''Air Aces'' is a
Cineflix produced series that airs on
History
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
channel in Canada. The series originally aired in the UK titled ''Heroes of the Skies''
on September 20, 2012. The series premiered in Canada as Air Aces on January 7, 2013 on History and also aired on Military Channel later in 2013. The show tells the stories of the most heroic airborne combat missions in history.
The series uses real vintage aircraft and re-creates mid-air combat sequences. Featuring
Spitfires
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griff ...
, Lancaster bombers, and Phantom fighters and aerial stunt teams, the series dramatizes the exploits of the world's greatest Air Aces. The series also features interviews with the last surviving veterans and military historians and rare archival footage.
Alternative titles
Air Aces is called ''Heroes of the Skies'' in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and airs on
Channel 5.
Episodes
Season 1
Episode 1 - George Beurling
Canadian
George Beurling broke every rule in the book yet became one of the greatest fighter pilots of World War II. The part of George Beurling is played by British actor Adam Drew.
Episode 2 - Douglas Bader
Using bold but controversial tactics,
Douglas Bader beats all the odds to help turn the tide in the Battle of Britain and become Britain's most celebrated air ace. The part of Douglas Bader is played by British actor Mark Stanley.
Episode 3 - Wing Walker
The crew of Lancaster ME669 had one of the most dangerous jobs in the Air Force, but the tactic called "total war" overshadowed their legacy. Yet, for the more than one hundred thousand volunteers – half of who would not return – there was no other option.
Episode 4 - Red Tails
Pressure from
African-American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
activist groups pushed President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
to initiate a Blacks-only fighter pilot training program during World War II. What happened next gave birth to a potent fighting force against Nazi Germany and change the course of American history.
Episode 5 - Robin Olds
In July 1966, North Vietnam's fleet of MiG-21s is hammering the US Air Force. With the help of his pilots, Colonel
Robin Olds masterminds Operation BOLO; a death-defying bait-and-switch tactic that he hopes will wipe out the MiGs once and for all.
Episode 6 - Gabby Gabreski
Against the backdrop of World War II, American pilots race to shoot down the most German planes and be crowned the countries top-flying ace. US Air Force Pilot Francis
Gabby Gabreski makes it his personal mission to be the best there ever was.
References
{{Reflist, refs=
[Channel 5 http://www.channel5.com/shows/heroes-of-the-skies]
[Anderson, Kelly.''Cineflix takes flight with Air Aces''. Playback, 2012.]
External links
* https://web.archive.org/web/20130105024156/http://www.history.ca/airaces
* http://www.cineflixrights.com/sections/19-Programming/shows/air-aces
2012 Canadian television series debuts
History (Canadian TV network) original programming
2010s Canadian documentary television series