DAVID BALME: with the German captain's cap.

A HAMPSHIRE pensioner has been offered a role in a Hollywood block-buster after accusing the producers of trying to rewrite history.

Lt-Cmdr David Balme, 78, from the New Forest, took part in a daring mission that helped to shorten the Second World War.

He led a boarding party that stormed a captured German submarine and seized a top secret Enigma cipher machine.

The discovery enabled Britain to intercept and decode all the messages from Germany to its U-boats in the Atlantic.

Allied convoys were diverted to safer parts of the ocean, saving thousands of lives.

Lt-Cmdr Balme was furious when he discovered that a new Hollywood movie would depict the capture of Enigma as an American triumph.

Film bosses learned of his anger - and promptly offered him a walk-on part.

He flew to Malta at the expense of Universal Studios to meet the all-star cast and describe the real-life operation that inspired the film.

Lt-Cmdr Balme, of Lisle Court Road, Lymington, said: "They were very nice people and wanted to hear how it was done.

"They were very sorry they had upset the British, and they are trying to put it right.

"The film will now include a caption acknowl-edging that the capture of the Enigma machine in 1941 was actually carried out by the British.

"It's going to be a very good movie.

"They hope it will be as big as Titanic.''

The film, titled U-571, stars Bill Paxton of Titanic fame, pop icon Jon Bon Jovi, heart-throb Matthew McConaughey, and veteran actor Harvey Keitel.

There are no major female roles in the movie, and Lt-Cmdr Balme said he tried to stick up for the women involved in the mission.

"I told them they ought to have young women in the film- WAVEs the Americans called them - but they said no," said Lt-Cmdr Balme.

"It is going to be one of those all male movies in the Guns of Navarrone style."

Lt-Cmdr Balme's role in the $90 million production is likely to be a small, non-speaking part filmed on the Cornish coast.

His invitation to appear in the film was welcomed by New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis.

He praised the retired naval officer during a defence debate in the Commons last year - and later criticised Hollywood's version of the Enigma operation.

Mike Brodie, managing director of Universal Studios International, was unavailable for comment.

A Universal spokesman said: "Mr Brodie is still in discussion with the director and Lt-Cmdr Balme. We should know more later this week."

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