Flying Catch-22 with 'Stoney' Stonich

The Damcasters - The Aviation History Podcast

#Catch-22 is one of Scott Marchand and I's favourite books, so when the opportunity came up to chat with Stoney Stonich, who, as a young pilot, signed on to be one of the B-25 pilots for Mike Nichols' adaptation in 1969, we jumped at the chance. Stoney tells us all about the production, the challenges and the excitement of filming aerial scenes, including THAT hair-raising takeoff and hanging out with the late great Bob Newhart. Stoney also is a T-6 man and helped form the North American Trainer Association. He has had quite the career, and it was fantastic to chat with him on The Damcasters.

Images: © Stoney Stonich unless otherwise stated

All clips of Catch-22 © Paramount Pictures

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00:00 Introduction

03:44 Stoney's Start in Aviation

04:53 Joining Catch-22

10:10 Arriving on Set in Mexico

15:03 Shoot the Take-Off Scene

19:28 Frank Tallman and the Dummy

21:34 The Death of Johnny Jordan

24:16 Pima Air and Space Museum's VC-118 Liftmaster

27:37 Life on the Catch-22 Set and Bob Newhart

33:09 Stoney's T-6 and the North American Trainer Association

40:42 Catch-22's B-25 Legacy

45:36 Wrap Up and Become a Damcasteer!

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