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Seaplane Stuck During Nicholas Cage Film Shoot: Breaks Apart During Salvage
July 3, 2015
A World War II seaplane was beached in Escambia County for three days on the set of a Nicholas Cage movie being shot in Orange Beach.
The PBY Catalina was being filmed for the movie “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” when the seaplane began to take on water due to a mechanical problem. It was pulled closer to the shore, where it remained, slightly nose-down with landing gear stuck in the sand. During attempts to move it out of the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, the plane “broke apart”, according to officials.
According to a statement release by film producers:
“We are thankful that no one was hurt. The pilot and co-pilot are well. And the entire cast and crew are safe and sound. The Vintage PBY being used by production met a tragic end at the hands of the sea yesterday, and the salvage company was unable to save the aircraft. The PBY will be immortalized in the film, as will the unfortunate events surrounding the USS Indianapolis and the rescue teams from the US Navy. God Bless America. Freedom isn’t free. With our collective respect and gratefulness, our heart shouts out for our military, and their families, in harm’s way. Happy July 4th and God Bless the USA.”
“USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” is the harrowing true story of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, who were stranded in the Philippine Sea for five days after delivering the atomic weapons that would eventually end WWII. As they awaited rescue, they endured extreme thirst, hunger, and relentless shark attacks, according to IMDb.
The movie is expected to be released in 2016 and is being filmed mostly in the Mobile area.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Comments
11 Responses to “Seaplane Stuck During Nicholas Cage Film Shoot: Breaks Apart During Salvage”
So there’s the “Big fat PBY that came to pick us up” that Quint referred to in Jaws during his famous monologue. That part of the film always gave me the creeps.
I can now understand why it broke apart : SeaTow was trying to lift onto a barge.
They are in the business of towing a floating boat with a long rope to dock.
And that is all.
Such a sad day! Many, many hours, money and LOVE spent on 85U. The one thing I can say, sadly- Bud is not here to witness, this. I sincerely hope that the projected revenue from a classic move was worth it.. I KNOW this airplane, have for many years…..there is NO EXCUSE for un-qualified CHEAP maintenance….Had it all been in “order” to begin with…..I can guarantee this would NOT have happened…… Such a WASTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry Bud! But glad you are not here to see what has happened…..
From what I understand Sea-Tow went out to remove the plane, and when picking it up to put it on a Barge it fell apart..
@ FYI….
True on Hunter Scott…..he started research on the USS Indianapolis when he was doing a history project in middle school.
His introduction came as a curiosity from viewing the movie “Jaws”.
Mike, the Catalina had retractable landing gear, used primarily for entering and departing ramp-equipped seaplane areas. Although, to meet military contract requirements, the planes had to be capable of handling a runway or carrier landing, most pilots at the time were not enthusiastic about doing that because of the minimal ground clearance and the reliability of the retractor system under impact stresses.
The plane in the photo is going to have serious eleectrical and mechanical issues since it appears that the cockpit is submerged. I can only imagine the saltwater and sand intrusion that is happening.
I know that a lot of downed pilots loved the PBY’s because when they knew that they’d been located by the Catalina’s crew that it would only be a matter of minutes before the Catalina would be cruising alongside to Sad to see such a great old plane enduring this indignity.
Many know but some might not, had it not been for a Pensacola high school student Hunter Scott, the story of the Indianapolis and this movie would never have been documented. His teenage investigation led to the exoneration of the Indianapolis Captain.
@Chris,
Beaches are far more beautiful in PI than OB.
They get to add a little extra exciting footage to the film.
I would much rather be stranded in Orange Beach than the Philippines.
I thought seaplanes just had a hull to land with, not landing gear. I guess some have both.
After reading the book about this several years ago, I always wondered when they’d get around to making a movie of it. The ordeal the captain went thru afterwards is a story all by itself.