Little Nellie 007
Encyclopedia
Little Nellie 007 (1991) is a book by Bruce Barrymore Halpenny
about the James Bond
autogyro
, Little Nellie as featured in the film You Only Live Twice
and her "father", Wing Commander
Retd. Ken Wallis
.
The book known to James Bond fans, and also used as a reference book for other Bond books gives a behind the scenes look at the making of the film as well as providing all the location shoots for the film and also a brief history of aviation legend, Ken Wallis himself. Halpenny and Wallis are friends and both ex-Royal Air Force
.
The book briefly delves into Ken Wallis’s early family connections with aviation
, then onto his own World War II
exploits first as an operational pilot in the Army Co-operation Command flying Lysanders
and then as an operational captain of Wellington
bombers. Finally the reader is brought to Wallis’s post war activities and early stunt filming in Brazil
, (some around the statue of Christ
by the Corcovado Mountain
at Rio de Janeiro
and at one point accidentally getting caught in one of Brazil’s notorious 'Ventana' windstorms) and Italy
.
The book then gives the behind the scenes information about Little Nellie herself, a Wallis WA-116 Agile, and the filming.
Bruce Barrymore Halpenny
Bruce Barrymore Halpenny is a widely respected English military historian and author, specialising in airfields and aircraft, as well as ghost stories and mysteries. He is also a broadcaster and games inventor.-Parents:...
about the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
, Little Nellie as featured in the film You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
and her "father", Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Retd. Ken Wallis
Ken Wallis
Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis MBE, DEng , CEng, FRAeS, FSETP, PhD , RAF , is one of the leading exponents of autogyros. He has held 34 records relating to them.-Early life:...
.
The book known to James Bond fans, and also used as a reference book for other Bond books gives a behind the scenes look at the making of the film as well as providing all the location shoots for the film and also a brief history of aviation legend, Ken Wallis himself. Halpenny and Wallis are friends and both ex-Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
The book briefly delves into Ken Wallis’s early family connections with aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, then onto his own World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
exploits first as an operational pilot in the Army Co-operation Command flying Lysanders
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
and then as an operational captain of Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bombers. Finally the reader is brought to Wallis’s post war activities and early stunt filming in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, (some around the statue of Christ
Christ the Redeemer (statue)
Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. It is tall, including its pedestal, and wide. It weighs 635 tonnes , and is located at the peak of the Corcovado...
by the Corcovado Mountain
Corcovado
Corcovado, meaning "hunchback" in Portuguese, is a mountain in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The granite peak is located in the Tijuca Forest, a national park. It is sometimes confused with nearby Sugarloaf Mountain...
at Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and at one point accidentally getting caught in one of Brazil’s notorious 'Ventana' windstorms) and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The book then gives the behind the scenes information about Little Nellie herself, a Wallis WA-116 Agile, and the filming.
-
- The sections include:
- Little Nellie;
- Little Nellie in Action;
- Little Nellie on Location;
- Shooting a Ground Scene;
- Little Nellie’s Weapons;
- Little Nellie is Hit;
- The Dangers;
- The Most Memorable;
- A Punishing Schedule;
- The Lighter Moments and No Time to Relax.