Historia jednego myśliwca
Movie (1958)
Russian title : История одного истребителя
English title : Story of one Fighter
Starring:
Bogusz Bilewski (Lieutenant (Flying officer) Stefan Zaremba)
Krystyna Iwaszkiewicz (Margaret)
Danuta Nagórna (Catherine, woman of the French Underground)
Włodzimierz Skoczylas (Zygmunt)
Stefan is a Polish Spitfire pilot based in the U.K. He meets Margaret who recently lost her boyfriend, another pilot killed in action. Stefan, already shot down over the Channel, is now escaping his Spitfire over occuppied France ...
Yakovlev Yak-3 (modified)
Modified airframe to look like a Supermarine Spitfire.
Seen only taxiing or on the tarmac, this Yakovlev Yak-3 had a false spin and modified canopy, false cannon on the wing (simulating 20 mm cannon of the Spitfire Mk V). Fairing door of the landing gear was changed from outside to inner position in order to let think the undercarriage will retract like the Spitfire one (wheels towards wingtip). But axle track is too wide !
A single radiator under the fuselage instead under the wing.
Of course, a RAF paint scheme is applied with FZ unit code (for No. 65 Squadron RAF (1939 - Dec. 1943) or 94 Sqn (from February 1944)). Polish squadron were in the range No. 3xx Sqn as said by the narrator.
Background 'Spitfire' are Yakovlev Yak-9 more slighty modified.
Supermarine Spitfire
Once airborne, the aircraft is a real Spitfire ... with Invasion stripes on the wings !
Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk Vb
Seen several times throughout the movie.
Code WX of No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron worn by Spitfire from October 1941 until late 1944.
Supermarine Seafire Mk XVII (prototype)
Supermarine Seafire Mk.XVII, NS493.
Seen again sixteen minutes later.
Focke-Wulfe Fw 190 A
Unidentified Aircraft
Footage of a flypast used to symbolise a Luftwaffe raid. But shapes are more probably from Handley Page HP.52 Hampden follow by Hawker Hurricane rather Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 110 & Supermarine Spitfire
Same aircraft in other movies at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft.
Unidentified Aircraft
The targetted Messerschmitt Bf 110 becomes a Mitsubishi Ki-46 Dinah (to be confirmed) once the Spitfire is scoring hits !
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb Trop.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa
Hawker Hurricane
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Boulton Paul Balliol
(Top left) The Balliol powered by such a Merlin flew for the very first time on 10 July 1948 ...
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc Trop.
Supermarine Spitfire
Code WZ of No. 19 Squadron RAF. Operated various Spitfires versions until January 1944.
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E
Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon engine)
Wearing Invasion stripes, this Griffon powered Spitfire is fitted with a belly auxiliary tank.
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Unidentified Aircraft
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa
Paint scheme used until May 1942. Perhaps a Spitfire of No. 266 Squadron RAF (code UO ?)
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