The First of the Few (1942)

Geoffrey Crisp: Mitch, what do really think I can get out of her?
Reginald J. Mitchell: Oh, two eighty five.
Geoffrey Crisp: [astonished] Two eighty-five? Mitch, this is 1927, not 1977!

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[the Mitchells have bumped into Crisp at a Dress Ball]
Reginald J. Mitchell: Well, who's the lucky lady?
Geoffrey Crisp: Don't know, I haven't met her yet!

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IN THE OPENING SCENES, THE RAF PILOTS WHO ARE BEING DEBRIEFED ARE FROM No. 501 SQUADRON. zzzTHE SPITFIRES ARE CARRING THE MARKINGS 'SD'? WHICH WERE CARRIED BY No 501 'MANDREL' SQUADRON. IN THE HEIGHT OF THE BATTLE THESE PILOTS WOULD HAVE BEEN FLYING THE HAWKER HURRICANE INSTEAD OF THE SPITFIRE. THE SQUADRON HAD FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF FRANCE BEFORE THE EVACUATION OF THE BEF AT DUNKIRK AT THE END OF MAY 1940. THE SQUADRON THEN MOVED TO RAF KENLEY FROM WHERE THEY FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN.
This film's opening credits state: "Starring pilots and other personnel of Fighter Command Royal Air Force."
The film's opening prologue is a quote from Alexander de Seversky. It states: "In the grim days of 1940, when Britain stood alone between mankind and the Nazi hordes, a fighter plane staved off disaster. Behind this plane lies the heroic and unselfish story of R.J. Mitchell - - the British Engineer whose story is a great inspiration to American engineers and designers - - those invisible members of the air-power team - - who toil relentlessly to forger superiors weapons, so that their teammates, the gallant air-men, may go into combat with the kind of advantage they deserve." MAJOR ALEXANDER P. DE SEVERSKY
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