24. Flyboys

Year 1916AD, WW1 saw the usage of then recently invented "wonder machines" aeroplanes as "war machines" towards the end of the war. As a matter of fact, use of these machines and some daredevil men behind the machines changed the course of the war and ensured that it ended sooner than expected.

Though the machines were being produced in large scale in Britain and France, there weren't many who could fly them. America had not yet entered the war and the two war stricken countries against the mighty and advanced Germans were seeking support from America or the Americans. On the other hand it was only the Germans who had immense experience in flying these war machines, some having experience as much as of years together. It needed sheer guts and some strong nerves to face the air superiority of the German air force. The only way to overcome them was to outnumber them or produce better planes. The Allied forces were making desperate advances on either of these aspects.

Long before America was directly involved in the war, the Americans got involved in the war as the some American youth engaged themselves as the war plane pilots.

Flyboys is true story of one such bunch of young people from Europe and America who got together in Verdun, France 3 years after Germans attacked the French; they train as pilots and gain supremacy in the air during WW1.

Some joined out of family pride, some joined to meet father's expectations, some joined as they ran away from the law, some joined as they did not have any other source to earn money, and some who simply wanted to have a change of profession. They brave the danger where the life expectancy is only 3-6 weeks and once the pilots are airborne, they are not sure whether they would land or crash.

A couple of months after training on the most primitive training methods compared to modern techniques, they squadron of international pilots is given an assignment to bomb one of the arsenal station in deep in German territory. However, they are ambushed much before they could reach target and even the most experienced squadron leader did not manage to proceed far. They return back heavily hit. Only half manage to return. They over a period of time they manage to gain good experience indulging in dogfights with Germans. And then as the Germans are still advancing into the French territory, this squadron manages to undertake important assaults on the Germans erasing their arsenal establishments, bringing down their flight squadrons and failing their assault on French armies.

Those young people who got together to have some change in their life, learn a lot and play important part in the War. Among those people a few lucky ones survive the war.

The movie also showcases heroics out of love, passion and respect for each other.

Prologue: Out of the survivors some carry on to lead on life as follows:Jensen who had joined the war to earn some medals and continue to maintain his family's proud legacy faced some mental breakdown in war after first ambush, but did help out his squadron, (towards the end of the movie) continued to fight in the war and returned home as hero with few medals.Skinner who was black boxer from France, joined US forces when they entered war. However he was not allowed to fly. When he went back to America after war, he joined the US Airmail Service.Beagle a German from Wisconsin, who was restricted from entering America for his bad records against law. He was once alleged of being spy during his training period, but the with trust of his teammates he continued to be member of squadron. He lost his left hand during one of his flights, but bounced back with an hook for an arm and continued to fly for the rest of the war. He then settled in Italy and started his flying circus. Rowlings, who joined the flight team because his ranch was sold off to the bank back home and did not have any job, was the most successful of this "Knights of the air". He found a french love Lucienne, who left for England as French country was taken over by Germans. Before she left with three kids of her dead brother and sister in law, she promised Rowlings to meet in Paris. After war Rowlings returned to Paris, but didn't find his love. He returned to Texas to build one of the greatest ranches of the country and never flew again.

The movie is greatly commendable and definitely worth a watch. Though one must not forget these were only a few of the heroes of that war.