Three Compasses, Patchett Green, Herts, UK – 633 Squadron (1964) - Movie Locations on Waymarking.com

The film 633 Squadron centres around an attempt to destroy a German rocket fuel factory in Norway. The Norwegian resistance has discovered the location of the plant and a geological survey shows that an overhanging rock, that protects the plant from aerial bombing, has fracture lines which could weaken under sustained bombardment.

The fuel plant is at the end of a long fjord which is protected by anti aircraft guns. The Norwegian resistance is supposed to knock out the gun emplacements, but does not have enough men. A Norwegian resistance worker living in England, Lt Bergman, is parachuted into Norway to drum up resistance support. Unfortunately he falls into the hands of the Gestapo. In a twist to the plot, the man destined to lead the bombing raid, Wing Commander Roy Grant, has the task of first bombing the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo to prevent the Norwegian resistance worker talking. Grant had been a friend of Bergman and his sister.

On the day of the air raid on the plant the Norwegian resistance is eliminated by the Germans, leaving the fjord alive with anti aircraft fire. The squadron manage to reach their target and eventually cause the overhanging rock to fall. In the battle, however, the whole squadron is wiped out.

The air crew relax at a pub called the Black Swan in the film. In reality the pub used was the Three Compasses, Patchett Green. The now and then shots show the whole pub taken from a distance. There are also close up clips from the film taken in front of the pub. The pub had rose trees around it in 1964, today it is more open plan.

Movie or TV Show: 633 Squadron Year Released or First Aired: 1,964.00 IMDB Link: [Web Link]

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