Fighter Squadron (Warner Bros.) (1948)

66 FIGHTER SQUADRON” — nn QS esc (Production) ‘Fighter Squadron’ Troupe Used Regular U.S. Base World War II was practically fought all over again in northern Michigan. A company of grim German soldiers deployed from a swastika-covered truck and _ stalked through a wild section of woods searching for an American flier who had parachuted from his disabled plane. Suddenly from the skies a flight of silver aircraft flashed into view. Their machine guns chattered with staccato bursts and the ground was ripped with exploding puffs of dust. The Germans milled in panic and fell as the slugs pounded into them, and the sleek fighters, bearing the blue and white stars of the Army Air Forces, zoomed away. Then a surprising thing happened. A voice called ‘Cut,’ the Germans arose and began to brush themselves off methodically and the woods were suddenly full of men carrying wires and packages. The voice belonged to Director Raoul Walsh, the Germans belonged to the United States Army and the men and equipment were there for Warner Bros. in connection with the filming of the Technicolor saga of the Air Forces, “Fighter Squadron,” which is now finished, and comes to the Strand Theatre shortly. The scene of this strange peacetime activity was Oscoda, Mich., 200 miles north of Detroit on the shores of Lake Huron where the U. S. Army and Warners teamed to recreate the story of the 56th Fighter Wing during the recent air battle over Europe. To duplicate authentically this realistic scene required many man hours of planning and work for the “power crew” of the studio special effects department. To film it required the use of several hundred yards of tiny electrical cable, small powder charges, and a walkie-talkie set. Under the supervision of Director Walsh and technical advisor Major Joseph Perry, Air Force, the powder crew laid out the approximate pattern a stream of machine gun bullets would make. In this area they laid their wiring and powder charges so that a row of eight charges would explode simultaneously followed by another and another, realistically duplicating the effect of eight 50 caliber machine guns fired from a P-47 “Thunderbolt.” The charges were carefully concealed by grass and covered with earth in order that puff of dust would burst into the air following each explosion. The scene was now ready. Henry Hull Plays Officer Henry Hull, the veteran stage and screen actor who appears in Warner Bros.’ Technicolor film, “Fighter Squadron,” brought something authentic with him for his role of a flying general in the Technicolor saga of the Army Air Forces. Hull wears his son’s flying shoes in the film, a pair of battered, but rejuvinated chukka boots that survived more than 500 combat hours of flying in the Eighth air force during the war. Henry borrowed the shoes from his son, George, when he learned of his assignment in the Warner film. Oscoda Hated To See ’Em Go When Warner Bros.’ “Fighter Squadron” unit headed by Edmond O’Brien, Robert Stack, John Rodney and director Raoul Walsh, pulled out of Oscoda, Mich. where exterior filming was done, the whole town turned out and filled the train with lilac blossoms. Navy Pals Team For Army Film Sheppard Strudwick and John McGuire, playing together for the first time in Warner Bros.’ thrili-packed Technicolor film, “Fighter Squadron,” roomed together as student Naval officers at Princeton in 1941. The two actors portray high ranking Army officers in the Technicolor saga of the Army Air Forces starring Edmond O’Brien and Robert Stack. Both attained the rank of lieutenant commanders during their four year tours in the Navy. In “Fighter Squadron” Strudwick plays a one-star general and McGuire portrays a major. Raoul Walsh directs. Technicolor Film Comes to Strand Young Jack Larson, appearing in the cast of Warner Bros’ sweeping Technicolor air saga, “Fighter Squadron”, heading toward the Strand Theatre shortly, is a former Pasadena Playhouse actor. This is his first film bow. Edmond O’Brien, Robert Stack and John Rodney are starred. JOHN RODNEY and EDMOND O'BRIEN who share stellar honors as daredevil pilots in Warner Bros.’ sensational Technicolor film of the air force, Fighter Squadron", which opens tomorrow at the Strand Theatre. Still 705-13 Mat 705-24 Production Copy “GET UP, SIR... !"' says Tom D'Andrea, to Edmond O'Brien in Warner Bros.’ thrilling Technicolor tale of the air force, "Fighter Squadron", coming next week to the Strand Theatre. Raoul Walsh directed this air thriller. Still 705-40 Mat 705-2F "COMING IN... COMING IN..." is the short message heard by flying pilots Walter Reed, Glenn Denning, John Rodney and Robert Stack in Warner Bros.’ zooming Technicolor thriller, "Fighter Squadron”, which opens Friday at the Strand. Still 705-62 Mat 705-2C Lake Huron Is ‘Channel’ Lake Huron served as an occasional double for the English Channel in Warner Bros’ sensational Technicolor saga, “Fighter Squadron”, which comes soon to the Strand Theatre. Part of this exciting picture were shot at Oscoda Air base in Michigan, picked out by the studio for its resemblance to the English countryside where “Fighter Squadron” really takes place. Hollywood supplied other sets, also actual combat shots were incorporated into the finished production. Edmond O’Brien, Robert Stack, John Rodney headed the troupe under Raoul Walsh, which spent two weeks on exteriors at Oscoda. ‘Fighter Squadron’ Player From Stage James Holden, whose two-page scene in the Broadway production of “Command Decision”, won him a Hollywood pact, bows in as a screen actor in Warner Bros. sensational Technicolor saga, “Fighter Squadron”, due here soon. It was only a bit on the stage, but the Broadway critics picked him out for laudatory notices. Then the movies beckoned and he was signed. Employ Special Aerial Lensing Aerial lensing on Warner Bros.’ smashing Technicolor film, “Fighter Squadron”, whichcomes to the Strand Theatre soon, was done by Wilfred Cline, A.S.C., in the special camera ship flown to location site in Oscoda, Mich. by Hollywood’s famed pilot, Paul Mantz. Mantz converted an Army B25 medium bomber by installing camera mounts and hatches in five different positions on the plane, enabling full coverage from all angles. Most of the filming was done from the bombardier’s compartment in the nose of the ship. Part of the canopy was removed, allowing the windstream to rush into the compartment. However this problem was solved by installing a small aluminum baffle plate on the nose of the ship just forward of the open hatch. This diverted the airstream away from the open hatch and allowed the cameramen to work in comfort. It is also interesting to note that special electrically heated suits were worn for high altitude lensing. Leading roles in “Fighter Squadron” are played by Edmond O’Brien, Robert Stack, John Rodney, Henry Hull and Tom D’Andrea. Raoul Walsh directed this spectacle.