Chalk at the BBC! 'Last Heroes of D Day'

Last September (2012) Chalk were invited to take part in a new documentary for the BBC; 'The Last Heroes of D-day' which was aired on BBC1 on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th June this year.

We first travelled down to Margate in Kent for the night time scenes of the attack on Pegasus Bridge and the Piat attack on the Panzer IV (which finally took place just before daybreak).

A week or so later we made the journey to RAF Shawbury to film the glider sequences. This was a fantastic opportunity for Chalk as we got to sit in the pilot seats of the superb replica Horsa which is being built by the Assault Glider Trust. We also took part in scenes of paratroopers in the back of a Dakota as well as being filmed watching training films.

In all, the experience of filming was extremely interesting, tiring but interesting non the less. And the final product was brilliantly put together I'm sure you'll agree.

The downloadable e-book is also very good with more veteran interviews.

Link: Last Heroes of DDay

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

All screengrabs courtesy of BBC Television 2013

More Duxford IWM!

Photo courtesy of Tolleys 2013

Photo courtesy of Tolleys 2013

Photo courtesy of Tolleys 2013

Chalk at Duxford IWM - June 15/16 2013

All members of Chalk were able to attend the MVT weekend at Imperial War Museum Duxford over the weekend of 15/16th June.

The weather was hot, cloudy, rainy, cold, hot and windy! With everyone getting burnt pink on the Sunday. There were far more British Airborne groups than last year which looked absolutely superb, we were also joined by two very good Amercian Airborne groups and one Polish!

Highlights for me were meeting Johnnie Peters of 1st Border and veteran of Arnhem and also Neil Barber author of 'The Day The Devils Dropped In'.

See the photo's below and when I get more I'll be sure to update. Cheers.

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

Photo courtesy of Airborne Assault Museum, IWM Duxford 2013

REMEMBER! Chalk will be displaying at Duxford IWM!

Remember folks, we'll be displaying at Duxford IWM this weekend (15-16th June) as part of their Airborne Forces Weekend.

We'll be joined by other living history groups displaying British and American airborne uniforms and equipment.

Why not come down and take a look for yourselves? There's also the museum itself to look round of course so come early! If you do decide to visit then drop by the Chalk display (look for the blue banner) and say hello.

Cheers

Major Mike Peters at Redoubt Fortress

Major Mike Peters is the author of Glider Pilots at Arnhem (co-written with Luuk Buist) and Glider Pilots in Sicily, a serving AAC Officer, has also published DVD's on the history of GPR and Pegasus Bridge and leads battlefield tours (where does he find the time?).

On Saturday June 1st, Mike will be giving a lecture on 'The Glider Pilot Regiment at Arnhem' at the Redoubt Fortress in Eastbourne.

If you'd like to attend please call 01323 410300 or visit www.eastbournemuseums for more details.

Lectures run from 2pm to 4pm with a short Q&A session afterwards.

Thank you.

 

More Shots of Operation Varsity

More Eagles added to the nest!

I've recently been able to expand my collection of 'The Eagle' the magazine of the Glider Pilot Regimental Association.

These all come mainly from Ebay but if any readers would like to donate issues then please don't hesitate to contact me. I am of course always happy to agree on a fair price too.

A facsimile of the first 'Eagle' - July 1946 - now sits proudly alongside my other originals. My thanks to  Colin Knox for sending me scans of an original copy in his late fathers collection.

1986 - 1994 editions.

1946 Volume 1 Number 1 (a facsimile made up from scans donated to me) alongside original 1951, 1953 and 1957 editions.