Welcome back to Movie Recap. Today I'm gonna show you a 2012 American war film called,
Red Tails. Spoiler’s ahead. Sit back, relax and enjoy the video.
The movie begins with a gray plane blasting in fire swallowing the yellow by its tail.
It is a Messerschmitt BF 109 G with a German pilot. Many of its fellows zoom here and there
as they release shots towards American Flying Fortresses, also known as bomber planes, which
crowd the sky. Some P-51Cs Mustang can also be seen around the bomber planes. It is an
air fight between Americans and Germans.
Present time in Italy. It’s the year 1944 and now the sky has four Curtiss P-40 Warhawks
maintaining a formation. One P-40, tagged Easy takes front position. It’s the leader
of the troop. The plane right behind carries a yawning pilot called, Lightning. Then there’s
Junior, and Joker who complains about his plane being as trashy as his grandfather’s
Buick.
A few moments later, they begin firing at a truck with German markings as they fly in
low altitude. It doesn’t take any longer than a few seconds to actually finish the
said vehicle. It’s a mission success for them and they celebrate in sarcasm.
They are about to return to base when Junior spots a train. They start debating if it’s
a military or livestock in the train. Well, only one way to find out.
Easy leads them towards the train as he orders them to stay in formation. Lightning on the
other hand, suggests they should take it head on. Easy does not listen and emphasizes his
leadership. As they get closer, uniformed men begins to uncover some carriages. Voila!
It’s livestock with guns that immediately begin firing at them.
They counter fire as they swear hate on the Nazis. They fire with such urgency as the
train approaches a tunnel. Lightning on the other hand, flies ahead, breaking there supposed
formation. He attacks the train head front just like he wanted at first. In just a few
blows, the train becomes a bomb in itself as it bursts fire in different directions.
The train blowing up is not the only casualty though. Lightning’s plane also receives
injuries as it absorbs debris from the blown up train. However, his smoky barfing plane
does not stop him to actually check on a lady by the rooftop while on their way to the base.
Coffee, the aircraft mechanic can only sigh seeing Lightning’s plane. It’s actually
not the first time that the pilot gets home a handicapped aircraft.
One thing to take note of the military base is that every one of them is black. It’s
the middle of the day and every pilot gathers in a room. One high official, Major Stance,
pauses their “movie”. It is a film of Lightning’s feat. Stance commends Lightning
and at the same time let them ask questions.
One soldier raises a question. It’s a question on the system they are in as they are not
given any “real” mission as how he implies it. He also drops a question about a certain
Colonel Bullard being at the stateside. He then confronts the major of the rumor about
their camp base being terminated. Stance tries to brush it off. However, a piece of paper
confirms the rumor.
Easy reads the paper before everyone else. It talks about how Negroes are viewed incompetent
and unfit for war. Thus, “the great Tuskegee experiment to allow the Negro type to fly
airplanes has failed.” Everyone remains speechless for a moment.
Speaking of Colonel Bullard, he is speaking among high officials about the Tuskegee program.
He speaks boldly against the argument of the program as a failure. He speaks about the
little opportunity they get along with the hand-me-down planes to do lowdown, dirty jobs
despite the potentials their pilots have.
It is the afternoon and Maurice Wilson, a new member of the Red Squad finds himself
listening to his squad’s dilemmas in the form of jokes. Smokey talks about making up
war stories when he gets home and Deke lists his motor inventories- the only things he
killed in the war. They tell him how the Tuskegee airmen gets nothing but the second or even
the lowest rate. Easy listens quietly in everything as he directs his eyes towards Junior.
After a moment, Easy approaches Junior. He talks to him and finds out how Junior prefers
to be called Ray Gun instead and how the young pilot was an engineering student before enrolling
in the Tuskegee program.
“Politics is the art of postponing a decision until it is no longer relevant.” Colonel
Bullard finds himself reciting this quote by one of their professors along with Col.
Jack Tomlinson. The latter talks about how a mistake by one colonel showing the news
about the train incident buys Col. Bullard and the Tuskegee airmen, enough time. It’s
enough time for Col. Tomlinson to get them Operation Shingle- an air covers for beach
landing.
It’s a fateful day for Major Stance as he reads a letter from Colonel Bullard. He gets
another official to call for the flight leaders as a hint of a smile graces his face.
Stance enters the room where the pilots are gathered and calls their attention. He has
the Operation Shingle’s plans in his hands. He explains the operation gaining him cheers
from everyone.
Everyone gathers at the flight line with Junior coming in last almost late. His plane now
has “Ray Gun” printed on it instead of “Junior”. They are in high spirits as
they talk about the prospect of shooting “jerries”, just another word for Germans.
Easy is the first one to shoot down a jerry. They assist each other tearing down plane
by plane all the while making sure American fighters land by the beach. As they do, Lightning
spots the German squad leader and declares on taking him out. Easy warns him to be careful
and assists him all the way.
They manage to hit the jerry making him turn around with a blazing head. At that instant,
Easy has to debate between finishing the very plane right then and there or follow him to
his base. The latter is a proposition by Lightning which he heeds trusting his wingman’s judgment.
The German squad leader calls a “mayday” and informs the Luftwaffe base of his tails.
However, the Germans cannot prepare enough even to save their brand new planes. The Red
Squad is quick enough to bombard them fire after fire.
The Germans can only watch in dismay as their planes blow off one after the other and at
times multiples at once. They can only stand to watch and spit curses as the Tuskegee airmen
display their technical prowess in the air.
The Red Squad returns home with a celebration as everyone in the base waves at them in welcome.
Everyone has a smile on their face except for Junior. The young pilot returns home blind
and with numb legs all for the cause of their victory.
The high officials of the American Military pass their congratulations to Colonel Bullard
for the impressive stunts that the Tuskegee pilots showcased. Eight kills in the air and
63 aircrafts destroyed on the ground without any loss for their part is indeed worthy of
respect. However, not for one certain mustached official who only sees their color. To him,
Colonel Bullard shrugs a “We don’t care.”
At the military medical station Junior pleads with Easy into helping him stay with the air
squad. However, it sounds almost impossible with his current condition. The attack at
Luftwaffe left him with a blind left eye.
The spotlight that the Tuskegee pilots got, gets Colonel Bullard into a certain General
Luntz’s office for yet another mission. This time, the general demands for airmen
that will escort the bombers no matter what. He makes it clear that he doesn’t care if
the pilots put down another jerry plane or not as long as his men returns home safe.
In return, Colonel Bullard demands for new planes to close the deal.
Talking about spotlight, Deke gives it to his Black Jesus. He doesn’t care and defends
his idol from his squad who pokes fun at him as they play cards. Another spotlight is for
Lightning as Easy spills his love life to everyone. An Italian lady who knows no English
has Lightning to do all things for her.
A seconds’ spotlight for Lightning is the commotion in the Officers’ Club, which turns
out to be only for white officers. It has Lightning in an isolation cell. Easy comes
over and talks to him about his demeanor. However, he refuses to listen. Instead, he
pokes at Easy over his life. The next one to talk to him is Colonel Bullard who just
got to the base bearing good news.
Colonel Bullard describes him as a punk always ready to fight. In another sentence, the colonel
calls him the best pilot. For the second reason and the fact that they will need every pilot
they have, Lt. Joe Little AKA Lightning, is commanded to report to his unit.
This time, Colonel Bullard has every pilot listening to him as he lays out the plan for
the next mission. He explains how it will be different from the usual task of escort
fighters. Their victory will be counted not by the number of enemies they put down but
with the number of bombers they will get to the target and the number of lives they will
save.
The pep talk for their mission puts a serious face on every pilot. This time, Colonel Bullard
makes them break into smiles as he announces the purchase of new aircrafts for them. A
P-51 is the best aircraft the American Armed Forces has and it sure makes everyone happy
including Junior who gets to be in the next mission despite his condition- all thanks
to Easy and the surgeon who cleared him.
“Red tails?” are the first words a bomber pilot blurts out as soon as the Tuskegee airmen
zooms in on them for recognition. Coffee painted the tails of the P-51s red to make them look
distinctive. Well another distinction is the next words the pilot says, “Black pilots”.
Realizing that their escorts is a group of Negroes, the pilot informs the others to not
expect much from them.
The Red Tails remain true to the plan and get the bombers to complete their mission.
However, as they turn to head back home, Germans begin attacking them. The attack plus Junior’s
eye proves to be the recipe for his downfall. Easy has to order him to get out of his plane
to save his life. On the ground however, the Germans capture him.
The German’s attack also has Deke bathing in fuel inside his plane. Lightning offers
to guide Deke back home however, Easy insists on the call and commands everyone else to
head back the base. Everyone follows except for Lightning. He takes a detour and takes
a shot on a German ship on the sea. He blows it off and gets back with the others.
Easy keeps Deke awake in the air while talking to him. He guides him with every step until
they reach the base. At landing however, Deke complains about overheating. Indeed, his plane
blows off as soon as he hits the ground.
Unfortunately, with 60 degree burns, Deke has to be sent home. On the other while, Junior
bunks with other American soldiers in the German camp.
The incident has Lightning worrying over Easy and so confronts him with his drinking habit
for the second time after Deke’s incident. This time, they come to a compromise- no alcohol
for Easy and obedience for Lightning.
It’s a fateful day for Easy’s squad. A white soldier calls after them as they walk
towards an Italian dance hall for drinks. They try to ignore it but the man is persistent.
Chester Barnes of the 98th Bomb Group means no harm when he called Easy’s squad though
he may have called them colored along with the mention of “red tails”. He salutes
the group as he speaks of his gratitude for the mission they had with them over a month
ago. With that, the “all-white officers’ club” welcomes them with Barnes’s introduction.
Another mission is in a brew for the Tuskegee airmen: a bombardment operation to shut down
the German’s ability to shore up a Berlin defense. They expect everything the Luftwaffe
has with the possibility of 262 German jet fighters- the best and the most evil there
is. However, it is not the target area that is their concern much for Colonel Bullard’s
distaste.
Apparently, their group is only planned to escort the bomber planes to Berlin. The general
laying out the plan reasons out that the P-51s will need more to actually get to Berlin and
fight to which Major Stance disagrees. Another official supports Major Stance’s argument
however, the general refutes saying this will be an operation with too much attention.
The day of the mission comes. Major Stance makes Easy stay behind as he lets the others
off after talking about the mission plan. He gives the call of just escorting the bomber
planes and get to the rendezvous point or to go all the way to Berlin and escort in
the bombardment operation.
Before that day, Easy has been having a crisis with his leadership. He had received Ray Gun’s
dog tags from his fellow prisoner and had asked Colonel Bullard to relieve him of his
position. Bullard however, told him to man up and accept his duties. Now, with the future
of his squad on the line, Easy takes a breather and again with his drink.
Completing the first leg of the mission, the Red Tails talk about their chances. Coming
to a decision, Easy emphasizes that they are only going the distance to protect the bombers.
Everyone cheers with the prospect of going one-on-one with the jet fighters especially
Lightning who blows a gentle kiss on the picture of his fiancée.
Just like everyone has been telling them, the 262 fighter jets indeed show no mercy.
They begin firing at them nonstop the moment they blurt “jets”. Maurice is the first
one to prove it with his plane going down. He can no longer take control.
One bomber plane also gets the wrath of the 262s. The pilot decides to head back to base.
Seeing it, Easy orders Smokey to escort it back. He does not notice that the German Luftwaffe
flight leader is already after his tail.
Pretty Boy as Lightning likes to call him, swears in all German as he fires at Easy.
The Red Tails leader gears up and meets surprise. Right in front of him, Lightning is also speeding
towards him. He takes heed when the wingman orders him to dive.
Lightning exclaims and the others cheer in delight. Right in front them, the German plane
bursts into fire. However, their celebration turns into confusion and panic for Easy as
Lightning tells him that he’s not going to make it.
Easy calls Lightning over and over telling him to pull back his stick and orders him
to get out of his plane. He can only do so seeing the wingman’s plane going down and
the latter going silent on him.
Joker calls Easy over and over, screaming his name and even orders him to stay on mission.
The captain responds after he cries out for him.
The movie ends with Colonel Bullard honoring the death of Lt. Joe Little aka Lightning
as the pilot who exceeded even the highest of expectations. Then, Junior comes back to
everyone’s grateful surprise. This time, he asserts his desire to be addressed as “Ray
Gun”.
Lastly, the Tuskegee airmen become the first African-Americans to get recognition for their
outstanding skills, gallantry, devotion and courage in the face of war. The Red Tails
become the first colored soldiers to get the United States Army to salute on them in a
public ceremony.