| Title | MacArthur |
| Studio | Universal Pictures |
| Date Released | July 1977 |
| Director | Joseph Sargent |
| Actors | Gregory Peck, Ed Flanders |
| Aerial Coordinator | Not known |
| B-17 Filming Locations | Indian Dunes (near Valencia, California), since closed and plowed under. |
B-17s Identified
B-17G 44-83525 (N83525)
The Movie...
A massive and possibly overlong biopic on the General to end all generals starring Gregory Peck. The movie is interesting as it presents an overview of MacArthur's life from 1941 to 1952, a dozen tumulteous years for both him and the world. Of interest to this site is the brief scene depicting a B-17 supposedly piloted by Gen. George Kenney flying in to a base in Australia to meet with MacArthur.
The scene utilized Junior Burchinal's DB-17P, s/n 44-83525 (N83525), wearing the same paint scheme and markings it wore eight years earlier in Thousand Plane Raid when it was operated by Tallmantz Aviation. Burchinal had purchased the B-17 from Tallmantz in 1972 and parked it at Paris, Texas. It reportedly had been placed under contract by the filmmakers for much more screen time, possibly to depict MacArthur's 1942 escape from the Philippines under the Japanese onslaught, but mechanical problems delayed the arrival of the B-17 to the movie set so it was mostly written out. Burchinal apparently operated the B-17 for the cameras.
Anecdotal
- The short sequence was filmed at the same airstrip as used for filming the TV series Baa Baa Blacksheep and many other TV shows and movies including Rocketeer and China Beach.
- Junior Burchinal was the "colorful" character who provided his B-17, late of Tallmantz Aviation, for the film. Burchinal had a few other movie roles, including one of the B-25 pilots in Catch-22 and an F4U pilot in Baa Baa Blacksheep.
- Burchinal's reputation preceded him and was apparently also fabricated by him, if some web sources are to be believed. In one, Burchinal claimed he flew the Twin Beech through a billboard for It's a Mad Mad World (eh, Frank Tallman?) or his flying in Flight of the Phoenix (maybe he gave Paul Mantz some pointers), or Twelve O'Clock High (just how did that belly landing go, Junior?); bottom line: don't give this guy's claims, at least with moviemaking, much credence. He was a good old Texas boy, though, cutting his teeth on dusters and the like.
- It's starting to sound like Junior bashing, but he managed to poke at the underbelly of aviation not just a few times, and there are probably many stories to tell. I did speak to him on the phone on one ocassion about his B-17, and that memorable conversation was everything I expected it to be, and more.
Buy this Movie!
Links
Acknowledgements
- Christopher Brame for providing stills from the film.
Taxiing at Indian Dunes, DB-17P 44-83525 appears in MacArthur about thirty minutes into the film for a brief (about one minute) scene. Presumably, Junior Burchinal is operating the B-17 at this point.
The scene depicts a supposed meeting between Gen. George Kenney and Gen. Douglas MacArthur, with Kenney piloting the B-17 and advising MacArthur about the "few squadrons" of B-17s he is putting together at Brisbane, Australia, to attack the Japanese. Kenney was portrayed by actor Walter O. Miles. Reportedly, Burchinal's B-17 was to play a larger role in the film but was delayed in Arizona due to mechanical problems and it was written out of several scenes. Note the 1000 Plane Raid paint scheme and the nose art Balls of Fire, also a leftover from that 1968 effort when 44-83525 was operated by Tallmantz Aviation.
Actor Gregory Peck, portraying Gen. Douglas MacArthur, as seen through the propellers of Burchinal's B-17 at Indian Dunes, California. Of interest are the Baa Baa Blacksheep Corsairs at Indian Dunes for the filming of the TV series.