Ok I have to ask who saw Red Tails

[Dave Homewood]

I found it was hard to warm to any of the characters in this film. They were so cliche', and unrealistic. I just didn't sympathise with them like I did with the earlier film Tuskagee Airmen's characters who were more real somehow. the characters were dumbed down into pigeon holes - the hotshot womaniser who disobeys orders; the alcoholic leader, the religious nut, the hep cat who sounded like he wouldn't have had an education standard to fly with them, and the babyface struggling for recognition.

Mind you the incidental characters were all wooden too - the way they portrayed the bomber crews and the other fighter squadrons was pretty disgraceful.

The only merit I saw in any of the characterisations was the pilots interacted with the groundcrew as equals, which is so seldom seen in any aviation movie.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

the pilots interacted with the groundcrew as equals,

Last winter, I made a 1:48 scale presentation model of a Tuskegee Airman's P-51D for our annual Tuskegee airmen chapter dinner, and it had large, colorful and completely different nose art for each side of the cowling. (I'm 2,500 miles from home base right now and can't be any more specific...) Different names, different art. I assumed that it was an airplane shared by two pilots, but an Airman at the dinner told me no, the left side was the pilot's and the right side was owned by the crew chief. I don't think that was unprecedented, but I do think it was rare.

[Mudge]

When does it come out on cable?

Don't know, but if you have a choice between this movie and synchronized swimming...go for the swimming.

Mudge the critic

[Boeing666]

When does it come out on cable?

Don't know, but if you have a choice between this movie and synchronized swimming...go for the swimming.

Mudge the critic

That is one of Mudge's finest one liners

[airnutz]

the pilots interacted with the groundcrew as equals,

but an Airman at the dinner told me no, the left side was the pilot's and the right side was owned by the crew chief. I don't think that was unprecedented, but I do think it was rare.

Don't remember how prevalent that custom was, but Lou IV/Athelene was a participant.

[drgondog]

the pilots interacted with the groundcrew as equals,

I assumed that it was an airplane shared by two pilots, but an Airman at the dinner told me no, the left side was the pilot's and the right side was owned by the crew chief. I don't think that was unprecedented, but I do think it was rare.

In the ETO, a senior pilot was assigned a specific squadron code and had the priveledge of 'naming it'. The Crew Chief normally had the rh side and it seldom changed because a crew chief normally owned that code no matter how many different pilots flew the ship or how many times the a/c was lost and replaced.

[Randune]

Well.... I collect WW2 films. This obviously wasn't one of hollywoods best efforts but I needed it for my collection. Thankfully I found a rental close out for only $1. Pretty good flick for a buck!

[Steve S]

If you are intersted in a much better portrayal of the story of the Tuskegee Airman- Fords Theatre in DC is putting together a production of the show "Fly" about them- It is currently in rehearsal and will be opneing in a few weeks.

They are working with several of the original members of hte group as well the Tuskegee organization. I am sure most folks on this are not close enough to DC or the thought of going to so LIVE theatre seems foreign to them (although an airshow is essentially a theatrical production) as the impression of theatre is funny clothes and funny accents, but this one is really worth checking out.

I know many folks there, including my wife who runs the prudction deptarment and I know that they are working very hard on accuracy and details. Of course there has to be some story to keep general public intersted, but I think this will be much better than the movie, especially for those of us that no the real story of what they did.

http://www.fordstheatre.org/home/perfor ... tre-season