Apointment in London Lancaster's

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Watched the film yesterday "Apointment in London".

The Lancaster's were coded "IH" was this a true Squadron code or a made up one for the film ? could not find it in Wikipedia.

Were the Lancaster's in the film all ex 617 Squadron aircraft as was NX782 ?

I noted also that she was photographed in earlier days in the "Tiger" colours with codes "KC" but for the film she is shown in the usual Wartime bomber Command Colours, black undersides etc, as are the other a/c shown in the film all with "IH" codes.
Was this code anything to do with the stationing and filming (?) at Hemswell ?

Thanks,
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

From Jonathan Falconer's, RAF Bomber Command in Fact, Film and Fiction:

Appointment in London.

The Film itself was shot on location during June-July 1952 at RAF Upwood in Huntingdonshire with the full cooperation of the RAF. At the time of filming, Upwood was still an active heavy bomber station hosting Nos 7, 148 and 214 Squadrons. Some of the interiors, such as the party in the officers' mess, were shot at Upwood itself, although most others including the briefing room scenes and other close-up work were shot at Shepperton Studios during August.

Squadron Leader Peter Landon, OC No.214 squadron, was in charge of flying sequences in which four Lancasters were used, all of which were flown on camera by serving RAF pilots and crews, including Landon. These aircraft were: NX782, IH:V, usually flown by Squadron Leader D 'Lofty' Hayes, OC No.148 Squadron; NX679, IH:C, captained by Flight Lieutenant George Fletcher, of No.7 Squadron; TW862, IH:S, captained by Flying Officer Reg Wareham; and NX673, IH:B, usually piloted by Squadron Leader Peter Landon. Mk.I, TW883, was also used in the filming of ground sequences. Avro Lincoln IIs of the resident heavy bomber squadron were used to dress the scenes shot on the airfield and which, from a distance, pass for Lancasters. Lancasters NX673, NX679 and NX782 were later used in the making of the Dam Busters.

See:
RAF Bomber Command in Fact, Film and Fiction.
Falconer,Jonathan
Stroud:Sutton Publishing,1996.
pp.91-3

Col.