Best WWII Aviation Movies:  Your Ultimate Viewing Guide To Air Combat

The best WWII aviation movies capture the daring feats of pilots and air crews during aviation’s most pivotal era. These classic war dramas depict the aerial battles, covert missions, dramatic raids, and pilot camaraderie that defined the drama and excitement of WWII air combat. Films like Twelve O’Clock High, Memphis Belle, and The Dam Busters have brought to life the claustrophobic B-17 bomber crews, the cunning of the Luftwaffe, the valour of the Tuskegee Airmen, and thrilling aerial dogfights over Europe.

From action-packed blockbusters to gritty independent efforts, these top WWII aviation movies spotlight the skill under fire that pilots on all sides exhibited and memorialise the courageous sacrifices made by those who took to the skies in defence of their nations. Their exciting stories and cinematography continue to provide an unforgettable portrait of aviation during its most crucial hour.

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22 of the Best WWII Aviation Movies

Memphis Belle (1990)

Memphis Belle is a fictionalised account based on the real-life B-17 Flying Fortress bomber of the same name. Made in 1990, it stars Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, and Harry Connick Jr. It follows the crew of the Memphis Belle on their harrowing 25th and final bombing mission over Germany before returning home. Their goal is to be the first crew to complete 25 missions intact. It captures the claustrophobic interior of the B-17, the terror of navigating heavy anti-aircraft fire, and the drama between individual crew members. Modine gives a standout performance as the stoic captain holding his crew together.

Twelve O’Clock High (1949) 

Gregory Peck stars in this 1949 war drama about the early American daylight bombing raids over Germany. He plays Brigadier General Frank Savage, tasked with taking command of a bomber group that is suffering from poor morale and heavy losses. He employs harsh discipline and risks angering his men to improve their efficiency and survival odds. It was nominated for four Oscars and stands as one of the most compelling psychological studies of wartime leadership. The harrowing missions show the tight formations American B-17s flew and losses they sustained.

The Dam Busters (1955)

This British classic recreates the true story of Operation Chastise in 1943. Barnes-Wallis leads a team that develops the ingenious “bouncing bombs” to strike German dams in the Ruhr valley and cripple industrial production. The film builds suspense around the daring airstrikes and flooding that resulted. It features Michael Redgrave as the inventor of the bouncing bombs and beloved actor Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson. The climactic dam busting sequence cutting between the pilots and their dangerous low-level approach and the bombs bouncing to target is expertly staged.

The Battle of Britain (1969)

This British film from 1969 depicts the heroic defence of Britain from the onslaught of the German Luftwaffe in 1940. With an all-star cast including Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, and Christopher Plummer, it captures both the action in the skies and impact on the ground during this crucial air campaign. The realistic aerial sequences show the dogfights between British Spitfires and Hurricanes against German bombers and fighters. Director Guy Hamilton captures the epic scale of the battle across the English countryside.

The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) 

This HBO movie starring Laurence Fishburne chronicles the exploits of the first African American pilots in the US Army Air Forces, who fought racism and prejudice to prove their abilities. The film follows their training at the Tuskegee airfield and eventual combat success escorting bombers on raids across Europe. Fishburne gives a powerful performance as Hannibal Lee, who struggles against discrimination. The aerial combat sequences effectively depict the talent of the Tuskegee Airmen piloting P-51 Mustangs.

Dark Blue World (2001)

A Czech film about Czech pilots who escaped their country after the Nazi invasion to join the RAF. It stars Ondřej Vetchý and Kryštof Hádek as two ace pilots grounded after the war who reflect on their wartime heroics while training new British pilots. The flashback missions are excitingly staged, showing Czech pilots assisting the RAF during the Battle of Britain and aiding Allied bombers. The movie balances action in the air with the pilots’ struggles adjusting after the war.

Red Tails (2012)

Produced by George Lucas, this fictionalised take on the Tuskegee Airmen stars Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. It focuses on their aerial dogfights over Europe as they escort American bombers. Lucas gives the combat scenes his trademark thrilling and fast-paced treatment, with exciting dogfights and aerial photography. The story celebrates the under-recognized achievements of the Tuskegee pilots while spotlighting their brotherly bond.

Pearl Harbor (2001) 

The Michael Bay blockbuster dramatises the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, with aerial bombing sequences and a fictional love triangle starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale. While lighter on historical accuracy, it excels at capturing the spectacle and suspense of the surprise Japanese attack, from the devastation on ground to the action above. The special effects and staging of the aerial battle scenes remain impressive.

Flyboys (2006)

James Franco stars in this story of the Lafayette Escadrille, American pilots who volunteered to fight for France in WWI before the U.S. entered the war. The movie follows their camaraderie, romantic entanglements, and thrilling aerial dogfights over the front lines. Franco is well-cast as the squadron’s reluctant but courageous leader. The movie succeeds in paying tribute to the brave Americans who gave their lives in the war before their country joined the fight.

Secret Mission (1942)

Made during the war in 1942, this British thriller focuses on RAF pilots carrying out covert operations in occupied France. They seek to smuggle a French scientist working on Axis radar technology back to England. It stars Hugh Williams and James Mason as the pilots on this dangerous secret mission behind enemy lines. The story and performances create suspense and capture the high stakes covert operations British pilots undertook.

Torpedo Run (1958) 

The great Glenn Ford stars as a submarine commander obsessed with destroying a Japanese aircraft carrier after his wife and child were killed in the Pearl Harbor attacks. When aerial bombing fails, he takes matters into his own hands and pilots a torpedo bomber in a suicide mission to sink the carrier. The film builds Ford’s motivation and climaxes in an exciting air and sea battle scene as he achieves his revenge.

Fighter Squadron (1948)

Edmond O’Brien and Robert Stack lead an all-star cast as American pilots in this WWII action movie centred around a daring bombing raid over Germany. Their bond of friendship is tested when Stack becomes squadron commander. It captures the camaraderie, tensions, and bravery of pilots in war. The bombing mission climax demonstrates classic old-school Hollywood action filmmaking.

Command Decision (1948)

Clark Gable plays a general tasked with an important bombing raid over Germany in this character-driven WWII drama. He grapples with the mission’s high risk and casualties versus the need to cripple German industry. The movie focuses on the burden of command and moral dilemmas of sending men to die for the cause. Gable gives a strong performance as the general wrestling with his conscience.

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)

This war drama depicts the true story of the Doolittle Raid in 1942, America’s first air raid on Japan’s homeland. Spencer Tracy stars as Lt. Col. James Doolittle leading the daring mission, with Van Johnson as one of the pilots. It dramatises the planning, training, and execution of the raid, plus the aftermath as crews bail out over China. The bombing run scene builds tension as the crews brave anti-aircraft fire to strike a symbolic blow. 

Dunkirk (2017)

Christopher Nolan’s intense war epic depicts the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation of Allied troops from France. Mark Rylance stars as a civilian sailor who braves danger to rescue troops, alongside Tom Hardy as a Spitfire pilot protecting the evacuation. Nolan’s visceral filmmaking puts the audience in the action with sweeping aerial photography of the beaches, dogfights, and sinking ships. It highlights the contributions of sea, ground, and air forces in the perilous Dunkirk retreat.

Wings of Eagles (1957) 

John Wayne stars as real-life air racer Frank W. “Spig” Wead, who became a screenwriter after an accident left him disabled. As a Navy pilot in WWII, he helped push the development of aircraft carriers and naval aviation. The film covers his aviation career in WWII while flashing back to his early air races in the 1920s and 30s. The aerial sequences demonstrate Wayne’s ease in the cockpit, even if he was too old for the role.

Lancaster Skies (2020)

This British indie film made in the style of classic wartime dramas focuses on an RAF Lancaster bomber crew on a risky night raid over Germany in 1943. As they brave fierce anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters, tensions and secrets between them come to light. The film authentically captures life aboard a Lancaster and the claustrophobic combat conditions these crews endured on their missions.

The Flying Leathernecks (1951) 

John Wayne and Robert Ryan star as rival Marine Corps pilots vying for command during WWII in this aerial combat picture. It centres around their competition and clashes over leadership styles as they battle Japanese forces in the Pacific. Between their rivalry, the film delivers exhilarating flight scenes and dramatic air battles as the pilots prove themselves with daring and skill. 

Reach for the Sky (1956)

This British biopic depicts the life of legendary Royal Air Force pilot Douglas Bader, played by Kenneth More. After losing both legs in a pre-war accident, Bader overcomes his disability to become a fighter ace in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories. The inspiring story celebrates Bader’s determination against all odds, while capturing the action and camaraderie of RAF pilots in WWII.

First Light (2010) 

A TV movie dramatising the true story of Geoffrey Wellum, the youngest British pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain at age 18. Theo James stars as Wellum, facing fear and self-doubt after joining the RAF straight from training to combat the Luftwaffe onslaught. It provides a relatable perspective on the young pilots who valiantly defended Britain despite their inexperience and against overwhelming odds.

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

This fantasy film stars David Niven as a RAF pilot pleading his case to live before a celestial court after miraculously surviving a jump without a parachute. Made just after the war by the British writer-director team of Powell and Pressburger, it balances wit, drama and romance in a moving story about the pilot getting a second chance at life. The film features innovative special effects and imaginative depictions of the afterlife.

Fortress (2012) 

A gritty war movie about an American B-17 bomber shot down over a remote forest in Germany. The crew must defend themselves against attacking German troops in the woods while awaiting rescue. It captures the claustrophobic intensity of being trapped behind enemy lines and the terror of close-quarters combat. While fictional, it authentically depicts the B-17 air crews and their solidarity in trying circumstances.