A spirited salute to Czechoslovakian pilots who flew with the RAF in World War Two

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

The new flying sequences were filmed at Prague/Hradcany airfield. The airworthy Spitfires were joined by static replicas.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

How low can you get? Spitfire V EP120 from Duxford’s Fighter Collection strafes a steam train. It was joined for the filming by Robs Lamplough’s Mk VIII, MV154.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

A scene from the film in which a young Czech pilot practises his newly-acquired English language skills on a pair of WAAFs.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

An attack on the squadron’s airfield; Dark Blue World includes some impressive effects.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

Cockpit mock-ups made by Prague’s BMZ Air Service supplemented the real Spitfires, only two of which were used in the film. Multiple-Spitfire aerial sequences were either out-takes from Battle of Britain or were cleverly computer-generated.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VI / VII / VIII - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

At the going down of the sun ... The film is a fitting memorial to the sacrifices made by an indomitable group of pilots.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

Pilots of 313 (Czech) Sqn, RAF, at Hornchurch in spring 1942. Front row, left to right: Hochmal, Foglar, Slipka, Prihoda, Jicha (later a Supermarine test pilot under Alex Henshaw), Richter. Back row, left to right: Kocfelda, Valasek, Pavlik, Vavrinek. The dog’s name was Jarmilka.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

A Wehrmacht Kettenkrad, Kubelwagen and motorbikes approach a mocked-up Spitfire crash in the film.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1941

Otto Smik, photographed during his time with No 310 (Czechoslovak) Sqn RAF, sitting on his Spitfire LF.IXC MJ291, coded NN-N.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX / XVI - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Dark Blue World director Jan Sverak (second from left), with a line-up of surviving Czech veterans during filming.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VI / VII / VIII - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942