Plot Synopsis

Using rare archival footage, cutting-edge CGI, first-person interviews with the last surviving veterans and military historians, and real vintage aircrafts for aerial stunt teams to re-create mid-air combat sequences, AIR ACES chronicles the stories of the most heroic airborne combat missions in history. Each one-hour episode features a different pilot or crew, including: U.S. Air Force Col. Robin Olds, who masterminded Operation Bolo during the Vietnam War; Royal Air Force fighter pilot Douglas Bader, who led a ragtag squadron of Canadian counterparts against Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain; U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Francis 'Gabby' Gabreski, who became America's top flying ace in Europe during World War II; Canadian aviator George Beurling, who became one of the most successful fighter pilots of World War II; and the crew of the Allied Lancaster ME669 bomber, who had one of the most dangerous jobs of World War II. Military Channel aired the U.S. premiere of this series on Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 9pm ET/PT, with two back-to-back episodes. Seven months later, AHC: American Heroes Channel showed the network debut of this series -- using the title AIR ACES: FULL THROTTLE -- on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT, the first day the former Military Channel aired programming with its new name.