Skyraiders in the Movies

[TheFlash]

Maybe you all can help...
I did a search, but couldn't find any lists or info on various 'Hollywood' movies that have featured Skyraiders.
I know that "Flight of the Intruder" and "We Were Soliders" have Skyraiders since I own both those movies.

Does anyone know of other movies that have featured either in-air footage or on-ground footage of the Skyraider?

Thank you!
Mike

[Jack Cook]

"Flight of the Intruder" and "We Were Soliders"

Capt Paul McClellan grew up just east of me. He was the Air Commando Skyraider pilot lost during the Ia Drang battle when he was downed by ground fire. His family, when asked if they wanted his remains recovered, decided that he should rest where he crashed with his A-1E. He was the only KIA not recovered from Ia Drang.

[Jack Cook]

Does anyone know of other movies that have featured either in-air footage or on-ground footage of the Skyraider?

Bridges at Toko-Ri

The Longest Day as well. They overfly the beach.

[KRM_Bear]

Bat 21

[mustangdriver]

During the flight of the Intruder scenes, one of the A-1's actually bumped it's wingtip off of the ground during a low pass. Not sure of the A-1's, but the A-6 that was markes as Devil 505 is in the Yankee Air Museum. It still has jake Grafton on the canopy rails, and is under restoration.

[rwdfresno]

Bridges at Toko-Ri

Yeah if I recall they were the early models too. I love that movie. When my pop used to have an F9F-2 we painted "Grace" on the side.

[daveymac82c]

Is my memory really bad, or do I remember Skyraiders in Forrest Gump?

Chances are I'm wrong, but worth a shot eh?

-David

[Russ Matthews]

Is my memory really bad, or do I remember Skyraiders in Forrest Gump?

There's a napalm strike, but it's carried out by some indistinct, digitally rendered jets.

We can, however, add the new "Rescue Dawn" to the list.

[Towpilot]

The Longest Day as well. They overfly the beach.

Nope, those are Me-108 (or maybe Nord manufactured, I don't remember) pretending to be fighters! You can almost fit one of those inside a Skyraider!

[Steve Nelson]

There were some Skyraiders in "The Longest Day," seen overflying the invasion force as it aproaches the beaches.

The 108s were masquarading as Bf-109s, and even that wasn't quite right..in real life the beaches were strafed by a pair of Fw-190s. Oberst Joseph "Pips" Priller and his wingman were the only Luftwaffe planes that made it over the beaches..their squadron was in the process of being pulled back for home defense, and they were the only ones left in France.

Probably urban legends, but I've heard that they blew off all their ammo in one pass, then flew home and got drunk. I've also heard a story that after they made it through the hail of Anti-aircraft fire unscathed, some of our troops applauded them..probably apocryphal as well.

SN

[Bill Greenwood]

This topic leaves room for some humorous comments, but in honor of Paul McClellan I thikn I'll skip them.

[retroaviation]

During the flight of the Intruder scenes, one of the A-1's actually bumped it's wingtip off of the ground during a low pass.

I could be wrong, probably am, but I think that was Jay Cullum that did that little wingtip episode while flying for the Flight of the Intruder. Back when I worked for Nelson, Jay came in and said that he was still getting a check in the mail every month for residuals for his flying in the movie and them running re-runs of it on TV. He said the checks were for about $8 each.

Gary

[Jack Cook]

but in honor of Paul McClellan

I was told by more than one participant that McClellan's run
went way low and droppped his bombs with pinpoint accuracy
while exposing himself to ground fire. His strike was where Pvt. Bill
Beck was trying to hold off a huge NVA thrust alone. If McClellan
had missed the battle would have been over. When L/G Hal Moore
took some of his men back to LZ X-Ray a few years back he offered
the bring Capt McClellan home. But his family felt it proper that
he continue to watch that piece of earth to died protecting.
It sure would be nice to see the A-1E 135188 recently sold to
Dr Hisey repainted in his markings.
http://www.virtualwall.org/dm/McclellanPT01a.htm

[TheFlash]

Thank you everyone and especially Jack for your replies and info (and history)!
I'll definitely check out the movies you listed and do a bit more reading/research into Ia Drang.

Regards,
Mike