Submitted by LoneWolfInCyberia t3_z3cgi6 in movies

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You can check out Battle of Britian, based on the actual World War II battle that took place, when RAF managed to inflict losses on a much larger Luftwaffe, foiling Hitler’s grand plans. With a top heavy cast that includes Sir Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine. Robert Shaw, Christopher Plummer, the movie has some great dogfight scenes, and they are realistic. It helped that the producers actually acquired a whole lot of WWII vintage fighter craft for the movie, and used actual RAF bases for shooting, giving it a very authentic look.

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Pretty accurate description of the RAF bombing of German dams and installations. Again actual usage of vintage WWII aircraft gives it the much needed authenticity. Also shows the backstory of Barnes Wallis coming up with the bouncing bombs.

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The plot was fictional of an RAF squadron, bombing and attacking a line of Nazi anti aircraft guns in a Norwegian fjord. Once again usage of WWII vintage Mosquito aircraft, make the dogfight scens very authentic, and the Panavision format enhances the spectacle. This movie was one of the inspirations for Star Wars. The climax where RAF bombers fly along the fjord, and destroy the anti aircraft guns, was replicated by George Lucas, with spacecraft fighters, flying among the Death Star installations and destroying the guns.

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Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda and Toshiro Mifune star in this big screen version of the Battle of Midway. Not one of the best, most of the air combat scenes here, are stock footage from earlier movies, add to this one sub plot, about love affair between an American fighter pilot and a Japanese immigrant in US, which in turn dwells on the forced interment of Japanese Americans. Too many threads running around.

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One WWII classic, that is a must watch, featuring an excellent performance by Spencer Tracy as Lt.Col. James Dolittle, who leads the famed Dolittle Raid over Tokyo, in retaliation for the Pearl Harbor attack. The aviation scenes are well shot, as well as the training for the mission, is well shown.

To date one of the best movies on the Pearl Harbor attack, infinitely better than that Jerry Bruckheimer-Michael Bay version. One of the rare Hollywood WWII movies, that does not caricature the Japanese. The planning, the strategies, how Japanese managed to hoodwink US and how US intelligence was caught napping, are pretty well depicted. The last 20-30 minutes showing the actual attack is picturized well, as also the ending when the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto observes "We have just woken up a sleeping giant".

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Actually more of a buddy comedy kind, with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr, as two pilots during Vietnam War,flying missions in Laos. However when they discover their aircraft is being used to smuggle heroin, they have to get out from being framed. Good entertainer.

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While the movie covers the entire Dunkirk operation, it's aerial warfare shots are one of the best ever, you can actually feel the action here.

Any other such movies you can recall.

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Comments

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Bokbreath t1_ixl3wv7 wrote

Firefox - Clint Eastwood is a pilot sent in to the Soviet Union to pinch a top secret fighter plane.

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tordj t1_ixl910s wrote

Memphis Belle - About a B-17 Flying Fortress mission in Germany during WW2

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gmoney88 t1_ixlrjgt wrote

I love that flick! I think I’ll have to watch it today

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RudeDistrict4711 t1_ixl3gm2 wrote

Dark Blue World, Czech one about a couple of friends who fly for the RAF. Bit of a love story sub plot too

There is a modern version of Midway too? As I recall was ok to watch.

Iron Eagle series. First one came out roughly the same time as Top Gun, entertaining, but not as realistic or good.

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wraith-mayhem t1_ixl4cfc wrote

I wanted to suggenst Iron Eagle as well, I have fond memories of it. But ai have no idea how they hold up...

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Col_Irving_Lambert t1_ixmdt8t wrote

Look, with a cassette tape player strapped to your flight suit you can do ANYTHING.

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igoslowly t1_ixl7n10 wrote

Devotion (2022) came out this week and is about the korean war

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trackofalljades t1_ixm7pc0 wrote

Not so much aerial as air-to-surface, but anyone who loves Star Wars should see The Dam Busters. It will blow your mind just how closely the “trench run” was based on its titular attack sequence.

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LoneWolfInCyberia OP t1_ixm7vpz wrote

I mentioned it in the list, but yes quite a good flick, especially love the way they show how Barnes Wallis came up the Bouncing Bombs and giving his backstory.

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Quint-MacReady t1_ixndm4t wrote

Michael Bays Pearl Harbor gets dumped on a lot as they were trying to capitalize on the Titanic love story, but it actually has great aerial battles.

Also not planes but loved Apache helicopters in Fire Birds with Nicholas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones was a favorite growing up with some awesome battles.

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scottmushroom t1_ixni9f5 wrote

12 o clock high with Gregory peck is an oldie and a goodie

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