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Commemorating the Great War with Errol, Coop & Eastwood

21 Jul

Errol in the Big One, as old timers used to call it on Decoration Day.

www.dentonrc.com…

Dawn+Patrol

— Tim

 
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Lollie
10 years ago

Thanks for posting that gif Gentleman Tim,I LOVE that scene in Dawn Patrol,Errol did that brilliantly,the genuine look on his face is so wonderful. :)

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Maria
10 years ago

Good Morning! Just picturing Errol in an airplane.Just back from a week at Algonquin Park -and when there saw several pontoon planes – and as one flew over me I wondered if Errol ever owned an airplane. I know that he was rather keen on flying. I have discovered that apparently he owned a 1947 North American Navion – and while it is described as once being “owned” by Errol Flynn I am curious if that can be confirmed. Does anyone have any information on that? Many thanks, Maria

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

So cool you were at Alqonquin Park for that, Maria! It must be exceptionally beautiful there.

Thanks for the great info on Errol’s plane! I searched through U.S. immigration databases, but found no records of Errol entering the country in a Navion, ’47 or otherwise – so I couldn’t ID the plane that way. With your great tip, though, we can all look for Errol with his Navion.

BTW, ’47 was apparently the last year North American made the Navion. Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego manufactured and sold it after February ’47. Here’s how she looked:

[img]http://airbum.com/pireps/Navion1.jpg[/img]

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Maria
10 years ago

Yes -the park is beautiful -lots of bugs tho! Makes you realize just how big Canada is! Errol would have loved the fishing – there is quite a history to the park and there was a famous lodge there at one time. Of course there is also the mystery of (Group of 7) artist Tom Thomson’s death. Yes – I even saw a moose!

Many thanks for your reply- I can always count on you to find out more information. This is where I stumble I’m afraid -I get an idea but then have no idea where to go next! I agree- I don’t think that Errol entered or left Canada in it either. I do not see any other information regarding Errol coming to Canada (except to Toronto and Vancouver in the 1950’s) and then he would have flown commercial airliner.

What I did find was a web site (airport-data.com…) that shows a photo of this aircraft -with a huge sign on it that states “once owned by Errol Flynn”. There is also mention of it (“Then he also has Errol Flynn’s old Navion, N5348K, a real honey in powder blue and cream”) in flightlinesnewspaper.wordpress.com….
How else would Errol get to all those great vacation (isolated at the time) spots in Mexico! Of course he may have only had it for a short time – or else it was owned under another name.

Once again – much appreciated,
Maria

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David DeWitt
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  David DeWitt

Excellente, Senor Davido! That appears to have Errol in a Twin Navion in the late 50’s, probably with the legendary Barry Mahon doing some flying for Flynn, who was always ready for a Great Escape to somewhere great.

www.twinnavion.com…

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

Great info, Maria! Thanks!! … Errol being Errol, its starting to look like the Flyin’ Flynn may have flew in a few Navions – the ’47 North American, the ’51 or ’52 you provide the ID number for above, and the twin Navion David showed us landing in Cuban Rebel Girls.

www.sgvtribune.com…

JAG’s Steerman at El Monte

www.aviongoo.com…

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Maria
10 years ago

Thanks to you both! I have another possible pilot -Ray Munro, Royal Canadian Air Force

“Munro began as a Second World War fighter, enjoying a brief, but exciting career in the RCAF where he honed the brilliant flying expertise that put him in Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. He then achieved success and celebrity as an aerial photo-journalist (he was an inventive pioneer of the art). Munro had a knack for showing up at the scene of disasters, and often combined reportage with daring rescues of victims drowning, trapped in flames, or lost in the wilderness.

“In his down time Munro earned a poetry prize, finished a law degree and proved a dab hand in the stock market. But his first love was aerial adventure. As a bush pilot he ferried Hollywood stars such as Errol Flynn, Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe. ”

Why was Errol in the B.C Interior? Fishing maybe? I can see you needing a bush pilot for that. Perhaps Mr. Munro brought Errol up to Vancouver in 1959.

We Canadians are everywhere! Mr. Munro did write a book as well (The Sky’s the limit) but it may be out of print. I bet it is a good read.

Thanks again,
Maria

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

You Canadians are everywhere! One (now a senator in the State/Country of Texas) has even been running for President down here!

Thanks for another great contribution – Ray Munro. We need to find that bio!

And, of course, we can’t forget Errol’s best bud, Bud Ernst, who used to fly him all over in the Flyin’ Flynn’s early Hollywood heyday – including, on occasion, to a wedding. … Bud used to fly NC16523, as evidenced in immigration records, including this one documenting a return trip from Southeast Baja, through Lindbergh Field to LA:

bit.ly/1n7GGsB…

Here’s Errol & Bud, surely planning one of their legendary co-adventures.

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqcOK-Nkk58/UFLskF-Th-I/AAAAAAAAON4/GwljvU1Uo80/s640/IMG_7658.JPG[/img]

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

And here’s the also amazing “Cooler King” Barry Mahon, one of Errol’s pilots and the real-life American WWII prisoner Steve McQueen played in The Great Escape!

[img]http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part2/0_eagle_mahon.jpg[/img]

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

And here’s pilot, hero & poet – and all-round great guy – Ray Munro!
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LvcClrY0y6A/UDvWwqolmZI/AAAAAAAABN4/uS704ysIC1s/s1600/Ray+Munro+1.jpg[/img]

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Maria
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

Great Tim! Ray looked to be quite the swashbuckler himself! I will look for that book. What lives these guys lived. I guess after the War -everything else would seem tame. Thanks for all the help today – lots of fun!
Maria
P.S Have you ever heard of “Zaca A Te Moana”? I came across that today. Wouldn’t Errol be pleased to see others wanting to copy his Zaca!

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

Thank YOU, Maria. This is great stuff! We may have to start a “Flyin’ Like Flynn” thread just to cover all of Erroll’s aerial adventurers & associates!! The man was everywhere – on the water – under the water – in the skies – and now and then even on land!

I have heard of that awesome Dutch yacht, but know next to nothing about it. Would love to sail her, though!

P.S. Yes, in addition to being so heroic and accomplished, Ray Munro looks to be Hollywood handsome, too – somewhat along the lines of Stewart Granger perhaps.

savecfbrockcliffe.blogspot.com… (See the 10th Photo of Ray Munro, for example – the one of him standing with a knapsack-type bag in each hand.)

[img]http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2001/222/grangerstewartbio.jpg[/img]

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Maria
10 years ago

I came across copies of Visa’s for Errol’s trips to Brazil, one from the 40’s and 1 in the 50’s – I also did a search on the blog and did not see where they may have already been mentioned but if they have – my apologies.

Quite unintentionally I came across articles on Jorge Guinle, playboy billionaire who passed away about 10 years ago- he apparently shared an apt. with Errol. I believe that he was hired to check scripts in the early days. This led to lists of celebrities who had visited Brazil.

www.ancestryinsider.org…

Maria

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Maria
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

I found the Brazilian comments thread – how I missed that I don’t know! Sorry about that. Maria

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

Informacao fantastico, Maria! Obrigado!

As everywhere, Errol had quite a sensational adventure in Brazil!

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