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April 26, 2013
Stars were here to make movie • “The Wings of Eagles” (1957): A biography of Navy flier-turned-screenwriter Frank W. “Spig” Wead and U.S. naval aviation from its inception through World War II. The film is a tribute to Wead from his friend, director John Ford. John Wayne plays Wead, who wrote the story or screenplay for such films as “Hell Divers” starring Clark Gable, “Ceiling Zero” starring James Cagney and “They Were Expendable” starring Wayne. The supporting cast features Dan Dailey, Maureen O’Hara, Ward Bond and Ken Curtis. The film was shot on location at NASP and aboard the USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) off the coast of Southern California. A special pre-release screening of the film was held in Pensacola in 1957. – Historic photos courtesy of Elizabeth Beaver
NASP’s film and TV credits
John Wayne confers with a member of the MGM crew between scenes on the set of “The Wings of Eagles.”
Above: Maureen O’Hara arrives at a party given at NASP during filming of the movie “The Wings of Eagles.” Right: Principals from the movie prepare for a scene by taking a dip in Pensacola Bay. Seaplanes used in the film are seen in the background along the waterfront at NASP.
“The Wings of Eagles” was orginally released in 1957. A DVD version was released in 2006. John Wayne stars as Frank “Sprig” Wead and Maureen O’Hara plays Wead’s wife, Minnie. Several of the scenes were filmed aboard NASP.
GOSPORT
Inset: USO volunteer Elizabeth Beaver was a young WAVE stationed at NASP in 1956 when the movie “The Wings of Eagles” was filmed. She was assigned to the photo lab and has a collection of photos that were taken during the filming. Above: Elizabeth Beaver displays one of her old photos. Photo by Janet Thomas
Here is a list of other movies and TV productions that have been filmed at NASP: • “Pensacola: Wings of Gold” (1997–2000): James Brolin starred as Col. Bill Kelly, the leader of an elite military task force. The series was set at NASP and some exteriors were filmed here. • “The Magic of Flight” (1996): An IMAX film produced for the National Naval Aviation Museum features views from the cockpit of a Blue Angels jet aircraft. Narrated by Tom Selleck, explains the basic principles of flight and traces the history of aircraft starting with the Wright brothers inventions in 1903 through the supersonic maneuvers of today. • “The Winds of War” (1983) and “War and Remembrance” (1988): Stars include Robert Mitchum and Jan-Michael Vincent. The TV miniseries and its sequel was filmed in several locations including Pensacola and the USS Lexington (CV 16). • “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970): A dramatization of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor as told from both the American and Japanese sides. The film stars an ensemble cast, including Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten, Sō Yamamura, E.G. Marshall, James Whitmore and Jason Robards. The cast and crew spent a week aboard the USS Lexington, a flight training carrier that was homeported at NASP. They also spent several days shooting dockside at the pier. Decommissioned in 1991, the Lexington is now a museum ship at Corpus Christi, Texas. • “Midway” (1976): Cast includes Charlton Heston, Glenn Ford, Henry Fonda and James Coburn. A dramatization of the battle that turned out to be the turning point of the Pacific theater of World War II. Filmed in several locations. On-board scenes were filmed in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the USS Lexington. • “Wings of the Navy” (1939): Stars Olivia de Havilland and George Brent. Filmed on location on naval air stations in San Diego, Calif., and Pensacola. A submarine officer comes to Pensacola to train as a flying cadet, just like his father and his brother. He falls in love with his brother’s girlfriend, which only increases the competition between the two brothers. • “The Flying Fleet” (1929): Stars Ramon Navarro. The story follows six midshipmen after they graduate from the Naval Academy. Three make pass initial tests and are sent to undergo training in Pensacola. One crashes and the remaining two get their “wings.”