Introduction

Wings is a drama series about the Royal Flying Corps that ran on BBC television from 1977 to 1978.

It stars Tim Woodward as Alan Farmer, a young blacksmith turned fighter pilot in the First World War. Nicholas Jones played his teacher and mentor, Captain Triggers and Michael Cochrane played his upper-class friend, Charles Gaylion, who began a relationship with Farmer’s girlfriend while Farmer was believed dead, shot down over France.

Outline

April 1915: Alan Farmer’s training is well-advanced, and he shares accommodation with Sergeant MacIver, who already has experience of service with the RFC in France. Alan has had to spend time doing basic army training, whilst Charles Gaylion has already been able to complete his pilot training. Gaylion comes to visit, immediately prior to leaving for France, and now adopts a dismissive attitude towards Captain Triggers’ training, particularly to the advice he has been giving Alan and the others about how to defend themselves. Charles believes that there should be honour and chivalry between pilots and is shocked to learn that Triggers and Sergeant MacIver once destroyed a German plane before it had taken off. Alan and Charles quarrel before Alan goes home on leave. Before Charles leaves, MacIver explains the circumstances surrounding the killing of the German pilot, and Charles learns new respect for Triggers, who sees him off with regret and concern. While Alan is visiting his family, his relationship with Lorna begins to get more serious. His Uncle Harry quarrels with the blacksmith, Tom, about the raising of charges in the smithy, much to the disapproval of Alan’s mother, but the two men make up their differences. During a training flight, Alan’s engine fails on take-off, but he remembers Triggers’ advice “not to turn back” and crash-lands the plane in a field. The plane bursts into flames, but MacIver and Triggers rescue Alan from the wreckage. His training complete, Alan receives his “wings” and leaves for France.

Wings Series

You can find a full index and overview of Wings here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 09 January 1977.
• Running time: 50 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)