Alice Gachet as Madame Hiecque, French Resistance Philip Gilbert as Canadian Pilot with 242 Squadron Fred Griffiths as Lorry Driver Alexander Harris as Don Richardson Charles Lamb as Walker, Desoutter's assistant Jack Lambert as Adrian Stoop Barry Letts as Tommy Richard Marner as German Officer in Staff Car Roger Maxwell as Man at the Pantiles Rene Poirier as Monsieur Hiecque, French Resistance Clive Revill as RAF Medical Orderly at RAF Uxbridge George Rose as Squadron Leader Edwards, staff officer, Fighter Command John Stone as Limping Officer Jack Taylor as British Pilot with 242 Squadron Russell Waters as Pearson Ernest Clark as Wing Commander W. K. Beiseigel Gareth Wigan as Woodhall's Assistant Aircraft Production To depict the various Royal Air Force bases realistically, principal filming took place in Surrey at RAF Kenley, and around the town of Caterham. The cricket match was filmed at nearby Whyteleafe recreation ground. Studio work was completed at Pinewood Studios. Available wartime combat aircraft including Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire fighters were arranged to take on the aerial scenes. Richard Burton was the first choice for the lead but he dropped out when he was offered the lead in Alexander the Great at what Gilbert describes as "three or four times the salary". Kenneth More was cast instead at a fee of £25,000. Producer Daniel Angel recalled: My wife said to me, 'Kenneth More is Douglas Bader.' And so he was! He was a good actor, but, looking back, I don't think he was all that versatile and he wasn't physically a very attractive man. He couldn't play love scenes. He was more of a playboy type. He was Douglas Bader! Bader wasn't a technical adviser but I suppose Kenny More modelled himself physically on Bader. More arranged to meet Bader to prepare for the role. They played a round of golf; much to More's surprise (as he was a good golfer), Bader beat him decisively. Lewis Gilbert said Douglas Bader was difficult to deal with. When he read the script he said I had made a terrible hash of it because I'd cut out a lot of his friends. I pointed out that the book contained hundreds of names and I had to cut it down or else the film would run for three days. He said, 'That's your problem. If you don't get my friends in, I won't double for the film,' because he