Heroes of the Skies

Michael Ashcroft profiles pilot Francis 'Gabby' Gabreski, who was one of the leading American fighter aces during the Second World War

Michael Ashcroft profiles Brigadier General Robin Olds, the Second World War veteran who took command of the US Air Force's embattled 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1966. In July 1966, North Vietnam’s fleet of MiG-21s is hammering the US Air Force, and the embattled men of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing need a hero to whip them into shape. Enter Colonel Robin Olds, a WWII veteran airman, who charges in and commands respect. With the help of his pilots, Olds masterminds Operation BOLO; a death-defying bait-and-switch tactic that he hopes will whip out the MiGs once and for all. Then on January 2, 1967, Olds and his men provoke a ferocious dogfight and attempt to change the course of the Vietnam War.

They were young, gifted, and black but the US Army refused them key positions. Until intense pressure from African-American activist groups pushed President Roosevelt to initiate a Blacks-only fighter pilot training program in Tuskegee, Alabama. What began as a revolutionary experiment gave birth to a potent fighting force that would help take Nazi Germany out of the skies and, in the process, change the course of American history.

The Lancaster ME669 crew, akin to all WWII Allied bombers, faced the perilous task of navigating enemy fire while dropping explosives over Nazi Germany, a crucial role in preventing Hitler's victory. Despite their significance, the 'total war' strategy, making cities legitimate targets, overshadowed their legacy. Over 100,000 volunteers, half not returning, had no alternative. Lancaster ME669's novice crew began with a near-fatal crash but resiliently defied grim statistics. Assigned 30 missions, surpassing expectations, they endured crashes and harrowing missions over Berlin. Their luck waned on the final mission deep into industrial Germany in April 1944. In a WWII highlight, Sergeant Norman Jackson, amid a 200 mph night flight, bravely climbed onto the wing to combat a fuel tank fire under attack at 22,000 feet by a German fighter.

Even though Canadian George Beurling broke every rule in the book, he still managed to become one of the greatest fighter pilots of World War II. But his was a turbulent road to glory. The Canadian Air Force deemed him too young for service and even when the British RAF accepted him, Beurling was branded a loner who lacked discipline and regularly defied orders. Only when he was transferred to Malta, one of the most dangerous war zones of World War II, was he able to prove himself. From 1940 to 1942, the strategically vital Mediterranean island was on the verge of surrender to the fascist powers. During the bitterly fought Battle of Malta, no Allied pilot shot down more enemy planes. Against staggering odds, Beurling's eagle-eyed marksmanship and extraordinary command of his Spitfire helped to win a crucial victory that changed the course of the war.

In July 1940, Squadron Leader Douglas Bader and his ragtag squadron of Canadian fighter pilots go into battle against Hitler's mighty Luftwaffe. The outcome of the Battle of Britain will determine the future of the free world. But Bader is also fighting his own personal battle. Just eight years earlier, a catastrophic flying accident cost him both of his legs. Never one to accept defeat, Bader – equipped with prosthetic legs – beats all the odds to become Britain's most celebrated air ace. Bader, who was immortalised in the film Reach For The Sky, used bold but controversial tactics. He and his men helped to turn the tide in the crucial Battle of Britain. This is his remarkable story.