FIGHTER PILOTS - WING COMMANDER – (aka) "Afrika Staffel, ME- 110" – 1975
This South African production, stars an all, South-African cast and crew. An English transport pilot, Johann Van Herrden, arrives at a RAF base in the North Africa desert. He has arrived to collect the personal effects of his brother. The brother was a fighter pilot who had been shot down and killed in combat with the German Luftwaffe.
While Van Herrden is looking over a parked RAF fighter, the Luftwaffe launches a bombing attack on the RAF field. Van Heerden jumps in the fighter and takes off to do battle with the Germans. Needless to say not being a trained fighter pilot, he is quickly shot down by German ace, Will Roberts. Van Herrden bails out and drifts off towards the German lines. Roberts' aircraft is also damaged in the dogfight and Roberts crash lands the craft on the German side and escapes before it catches fire.
Roberts pulls his pistol and heads to where Van Herrden's parachute is landing. He captures the RAF pilot and grabs a ride with a passing group of Italians to the German airstrip. Soon a big party is on with Roberts being the attraction. Roberts has just been awarded the KNIGHTS CROSS for shooting down his 100th kill.
That evening, Roberts, after a few too many drinks, pays a visit to Van Herrden. He tells him that he had been the man who shot down his brother. Van Herrden drops the German with a solid punch and hotfoots it into the dark. He steals a motorcycle and roars off into the desert.
The next day, Roberts goes looking for the escaped man. He is flying a small liaison craft and buzzes Van Herrden, knocking him off the motorcycle. He then lands nearby and takes the man prisoner again. There is a struggle and the small aircraft is destroyed. Now the two men are out in the middle of the desert without food or water.
The next few days the two men get to know and understand each other as they fight to stay alive. Roberts admits he has had enough of the war and killing. The two decide to try and make it to Tunisia, which was part of Vichy France at the time. They make it to a behind the lines supply railroad. There, they steal a goods train and head for freedom.
Needless to say they really have no chance to make it to Tunisia. They are soon hunted down and Van Heerden is shot dead. Roberts knows it will most likely be the firing squad for himself. He does not care, he has had enough.
While not by any means, a top flight war film, it is nowhere as bad as I am making it sound like. If you are a fan of those lower end war films, that popped up during the 1960's and 70's, then this might be worth a look for you.
This South African production, stars an all, South-African cast and crew. An English transport pilot, Johann Van Herrden, arrives at a RAF base in the North Africa desert. He has arrived to collect the personal effects of his brother. The brother was a fighter pilot who had been shot down and killed in combat with the German Luftwaffe.
While Van Herrden is looking over a parked RAF fighter, the Luftwaffe launches a bombing attack on the RAF field. Van Heerden jumps in the fighter and takes off to do battle with the Germans. Needless to say not being a trained fighter pilot, he is quickly shot down by German ace, Will Roberts. Van Herrden bails out and drifts off towards the German lines. Roberts' aircraft is also damaged in the dogfight and Roberts crash lands the craft on the German side and escapes before it catches fire.
Roberts pulls his pistol and heads to where Van Herrden's parachute is landing. He captures the RAF pilot and grabs a ride with a passing group of Italians to the German airstrip. Soon a big party is on with Roberts being the attraction. Roberts has just been awarded the KNIGHTS CROSS for shooting down his 100th kill.
That evening, Roberts, after a few too many drinks, pays a visit to Van Herrden. He tells him that he had been the man who shot down his brother. Van Herrden drops the German with a solid punch and hotfoots it into the dark. He steals a motorcycle and roars off into the desert.
The next day, Roberts goes looking for the escaped man. He is flying a small liaison craft and buzzes Van Herrden, knocking him off the motorcycle. He then lands nearby and takes the man prisoner again. There is a struggle and the small aircraft is destroyed. Now the two men are out in the middle of the desert without food or water.
The next few days the two men get to know and understand each other as they fight to stay alive. Roberts admits he has had enough of the war and killing. The two decide to try and make it to Tunisia, which was part of Vichy France at the time. They make it to a behind the lines supply railroad. There, they steal a goods train and head for freedom.
Needless to say they really have no chance to make it to Tunisia. They are soon hunted down and Van Heerden is shot dead. Roberts knows it will most likely be the firing squad for himself. He does not care, he has had enough.
While not by any means, a top flight war film, it is nowhere as bad as I am making it sound like. If you are a fan of those lower end war films, that popped up during the 1960's and 70's, then this might be worth a look for you.
