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

July 1915: Following his accident, Alan has to spend three weeks acting as Charles Gaylion’s observer. His friendship with Gaylion causes unrest among the NCOs because of the difference in their rank, and becomes a concern for Triggers. Alan and Charles are sent back to England to pick up a new plane from Farnborough. Charles, being an officer, travels first class, but Alan is forced to stand in a crowded compartment with the other ranks. On arrival, they learn that the plane is not ready; while they are waiting, Lorna comes to see Alan at the factory. He tells her that they are both changing and he finds it difficult to plan for the future, but agrees to continue to write to her. While staying overnight at the Gaylions’ home in London, he is introduced to Charles’s sister Kate and her pacifist friends. Having slept until evening, he gets ready to go out with Charles but finds that only Kate is in the house. They have supper together, and Kate tells Alan that Charles has developed a drinking habit because of his fear of being at the Front. Charles returns, drunk and furious at finding Alan and Kate alone together, and creates a scene. On their return to base, Triggers is at first relieved to see that they have fallen out, but later reproves both of them for their conduct and tries to explain the need for “structure on the ground”.

Wings Series

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

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 13 February 1977.
• Running time: 50 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)