This is the most comprehensive history series ever produced on the Fighter Aces of World War II, featuring amazing air combat footage and first hand accounts of the greatest air battles the world has ever known.Each episode includes extraordinary air combat footage shot at the height of raging dogfights. Surviving Fighter Aces from all sides of the conflict – from Japan, Germany, Britain, Russia, Canada, Australia and the United States – provide vivid and graphic first hand accounts of what it was really like to be a fighter pilot in some of the greatest air battles the world has ever known.
Episode 101: Knights in the Sky
A galaxy of international aces are seen in aerial combat as a series prelude. They describe the qualities great aces must have, and recall a heritage that begins with chivalrous fighter duels of World War I and ends when Luftwaffe pilots hone their skills in Spain during the bloody dress rehearsal for World War II.
Episode 102: Defending the Realm
The German blitzkreig by the invincible Luftwaffe crushes Poland, France, Denmark and Norway- but a handful of fighter pilots saves the Empire during the Battle of Britain.
Episode 103: Red Star Rising
The Soviet Air Force is all but wiped out by the Luftwaffe- but recovers to fight the invader to a standstill in the most atrocious winter ever encountered.
Episode 104: Tigers Over China
New fighter aces are born with the emergence of the Flying Tigers. They were the first all volunteer American force to battle the Japanese in the Chinese sky.
Episode 105: Hell in the Pacific
Americans are outnumbered everywhere, but turn the tide at Midway. The ragged Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal battles against odds over the bitterly contested South Pacific.
Episode 106: Under All Flags
Some of the deadliest Allied aces of the war emerge from International squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Their own nations crushed under the iron heel of a conqueror, desperate and determined men make perilous journeys to England and continue the fight in the skies over occupied England.
Episode 107: Big Friend, Little Friend
Now equipped with long-range fighters, American aces wage a war deep in the heart of the Reich while escorting heavy bombers to distant targets. Goring sees P-51s over Europe and admits the war is lost.
Episode 108: Struggle for Supremacy
From the first to the last, nations frantically seek to give their fighter pilots the winning edge in planes, engines, guns and tactics in combat by day and by night. The Germans shock the Allies when they win the race for committing jet and rocket fighters to the battle- a race won too late.
Episode 109: Assault on Fortress Europe
The Allies take the offensive as the tide of war turns against the Axis in the Mediterranean and in Europe. The fury of war in the air takes a heavy toll on attacker and defender alike but the undermanned and outgunned Luftwaffe is defiant in the face of certain defeat.
Episode 110: Closing the Ring
Marine valor paves the way for the aerial assault on Japan. During the relentless march westward, the rivalry heats up between top aces Dick Bong and Tom McGuire, and Admiral Yamamoto is the victim of aerial assassination.
Episode 111: Fall of the Third Reich
The final aerial battles between Soviet and German fighter pilots. Russian aircraft now equal those flown by the Luftwaffe, whose pilots face incursion from the east as well as the west. The top Russian ace reaches 62 kills, the top German ace is credited with 352.
Episode 112: Victory in the Pacific
After the Great Marianas Turkey shoot, Japanese airpower declines as American fighter pilots in the Pacific reach the zenith of their deadly profession. The final fighter pilot kill of the war is over Japan.
Episode 113: Reflections on War
In this final episode, victors of aerial duels in the skies of every theater of war reach inside memories etched in steel for the skills and relentless purpose that elevated them to the ranks of the great aces.
Details
LENGTH: 13 x 30 Minutes
FORMAT: Series
CAMERA: Betacam
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: Yes
TEXTLESS: No
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 4:3
PRODUCTION YEAR: 1996
RELEASE YEAR: 2004
SUPPLIER: An Anthony Potter Production
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide
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