633 Squadron

633 Squadron is a World War II film directed by Walter Grauman and produced by Cecil F. Ford for United Artists in 1964 starring Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris and Harry Andrews. The script was adapted by author James Clavell and Howard Koch from an original novel by Frederick E Smith. Image File history File links 633_Squadron. ... Image File history File links 633_Squadron. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... Walter E. Grauman (born March 17, 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American director of stage shows, theatrical films and television shows. ... The current United Artists logo (also used during the 1980s). ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... Cliff Robertson Clifford Parker Robertson III (born September 9, 1925) is an American actor notable for his performances in PT 109 (as the young John F. Kennedy), The Best Man, Charly (for which he won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor), Picnic, Obsession, Autumn Leaves and Star 80. ... George Chakiris (born September 16, 1934 in Norwood, Ohio) is a Greek-American dancer and film actor. ... Harry Andrews (November 10, 1911 - March 6, 1989) was a British actor. ... James Clavell in 1986 James Clavell, British Royal Artillery) (10 October 1924 – 7 September 1994) was a novelist, screenwriter, and World War II POW, who was famous for books such as Shogun, and such films as The Great Escape and To Sir, with Love. ... Howard Koch (1902-1995) was an American screenwriter. ...

Story

After a Norwegian resistance leader reports to British Royal Air Force officials the location of a recently discovered German V-2 rocket fuel plant, the RAF's 633 Squadron is assigned to destroy it. The plant, however, is in an impregnable location beneath an overhanging cliff at the end of a long, narrow fjord lined with anti-aircraft guns. The only way to destroy the plant is by collapsing the cliff on top of it, a job that only the 633 Squadron's light Mosquito aircraft are capable of. Norwegian resistance to the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1945 took several forms: Asserting the legitimacy of the exiled Norwegian government, and by implication the lack of legitimacy of the Quisling regime and Terboven administration The initial defense in Southern Norway, which was largely disorganized, but... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The V-2 rocket or Vergeltungswaffe 2 (Reprisal weapon 2) was an early ballistic missile used by the German Army during the later stages of World War II against mostly British and Belgian targets. ... Sognefjorden, Norway A fjord (or fiord) is a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes, which results from marine inundation of a glaciated valley. ...

The squadron go on training for their mission in Scotland, where there is a similar feature. Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

The Norwegian resistance are tasked with destroying the anti-aircraft defences around the factory, but fail, meaning that the squadron has to attack with the defences intact. In the end only one aircraft survives, but the factory is destroyed.

The planes

The film features real De Havilland Mosquito aircraft, a plane also known as the "Wooden Wonder" because of its primary construction material. Five Mosquitos were used during filming, three that were flightworthy and two that could not fly, but could be taxied around the runways. However, the three airworthy Mosquitos were actually photo-recon versions that were restored to fighter-bomber specifications for filming. de Havilland Mosquito. ...

The German aircraft featured in the film, which were supposed to be Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes were actually Messerschmitt Bf 108 "Taifun" liaison aircraft repainted to look more like fighters. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt in the early 1930s. ... The Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun was a single-engined sports and touring aircraft developed by Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. ...

Influence

The film Mosquito Squadron is a virtual remake of 633 Squadron even using some footage from the original film.

The film's finale shows the squadron's planes flying down a deep fjord while being fired at along the way by anti-aircraft guns lining its sides. George Lucas has stated in interviews that this sequence inspired the 'trench run' sequence in Star Wars. This movie poster for Star Wars depicts many of the films important elements, such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, X-Wing and Y-Wing fighters Star Wars, retitled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981 (see note at Title,) is the original (and in chronological...

The unit

The unit featured in the film never existed in the Royal Air Force order of battle. The number chosen had been left unused between the real units, 631 Squadron and 635 Squadron. The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... No. ...

External links

• 633 Squadron at The Internet Movie Database