How often have we seen documentaries on World War II that engage and stir us as we watch, only to forget them days or even hours later? Perhaps we view black-and-white archival footage with respectful admiration, yet find it hard to walk away from those films with any real understanding of what those veterans sacrificed. Into Flight Once More, narrated by Gary Sinise, changes all that.
In 2019 we follow fifteen crews of pilots, mechanics, veterans, and civilians—all of them volunteers—in their epic recreation journey across the North Atlantic to Normandy for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Yet they aren’t flying modern planes, but rather the original DC3s used on D-Day, many of which had been sitting dormant for decades.
Along the way, we meet some of the last remaining D-Day Veterans including then 97-year-old David Hamilton, a pathfinder pilot with the energy of a teenager, and younger generations of men and women who have re-charted the path of these veterans to honor their sacrifice and to thank them for their service.
Filmmaker Adrienne Hall combines archival and at-the-moment footage with an effective balance of narrative, interviews, graphics, and something you don’t often see in documentaries: silence, allowing the extraordinary images to speak for themselves. This combination of then-and-now shots of the same planes (and sometimes the same servicemen) 75 years later proves a powerful experience, showing audiences that D-Day was a real event. Here are the planes and the people who made it happen.
As glorious as the flying scenes are, perhaps the most gripping moments occur when the veterans share their stories with high school students in their classes. These young people are literally watching, listening, and discussing history.
Into Flight Once More is highly recommended for film collections in high school and community college libraries, especially for American History classes as well as those with an interest in World War II. Senior living facilities should investigate securing public performance rights to show this documentary in public.
What can this educational documentary be used as a resource for?
Into Flight Once More would be a valuable resource for public library collections, as well as high school and college classrooms focusing on American history, particularly World War II.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Into Flight Once More would be a great addition to documentary film collections and American history collections in public libraries. Senior living facilities should investigate securing public performance rights to show this documentary in public.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
American History, World War II, Veterans, Aviation