From World War One to Vietnam this program traces the evolution of the tactics and weapons used in aerial combat with archival footage, computer simulations and explanations by the pilots themselves.
Robinson Risner flew an F-86 Saber in Korea at the dawn of the jet age. There, with a hunter's persistence, he pursued his prey whether Korean, Chinese or Russian leading to some dramatic air combat adventures. In 1953 Ralph Parr leads a flight of four Sabres hunting sixteen MiG 15s leading to an extended dogfight. The improvements from the 1951 F-86A to the 1953 F-86F gave Parr a decisive advantage.
Colonel Robin Olds leads a flight of four F-4 Phantoms mimicking American bombers in the first ware of Operation Bolo, to lure North Vietnamese MiG-21s into a trap. An expert P-38 dog-fighter, Olds reintroduced dogfighting to the 8th fighter wing, This one operation obliterates half the North Korean MiG 21 force and discourages attacks on American bombers for quite some time.
The strategic importance of Guadalcanal leads to many intense air battles. American pilot's tell the stories of the experiences that made them aces in a day.
Fred Olmsted and Dan Cherry flying F-4s pursue MiG-21s over North Vietnam but are frustrated by missile failures. Not long after Steve Richie shoots down two MiGs in a minute and a half then strives to achieve one more kill to become an ace.
This program is practically a promotional video for the pilot pleasing F-8 Crusader. The effectiveness of this aircraft in early engagements against the MiG-17 including Dick Sahaffert's 10 minute dogfight are described in exquisite detail.
In the late 1960's and 1970's the Middle East is the proving ground for air combat weapons and tactics as Israeli and Arab countries flex their muscles. Isreal, armed with the latest French and American aircraft score a string of victories and firsts against the Arab pilots flying second string Russian aircraft.
