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Hambleton, an expert on electronic weapons systems and who holds valuable information, is known to the North
Vietnamese, who begin an all-out search, attempting to capture him. An effort to steal supplies from Vietnamese villagers is not successful, as Hambleton is discovered and kills an aggressive
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Knowing that his current location is too dangerous for rescue aircraft, Hambleton devises a plan to reach safer territory. He plots a course to the river which is the boundary of the target area, then communicates his intended path to Clark in a code composed of various golf courses he knows well.
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The North
Vietnamese, alerted by the intense efforts to find the flyer, increased their efforts to find Hambleton. Walker was discovered and killed by the Vietnamese forces. During a covert nighttime operation more than 2 miles (3.2 km) behind enemy lines, Hambleton was rescued in a land
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soldiers being killed and wounded. A Forward Air
Observer aircraft was shot down and USAF 1Lt Bruce Walker and USMC 1Lt Larry Potts parachuted to the ground safely, eluding capture. In an ensuing attack, six more Americans lost their lives attempting to rescue him.
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were highly dramatized, including the climactic battle. Some characters were composites of real people, while others were created for the film. However, some other details were accurate, including that rescuer
Captain Larry Potts was
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noted: "'BAT*21' is the kind of lean, no-nonsense war film
Hollywood used to make back before the subject became burdened with metaphysical insights." Listed in the "best" category of "The Best (and Worst) War Movies of All Time",
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are launched from North
Vietnam, targeting their aircraft. A massive SAM explosion tears off the tail and Hambleton, in the navigator's position, ejects as the sole survivor of the six-man crew.
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bombing raid both assists and hinders their progress through the jungle, as North
Vietnamese irregulars are trailing them. In the end, Hambleton and Clark are rescued by a US
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Several attempts are made to recover
Hambleton. Two helicopters are lost and members of its crews are killed or captured. Clark ultimately flies a
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electronic warfare aircraft, engaged in electronic countermeasures preparatory to a major bombing strike. Without warning, a number of
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helicopter rescue mission, but as he retrieves
Hambleton, the pair are shot down by ground fire, with Clark being wounded. An
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644:, which supplied aircraft and pilots, including the services of Captain V. Thiagarajah, who flew both on- and off-camera.
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While still coming down by parachute, Hambleton makes radio contact with
Captain Bartholomew "Birddog" Clark (
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The film premiered in the Philippines on September 8, 1988. It premiered in the United States on October 21.
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This will allow the rescuers to keep track of his progress, making it easier for them to pick him up.
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mission near where the EB-66 was destroyed. Birddog becomes Hambleton's link to rescue.
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This article is about a film. For the real life events on which the film is based, see
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took over 11 days, during which a major attack was delayed, resulting in numerous
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BAT-21: Based on the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. Hambleton, USAF
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BAT-21: Based on the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. Hambleton, USAF
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BAT-21: Based on the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. Hambleton, USAF
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peasant farmer, apologizing to his grieving family as he escapes.
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811:(usni.org), September 2004. Retrieved: December 23, 2014.
795:(usni.org), September 2004. Retrieved: December 23, 2014.
845:. Standard Publishing, Inc. 8 September 1988. p. 14
913:. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1980.
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as Captain Bartholomew Clark (Call sign: "Birddog")
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806:"Lest We Forget: Larry Fletcher Potts; VF-126."
790:"Lest We Forget: Larry Fletcher Potts; VF-126."
655:helicopters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
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895:, January 2014. Retrieved: December 23, 2104.
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774:"Walker, Bruce Charles (FAC-POW/MIA), Capt."
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647:Helicopters used for the filming included
507:Theodore Chan Woei-Shyong as Boy on Bridge
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928:. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, 2000.
513:Scott A. Howell as Helicopter Crew Member
325:During the last days of the Vietnam War,
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1217:Films about the United States Air Force
890:"Best Vietnam War Movie: Bat 21 (1988)"
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516:Michael Raden as Helicopter Crew Member
821:"Original print information: Bat 21."
504:Reverend Michael Ng as Vietnamese Man
464:as Lieutenant Colonel Iceal Hambleton
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574:Benedict Lojingkau as NVA/VC Soldier
510:Don Ruffin as Helicopter Crew Member
317:and Joe Dorsey in supporting roles.
628:was filmed entirely on location in
519:Timothy Fitzgerald as EB-66 Officer
580:Clarence Mojikon as NVA/VC Soldier
16:1988 film directed by Peter Markle
14:
1227:Films scored by Christopher Young
697:as the "Best Vietnam War Movie."
559:Fung Yun Khiong as NVA/VC Soldier
1116:The Last Days of Frankie the Fly
586:Harold Sinpang as NVA/VC Soldier
577:Johnny Michael as NVA/VC Soldier
571:Fredolin Leong as NVA/VC Soldier
289:shot down behind enemy lines in
826:. Retrieved: December 23, 2014.
755:. Retrieved: December 23, 2014.
556:Liow Hui Chun as NVA/VC Soldier
270:, and adapted from the book by
93:Jerry Reed (executive producer)
1222:Films directed by Peter Markle
1212:Films about shot-down aviators
779:. Retrieved: October 31, 2011.
592:Conidon Wong as NVA VC Soldier
568:Jeffrey Liew as NVA/VC Soldier
553:Dennis Chong as NVA/VC Soldier
550:Freddie Chin as NVA/VC Soldier
531:Alan King as Helicopter Gunner
501:Joe Dorsey as Colonel Douglass
1:
678:Film historian Alun Evans in
565:Michael Lee as NVA/VC Soldier
544:Martin Yong as NVA/VC Soldier
534:Bonnie Yong as NVA/VC Officer
522:Stuart Hagen as EB-66 Officer
1207:1980s English-language films
1197:American war adventure films
1092:Through the Eyes of a Killer
926:Brassey's Guide to War Films
729:; also released as an Ebook.
680:Brassey's Guide to War Films
583:Wilod Nuin as NVA/VC Soldier
537:Willie Lai as NVA/VC Officer
658:The fighter jets used were
589:Paul Yong as NVA/VC Soldier
562:Henry Lee as NVA/VC Soldier
492:as Sergeant Harley Rumbaugh
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547:Jim Aman as NVA/VC Soldier
443:Petty Officer Third Class
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204:October 21, 1988
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1192:1980s war adventure films
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642:Royal Malaysian Air Force
388:patrolling nearby on the
333:Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton
40:Theatrical release poster
33:
727:Bat-21: Sam on the Scope
617:featured prominently in
476:as Colonel George Walker
1202:American aviation films
276:United States Air Force
274:, novelist and retired
1232:TriStar Pictures films
721:was also published as
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402:Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo
21:Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo
909:Anderson, William C.
837:"Grand Opening Today"
824:Turner Classic Movies
764:Anderson 1980, Cover.
753:Turner Classic Movies
612:
482:as WO1 Ross Carver ('
1247:1980s American films
1132:Saving Jessica Lynch
809:Proceedings Magazine
793:Proceedings Magazine
660:F-5 Freedom Fighters
615:Cessna O-2 Skymaster
528:as Helicopter Gunner
480:David Marshall Grant
359:Cessna O-2 Skymaster
307:David Marshall Grant
120:David Marshall Grant
1140:Faith of My Fathers
777:TogetherWeServe.com
498:as Major Jake Scott
396:Historical accuracy
363:forward air control
272:William C. Anderson
259:is a 1988 American
78:William C. Anderson
60:William C. Anderson
1022:Films directed by
965:TCM Movie Database
863:Evans 2000, p. 18.
804:Cutler, Thomas J.
788:Cutler, Thomas J.
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357:), the pilot of a
330:Lieutenant colonel
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1044:Hot Dog…The Movie
893:Popular Mechanics
888:Pappalardo, Joe.
690:Popular Mechanics
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293:. The film stars
281:. Set during the
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190:Tri-Star Pictures
166:Christopher Young
156:Stephen E. Rivkin
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248:$ 3.1 million
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406:Portions of
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390:Cam Lo River
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355:Danny Glover
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337:Gene Hackman
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299:Danny Glover
295:Gene Hackman
268:Peter Markle
266:directed by
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220:Running time
197:Release date
110:Danny Glover
105:Gene Hackman
87:David Fisher
71:
50:Peter Markle
1108:White Dwarf
1100:Wagons East
684:Roger Ebert
526:Jeff Baxter
484:Jolly Green
361:, flying a
283:Vietnam War
224:105 minutes
84:Produced by
46:Directed by
1187:1988 films
1181:Categories
1052:Youngblood
701:References
649:Bell UH-1N
605:Production
474:Jerry Reed
386:river boat
303:Jerry Reed
264:drama film
245:Box office
208:1988-10-21
180:Vision PDG
173:Production
146:Mark Irwin
134:Joe Dorsey
115:Jerry Reed
1164:High Noon
1148:Flight 93
1084:El Diablo
874:"BAT*21."
849:6 January
737:Citations
674:Reception
435:Lt. j.g.
152:Edited by
653:Sea King
640:and the
634:Malaysia
486:' Pilot)
237:Language
162:Music by
98:Starring
68:Based on
963:at the
666:Release
291:Vietnam
279:colonel
240:English
229:Country
206: (
175:company
1167:(2009)
1159:(2008)
1151:(2006)
1143:(2005)
1135:(2003)
1127:(2002)
1119:(1996)
1111:(1995)
1103:(1994)
1095:(1992)
1087:(1990)
1079:(1989)
1071:(1989)
1063:(1988)
1060:Bat*21
1055:(1986)
1047:(1984)
1039:(1982)
982:Bat*21
971:Bat*21
960:Bat*21
949:Bat*21
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723:Bat-21
695:Bat*21
626:Bat*21
619:Bat*21
596:
408:Bat*21
378:"Huey"
341:EB-66C
256:Bat*21
74:(book)
29:Bat*21
706:Notes
630:Sabah
382:F-100
301:with
954:IMDb
930:ISBN
915:ISBN
851:2019
725:and
451:Cast
439:and
418:The
348:SAMs
327:USAF
321:Plot
297:and
985:at
974:at
952:at
441:VNN
261:war
76:by
1183::
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