Squadron’, 'Hawks' and 'Fierce Creatures'.

Now, as the list of credits for this hotel grows and grows . . . .

  • Capture 5
  • 16 Jul 2019
Tykes Water "Lake" Bridge, found in Aldenham Country Park. Circa 1969

A bridge, methinks Tykes Water "Lake" Bridge, found in Aldenham Country Park.

Geoff Dodd found more than one lady on the bridge. (RL)

  • Capture 6
  • 16 Jul 2019
Tykes Water "Lake" Bridge, found in Aldenham Country Park. Circa 1969

McCallum and Neve at the bridge. The bridge also appears in 'Dracula AD 1972', 'Taste the Blood of Dracula', '633 Squadron', 'Voices' and a number of television programmes including 'Here Come the Double Deckers', 'The Avengers' and 'The Professionals'.

Tykes Water "Lake" Bridge, found in Aldenham Country Park.

Somewhat more vegetation for Geoff to contend with. (RL)

  • Capture 7
  • 'Now' required

Entrance to the "French chateau." Perhaps Minley Manor, Minley Road between the A30 and M3 in Hampshire... Keith Nichol confirms: "The arch is to the north of the main building on the drive which leads to the A327 Minley Road. The picture was taken through the arch looking towards the A327."

  • Capture 8
  • 'Now' required

The "chateau": definitely Minley Manor now.

  • Capture 9
  • 'Now' required

The resistance attack. No resistance from Gordon Thomson who freely advises that this is Minley Manor near Camberley, Surrey. Gordon worked on the film in the summer of '68. (RL)

  • Capture 10
  • 'Now' required

Awaiting the survivors. Maybe RAF Bovington. No "maybe" says Gordon Thomson who worked on the film, it is definitely Bovingdon. The control tower can also be seen in 'Hanover Street', 'Silver Dream Racer' and '633 Squadron'. Phil Milsom directs us to the Website https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/military-sites/6303-bovingdon-airfield-control-tower.html#.VTkK4Wx0yP8 for more information and the sad decline with the passage of time. (RL)