Bat*21

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Front cover of the french DVD issue of Bat*21

Movie (1988)

Director: Peter Markle
Starring:
Gene Hackman (Lt. Col. Iceal Hambelton)
Danny Glover (Capt. Bartholomew Clark)
Jerry Reed (Col. George Walker)
David Marshall Grant (Ross Carver)
Clayton Rohner (Sgt. Harley Rumbaugh)

A 53 years old Lieutenant Colonel, expert in missile intelligence, is stranded in a Vietnam war zone after his electronic reconnaissance plane is shot down by a Sam-2 missile. The movie tells the story of his difficult rescue. Based (loosely) on a true story.

Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King

A Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King comes to fetch Iceal from the golf green

The Sea King takes Iceal to the Command Center

Douglas EB-66 Destroyer

The electronic reconnaissance version of the Douglas B-66 Destroyer (in fact, a model was used for the movie ; go here [1] to see a picture of the real plane)

The hit EB-66 is going down

Cessna O-2 Skymaster

The Cessna O-2 and its distinctive "pull-push" configuration ; the real hero of this movie

A view of the rear coaxial engine and the twin tail booms of the Skymaster. Notice that this is in fact a civil version of the plane : here [2] is a picture of the military version with additional glass panes for better visibility

Low flying reconnaissance

Firing rockets after a fellow pilot was killed by the enemy

Flying low dodging mist

Swift little beaut

Bell UH-1A Huey

"The" Vietnam War helicopter, on the first rescue mission

Reconnaissance pass, with a gunman at the side

Scrambling at low altitude after the gunman was hit

Second rescue mission next morning

Coming to the rescue...

...only to be shot down

"Jolly Green Giant" (in fact Sea King)

In formation with a Huey on the first rescue mission. Note that the real Jolly Green Giant (Sikorski HH-3) is a larger helicopter, see here [3]. The Super Jolly Green Giant (Sikorsky HH-53) is even larger, see here [4]

Hovering over the rescue site, under cover of the Huey, with the Cessna O-2 about to dive for scouting

Going closer down under the cover of the Huey

Close to the ground

Almost there

Hit!!

Forced landing

Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter

Two F-5 Freedom Fighters appearing for a strafing run

Low flying strafe

Close-up of one F5