Sat, Aug 1, 2015
A galaxy of international aces are seen in aerial combat as a series prelude. They describe the qualities great aces must have, and recall a heritage that begins with chivalrous fighter duels of World War I, and ends with Luftwaffe pilots hone their skills in Spain during the bloody dress rehearsal for World War II.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
The German blitzkrieg by the invincible Luftwaffe crushes Poland, France, Denmark, and Norway, but a handul of fighter pilots save the Empire during the Battle of Britain.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
The Soviet Air Force is all but wiped out by the Luftwaffe, but recovers to fight the invader to a standstill in the most atrocious winter ever encountered.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Some of the deadliest Allied aces of the war emerge from international squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Their own nations crushed under the iron heel of a conqueror, desperate and determined men make perilous journeys to England, and continue to fight in the skies over occupied England.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
New fighter aces are born with the emergence of the Flying Tigers. They become the first volunteer American force to battle the Japanese in the Chines sky.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Americans are outnumbered everywhere, but turn the tide at Midway. The ragged Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal battles against odds over the bitterly contested South Pacific.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Watch the enemy fighter jets in action as they shoot at allied planes in some of the msot heated air battles of WWII.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Experience the enemy bombing campaigns with missions in Heinkel, Dornier and Junkers bombers as they rain explosives down upon London, Manchester and other British cities.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Journey through the dramatic world inhabited by fighter planes and pilots during World War II. Follow Supermarine Spitries and Hawker Hurricanes as they scramble at air bases to defend the skies of beleaguered England.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
These heavy-duty war birds brought death and destruction to the enemy with lethal showers of high-explosive and incendiary bombs. Fly with the U.S. B-17 Flying Fortress, the British Lancaster and Societ Tupolev bombers as they drop devestating payloads over German territory.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
The Allies take the offensive as the tide of war turns against the Axis in the Mediterranean, and in Europe. The fury of war in the air takes a heavy toll on attacker and defender alike, but the undermanned and outgunned Luftwaffe is defiant in the face of certain defeat.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
From the first to the last, nations frantically seek to give their fighter pilots the winning edge in planes, engines, guns, and tactics in combat by day, and by night. The Germans shock the Allies when they win the race for committing jet and rocket fighters to battle, a race won too late.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Now equipped with long-range fighters, American aces wage a war deep in the heart of the Third Reich while escorting heavy bombers to distant targets. Goring sees P-51s over Europe, and admits that the war is lost.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
Marine valor paves the way for the aerial assault on Japan. During the relentless march westward, the rivalry heats up between top aces Dick Bong and Tom McGuire, and Admiral Yamamoto is the victim of aerial assassination.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
The final aerial battles between Soviet and German fighter pilots occur. Russian aircraft now equal those flown by the Luftwaffe, whose pilots face incursion from the east, as well as the west. The top Russian ace, Ivan Kozhedub, reaches 62 kills, while the top German ace, Erich Hartmann, is credited with 352.
Sat, Aug 1, 2015
In this final episode, victors of aerial duels in the skies of every theater of war reach inside memories etched in steel for the skills and relentless purpose that elevated them to the ranks of the great aces.