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: Although they have not made up their quarrel, Alan and Charles are forced to continue flying as a team. Ordered by Triggers to continue with reconnaissance and to avoid the enemy, they are anxious to do something about the German plane that has been causing them so much trouble, particularly after it shoots down Charles’s friend Lt Favell. Charles devises a method of fitting a Lewis gun to their plane, which Alan carries out, using his metalwork skills. They take on the enemy plane but only just get home in one piece when Alan shoots out the struts of one wing of their own plane. When Triggers himself is almost shot down by the German machine-gunner does he agree to allow the use of the Lewis gun to be attempted, and orders them to accept the written challenge from the Germans who wish to renew their duel “with our gallant enemy”. This time they meet with better success, but Alan, having shot the German gunner, pretends the gun has jammed rather than kill the pilot as well. Back at home in Sussex, Mr Rudkin and Harry take Molly for a picnic and privately discuss their mutual feelings for her. Lorna continues to pine for Alan, and arranges to work evenings as a nursing assistant at a local convalescent hospital.

Wings Series

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

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 20 February 1977.
• Running time: 50 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)