Factual error: When told instructed by Fortis leader to stay at 500 feet to leave 40 mins of fighting time. Pilot confirms saying ".5" however for altitudes under 1000 feet "cherub" would have been used - "cherub 5" being 500 feet.
Continuity mistake: During the spitfire scenes over the channel, it's day light, however, when one of the ships was bombed and the soldiers jump over board, it's pitch black. Several cuts between these scenes each time show daylight in one and night in the other.
Other mistake: When Tommy walks down the stairs on the boat to be bombed, one of the soldiers in the top middle of the left side of the screen can be seen pretending to eat a sandwich by repeatedly snapping his teeth near the edge of the crust. (00:31:15)
Visible crew/equipment: Towards the end of the movie when Farrier is watching his airplane burning on the beach, a camera crane can be seen from a distance getting in the frame on the right side of the screen. (01:38:40)
Continuity mistake: At the start the damage to the wooden gates changes between shots. (00:02:10)
Answer: After running out of fuel, he kept his craft aloft as long as he could so he could shoot down the enemy plane. He then landed when and where he safely could, which was on the beach but in enemy territory. Ditching a plane in water is dangerous and would have meant far less chance of survival.
raywest ★