Thud Pilots (2018) User Reviews

Thunderchief Stories in the Pilots Own Words

[davefoss · 8/10 · 26 January 2019]

"Thud Pilot" tells the stories of the F-105 Thunderchief and the pilots who flew them during the Vietnam War. Like many films in this genre it tends to glamourize the aircraft and pilots. What sets it apart are the extended accounts by the pilots and of their experiences flying the Thuds in combat over Vietnam. Their account are lengthy and detailed with some emotion and commentary. Each account is framed with historical background so the viewer understands the context of the pilot's stories. While the film is structured to document the aircraft the pilot's and maintenance chief's stories steal the show.

The film presents a scathing rebuke to the military tactics by which the Thuds were deployed attributing the tactic to timid politiciacians who had no idea how to win the Vietnam War. Many examples are presented of how these tactics unnecessarily endanged the lives of the Thud pilots and resulted in the loss of many men and machines. The film details the ineffective tactics which were eventually discarded but only after decisive opportunities for the Thunderchiefs to impact the war were lost.

There is a quick look at the Vietnam War protests with a comment that the protestors tooks sides with the North Vietnamese. While that may have been a common sentiment of the day it is not a valid historical note. This short segment also ads nothing to the film and would have been better left on the cutting room floor.

Excellent story about an elite group who answered the call

[bob_decker · 9/10 · 14 March 2019]

Thud pilots: Alfred Lord Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade could have been written about them.

Was there a man dismayed? Not though the soldier knew Someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of hell Rode the six hundred.

Great documentary

[leinbachk · 9/10 · 17 April 2019]

I knew many Thud pilots, having met them as instructor pilots during my F-4G Wild Weasel training. They did not talk a lot about their experiences in Vietnam, but I suspected that was because of the pain in the telling. This film shows me I was right.

Despite what others here have said, I know for a fact that they were called "baby killers". I suppose they were also imagining being spit upon on the street, as well as being directed not to wear uniforms in public for fear it would invite physical attack. The film's fantasy of "Good vs Evil US Citizen" exists only in sad sack Norm's mind; perhaps he picked this up during his Canadian vacation.

Finally, I was sorry to have to read a review where the Vietnam War was called a "little known campaign". There are 58,000+ families who are all too aware of that "little known campaign", Tex. I put your comment in the "some people did something" category.

Great film about those who believed in something bigger than themselves.

Special significance

[arrowshooter-19817 · 10/10 · 27 February 2019]

I watched this movie out of interest and was very pleased. This documentary was the life my father lived as a Thud pilot and my family's experience. I was floored when I saw the in memory of J.T. Stadler. I had no idea it was there before watching. That is my father and I am forever grateful to those responsible for including him with this honor.

It is an accurate account of the events and political climate that existed. So many brave souls put into harms way serving and doing their best to protect and defend others. For those critical of the political statements made in the film regarding the anti war protests one must remember that the brave warriors shown and others fight to allow that opinion, as harmful as it was and still could be. I would have them read a writing from John Stuart Mill. It begins with "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things".

Outstanding ... brave warriors and cowardly politicians

[waynewest · 10/10 · 17 March 2019]

As a Vietnam vet, I enjoyed this documentary. Unfortunately it is just a reminder of the good men lost due to tying the hands of our soldiers and warriors. A lesson we still have not learned. I recommend it to everyone.

Watching Family History

[mdiciro · 10/10 · 3 March 2019]

A friend found this movie and I was riveted. I'd heard my father tell these same types of stories for years. He's gone now, but watching the men he shared a time with was very moving and therapeutic. A lot of the names are familiar. A great tribute to a great group of men.

Great Documentary

[asclepias45 · 6 March 2019]

Interesting documentary. An aspect of the Vietnam War I hadn't seen. I have the utmost respect for these pilots and their ground crews.

To J. T. Stadler's Son

[flamparter · 10/10 · 8 April 2019]

I just saw this wonderful and hauntingly honest movie tonight. I, too, was floored by its dedication to J. T. Stadler-- but even more (happily) surprised to see that the review was written by his son. I was a classmate of J.T.'s in pilot training class 64G at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in 1963-64. He was by far the best pilot and most respected student in our class; no one would have questioned that. Although I only flew "bug-smashers" in the Vietnam war (O1 and 02), I was in a position to know just how heroic those F105 pilots were; the Thud virtually was the early air war in SEA, until so many were lost that the F4 was phased in to carry the brunt of both the attack and defense operations (hamstrung though they were by government policy). I was saddened to learn, only a couple of years ago, that your father had been killed in an accident in, I believe, 1977. That he would be singled out to be memorized in this movie-- among all the other 105 pilots who survived that war-- is itself a testimony to what a special pilot and man he was. Not a lot of men alive today have a prouder heritage than you; that's for sure. Fred Lamparter

Loved it!

[udamane · 10/10 · 20 March 2019]

I especially enjoyed the brotherhood of all the pilots and crews and those amazing experiences they shared with us. As for the political commentary, totally agree. And for those that didn't like it, it's your guilt for abandoning our great Americans making incredible sacrifices. As for the Thomas Jefferson quote about protesting, don't forget, he hid in a barn from the British rather than fight for his country. If these guys feel protesters were on the enemy's side, then it is so. This is their film, go make your own about staying home, smoking weed, and complaining.

Protesting war doesn't make you a traitor

[kevinrudolphchavez · 3/10 · 17 February 2019]

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism -Thomas Jefferson

These men featured and all those who aren't are heroes. They have more courage in a single hair than I have in my whole body.

My only issue is with the movie makers insinuating that those who protested the war were unAmerican, unpatriotic, anti-soldier; traitors. Many of those protesting the war were American soldiers. I'd like to see them make that claim to John Kerry. Or My own father who served and then came home and protested against it.

Thud Pilots false claim that People against the war sided with the enemy.

[normangrochowski · 5 March 2019]

I enjoyed listening to the pilots experiences but whoever wrote the narration decided to inject his or her agenda into the film. The narrator, about half way into the film says, ''The Americans back home began to side with the enemy and began to protest.''

Protesting a war is not siding with an enemy of one's country. Many truly patriotic US citizens were against the Vietnam war and they didn't blame the pilots or US soldiers for fighting it. They blamed the politicians who fueled it.

Secretary of War Robert McNamara, after the war said. ''The Vietnam war was wrong, terribly wrong.'' He said this on several occasions after it was over. He realized that it was a Civil War, that the US had no business engaging in. There was no mention of this in the narration script for the film.

France had originally taken Vietnam by force in 1887 in order to grab its resources, they also conquered Laos and Cambodia and it was known as French Indochina. France killed a lot of people grabbing the region. They were finally defeated by the people of Vietnam who wanted to set up their own republic in 1954. The film briefly mentions France being there but doesn't go into any real detail as to the gruesome reasons the Vietnamese wanted them gone.

McNamara as well as many other fear mongers came to realize that our nation should have left them to decide their own future, because that's the way it turned out anyway and they became trading partners with our country. So if the narration wants to point out protesters it would also serve to point out things like this too. .

Patriotic US protesters wanted friendly relations with the world and knew that nations should decide their own form of government. They knew it long before McNamara and other war mongers finally figured it out. But we hear no mention in the film or depth of what protesters were really saying.

Instead, the narration agenda makes an attempt at trying to claim that all people who protested the war were calling our soldiers and pilots ''baby killers'' This is another false belief they are trying to reinforce. Though there were some people who did call them that, there were overwhelmingly many more who didn't. They feared for the troops and saw how they were ineptly being used by the politicians sitting in their comfortable homes in the US.

The film did not need to throw in its divisive agenda with their broad brush statements on the protesters. Real Patriots defend their country from political fear mongers who wage war on countries that have done nothing to our nation, should have been brought up in that segment of the film.

The film could have also pointed out that many of the protesters respected our troops and had brothers and cousins in the military but we refused to sit quietly by, when fools in our government wanted to use them for foolish reasons out of fear of what a communist country might do, especially since we now trade with China.

I think I could have enjoyed this film a lot more if the '' Good verses Evil, US citizen fantasy.'' would have been left out.

One last thing; the Lyndon Johnson southern drawl to the narrator's voice was a little too thick and overdone. It was almost like he ladled it out of a huge cooking pot in homespun southern soup kitchen.

Special Significance too

[jaatman-38590 · 10/10 · 20 April 2019]

JT Stadler mention meant much for me also. I flew F-4's with him in Thailand in the early seventies. His Thud-born discipline inspired me as a young lieutenant and I continue to appreciate his contribution to my life as a mentor and role model. Thud pilots represent the best warriors and patriots our nation has to offer. Don't miss their stories!

Great film, minimal complaints.

[drtm-42371 · 9/10 · 27 December 2019]

Everything was near perfect, the only thing I would change would be to have introduced more political and big picture context of what was going on at the time throughout the war, and how it started.

Fascinated with war history

[sparkysarus · 10/10 · 17 May 2021]

I Have A Masters In History And I'm Fascinated In war History, Documentaries and such. I'm Very Pleased With The Details, So I Rated It A 10.

Political propaganda ruins what could be an excellent documentary

[texspeleo · 1/10 · 14 March 2019]

I salute the service and dedication of the men interviewed. Their clarity of mission is obvious, and none of of these heroes portrait anything but selfless dedication and love for our country and their fellow man. Unfortunately, the producer chose to insert political bias and rhetoric to the narrative of this production, and he undermines something that could otherwise honor the people who put themselves in harms way to serve our country in a little known campaign.

Polemic

[kirstyandben · 2/10 · 3 January 2020]

If you are looking for a balance. This is not the title for you.