Strategic Air Command Movie Mistakes Source Bing.com
The 1955 movie, “Strategic Air Command,” starring James Stewart and June Allyson, is a classic war movie about the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command. It follows the story of a professional baseball player, Bob Nealy, who is called away from retirement to serve in the Air Force. However, while the movie is a classic and often praised for its accurate portrayal of the air force, there are some notable mistakes.
Aircraft Inconsistencies
The movie features a variety of aircraft, but some of them are not historically accurate. For example, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, which was used in the film, was not in use until after the movie was released. The B-50 is also featured, but it had already been retired by the time the film was made. Additionally, a B-36 Peacemaker is featured in the movie, but the actual B-36s used in the Strategic Air Command were retired by the time the film was made.
Military Personnel Inconsistencies
The movie also features some inaccuracies regarding military personnel. For example, the commanding officer of the base, General Savage, is referred to as a colonel, when in fact he should have been referred to as a general. Additionally, the uniforms worn by the airmen throughout the movie are not accurate for the time period. Finally, the airmen are not referred to by their proper rank or title, instead being referred to by their first names.
Location Inconsistencies
The movie was filmed at various locations, but some of them don’t match up with the actual locations used by the Strategic Air Command. For example, the base in the film is a fictional one, while the actual Strategic Air Command bases were located in California, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Additionally, the airfield featured in the movie was actually located in Arizona, while the Strategic Air Command airfields were located in other states.
Technical Inconsistencies
The movie also features some technical inaccuracies. For example, the bombers used in the film are not the same as the bombers used by the Strategic Air Command. Additionally, the planes featured in the film do not have the same engines as the actual Strategic Air Command planes. Finally, some of the technical jargon used in the film is not accurate for the time period.
Historical Inconsistencies
The movie also features some historical inaccuracies. For example, the movie implies that the Strategic Air Command was responsible for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, when in fact it was the United States Army Air Forces that was responsible for this mission. Additionally, the movie implies that the Strategic Air Command was responsible for the Berlin Airlift, when in fact the airlift was conducted by the United States Air Force.
Tactical Inconsistencies
The movie also features some inaccurate tactical information. For example, the movie implies that the Strategic Air Command was responsible for dropping nuclear bombs on North Korea during the Korean War, when in fact the United States Air Force was responsible for this mission. Additionally, the movie implies that the Strategic Air Command was responsible for carrying out bombing missions in Vietnam, when in fact this task was assigned to the United States Air Force.
Conclusion
Despite its inaccuracies, “Strategic Air Command” remains a classic war movie. It is often praised for its accurate portrayal of the Air Force, but it does contain some notable mistakes. From aircraft inconsistencies to historical inaccuracies, the movie is not completely accurate. However, it still remains an entertaining and informative movie about the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command.
