Civilian Pilot Witnessing Bader's Crash (uncredited)
Paul Carpenter
Hall (uncredited)
Hugh David
Cadet Taylor (uncredited)
Stringer Davis
Cyril Borge (uncredited)
Guy De Monceau
Gilbert Petit (uncredited)
Basil Dignam
Air Ministry Doctor (uncredited)
Patricia Fox
Nurse (uncredited)
Raymond Francis
Wing Commander Hargreaves (uncredited)
Alice Gachet
Madame Hiecque (uncredited)
Philip Gilbert
Canadian Pilto / Coltishall II (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths
Lorry Driver (uncredited)
Alexander Harris
Don Richardson (uncredited)
Frank Hawkins
Drill Sergeant (uncredited)
Charles Lamb
Walker / Desoutters Aide (uncredited)
Jack Lambert
Adrian Stoop (uncredited)
Barry Letts
Tommy (uncredited)
Philip Levene
Sgt Williams, Tangmere (uncredited)
Jeremy Longhurst
Jones (uncredited)
Richard Marner
German Officer in Staff Car (uncredited)
Roger Maxwell
Pantiles (uncredited)
Julia Nelson
Bit Role (uncredited)
Ronan O'Casey
Canadian Pilot / Coltishall II (uncredited)
Rene Poirier
Monsieur Hiecque (uncredited)
Clive Revill
RAF Batman Helping Bader with His New Legs (uncredited)
George Rose
Squadron Leader Edwards (uncredited)
Grace Denbigh Russell
Bit Role (uncredited)
Delene Scott
Bit Role (uncredited)
Barry Steele
Wounded Sergeant / St. Omer Pilot (uncredited)
John Stone
Limping Officer (uncredited)
Derek Sydney
Mechanic / Uxbridge (uncredited)
Jack Taylor
British Pilot / Coltishall (uncredited)
Pamela Thomas
Hilda (uncredited)
Russell Waters
Pearson (uncredited)
Patrick Westwood
RAF Corporal / Diver (uncredited)
Ian Whittaker
Batman at Duxford (uncredited)
Gareth Wigan
Woodhall's Assistant (uncredited)
Howard Williams
Cadet, Ticket Match (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
This film's opening prologue states: "Douglas Bader has become a legend in his own life time. His courage was not only an example to those in War but is now a source of inspiration to many in Peace. For dramatic purposes it has been necessary in this film to transpose in time certain events in Douglas Bader's life and also to re-shape some of the characters involved in this story. The Producers apologise to those who may have been affected by any changes or omissions."
The nursing cap and badge worn by Anne Leon was loaned by the real life Matron Thornhill from Brompton Hospital. As portrayed in the film, the then Sister Thornhill nursed Bader in the critical weeks following his accident. Miss Thornhill visited the set during the filming of the hospital scenes, casting a critical eye over the hospital procedures.
In the opening scene, raw recruits at Cranwell carry out a short but very complicated drill maneuver in civilian dress. In reality they would have known nothing on that first day.
In fact the "raw recruits" all seem to be ex-Public School boys where they would have been drilled as cadets in school as part of the curriculum, as was common practice until relatively recently.
The scenes set in the days leading up to the onset of the Second World War feature late model Mark XVI Spitfires with 'teardrop' canopies, four-bladed propellers and cannon in the wings. In addition, the serial number on one aircraft (VT151) was an unused number from a block allocated to Gloster for a batch of Meteor F Mk 4's. (The serial can't be V7151 either, as this was an unused number from a block allocated to Gloster for a batch of Hawker Hurricanes - Gloster being part of the Hawker group).
During the meeting in Dowding's office there is a RAF plaque on his desk with a Queen's crown on it, which was correct for when the film was made, but when as the film is set in 1940 it should have been a King's crown.
Equipment Officer:
I'm sorry, the book says I must wait three months before I can initiate the procedure for hastening new issue.
Bader: Fine! We'll send Goring a telegram, and ask him not to come over for *three months*!