Wings (1977)

Series 1

A young Englishman born into a blacksmith's family wants to be a flier in one of the new fangled flying machines. He struggles to show a man of his class deserves a chance to be a pilot and fly a war machine in France. Set in 1915 during World War One.

Where to Watch Series 1

12 Episodes

The Volunteer
E1
The VolunteerIn 1915 18-year-old Alan Farmer, a country blacksmith, joins the Royal Flying Corps, and meets Charles Gaylion, an upper-class officer who transferred in. Mistaken for an seasoned pilot, Alan is taken up in a training plane he cannot land.
Never Turn Back
E2
Never Turn BackAlan's training advances well, but he has to learn both military and flying skills, while Charles has already completed his pilot's training. On a training flight, Alan's engine fails on take-off, and he crash-lands the plane in a field.
Welcome To France
E3
Welcome To FranceMay 1915, and Alan arrives in St Marie, France. Some officers resent his lower class background. Alan and his friend Charles are reunited. On his first mission a German plane machine-guns them, and his observer, Bravington, is wounded.
Business As Usual
E4
Business As UsualThe old CO, Captain Dornish, is shot down. He is replaced by Captain Triggers. Enroute to the unit, Triggers learns the horrible truth of Dornish's fate, from a wounded Infantry Officer.
Speaking From Experience
E5
Speaking From ExperienceSeeing the inadequacies of the planes, Triggers encourages the pilots and NCOs to put forward ideas for improvement.
Over The Top
E6
Over The TopGaylion gets a taste of the horrors of life in the trenches when his plane is forced down and he must wait overnight for the arrival of a replacement propeller.
Time Out Of War
E7
Time Out Of WarAlan and Charles are sent back to England to pick up a new plane, but on arrival they discover the plane is not ready. They stay at Charles' family home in London, and Alan learns more of the class differences between them.
The Hunters
E8
The HuntersCharles devises a method of fitting a Lewis gun to their plane, and Alan makes it a reality, but in their first aerial combat they find the design still needs work, when they shoot out some struts in their own plane.
New Deal
E9
New DealAlan helps Charles to capture a German plane and its crew. Entertaining the captured officers does not go to plan. The captured plane may be the perfect choice for a covert mission.
The Burning Question
E10
The Burning QuestionA new German monoplane is causing massive losses and the British military hierarchy do not believe their planes are being so outclassed. The reason for their success is found from an unlikely source.
The Prisoner's Friend
E11
The Prisoner's FriendOn a reconnaissance mission with observer Conrad, Alan disregards Conrad's order to move closer to a German Eindecker, turns for home and avoids a confrontation. Conrad insists Alan be court-martialled for disobeying an order and cowardice.
Welcome Home
E12
Welcome HomeAfter the court martial, Conrad continues to fly with Alan, ordering him to be more reckless. Conrad shoots down an Eindecker but is fatally wounded. Alan's incident report is complete, but Triggers rewrites it to leave out certain details.