Dogfights

Using modern computer animation, great aerial and modern naval battles are recreated. In the process, you learn about the history of military transportation technology, the tactics created and the people using them.

2006 HD 60min TV-PG United States English

Jason McKinley Phil Crowley

Documentary History

history dogfight

S1E1 - MiG Alley 2006-11-03

Air Force fighter pilots risk their lives flying sleek F-86 Sabres above “Mig Alley” – the most dangerous piece of sky in the Korean War. The high-speed twists and turns of history’s first jet dogfights pit American aces Robbie Risner and Ralph Parr in the battles of their lives against nimble Russian-built MIG-15 fighters.

S1E2 - Air Ambush 2006-11-10

Legendary fighter pilot, Colonel Robin Olds, sets an intricate trap for the North Vietnamese MiG-21’s. His squadron, the Wolfpack, disguises its lethal F-4 Phantoms as vulnerable bombers. The MIGs scream in to challenge the Americans. The result is the most elaborate air sting of the war… code-name…Operation Bolo.

S1E3 - Flying Tigers 2006-11-17

Plot Outline Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, a courageous, rag-tag band of American mercenaries dare to challenge the overwhelming might of the Japanese Air Force. The legendary “Flying Tigers” slash through the skies of China, and help vanquish the unstoppable Japanese. Follow leading Tiger aces Tex Hill and John Alison as their P-40 Tomahawks fight to the death against the agile Japanese I-97 Nate.

S1E4 - Guadalcanal 2006-11-24

August 1942… the Solomon Islands. Heroic, die-hard American pilots of the tiny Cactus Air Force match skills and instincts against top Japanese aces as they battle in the skies above Guadalcanal. Legendary Marine Capt John Smith and Medal of Honor recipients Jeff De Blanc and Jim Swett pit their tough F-4F Wildcats against the relentless Japanese Zeros. At stake - the fate of the Pacific War.

S1E5 - Hell over Hanoi 2006-12-01

The skies over Vietnam. They fight in a supersonic world, where split second decisions determine if they live - or die. American F4 Phantom pilots Fred Olmsted and Dan Cherry take on the famed MiG-21 - the most feared threat in the sky. And one American, Steve Ritchie, becomes a dog fighting legend as an Air Force Ace. Youre in the cockpit with some of the fiercest dogfighting ever seen in Vietnam!

S1E6 - Zero Killers 2006-12-08

1943...the skies over the Pacific. The infamous Japanese Zero is decimating American aircraft. No allied plane can match Japans deadliest fighter plane manned by killed Imperial Navy veterans. The American Navy rushes to deploy a new fighter to take on the unstoppable Zero...the F6F Hellcat. The Zero has met its match. Now, youre in the cockpit with legendary dogfighters Robert Duncan, Hamilton McWhorter and Alex Vraciu...their epic dogfights blazing a new chapter in the annals of aerial warfare.

S1E7 - The Last Gunfighter 2006-12-15

The U.S. Navys top fighter, the F8 Crusader flown by skilled fighter jocks Paul Speer and Phil Wood, tackles the fierce North Vietnamese MiG over the killing skies of Vietnam. Re-live one of the longest, gut-wrenching dogfights on record as Lt. Commander Richard Schaffert - out of missles and with his guns jammed - takes on a lethal MiG-17 and the best enemy pilot hes ever faced. Hes got one chance - the amazing capabilities of the F8 Crusader, "the last gunfighter".

S1E8 - Death of the Japanese Navy 2006-12-22

1944...the Pacific. It is one of the most amazing, lopsided naval battles in history: A mighty Japanese fleet let by the Yamato, the biggest battleship in the world - versus Taffy 3, a small U.S. task unit of tin can destroyers and baby flat-tops...ships too weak to fight and too slow to run. David battles Goliath in a fight for survival - with the lives of thousands of American soldiers in the balance.

S1E9 - The Long Odds 2007-01-12

Showcases survival stories of bomber pilots battling fighter aircraft. US Navy SBD Dauntless vs. Mitsubishi Zero; 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.

S1E10 - Dogfights in the Middle East 2007-01-26

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.

S1E11 - Hunt for the Bismarck 2007-01-30

The HMS Hood is sunk, in retaliation Swordfish planes of the British Fleet Air Arm attack the main German battleship Bismarck with devastating results .

S1E12 - The Greatest Air Battles 2005-11-11

From World War One to Vietnam this program traces the evolution of the tactics and weapons used in aerial combat with archival footage, computer simulations and explanations by the pilots themselves.

S2E1 - Kamikaze 2007-07-13

Towards the end of World War II, Japan sent volunteer pilots on suicide attacks against American naval targets. Kamikaze attacks covered include those against the escort carrier USS St. Lo on October 25, 1944, and the destroyer USS Laffey on April 15, 1945. Also discussed is the use of Japanese Ohka rocket planes.

S2E2 - Jet vs Jet 2007-07-20

In the skies over North Korea, F-86 Sabres battle MiG-15s. American pilots such as James Jabara, Ralph "Hoot" Gibson, and Ralph Parr are in pursuit of a previously unknown achievement — the title of jet ace.

S2E3 - Thunderbolt 2007-07-27

The rugged P-47 Thunderbolt, or "jug" as it was known, was the largest single-seat fighter plane of World War II. The episode portrays aerial battles fought by Robert S. Johnson, George Sutcliffe, and Ken Dalhberg against Focke-Wulf Fw-190s and Messerschmitt Me-109.

S2E4 - Gun Kills of Vietnam 2007-08-03

The era of missiles had arrived, and electronic warfare was coming of age. But when technology failed, pilots were forced to fight the old-fashioned way — with guns. Clinton Johnson and Charles Hartman down a MiG-17 with propeller-driven A-1 Skyraiders; Robert Titus and Milan Zimers F-4 Phantom shoots it out with a gun pod against MiG-21s; Darrell Simmonds and George McKinneys Phantom fights MiG-17s.

S2E5 - Desert Aces 2007-08-10

Pilots of the Israeli Air Force. The episode covers combat missions flown by Ran Ronen and by "ace of aces" Giora Epstein. Ronen used the French-built Mirage III to engage Hawker Hunters. Epstein flew a Mirage against Egyptian Sukhoi Su-7s in the Six-Day War, and piloted a Nesher against MiG-21s in the Yom Kippur War.

S2E6 - First Dogfighters 2007-08-17

Dogfighting was invented by the fighter pilots of World War I. Ernst Udets Albatros D.III vs. Georges Guynemers SPAD VII; Werner Voss, flying a Fokker triplane, battles six S.E.5a pilots, including James McCudden, Arthur Rhys Davids, and Richard Maybery; Arthur Raymond Brooks and his SPAD XIII dogfights with eight Fokker D.VIIs.

S2E7 - Luftwaffe's Deadliest Mission 2007-08-23

On April 7, 1945, pilots of the German Sonderkommando Elbe ram their own aircraft into incoming American bombers.

S2E8 - No Room for Error 2007-08-24

Its where a pilot can ill afford to make a mistake...but where dogfights are inexorably drawn. Down on the deck-at treetop level-the margin for error is zero.

S2E9 - Night Fighters 2007-09-21

The history of dogfighting in darkness is covered. Radar equipped F6F Hellcats shoot down A6M2 Rufes, and P-61 Black Widows score kills in World War II. The F3D Skyknight downs a faster MiG-15 in the Korean War. USAF F-15 Eagles and F-117 Nighthawks oppose MiG-29s in Operation Allied Force.

S2E10 - The bloodiest Day 2007-12-03

May 10, 1972, was the bloodiest day of air combat during the Vietnam War. American F-4 Phantoms, A-6 Intruders, and A-7 Corsairs fought against North Vietnamese MiG-21s and MiG-19s. The episode includes battles fought by Bob Lodge and Roger Locher and by Charles B. DeBellevue.

S2E11 - P-51 Mustang 2007-12-04

In the European and Pacific theaters of World War II, the P-51 Mustang became one of the conflicts most successful and recognizable aircraft. The episode includes interviews with Mustang pilots Donald S. Bryan, Robert Scamara, and Richard Candelaria.

S2E12 - Dogfights of Desert Storm 2007-12-05

An EF-111 Raven is attacked by an Iraqi Mirage F-1 jet and American fighter pilots pit F-15 Eagles against Iraqi MiG-25s and advanced MiG-29s as part of Operation Desert Storm. American aviators James Denton, Brent Brandon, Larry Pitts, Cesar Rodriguez, Craig Underhill, and Tony "Kimo" Schiavi are interviewed.

S2E13 - Tuskegee Airmen 2007-12-06

The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American pilots of the 332d Fighter Group. They distinguished themselves as one of the most successful fighter groups of World War II, despite the bigotry and prejudice they faced from their own countrymen. Piloting P-51 Mustangs, they flew many missions protecting American bombers from the German Luftwaffe. The episode includes interviews with pilots Lee Archer, Roscoe Brown, and Charles McGee.

S2E14 - MiG Killers of the Midway 2007-12-07

Recalling Vietnam War battles involving F-4 Phantoms from the USS Midway. This episode portrays dogfights fought by J.C. Smith, Henry "Bart" Bartholomay, Pat Arwood, Mike "Taco" Bell, Ronald "Mugs" McKeown, and John C. "Jack" Ensch.

S2E15 - Supersonic 2008-02-29

Travel back to three conflicts, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. See that for a fighter pilot, speed is your friend. And if the circumstances are right, speed kills. Your in the cockpit of a F4-U Corsair, a DH.98 Mosquito and a F-4 Phantom as you learn just what an advantage speed is.

S2E16 - Death of the Luftwaffe 2008-03-07

The Luftwaffes last great offensive, called Operation Bodenplatte, occurred on January 1, 1945. Bob Brulle, Sanford K. Moats, Alden Rigby, and Richard Creamer were American pilots of the 352d Fighter Group whose airbase, known as Y-29, was attacked by fighters. After this day, the Luftwaffe was shattered as an effective fighting force.

S2E17 - Secret Weapons 2008-03-14

Secret weapons of World War II, including German Me 163 Komet rocket powered fighter planes, Japanese kaiten suicide submarines, and the American remote controlled airplanes of Operation Aphrodite.

S2E18 - Dogfights of the Future 2008-05-10

Experience five future combat scenarios featuring modern 4.5 and 5th generation designs. First 4 F-22 Raptors engage Mikoyan MiG-29s, Sukhoi Su-30s and Dassault Rafales with the B-1R missile truck. The next scenario involves a group of F-35 Lightning IIs led by Raptors facing SA-23 surface to air missiles and MiG-35s. Next, Dassault Rafales and F-22s engage Su-30s with a Boeing 767 modified to carry a laser. Then the F-22 fights with the Russian fifth generation Su-47 Berkut. The show ends with a "dogfight" in low Earth orbit between two scramjets.

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