Set aboard the (fictional) aircraft carrier HMS Aerial, this Friday night BBC comedy featured the adventures and misadventures of the most trouble-prone helicopter crew in the Royal Navy.
The stars of the series were pilot Lt Gillmore (Anton Rodgers), observer Lt Stannard (Robert Chetwyn), winchman Copper (Roland Curram) and radio operator Reynolds (John Southworth). Captain Crocker-Dobson, DSO (William Mervyn) was the captain of the Aerial. A.E. Matthews played the irascible Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Wiggin-Fanshawe, KBE, DSO, DSC.
Guests included Liz Fraser, Desmond Llewelyn, Eric Dodson, Joan Hickson and Fabia Drake.
The production spent considerable time filming aboard the HMS Ark Royal in the Mediterranean and at the Royal Navy air station at Lee-on-Solent.
Lt. Gilmore, RN
Anton Rodgers Lt. Stannard, RN Robert Chetwyn A SEI, A. Copper
Roland Curram Radio Comms. Op (Air) N. Reynolds
John Southworth Capt. Crocker-Dobson, DSO, RN
William Mervyn Cmdr. Morris, DSC, RN
Frank Shelley A Brimer
Malcolm Webster A Hancocks
Lawrence James Lt. Holt, RN
Philip Carr Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Wiggin-Fanshawe, KBE, DSO, DSC, RN
A.E. Matthews
Episodes
Joining Routine | Fire Down Below | Operation Nina | Touch of the Irish | Admiral’s Embarkation | Shore Leave | Honours Even | See Naples and Fly | Find the Lady | Open Day |Down in the Drink | Free Beer | Exercise Merry-Go-Round | Flag-Captain | Mink Afloat | Seven Days Hard
The stars of the series were pilot Lt Gillmore (Anton Rodgers), observer Lt Stannard (Robert Chetwyn), winchman Copper (Roland Curram) and radio operator Reynolds (John Southworth). Captain Crocker-Dobson, DSO (William Mervyn) was the captain of the Aerial. A.E. Matthews played the irascible Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Wiggin-Fanshawe, KBE, DSO, DSC.
