Are these data about "The Longest Day" accurate?

[Naphtali]

I have been informed of two interesting and unusual tidbits about the 1962 zillion-star D-Day drama, "The Longest Day."

1. Richard Todd portrayed his commanding officer.

2. Lovat's piper, I believe his name was Millen??, was portrayed by himself.

 

[DutchIndo]

That bit of trivia I don't know but I read Cornelius Ryans book that had one interesting tid bit. It seems they wanted a working Airspeed Horsa Glider for the movie. They found the drawings and rebuilt 1 I believe. Well when it was finally built it was deemed not airworthy ! It was towed in the Glider Assault scene ( my favorite scene in the whole movie ) as a crash landing.

 

[Naphtali]

That bit of trivia I don't know but I read Cornelius Ryans book that had one interesting tid bit. It seems they wanted a working Airspeed Horsa Glider for the movie. They found the drawings and rebuilt 1 I believe. Well when it was finally built it was deemed not airworthy ! It was towed in the Glider Assault scene ( my favorite scene in the whole movie ) as a crash landing.

The [movie] commander of the glider assault to which you refer is Richard Todd ("Hold until relieved.") I was informed he was a lieutenant during the D-Day glider assault.

One more thing about the piper. I believe he played at Lovat's funeral also.

 

[up196]

Richard Todd as Major John Howard

I have been informed of two interesting and unusual tidbits about the 1962 zillion-star D-Day drama, "The Longest Day."

1. Richard Todd portrayed his commanding officer.

2. Lovat's piper, I believe his name was Millen??, was portrayed by himself.

Richard Todd portrayed Major John Howard, commanding officer of D Coy, 2nd Ox and Bucks, 6th Ariborne Division. They landed in gliders and took the bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal until relieved later in the day. Major Howard was one of the technical advisers to the movie.

In real life, Richard Todd was a Captain in the 7th Para Batallion of the 6th Airborne. He parachuted into France during the invasion and the 7th Para was one of the units which linked up with Howard's men at Pegasus Bridge.

Todd's commanding officer in the 7th was ironically named Col. Jeffrey Pine-Coffin.

Bill Millin did indeed play himself as Lovatt's piper. I believe there is a scene in the film where he is told to play "Black Bear" but instead plays what he actually played on 6 June 1944.

 

[Howard Hughes]

THE LONGEST DAY

Whatto Chaps,

A few years ago I had the privelige of meeting a Commando veteran who landed (first wave) on Sword on D-Day. He was amongst the brigade who relieved Major Howard's men from "Pegasus" bridge.
I asked him if the portrayal of the piper crossing the bridge playing his instrument was correct, his reply.........."Did he B*******S, he went across on his belly, with his head up his A**E, like the rest of us".

Also, my father in-law is actually in the moving picture, he was in The Royal Marines at the time of filming and was "volunteered" for the extras.

Sorry to dispell any urban myths, but I always prefer the "truth" in my history.

Toodleoo
HH