Actors, Politicians, and Celebrities

Quite a few surprises, aren't they?

 

One of my favourites, a real gentleman:

James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983),[1][2] known as David Niven, was an English actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Litton, a.k.a. "the Phantom," in The Pink Panther.

David Niven - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'Being Scottish, he requested assignment to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders or the Black Watch; then jokingly wrote on the form, as his third choice, "anything but the Highland Light Infantry" (because the HLI wore tartan trews rather than kilts). He was assigned to the HLI, and his comment was known in the regiment. Thus Niven did not enjoy his time in the Army. He served with the HLI for two years in Malta, and then for a few months in Dover. In Malta, he became friends with Roy Urquhart, future commander of the British 1st Airborne Division.
Niven grew tired of the peacetime Army. Though promoted lieutenant on January 1, 1933,[12] he saw no opportunity for further advancement. His ultimate decision to resign came after a lengthy lecture on machine guns, which was interfering with his plans for dinner with a particularly attractive young lady. At the end of the lecture, the speaker (a major general) asked if there were any questions. Showing the typical rebelliousness of his early years, Niven asked, "Could you tell me the time, sir? I have to catch a train."[10]
After being placed under close arrest for this act of insubordination, Niven finished a bottle of whisky with the officer who was guarding him and (with his connivance) escaped from a first-floor window. He then headed for America. While crossing the Atlantic, Niven resigned his commission by telegram on 6 September 1933.[13] Niven relocated to New York, where he began an unsuccessful career in whisky sales and horse rodeo promotion in Atlantic City. After subsequent detours to Bermuda and Cuba, he finally arrived in Hollywood in the summer of 1934.'

See wiki article for details of his service in Commandos and Phantom Recce mob in WW2.

CS

 

Anyone seen John Travoltas house on Google Earth? You can see his 747 parked outside. I'll post a kmz later for anyone who wants to see.

 

Sabu the actor--[he played the boy in The Thief of Bagdad and jungle Book]---He was a tail gunner in WW2 and served in the Pacific and won the DFC for valour.

also Jimmy Edwards[English actor comedian---eg 'Whacko' for you older guys]--He was a Dakota pilot who also won the DFC and was shot down at Arnhem.He had to have plastic surgery and grew his trademark moustache to disguise the scars

 

Anyone seen John Travoltas house on Google Earth? You can see his 747 parked outside. I'll post a kmz later for anyone who wants to see.

As promised.

 

denholm elliott was a bomber command wireless operator and became a pow after being shot down:ukflag[1]:

 

There was film on the evening news here tonight of John Travolta landing his jet in Haiti today with a load of emergency supplies.

It's sure a case of life imitating art with Donald Pleasance. I loved his part in the Great Escape but had no idea that he had been at Stalag Luft 1. Role rehearsal!

 

I haven't heard the news but Kelley just told me when we saw your post.

Fair play to the bloke, good on him.

 

james dohan flew recon planes for artilery spotting after being wounded on D-day

Scotty fron star trek

 

Dan Rowan, of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" from the 60s, was a USAAF P-40 pilot in the SW Pacific Theatre with two confirmed kills.

Gene Roddenbury, the creator of the original "Star Trek" was a USAAF bomber pilot (B-17 I believe) in the PTO also.

 

Captain (Ret'd) James Montgomery Doohan

James Doohan was born in Vancouver in 1920 and served in the 13 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II. As a Gun Position Officer landing on D Day, he saw a tank, which was carrying his substantial winnings from across-channel card school, blown to pieces early in the battle. Also early in the continental landings, he was returning from a patrol when he was cut down by a nervous sentry’s hail of Bren gun fire.

After recovering from his wounds, and the loss of his finger he re-roled as an Air Observation Pilot. He is quoted in an interview in the Ottawa Citizen at the time of the 1988 Air OP Pilots Reunion as saying, "You had to be some sort of a fool to volunteer (to be an Air OP Pilot) or have a strong desire to fly." He spoke about practicing low-flying techniques. He once slalomed beneath the wires of nineteen consecutive telephone poles and practiced tight turns around Stonehenge. "It was the greatest physical year of my life. I have never been so close to death." In addition to the aerobatics during training, he nearly crashed his aircraft in Holland while taking "a look" at a German U-boat, earning him the title of "the craziest pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force".




James was also best known as "Scotty" on Star Trek and was a friend of my grandfather's while living and going to school in Sarnia, Ontario.

 

Nice to see he had a flying background before he went to the stars.... All power to Scotty's elbow...
Dee

 

The things you learn on this forum. Thanks for posting.

Cheers
Paul

 

Adam, is this what you were thinking of?

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/barracks/5146-not-lot-people-know.html

 

I thought I recognised the name!

Thanks for posting. I like the story, I often think pilots (particularly fighter pilots) are fairly close to completely nuts from the tales you hear about.

Reminded me of an incident at the aifield close to were I live (RAF Ridgewell), after the war it was once of the bases designated for ordnance maintenance/servicing, and would usually have the runways lined with bombs of all different shapes and sizes.

The crazy American pilots at RAF Wethersfield (I think flying F84s) would take bets or dare each other to 'touch and go' between the bombs on the runway at Ridgewell. I think they did about 2 or 3 times before they got caught and told off, but honestly what sane person would ever do anything so mental!?!?

 

They did all sorts of things to keep their minds off their real job didnt they.... Anyway we are all mad its just the depth to which we are mad that differs!
Dee

 

He gave 'er all she's got!!!

 

... I like the story, I often think pilots (particularly fighter pilots) are fairly close to completely nuts from the tales you hear about.....

I find it interesting, though hardly surprising, that this myth seems so hard to break.

It does take a certain amount of aggression and risk-willingness to be an effective fighter pilot. If you (consider a typical dog-fight) stay outside the fight until you are absolutely sure of a safe kill, you’ll never present a danger to your adversary.

The main challenge during selection and training of fighter pilots is to find the very thin line sorting out those candidates who are so aggressive that they are liable to develop into ticking bombs – accidents waiting to happen - while keeping those who have the necessary aggression. Those at the opposite end of the specter are more of an economic problem: Sooner or later it will become evident that they are unfit for their duty and expensive training has been spent in vain.

However, there is no margin allowing for madness. Just over the thin line and pilots will be too aggressive, too willing to take risks, too willing to explore boundaries and bend rules further still. This doesn’t seem to be a personality trait easily discovered during selection. Undesired behaviour patterns may develop over years, so supervision must continue. Please be aware that it is also very hard to exercise: In a single seat aircraft one may be able to experience things that remain unrecorded. It is often said that a fighter pilot can be considered remotely safe only after he or she has almost killed him/herself at least once.

Over the last decades accident statistics in military flying (hostile acts not included) have changed dramatically. This is at least true for the western part of the world. The revolution is not primarily due to improved technology. Technical failure will, at least in fighter aircraft, rarely lead to fatal accidents. Fatalities are closely linked to the human factor, amongst which pilot error and especially pilot error due to poor judgment and/or neglition of rules stand out.

I believe it is hard to define exactly how this has been achieved. There has certainly been a generation change. Close supervision and high standards of proficiency are key factors. The fighter community also has a unique tradition for sharing their mistakes for others to learn.

Obviously there are also now available better tools for selection. Of what I have read about pilot selection pre- and during WW II, (sorry, no sources available at the moment) the ideas about what qualities would make a good fighter pilot, were very vague indeed. Being good at sports was thought an advantage, as were skills such as piano playing, horseback riding and sailing. On the other hand it has been said that that had today’s selection principles been applied pre WW II, most of the BoB aces would have been rejected and the BoB almost certainly lost by the allies.

 

Captain Richard Todd of 6th Airborne, went into Pegasus Bridge on D-Day.
Later became a film actor and played his own C/O Major John Howard in the 1962 (?) film "The Longest Day".