NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Drury video instructor Brian Shipman
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Nov. 10, 2010 — Drury video instructor Brian Shipman’s documentary “L-Bird: The Little Plane That Did” will debut on the Military Channel this Sunday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. (CT). The movie is part of the Military Channel’s G.I. Film Festival program.
The documentary took director Brian Shipman, in association with Springfield businessman Gary Ellison, ten years to make. It shows the untold story of the L-Birds, the World War II spotter planes made by Cessna and Piper, and the men who flew them armed with only a hand-held radio and a .45 automatic handgun.
The Military Channel is available in Springfield on Mediacom digital channel 274, on Dish Network channel 195 and on Direct TV channel 287.
The Military Channel’s news release tells about the hour-long program:
L-BIRD: THE LITTLE PLANE THAT DID
They weighed less than 800 pounds and were completely unarmed – but these cloth-covered spotter planes, the L-Birds, created more chaos than any other aircraft used in World War II. Flying low and slow to see enemy movement, the L-Birds would call in artillery fire to rain death and destruction onto their targets. Thanks to an innovative suspended landing system that hung above trees or over the sides of ships, pilots of these unique planes could land and take off without even touching the ground. Hosted by Academy-award winning actor Cliff Robertson, “L-Bird: The Little Plane That Did” profiles this little-known but astonishing warplane, which earned a reputation as the deadliest plane used in World War II.
The documentary will show, for the first time, the Brodie System, a device where fixed-wing aircraft
could land and take off from a ship in the Pacific. One of the first pilots to use this unique device was interviewed, as was the personal pilot of General George S. Patton.
“L-Bird: The Little Plane That Did” is produced by On Air Media from the Drury Television Studios with Brian Shipman as director, in association with Gary Ellison Productions, Inc.
The documentary made its debut at the G. I. Film Festival in Washington, D. C. this spring. The G. I. Film Festival programs will run on the Military Channel from 8-10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout November starting Friday, Nov. 12, the day after Veterans Day.
Shipman is a former videographer and reporter at KYTV in Springfield, “It was inspiring to meet these brave pilots who took great risks in order to direct artillery fire, provide message service to various commands in Africa, Europe and the Pacific, and even fly wounded servicemen to the hospital,” Shipman said. “It was also great to work with Cliff Robertson, a superb actor and a pilot, himself.”
Ellison added, “It’s quite an honor to have your program aid nationwide on Sunday night in prime time at 8 p.m.”
Contact:
Brian Shipman
Drury Video Instructor
Office: (417) 873-7850
Mobile: (417) 880-2855
E-mail: bshipman@drury.edu
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