Dogfights (TV)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dogfights | |
|---|---|
 A CGI airplane from Dogfights |
|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Creator(s) | Cynthia Harrison Jason McKinley Brooks Wachtel |
| Starring | actual fighter pilots |
| Narrated by | Phil Crowley |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Abe Scheuermann David Connelley |
| Executive producer(s) | Robert Kirk Rob Lihani |
| Running time | about 45 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | The History Channel |
| Original run | November 3, 2006 – present |
| Links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
Dogfights is a military aviation themed TV series depicting historical re-enactments of air-to-air combat that took place in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as foreign conflicts such as the Six-Day War. The program, which airs on the History Channel during the "Fighting Fridays" programming block at 10:00 P.M. (EST), consists of former fighter pilots sharing their stories of actual dogfights in which they took part, and uses state-of-the-art computer-generated imagery (CGI) to give the viewer a better perspective of what it is like to partake in aerial combat (often with the 'camera' shaking when a plane makes a close pass or an explosion occurs close by). The series premiered on November 3, 2006.
The show has simulated not only air combat, but also surface sea combat, as in the case of Taffy 3's stand against a Japanese battle force, and the British Royal Navy's pursuit and destruction of the German battleship Bismarck. These episodes have been cited as a source for several Wikipedia articles, such as the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Simulated models include views from the cockpit, pilots visible through canopies, and battle damage. Breakdowns of opposing forces, comparisons of aircraft, and dissections of particular maneuvers are also presented. Jet and prop powered aircraft and ships from various eras from the First World War to the late 20th century are featured. The series often presents interviews of pilots and experts, though so far mostly Americans or their allies, including a survivor of the HMS Hood.
The series was created after the airing of a one-time special called Dogfights: The Greatest Air Battles. That program's combination of realistic looking CGI dogfights, interviews, period documentary footage, and voice-over narration proved so successful, that the History Channel requested the production of an entire TV series, which became Dogfights.[1]
Like many popular historical programs, the show is marred by technical and historical inaccuracies. For example, in several episodes Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is said to be armed with .30 caliber machine guns, instead of 37 mm and 23 mm cannon it carried in real life, and in episode 9 Leo Thorsness' F-105 Thunderchief flight is called Cadillac even though audio recordings clearly identify it as Kingfish. A trailer for The Last Gunfighter advertised the last Air Force fighter with guns, later changed to US Navy. The format also is too limited to give a complete picture of many of the campaigns, for example ommitting the sinking of a US carrier in the Battle off Samar.
Contents |
[edit] Episode List
- 01. MiG Alley (original air date 11/03/06): US Air Force aces American aces Robbie Risner and Ralph Parr fly the F-86 Sabre vs. MiG-15 in the Korean War.
- 02. Air Ambush (11/10/06): US Army Air Force P-38 Lightning vs. Luftwaffe Messerschitt Me-109, US Air Force F-4 Phantom vs. North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-21 in the Vietnam War.
- 03. Flying Tigers (11/17/06): Flying Tigers squadron; Leading Tiger aces Tex Hill and John Alison's P-40 Tomahawk vs. Imperial Japanese Army Air Service Ki-27 Nate, Ki-21 Sally, and Ki-43 Oscar.
- 04. Guadalcanal (11/24/06): Guadalcanal campaign aces; Marine Corps Capt John Smith and Medal of Honor recipients Jefferson J. DeBlanc and James E. Swett pilot the Grumman F4F Wildcat vs. Mitsubishi Zero, F1M Pete, D3A Val, and Ki-43 Oscar.
- 05. Hell Over Hanoi (12/01/06): American Fred Olmsted and Dan Cherry, and ace Steve Ritchie in USAF F-4 Phantom vs. North Vietnamese MiG-21.
- 06. The Zero Killer (12/08/06): Robert Duncan, Hamilton McWhorter and Alex Vraciuin the US Navy Grumman F6F Hellcat vs. Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi Zero and A6M2-N Rufe.
- 07. Death of the Japanese Navy (12/15/06): Leyte Gulf attack on Japanese battleship Yamato; Taffy 3 at Leyte Gulf; Yamato sinking. Based on the book and History Channel presentation The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.
- 08. The Last Gunfighter (12/22/06): US Navy pilots Paul Speer, Phil Wood and Lt. Commander Richard Schaffert in the F-8 Crusader vs. North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-17.
- 09. Long Odds (01/12/07): US Army Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress vs. Mitsubishi Zeroes & Ki-46 Dinah; US Air Force F-105 Thunderchief vs. North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-17; US Navy SBD Dauntless vs. Mitsubishi Zero.
- 10. Dogfights of the Middle East (01/26/07): Israeli Air Force Mirage III vs. Egyptian Air Force MiG-17 & MiG-19; defection of an Iraqi Air Force MiG-21; Israeli Air Force F-15 Eagle vs. Syrian Air Force MiG-21.
- 11. Hunt for the Bismarck (1/30/07): The HMS Hood is sunk, then British Royal Navy Swordfish attack the German battleship Bismarck.
