Flying Circus Pilots (Goldfinger)

The Flying Circus Pilots appear as professional women aviators in the 1964 James Bond film, "Goldfinger" and for publicity shots. The majority of them were English or American models, actresses, and beauty queens.

They are portrayed by Aleta Morrison, Maggie Wright, Jane Holland, Lesley Langley and Caron Gardner (scene filmed at Northolt Aerodrome, London). They are the only 5 girls seen on screen playing the Pilots using Piper Cherokees to spray nerve gas over the Fort Knox area.

Jane Murdoch, Maise Farrell and Alexandra Dane (only in promotional shots and never seen in the film).

Sharon Higdon and Linda Gidley, and 3 more american models (scene filmed at Louisville Bowman Field, USA).

These henchwomen are led by Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) and are ultimately under the employment of Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe). They are part of Goldfinger's Operation Grand Slam, and used as the pilots of Pussy Galore's Flying Circus. In the movie they are responsible for spraying Delta 9 nerve gas over Fort Knox. The gas was intended to kill defenders at the base and the depository at Fort Knox, which in term would allow Goldfinger to walk in unopposed and plant an atomic device in the vault.

However, James Bond (Sean Connery) had seduced Pussy Galore, convincing her to replace the nerve gas with a harmless substance and alert the U.S. Government about Goldfinger's plan. As a result, the men at the army base and depository only pretended to pass out from the gas. The pilots were unaware of this change in the plans, since Pussy did not let them in on the plot. Therefore, they thought that the gas was still killing the 60,000 men, and thus they were kept their evilness in check. They erroneously reported that their plan had been a success, and thus Goldfinger was caught in the act.

The girls appear in close-fitting and militaristic black body suits with a gold solar emblem patch. The solar emblem is reminiscent of the black sun emblem of the Nazis. They have white belts and white boots on. They operate out of the Blue Grass Airport near Lexington, Kentucky.

The original cast prior to the shooting of the movie, included Aleta Morrison, Maggie Wright, Jane Holland, Jane Murdoch and Maise Farrell. Many publicity shots were included from this group, including the actress Alexandra Dane. However, when the film was shot less than 2 months later, Murdoch, and Farrell were replaced by Caron Gardner and Lesley Langley. So several girls played the 5 pilots who played 5 positions. In other words there were only 5 pilots and 5 planes in the movie. In addition, Tricia Muller played "Sydney", Pussy Galore's co-pilot when Pussy transported Bond to Goldfinger's Kentucky residence.

Sharon Higdon, Miss Jefferson County 1963 got a part in the movie. She's the first pretty blonde with the ponytail you see when the planes land, but she is not seen running up to Pussy Galore or seen later in the film. Her scene was filmed at Bowman Field. The camera lights on her as she climbs from a plane, then switches to other 5 girls seen on screen playing the Pilots filmed at Northolt Aerodrome, London. Shots of Bowman Field were cut with film from Northolt Aerodrome, London, where Pussy Galore´s flying circus land in Goldfinger.

Trivia[]

Sharon Higdon (aka Sharon Sellinger) raised in the Catholic faith, she wanted to be a nun at 15 but was rejected for being too Young, and in 1963 she won Miss Jefferson County. She is Pastor, Prophet, and Missionary nowdays.
When Pussy Galore's Flying Circus lands, the first pilot (Sharon Higdon) to get out of her Piper Cherokee is nowhere to be seen when the pilots gather in front of Galore. Why?, Because her scene was filmed at Louisville Bowman Field, USA, and the scene with the 5 pilots was filmed at Northolt Aerodrome, London.
Lesley Langley, british actress, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 1965, she previously was crowned Miss United Kingdom 1965.

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