# 633 Squadron aircraft ID

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 5, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420 "2008-01-05T19:17:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420/1 "2008-01-05T19:17:39Z")

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Film related, but looking for a factual answer.

In the pre-title sequence of _633 Squadron_ Norwegian guerillas run to a waiting aircraft. It looks like a Bf 108, but there are a couple of things I noticed. The tailplane does not appear to have struts, unless I missed them, and it appears to be mounted slightly lower than it should be. Also, the aircraft has triple tails. At the nose there is a fairing for something or other (oil cooler?) that is smaller than on Bf 108s I’ve seen.

Is it a Bf 108? Possibly a Nord 1000? Was it built with three tails, or was it modified for some reason for the film?

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420/2 "2008-01-05T19:20:36Z")

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[Sez Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/633_Squadron):

> [@](#):
>
> The film features real de Havilland Mosquitos, an aeroplane nicknamed the “Wooden Wonder” because of its primary construction material. Five Mosquitos were used during filming, three airworthy and two that could not fly, but could be taxied around the runways. The airworthy Mosquitos were mostly former bomber versions converted to target-towing aircraft (TT Mk. 35) and recently retired from RAF service, which were restored to resemble a fighter-bomber variant (FB. Mk. VI) for filming. Although it is often stated these were the only mark flown in the film, watching closely reveals that a T Mark III (probably RR299) is also flown, lacking the two-stage Merlins, V-shaped windscreen and bulged bomb-bay of the TT35s.
> 
> No original German aircraft were available at the time of filming, so Messerschmitt Bf 108 aircraft were used to represent the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
> 
> The camera aircraft, a North American B-25 Mitchell, appears in the film, dropping Bergman back into Norway. His original escape from Norway is in a Miles Messenger.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420/3 "2008-01-05T19:25:26Z")

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Miles Messenger? That’s one I don’t know. Heading off to look it up…

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420/4 "2008-01-06T00:49:33Z")

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[Photo of a Messenger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mess4a.jpg). Looks like your description.

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**Author:** ![633squadron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/ee59a6/32.png) [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/633-squadron-aircraft-id/432420/5 "2008-01-06T03:48:53Z")

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[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]  
Film related, but looking for a factual answer.  
[/QUOTE]

What? Oh.

sorry.

I was asleep.

:smack: