Michael Flude’s Memories

In 1969 Michael was a young man working as a checker for British Rail at Whittlesford railway station very close to Duxford, and was waiting to enter the Parachute Regiment and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. As a result he remembers the filming of Battle of Britain.

“The French chateau was just scaffolding with a very realistic front and looked brilliant, it was alongside the back road that followed the bottom of the airfield. In the film, although difficult to make out, there is a mini van parked by trees which was caught on camera. When Messerschmitt’s attacked over the French chateau, a large silver plane with fluorescent red front & back with glass turrets was used for filming, maybe old American bomber. The main road that ran through Duxford camp was closed to traffic, one of hangers caught fire badly and the fire brigade had to be called to put it out. Heinkel’s that where on loan from the Spanish Air Force flew over Cambridge and the ‘parachuters’ dropped where just wooden figures, when scene of Polish spitfire pilot arrested by farmers. The Red Lion pub alongside Whittlesford station, where we had lunchtime beer, was closed to us one day, we where told Christopher Plummer, Douglas Bader, and others where in the lounge. Wooden mockup Spitfires arrived at Whittlesford sidings to be taken to Duxford to be blown up and burnt on the airfield. I love the film Battle Britain it is my all time favourite, aces high music, fantastic, when working during the summer there in 1969 we had the radio on while listening to aircraft and watching dog fights, brilliant.  Now Duxford is a war museum.”