I'm the Editor/Co-Producer of "A Fighter Pilot's Story". I would like to thank you for the wonderful reviews. In response to brettidwell, I would love to rerelease the film on another platform and offer to sell copies again, however, the music licensing ran out years ago and am unable to do so. I also considered creating a new version in HD, but the budget required to do so would be about a half million. Since I don't have the energy to fund raise and spend the incredible amount of time on recreating this doc, I won't be able to fulfill the requests. Thank you to everyone that has supported this story over the years. Quentin passed in 2008 and was an incredible person, along with being my father in-law.
5 Reviews
Please someone someone MAKE THIS AVAILABLE TO SEE AGAIN!
brettidwell1 January 2022
This is one of the best documentaries of the P-47 pilots air war. I've watched hundreds of similar documentaries and this one is at or near the top. People alway like to claim the P-51 was the best fighter of the war. Statistics would show that for destroying both aircraft and targets in the ground, the P-47 took enemy lives and treasure at a far greater rate while bringing their young pilots back. Yet even with such a record, the P-47 was quickly scrapped by 1947. When Korea hit, frontline enlisted and officers begged the Generals in charge of the air war to send over any P-47's they could find, the brass said no and kept sending P-51's that were shot down like pigeons due to ground fire knocking out the water cooling systems.
The story follows the journey of young men in unbelievably dangerous missions. It's a must see. Unfortunately, it's not available anywhere. Please, someone buy the rights and put it on YouTube or another streaming service.
The story follows the journey of young men in unbelievably dangerous missions. It's a must see. Unfortunately, it's not available anywhere. Please, someone buy the rights and put it on YouTube or another streaming service.
A Superb Documentary.
rmax30482316 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I'd consider this story of a P-47 fighter pilot -- Quentin Aanenson, who narrates -- to be right up there in the first rank of documentaries about war. Not just tales of strategy and not technical details or flag-waving patriotism.
By 1993 Aanenson was far enough in time from his war experiences in to look back at them and assess them more objectively although not dispassionately.
A farm boy from Minnesota, he recounts with still photos, newsreel footage, and excerpts from letters, his flight training and subsequent assignment to a squadron of P-47 fighters used in the ground attack role in Europe. The incidents are exciting, dramatic, and at times almost infinitely sad.
We sense his bond with his bride back in the States, an ordinary woman who loves her husband and prays for his safety. We see his tent mates disappear one by one. We see his face change from that of a cheerful boy to a haggard and exhausted man. We learn that, as much as he loved hunting as a schoolboy, on a rare visit to home he discovers that he can no longer shoot a wild animal.
And all of this, with some interpolations by his wife, is narrated in Aanenson's flat, sober, phlegmatic Mid-western accent. That ordinary tone of voice only served to make the narrative more moving, more touching, more exhilarating and more tragic.
By 1993 Aanenson was far enough in time from his war experiences in to look back at them and assess them more objectively although not dispassionately.
A farm boy from Minnesota, he recounts with still photos, newsreel footage, and excerpts from letters, his flight training and subsequent assignment to a squadron of P-47 fighters used in the ground attack role in Europe. The incidents are exciting, dramatic, and at times almost infinitely sad.
We sense his bond with his bride back in the States, an ordinary woman who loves her husband and prays for his safety. We see his tent mates disappear one by one. We see his face change from that of a cheerful boy to a haggard and exhausted man. We learn that, as much as he loved hunting as a schoolboy, on a rare visit to home he discovers that he can no longer shoot a wild animal.
And all of this, with some interpolations by his wife, is narrated in Aanenson's flat, sober, phlegmatic Mid-western accent. That ordinary tone of voice only served to make the narrative more moving, more touching, more exhilarating and more tragic.
One of the best WW2 air war stories from a man who lived it
althompsn4 August 2014
This moving story was largely woven from letters between Quintin's wife and himself and covers the entire range of his service from induction through training, air battles, and discharge. It is written with both humor and pathos.
Unfortunately, someone broke into his locker and filched most of the gun camera shots made from his own airplane, but he made up for this with many other gun camera shots that will keep you riveted to the TV screen. Most of his squadron mates and close friends didn't survive the war. His story is told with style and class.
This film will show you the reality of the WW2 air war as it really was without the usual Hollywood artistic license and embellishments for effect. Get a copy of this fine film if you can find one. It's a keeper.
Unfortunately, someone broke into his locker and filched most of the gun camera shots made from his own airplane, but he made up for this with many other gun camera shots that will keep you riveted to the TV screen. Most of his squadron mates and close friends didn't survive the war. His story is told with style and class.
This film will show you the reality of the WW2 air war as it really was without the usual Hollywood artistic license and embellishments for effect. Get a copy of this fine film if you can find one. It's a keeper.
A superb video history
val-16-73684116 October 2013
A video history of an American combat pilot's experience in World War II compiled and narrated by the pilot himself. This video is a rare experience that any historian, professional or amateur, must see because it makes real what is usually only left to the imagination. It is especially rare because it is the experience of a fighter on the front lines and not the usual historical view provided in books and videos that is almost always from the perspective of the general or similar command officer ordering others to do his killing for him. Much better than that sentimental garbage that war profiteers like Ken Burns put out.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
