Are there any 8th Air Force fighter movies?

[Dave Homewood]

I was thinking about it. There have been several movies on the 8th Air Force bombers (B-17's) such as Command Decision, Twelve O'Clock High, Memphis Belle, The War Lover, etc.

There have been fighter films and TV serials set in the Pacific theatre (Flying Leathernecks, Flying Tigers, Black Sheep Squadron).

There have been RAF fighter squadron films and TV series (Battle of Britain, Piece of Cake, Dark Blue World, etc).

There has been a film on the Tuskagee Airmen flying in North Africa and Med, and another is being made about them too.

But I cannot think of any films about the USAAF Mustang, Thunderbolt or Lightning squadrons of the 8th Air Force based in England. Have any of the squadrons or famous pilots had their story turned into a dramatic film or TV series?

I'm sure there must have been, but I can't think of any. Can anyone help here? With hundreds of Mustangs still flying it seems like a potentially easy film to make about one of the famous squadrons that flew them.

[Jack Cook]

Fighter Squadron with Edmund O'Brien & Robert Stack.

[The Inspector]

...and Jimmy Olsen before he joined The Daily Planet

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Jack. Was Fighter Squadron any good? I haven't seen it. What did the squadron fly?

[DLSheley]

Thanks Jack. Was Fighter Squadron any good? I haven't seen it. What did the squadron fly?

If memory serves (it doesn't sometimes), there was lots of footage of P-47s in it, al ot of them 9th AF.

[Steve S]

Some good P47 scenes. Filmed after war with a squadron of Air Nat Gaurd P47's if my info is accurate. First feature film for Rock Hudson.

Hard to find on video by TMC plays it early in the mornings once or twice a year. Worth taping, not sure if I would buy it.

[The Inspector]

All the usual Horriwooood cliches' and cliche'd actors occasionally punctuated by some sort of random flying scenes, parts of which set up the next series of cliche'd confrontations. Aircraft were from the PA. Air Guard if memory serves, yeah watch it,tape it if you want but don't buy it.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks guys. Sadly I won't ever see it on TV here.

Do you guys agree there's scope for making a good modern day mini-series on one of the 8th Air Force fighter squadrons, or groups? I reckon the 352nd Fighter Group would be a great subject, they had lots of great characters and adventures, 29 aces, etc. And P-47's amd P-51's are still around to use, plus the B-17's, B-24's, Fw190's and Me109's needed to go with it are also available, as is some really great CGI these days. The likes of Mr Hanks, Mr Spielberg and Mr Jackson would make a great team to make it. A realistic, truthful Band of Brothers style portrayal would be great.

[m50a1ontos]

Any good story these days needs to NOT be on network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS etc), they Eff things up to much. HBO, Starz etc seem to have the gonads to tell a story like it should be told, blood, broads and barrel rolls. Band of Brothers only with airplanes would do just fine. JMHO The aireal sequences should include a warning "Airsick bucket may be required if viewing on large screen tv!"

[airnutz]

Band of Brothers only with airplanes would do just fine. JMHO The aireal sequences should include a warning "Airsick bucket may be required if viewing on large screen tv!"

Oh yeah, big screen and surround sound sensory-fest...the aviation equivalent of Steve McQueens "Le Mans"!!!

[kalamazookid]

Thanks guys. Sadly I won't ever see it on TV here.

Do you guys agree there's scope for making a good modern day mini-series on one of the 8th Air Force fighter squadrons, or groups? I reckon the 352nd Fighter Group would be a great subject, they had lots of great characters and adventures, 29 aces, etc. And P-47's amd P-51's are still around to use, plus the B-17's, B-24's, Fw190's and Me109's needed to go with it are also available, as is some really great CGI these days. The likes of Mr Hanks, Mr Spielberg and Mr Jackson would make a great team to make it. A realistic, truthful Band of Brothers style portrayal would be great.

Two words: Zemke's Wolfpack!

[Dave Homewood]

Who?