The REAL Story Behind THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

[@HEADBANGERSBALLER]

I think it's important note that Charles Durning is not just "some actor". He is, in fact, a highly decorated World War II veteran. He was part of the initial assault on Omaha Beach and was the only member of of his unit to survive the D Day invasion. He was wounded 3 times in combat, twice very seriously, garnishing 3 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and other citations. He was a boxer for a time after the war also and has worked with military veterans throughout his life. I think he's done enough real life stunts to request a stunt double for a movie...

[@echohunter4199]

Thanks for the info, I didn’t know that. I’m a retired Army Infantry NCO and Omaha was no fun picnic, I’d be scared to death to go through that! When a Infantry Veteran has a V device on his Bronze Star, that’s something we respect. Sadly, from 2003-08 the Army held the policy to give Bronze Stars to every Senior NCO and Officer that was just within Iraq or Afghanistan for their unit rotation. I declined two Bronze Stars out of protest from my tours which didn’t sit well with my raters/bosses as you can guess. I had men who deserved far more than a Bronze Star and my award recommendations were constantly downgraded. So whenever you see a Bronze Star license plate on a Veterans vehicle and the Veteran is around 45-59 years old, chances are very high that it was just tossed at him as I described. I have a CIB w/ 2nd award decal on my back window, that intimidates them enough, lol. And that “Combat Action Badge” is just another form of a participation trophy for non-Infantry/Combat Arms Soldiers and they know we laugh at them which seems to make things worse, lol. In the Army, each enlisted chooses the exact job he’ll be doing during his term of service and I heard countless young men say; “I’ll take any job except Infantry” then later they try to convince people they’re some sort of Rambo and says; “my job was kind of like Infantry” which is acceptable for a Cavalry Scout Specialist which we respect along with our Medics, they get a pass and all our respect.

[@NV555_82nd]

I'm not sure what the Medal of Valor is.

[@kirkmorrison6131]

A lot of actors from his generation were real heroes. Eddy Albert and Jimmy Stewart to name two. They all had earned the right for a Stunt Double

[@Logan-wv8qf]

Well done!

[@anthrobug]

@@NV555_82nd And yet... you'd type 'medal of valor' in your question instead of google. For some reason, this absolutely fascinates me.

[@evancortez2]

The Japanese pilot was played by the legendary Asian American actor Soon Teck Oh, who's been in everything from James Bond movies, to Stargate SG-1 to Mulan - he passed away in 2018

[@prokesuk]

...and five episodes of M*A*S*H.

[@twnll]

Soon was super convincing as a Japanese pilot

[@rickwilliamson9248]

@@prokesuk I remember him best from the MASH episode where he played a NoKo soldier that surrendered to BJ & Hawkeye.

[@smitha775]

@@twnll not to me, when Japanese yell, it’s more guttural. Screaming loudly is an Korean trait. You must love Korean Sushi…

[@markrossow6303]

okay going to look him up... Korean name

[@DrBeauHightower]

What's crazy is we are further away in time from this movie than they were from Pearl harbor

[@akathecops]

That is crazy

[@JerryWasARaceCarDriver]

WHOA

[@pgm3]

Wow.

[@megatondc6054]

wow good observations

[@afriedrich1452]

Even crazier... UAP's are further away from us in time than we are from Pearl Harbor. I hope they can find their way back to their own time.

[@deanoko]

I was an A7 driver on the Kittyhawk when this movie was being filmed. Because the Nimitz was in the other Pond at the time, they filmed us in the Pearl Harbor sequences.

[@hayeshill963]

My Fathers is in this movie, LT BILL HILL in the scene, call name “HILLBILLY”. Thank you for honoring this movie 🙏🏼

[@craigorlikowski2507]

How very cool!! I have watched this movie at least once a year for the past decade once I got it on DVD. But have seen it multiple times since the theater release as well.

[@knoxduder]

That’s awesome!

[@bombasticbuster9340]

Cool man! Was he just a kid? Early 20s?

[@zekefoonman2921]

And God bless your Dad for his patriotism, sacrifice, and service. 🇺🇸

[@brenttemple2839]

If your pops is still kickin'...thank him for his service...Great film...

[@usnavye9]

I served in Nimitz from '77 to '80. I was a Senior Chief Quartermaster at the time and responsible for all the Quartermasters and Signalmen on board. In the bridge scenes at the 3 minute mark every person you see was a member of the ship's company. All of those sailors with the beards worked for me and the gentleman sitting in the chair was the Nimitz's navigator. These sailors gave up a lot of their free time as most of the bridge scenes were filmed on weekends.

[@jwwt2000421]

My father was a Corpsman onboard 76-79. At 11:15 in this video he's the one holding the end of the stretcher with the spots on his helmet (which he still has) and later (not shown in this video) he helps Charles Durning off the helicopter after they pick him up out of the water. My father also mentioned he got to help the special effects guys rig the squibs when the Marines got shot in sickbay. He has some photos of him with the various actors (as well as with the dog, haha). My father's active in the USS Nimitz Association and they have yearly reunions. At one some years back, one of the Admirals knew Kirk Douglas and got him to sign some copies of the dvd for their scholarship auction. He also managed to get the photo of my father and Kirk Douglas signed.

[@SonofDaVinci4]

That is truly awesome story! When the movie was released in '86 I was 3 years away from being commissioned in 89. I since retired in 09. I wonder if there is a chance our service time overlapped or you might have retired before I got in. I was in Norfolk until... 96.

[@usnavye9]

@@SonofDaVinci4 I retired in 1989 as a Master Chief Quartermaster. I left the Nimitz in 1980 and went to Miami University to teach Navigation to the ROTC after that I was assigned as the Senior Enlisted in Navigation Department on USS Independence CV-62 from 83-86.. My last assignment was as the USCinCLant Command Master Chief.

[@SonofDaVinci4]

@@usnavye9 At the very least we might have walked on the same sidewalks before you retired.

[@usnavye9]

@@SonofDaVinci4 😆😆

[@roadfert]

My mother’s ex boyfriend was in the film and he played the guard who got shot when the Japanese pilot tried to escape. Every time we would watch the film my father really seemed to enjoy that scene !😂

[@paulg8753]

Maybe she hated that ex?

[@ghost4-6]

​@@paulg8753 you must've went to MIT.😅😅😅😅😅

[@fedupdomer5654]

dude that guy was in so many things... mash episodes , you name it. he pops up everywhere

[@angelg2638]

@@ghost4-6 "must have GONE" to MIT. (I will forgive you this time. Don't make it a habit). ;)

[@WarrantCWO]

I was also in the movie. I was a Nimitz crewman at the time.

[@algg19761994]

My dad grew up with another pilot, bill mccluskey. Only met him once, and of course, i mentioned this was one of my favorite movies growing up. He talked about it for a good 20 minutes with me. Passed away some years ago. Was glad he took the time to talk to me about it. RIP Sir.

[@DarthRevan-rp5sn]

Was The Pilot Bill Mccluskey related in any way to Wade Mccluskey of WW2 Fame and CAG Of Enterprise.

[@algg19761994]

@@DarthRevan-rp5sn I am not sure about that. His father was Robert. I'd have to ask my dad if Bill had ever mentioned Wade.

[@DarthRevan-rp5sn]

@@algg19761994 Thank you for the reply i would like to know

[@michaelhuffor6732]

The chaplain on board my ship during WestPac '84 was a Captain George McCluskey.

[@WalterKazban]

Yes R.I.P GOD BLESS

[@pgm3]

One of my fave sci-fi time-travel movies. An underappreciated gem.

[@petewarrell228]

Should be more time travel showes No end to materal Hi from canada😃

[@ag7898]

Agreed! I keep forgetting the name of this film for some reason. But was always a film I LOVED as a kid (didn't know it cane out a year after I was born though)

[@baccus61]

One of the best anticlimactic dog fights of any movie. I still watch it every few years for that feel good feeling. Thanks for posting this. :-)

[@ringokageyama6439]

There is the Anime Zipang where a Japanese Agis Class vessel time slips to 12 hours before The Battle of Mudway

[@709mash]

@@petewarrell228 agreed! The only other one I remember is an anime (can't remember the name) where a modern Japanese missile frigate goes back in time just in time for the battle of midway and the crew are very conflicted. It was a fun watch.

[@rothschleck2315]

Charles Durning may have been old and fat when this movie was made, but his extraordinary military service record should have been mentioned as this was a movie about the military. He was a combat infantryman in World War II with the First Infantry Division. He was one of the first wave of soldiers to hit Omaha Beach at Normandy on D-Day, and one of the few in his unit to survive. He went on to win a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Durning was an outstanding soldier and a true American hero for his war service. He deserved better in this video than to be only noted dismissively as needing a stunt double.

[@John-bz2rp]

Wow, I didn't know of his service. Thanks for adding it.

[@SimWithDon]

Plus he was an excellent actor!

[@nikolaiantonov5458]

Fun fact: When Durning stormed Omaha Beach, he was approximately 15 yards from Burt Reynolds' father, Big Burt. Go to minute 13:40.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5uwgYZ-nZifmpY

[@Aviyaytor]

Great info Roth. Thank you for sharing this!

[@BogeyTheBear]

Heard he was a survivor (and thus an eyewitness for the prosecution) of the Malmedy Massacre, when GIs captured during the Battle of the Bulge were machine-gunned by SS and paratroops. The massacre led to Americans subsequently giving no quarter in turn to the SS or Fallschrimjaeger.

[@meighanlynne]

My Dad, WW2 vet Navy, and I watched this movie together when it came out. I was mesmerized. I have it on DVD now. Wish my Dad was still here to watch with me again. Great video sir.

[@Guitfiddlejase]

My dad took me to see this when I was nine years old.. ..and we both had the DVD! I wish my dad was still here too God bless you

[@edu.M.A.0077]

My dad was in the 82nd Airborne when I was born. I was saddened that he didn't live to see how prosperous South Korea is today.

[@jslade60]

I wonder what your dad thought about the movie

[@TracySmith-xy9tq]

My Dad was on a carrier during WWII and he enjoyed this movie, too. I wish he was still here to watch it, too.

[@felixbenvenutty1969]

when u watch it. he is there with you in spirit.

[@gabrielabate6020]

Between the movies of "The Final Countdown" and "Top Gun", I prefer "The Final Countdown". The flight and carrier sequences are GREAT! And without CGI!

[@guitaristxcore]

There may have been some creative editing in Top Gun, but there wasnt any CGI in that movie either.

[@gabrielabate6020]

@@guitaristxcore I wasn't indicating that "Top Gun" had CGI, just that "The Final Countdown" does not.

[@fix24311]

@@guitaristxcore well Top Gun use model kit for many scenes. And do you believe the F-14 flying upside down with the Mig? That’s special effects, not real as Final Countdown flight scenes are. The pilot in Final Countdown almost got killed shooting the scenes

[@bigblob1623]

The best part of Final Countdown... no Tom Cruise!

[@Ganiscol]

Even though the premise of TFC is science fiction, everything else within that bubble seems more credible than the recruitment vehicle that is Top Gun. I mean, I loved Top Gun as a kid, but now in my 40's its cheesy as hell.

[@krazykyfan]

That air-to-air scene with the "Zeroes" is such an iconic and fantastic aviation scene. As a kid and even adult, how could you not get goosebumps seeing such a display of airpower? Definitely one of the best aviation scenes in movie history. Great stuff Ward! Awesome breakdown of this classic.

[@linusoliver2847]

Like Ward mentions, these "Zeros" are actually T-6 trainers, same as in Tora Tora Tora. Imagine how cool this scene would be today, now that several real Zeros are flying!

[@blackc1479]

Absolutely. I remember seeing it on broadcast when i was maybe 10 (way back when broadcast movies of the week were a thing lol) I still get goosebumps too, and bought it on dvd the first time i ran across it.👍

[@christianorr1059]

I was bummed at the ending, though, as more than one of my friends had falsely told me that the Nimitz’s crew does end up stopping the Japanese attack.

[@NatEff3ct]

@@christianorr1059 I think it would’ve made for a much more interesting story if they had had an affect not necessarily stopped it but had a noticeable effect on the attack

[@csterett]

I would think that an F-14 buzzing a Zero would have caused the pilots to loose control of their aircraft due to wake turbulence. Never mind that the appearance of such an airplane as the Tomcat would have likely scared the Japanese pilots senseless! More stretching the bounds of credibility.

[@petere3015]

After 42 years I recently watched this movie for the sixth time! I still get goose bumps watching it. I can't imagine I am this old... One of my favorite movies ever!

[@Bgtrfvcde]

I think I watched it six times the first month it came out on HBO! LOL

[@mughug9616]

Still think this is better then either Top Gun film.

[@Bgtrfvcde]

@@mughug9616 Absolutely

[@mughug9616]

@@MW-bi1pi Are you saying you find it weird to be old?

[@gordonhall9871]

saw it with my family at the movies i was 20 then

[@sunydigital]

I served on Nimitz from 77-81. Peter Douglas gave us an advance look at the film, before it's release when we were returning from the first >100 day at sea, without Liberty, as we returned from that deployment. It was the deployment where the Iranian Hostage Rescue mission took place when several service members lost their lives.

[@ErnestSomogy]

Operation Eagle Claw

[@erikswenson915]

@@ErnestSomogy An old girlfriend of mine’s father was a Spectre pilot on that mission😕

[@scottlowell493]

Saw this in the base theater, Keesler AFB, Miss. "Splash the zeros". That brought the crowd to howls and cheers.

[@stephensams709]

I saw this movie at the same time and same theater. I was finishing up tech school about to head to Okinawa : )

[@carseg6001]

I watched it at Roosevelt Roads, naval station, “El Coquí theater” with my father and brother, I was 10, final approach for the runway was on top of us, we can hear both engines from the movie and real Tomcats landing. It was so hilarious!

[@infledermaus]

My father was stationed at Keesler in 1959 for training and transferred to Davis-Monthan the same year. We lived off the base initially in what appeared to me to be a plantation house, and then moved into base quarters (barracks). I was 5. Other than the mosquitos, I loved it there. The Spanish moss on the trees was incredible to me. I'll never forget it. Then we moved to Tucson. I didn't like it there at first. Tooooo bloody hot! Miserably hot!

[@YTjndallas]

My uncle, my Mother’s brother, was one of the 326 survivors aboard the USS Arizona on that day of infamy when The Empire of Japan attacked our navy. His name was Earnest Shawn.

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Ytjndallas An Uncle by marriage his cousin was on the U.S.S .Arizona on Dec. 7,1941. He did not survive. Here's where the story takes a strange turn. Years after the war was over his Mom gets his wallet in the mail and it had never been wet because as we all know when paper gets wet it just does not look the same.

[@cesarebeccaria7641]

@@lilorbielilorbie2496 Wow. That sounds like the makings of another movie, or at least a TV episode of something. Where was that uncle when the attack happened? Was he AWOL and then deserted rather than risk courts martial? Was he AWOL with a townie and died in collateral damage? Did he accidentally leave his wallet in a bar Saturday night, and the bartender kept it as a souvenir until his own son or daughter realized what it was and tracked down the owner's family? Interesting.

[@tfs203]

My great uncle died on the Scharnhorst, and my Grandfather(his brother), fought in the US Army as a AA gunner, on an M16 Halfrack. My family had issues.

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

@@cesarebeccaria7641 My Uncle was in the Merchant Marines. I don't know where he was when Pearl Harbor was bombed. I really doubt that his cousin was AWOL, but we will never know the real story because all of the people involved have passed away.

[@jeffbroadway4704]

i will be in pearl harbor december 6 7 of 2021 i pay my respects to him god bless them all

[@jimf4036]

Small correction: The opening scene take off was filmed in Key West, not Norfolk. It was flown by Skipper Emory Brown. He did the take offs with a light fuel load. There were a total of 6 takes, as Plane Captain, I refueled him after 3 take offs.

[@2150dalek]

cool...

[@greghavens7679]

I can confirm this, I was there!

[@matrox]

Is Emory Brown still living?

[@jimf4036]

@@matrox Yes indeed! I spoke with him via FaceTime during the VF-84 reunion last month (August '21)

[@johnslaughter5475]

I heard that they had originally had the camera directly behind the F-14 and it was blown over by the exhaust.

[@randallmacdonald4851]

"Splash the Zeros". Then the wings slide back. Goose bumps every time I see that sequence.

[@tnitron9750]

I also enjoyed this movie alot. My uncle was a pilot in the bridges at toko ri. I saw the helmet ram horn on the side of it and my dad talked about the premier in hollywood. He retired a captain and was also on the Missouri during the surrender of Japan. Sadly he passed away in 1994. Thanks for all of the inside info on this movie!

[@MetalGuru965]

Hope uncle told you lots of stories. My dad was on a destroyer in the Pacific. His ship was hit by a kamikaze at Leyte. My uncle had two ships sunk out from under him in the Pacific. My dad was very open about his experiences which helped him I would bet.

[@SonofDaVinci4]

Surprised you didn't mention Kirk Douglas' line "it is our duty to defend the United States past, present and future" (or words to that effect) I remember the audience in the theater cheering to that.

[@megatondc6054]

Same here

[@nathanjasper512]

It makes sense.

[@durdle1701]

Good thing temporal mechanics wasn't an issue in those days. Wouldn't it be the policy to defend the country/ship with whatever you have at your disposal?

[@SonofDaVinci4]

@@durdle1701 Actually, there is a "policy" all ready in place; it doesn't have to spell out the situation (ie time warp or whatever) The term is "doctrine" though. Doctrine is guidance on how a force carries out national objectives. Doctrine doesn't change with situation but there is room for the commander's judgement. In the movie, the commander finds himself in an unanticipated situation with unknown consequnces for any action he takes. According to doctrine, he would be well within his rights to attack the Japanese fleet to defend the U.S. However, what about the consequences of attacking the Japanese fleet? Would history be re-written? Could the long range outcome be the destruction of the U.S.? After doing his best to reason through the situation, in his judgement, he thought it best to actively defend the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor. Suppose in a different situation (or a different movie) we have a different science fiction type of event where a U.S. armed force finds itself. Or better yet, let's say the NIMITZ found itself in the same but with an accelerated rime line with Japanese attack formations in the sky and just a few minutes before they are over land? Should the commander have to weigh the options? OR... if there isn't time to ruminate and only time to react, I would hope his judgement is to take immediate action and defend the U.S.

[@durdle1701]

@@SonofDaVinci4 Thanks for the reply. I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode where Edith Keeler (played by Joan Collins) had to die in the end to keep the timeline intact. This stuff just gives you a headache.🙂

[@TheBatxpres]

As a Nimitz crew member in the 80’s, we watched this film every time we departed on a cruise. Someone always had to comment how the ship had never been to Hawaii as of then. That changed once the home port was moved from Norfolk to Bremerton, WA.

[@vanceb1]

I saw this movie in Norfolk when it first came out (summer 1980). The theater was packed. The crowd absolutely went nuts when the F-14s shot the Zeros. We didn't know why the audience all lost it like they did. We later found out the carrier in the movie was actually homeported there and nearly everyone in the theater was from the crew (or related to someone who was). I'm sure everyone on the ship saw this movie at least 10 times!

[@pedrotinaco1]

I was on the ship when it changed home ports from Norfolk to Bremerton in 87. I remembered that initiation

[@richardjosephus6802]

I was on the America, and had nuke friends on the Nimitz. They were playing a game called Squad Leader in the ships library when the battle stations goes off.

[@bobbyfostore1455]

Served on the Nimitz from 1980-83 in Cryptography. Greetings to those that served with me. I was onboard during the horrific crash on the flight deck and guns of August when in 81 we shot down two Lybian SU-22s after they fired on our F14.

[@ronaldkonkoma4356]

That's so Catch 22 Major Major

[@ajaloha]

Didn't know if this was discussed yet. I enjoyed when Durning's character "Sen. Chapman" questioned the name of the ship and the Nimitz was identified. He was annoyed because Chester Nimitz was an Admiral at that time and shouldn't have had a carrier named after himself. Those reflections, there were many, intrigued me. My father served throughout all of WWII immediately after Pearl Harbor on Destroyers. I remember watching the movie with him when it came out and he didn't enjoy it liked I had hoped. He has his reasoning and he felt some inaccuracies and Navy protocols weren't adhered to. I was just a kid and loved every minute of it. Thx for sharing your video although it's been a few years now. Just want you to know I enjoyed it all over again. Aloha from Oahu.

[@ronaldkonkoma4356]

Like Tony Scott said Mom and pop watching in Oklahoma want to see something entertaining. It's hard for people to watch fiction based on their profession.

[@homeaccount5943]

This movie was a lot better than they give it credit for. Personally, I love it ! Big Kirk Douglas fan, too ! Thank you for this, Sir !

[@julosx]

Remember that Kirk Douglas was also a WW 2 veteran and he was in the Navy…

[@dieterfuessenich6590]

The plot of this movie hat faszinated me from the veröffentlicht first Szene I waschen in 1980. I Tried to imagine such happening to H.M.S. VICTORY on the English Channel getting "transsituated" to the jear 1545, 1/2 days before the MARY ROSE sunk ìn sight of Heny VIII. watching it from SOUTHSEA CASTLE. What would had happened to the French siddenly Washington a ship approaching 7times bigger as the largest French or English carrack or galley. Or imagine the ARMADA of 1588 approaching the Devonshire Coast heading for Calais with Howards, Halbinsel, Drakes, Frobishers ... Galleons - and the suddenly getting the model than twice or four times bigger VICTORY fast approaching from the East - opening her 52 or 55 gunports running out her 32, 24,12 and 68-pdr.s. I think Medina Sidonia and most of his Spanish officers and crewmen would had looked Luke the Japanese Zero-pilot who get caught after their yacht-bombing. 😅

[@miked9104]

Fun fact for you. The air traffic controller in “CATCC” who points at his console is Steve Williams, one of the finest people I ever served with. He retired as a Chief, and went on to serve as a DoD air traffic controller at NAS North Island. Fantastic shipmate.

[@WardCarroll]

Fun fact, indeed! Thanks, Mike!

[@davechartier6898]

Went to NWTGP A school N. Island in 77 and had pilot type friends. He was a legend then.

[@davechartier6898]

Also Mike..our Master Chief's name back then was Cheslock..a UDT legend.😉

[@robshirewood5060]

@@davechartier6898 The actor Aldo Ray who played Master Sergeant Muldoon in The Green Berets was a UDT in ww2 too, as was Hedda Hoppers son who played the Detective in Perry Mason

[@jkstormtrooper9617]

Those T6 Zeros came into the Pensacola airport on their way back to Texas. So the planes parked and began fueling so I wandered out to talk with them. They told me about filming dogfight scenes with Tomcats. We were amazed. They talked about the challenges of keeping their speed up so the jets could even mix it up with them. They specifically told us to watch for the shots of Tomcat that departed and did a great recovery! I still have a few photos of those planes up close and a shot of AI 113 taxing out to continue the trip. If I could attach it I would.

[@koobuck]

My bro and I flew Texans in FL in mock dogfights

[@ViciousDelicious.]

The "splash the Zeroes" sequence was Excellent i also like the fact they showcased how much Military Operations/Training is a Team Sport with everyone playing a vital role.

[@lewisbrodnax7898]

I recall this movie well, my Old Man who had been a DI at Pendleton after serving in Korea had always enjoyed catching any Hollywood movies that featured the Navy..and òur warlords. He was working for Lockhead in Burbank intense days, thank you for your insights sir.

[@mmbaptist1]

I'm an old coastie (1963-67) and I loved this flick, watched it several times. Also love this channel. A source of good stuff on a regular basis.

[@slugmaster64]

My uncle was a yellow jacket on the Nimitz during the filming of this movie. He was always very proud of that, and his time spent on the Nimitz. He also loved interacting with the flight crews.

[@donaldchalfy7811]

RubTheRock64, that is very cool that your uncle was a real yellow jacket in this movie. I was in the movie, Stripes. The Army band and the end of the movie was, in actuality, members of the 1st Marine Division Band. Our sequence was filmed in Jan. 1981, in Van Nuys, CA. I played trombone in the front. It was a lot of fun and got to meet several of the stars.

[@odyshopody9387]

Hopefully your Uncle is still with us, you can impress him by calling him a "Yellow Shirt". We never used the term "Jacket" on the flight deck. You were either a Red shirt, Purple shirt etc..

[@slugmaster64]

@@odyshopody9387 I take it you were a red “shirt”

[@odyshopody9387]

@@slugmaster64 Purple, aviation fuels!

[@synjdcrispy7843]

Also referred to as "grapes". The military loves nicknames for everything. During Initial Sea Trials for the Super Hornet, one of the squadron LSO's aboard asked one of the test pilots how he liked flying the "Super Freak". Kinda sad that one didn't stick.

[@tomplehn5489]

I took my father in law to this movie when it came out without telling him of the plot. He was a U S Marine Pearl Harbor survivor, assigned to the Battleship Oklahoma which he escaped from as she turned over. He said to me as the planes were being recalled, "They are not going to let them …" and stopped as the, "... do it again line!" was said. He loved the movie and military aviation.

[@colorin81colorado]

I wonder about his feelings having survived that tragic attack and the horrors that followed. I'm glad he enjoyed the movie.

[@daltonmann4916]

SALUTE!!!!

[@tomplehn5489]

@@colorin81colorado He was a Marine to the end. After his ship was sunk he transferred into Marine Aviation. Went to Korea with a fighter wing. Retired as a First Sergeant and an electronics expert. Was hired by the Airforce on the F-111 program and went to Viet Nam with them. He finished up with the Airforce's first electric fly-bye-wire jet the F-16.

[@fredhouseal3987]

I was there on Nimitz during the filming , which by the way was mostly shot in the Med, I was in squadron VA-86 Sidewinder from 1977 to 1981, what a ride, and hello to all my friends in VA 86 during that time.

[@mikequintana2490]

Thank you, for your service!!!

[@georgeschneider8750]

Bravo Sierra, Flashback to TYT 2 and the mini 3 mile island that WE sat at Pier 12 for almost 3 months when virtually all the interior shots were done and the one bridge storm scene on a very cloudy day

[@robertnegron9706]

That’s awesome. The Med.

[@terrencesoldo3491]

Actually the film was shot in Key West, Pier 12 in Norfolk and while out steaming around in the Vacapes

[@mrh11169]

I watched the scene of Martin Scheen walking down the Brow at the end of movie with Kirk and dog. I was attached on CVN 69 USS Eisenhower. Nimitz and Ike were both at Pier 12 approx Jan. 1980ish. They did that simple scene over and over. Cool memory!!!

[@stevej2885]

Saw this movie in 1980 at the age of 8. Today I'm an LCDR in the USN with just over 20 years in (enlisted at 29 after 9/11), in large part because of this great movie. Served with a number of former Tomcat drivers and they were usually pretty good guys. Thanks for giving all this background info.

[@WardCarroll]

Thanks for your dedication and service, Steve!

[@anonimous2451]

LCDR AFTER 20 YEARS MEANS YOU are stuck and will never make CMDR. I wonder WHY? (I actually already know the reason but out of respect I will keep it to myself)

[@marksauck3399]

Did you’re pilots come across any flying tic tacs back then?

[@angelg2638]

@@marksauck3399 Those flying Tic tacs may just be carrier aviators of the USN from the year 2085!

[@psychohist]

@@anonimous2451 He said he enlisted. We don't know when he went through OCS, which would have moved him from the enlisted track to the officer track. But yeah, I would expect him to retire with 20.

[@budpaine6222]

"Snort" Snodgrass died in a plane crash in Lewiston, Idaho yesterday 7/26/21. Prayers for all affected.

[@brittlyle3523]

Looks like a stall....

[@DukeFan1971]

Wow, on my 50th birthday. That's a shame.

[@AntlerAssassinTakovich]

Damn. I didn’t even hear about this until I just read it. Rip “SNORT”

[@KristinaUSA-x5n]

They are killing witnesses.

[@KristinaUSA-x5n]

The Air Force deployed my daughter Courtney Schantz to begin flight training January 25 on my birthday after she graduated with a 4.0 GPA in Aeronautical Engineering from New Mexico State University after she went to Mayfield High School in Las Cruces New Mexico and just got married on July 4, 2021 and her grandparents raised her and Morning Star Las Cruces United Methodist Church delivered a gunmetal blue casket lined in blue embroidered with white seagulls and deleted my graduate dissertation research Master's in Microbiology (Molecular Biology) records and posted a military assault on my hacked Facebook profile and declared me clinically insane and tortured me.

[@gromitvt]

My dad's head is visible at 26:02 just above the guy with the "cool Heineken" shirt on in the VA-35 ready room.

[@intheseat]

That make's two of us who's fathers are in the VA-35 ready room shot !

[@Chefbriank]

Awesome dude! Thank your dad for us all!

[@nytcuster]

My dad was an electrical engineer at Grumman in Bethpage. Help design electronics for the A-6, E-2 and F-14. Finished his career there in the 90's working on the JSTAR. He'd fly to aircraft carriers working on the testing equipment for the planes during late 80's.

[@spinaltap1600]

My dad and your dad knew each other. Engineer on the E2, EA6B and Tomcat D.

[@steveschutt636]

I was an aviation boatswains mate second class fuelee going to fuels C school in Lakehurst N.J. I drew the theater watch the night that premiered. Imagine watching that with a movie theater full of current and future flight deck sailors. When Kirk Douglass said "Splash um" the crowd went wild. Never seen anything like it before or since.

[@tom7601]

we had a theater full of Marines when it was on, same response. We’re about 5-miles from the Main Gate of MCB Camp Pendleton.

[@djroselli6310]

I worked as a civilian firefighter at Lakehurst for 27 years

[@steveschutt636]

@@djroselli6310 going to school in hanger 1(twice) was one of the coolest parts of my enlistment. Not to mention learning about the hindenburg right there where it happended.

[@bobwinslow4957]

I saw the movie the first week it came out; extremely enjoyable. However can anyone please clarify if Kirk Douglas really said "splash the Zekes". Google search has Kirk Douglas saying splash the zeros.

[@JustTheFlecks]

Never experienced anything at that level… but maybe this was close. I was at a conference in Omaha, Nebraska, when Team America: World Police was released. When one of the characters (marionettes) was introduced as a former QB for the Cornhuskers, the whole place went insane.

[@johnhann3589]

I have always liked this movie better that Top gun.

[@megaben99]

I liked Iron eagle more than top gun

[@KPX-nl4nt]

@@megaben99 I loved Iron Eagle as a kid but later when I joined the Air Force and was assigned to F-16s…….uh, well let’s just say I understand why the USAF declined to cooperate with the making of that movie.

[@BInf-cj7du]

Same here. Have watched it don't know how many times to this day.

[@MrSpunkyspunky]

Based 👍

[@Wolfen443]

Top Gun is Pop Corn for Military Aviation, Final Countdown is a more serious realistic film in my opinion but I like them both the same for different reasons.

[@thetigerobsidian]

The score by John Scott was a work of art that perfectly accentuated the film. I love this film so much, I got a copy of it for myself.

[@SoCalDude1793]

That time portal special effect, to a 6 year old kid, was impressive and scary! Even to this day I really like it. It’s simple and needs no explanation.

[@gratch46]

Agreed, the visual with the sound does a better job then most of the CGI today

[@DustDevilRage]

Affirm. I was like Hell No, I ain’t going thru that. Never joined the Navy because of it.

[@graceyjewels7148]

Agree!

[@robfreeman5783]

Yep, still holds up. Some of the acting/writing however....lol.

[@SlartiMarvinbartfast]

Even though I'm definitely not a kid any more I still prefer it to anything that modern CGI could offer up.

[@TheMattfranz]

These days alot of vets rip hollywood for various depicted bullshit in military movies. I appreciate your fairness to a movie I loved as a kid and an adult, despite a few plot holes and some lesser acting chops. Thank you for not ruining a movie I always enjoyed.

[@blainedunlap4242]

Can't be to picky it a movie. Noisy. Yea.

[@Shadowace724]

My Uncle Carson was a red shirt on the Nimitz during this movie and is in several scenes :)

[@weelgunny]

I liked the part when the Japanese pilot on the carrier deck gets a good look at what shot him down come in for a landing.

[@thomasmcdaniel6264]

I remember that scene very well and my thoughts as I watched it the first time. I told my friends who were there with me his thoughts: "WTF did we get ourselves into??"

[@rcmorales9014]

Always wished that this movie was expanded into a miniseries with today's current carriers, where after much debate of the chain of command to change the timeline. They go ahead and destroy the Japanese planes and fleet.

[@robocoastie]

Yea!

[@jasong546]

I loved the movie as a kid and I didn’t really mind how much is true. I just had fun!

[@mderossett01]

I was 8 or 9 years old when this movie came on HBO. I don’t know why it captured my imagination the way it did because it isn’t the kind of movie most kids would be interested in but I absolutely loved it! I watched repeatedly to the point that even parents were surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Then I didn’t see it for a very long time and even forgot about it until I came across it in my 30’s and it was just as awesome as I remembered it!

[@hededcdn]

I'm with you! I was the same way. Watched and re watched it.

[@Thomas-ul3uy]

Same here, I was about the same age and if this movie was on, I watched it.

[@alniedrich1245]

This is one of my favorite movies. Your video of it is excellent! For as many times as I have watched it, you pointed out several things I never noticed. I first saw the movie while stationed at Cannon AFB, and although in the USAF, I enlisted out of a Navy family. Oddly enough, the main critique at the time was the Zero being destroyed by a heat seeking AIM-9. Most didn't think the engine of the Zero put out enough heat, yet the AIM-9 also had an influence fuze that triggered an explosion when it was close enough to "see" an object. Not sure if modern versions have this feature as I last loaded the AIM-9 in 1994. Great movie and your breakdown of it was awesome.

[@sermonweerts539]

I tend to think that the 'splash the Zeroes' moment in the Final Countdown holds up better than any of the dogfight hops shown in Top Gun.

[@linusa2996]

Too bad the actual Zero was not used, I think the Planes of Fame A6M5 was airworthy when this movie went into production. The combat speed of the one's that are currently airworthy is between 170 to 250 knots. Quite a bit closer to the F-14A's optimum maneuvering speed of 350 knots

[@scottygdaman]

That was a dogfight? Teacup poodle vs. Tiger

[@Scott11078]

Did you know they made I think it was a full size drone for the Sidewinder shot? Between a real missile shoot and impact and actually firing the gun it's that real feeling that will never dethrone that scene. I think it's also the only film to get the Vulcan sound right too, for obvious reasons. Anyone want to vote this movie as the most realistic, unrealistic movie in history?

[@agwhitaker]

If the "Zero" was hit by a solid burst of M-61 20 mm cannon fire - wouldn't it do more than simply trail a thin stream of smoke ?

[@mightymystery9204]

@@agwhitaker You may well be right, but I am guessing, based on the Zero airframe and the damage that .50 ball would do, that the velocity and firing rate of the gatling cannon would have let the first round or two breach and open such a gap that remaining rounds would only sideswipe or brush aside damaged metal, and maybe detonate beyond, or have the blast "vent into the vacuum", the ballistic inverse of a shaped charge. That is only a guess, based on my limited knowledge. That smoky crash seems more surprisingly realistic, coming from a Hollywood that lets aircraft explode from single 9mm hits.

[@RobertStewart-j1i]

Saw the movie while serving as an Ops. Specialist on the USS Midway 1979 to 1983. Great movie, and your show was great. Many fond memories.

[@lapoint7603]

I saw Final Countdown in the theaters when it first came out. It is one of my favorites. We have an F-14A as a gate guard at our local airport. It was installed in 2007. It's Bu. No, 160914, from VF-101. It was flown into the NARCEN Minneapolis, disassembled and trucked to KBDH where it was reassembled and placed in it's current location.

[@jswaggart01]

This is one of my Top 5 favourite movies ever, I must have seen it at least 30 times. I never get sick of it. Great premise, great cast, great action sequences. I even have the soundtrack. Matter of fact it was on cable a couple of weeks ago and I watched it again.

[@johncashwell1024]

"The Final Countdown" came out when I was 8, so I didn't know about it until I saw it at a movie rental store in 1987 and rented it on LaserDisc for my friends and I to watch. It has been one of my favorite movies ever since.

[@rakitakhan]

One of my top 5 movies. I don't want to count the number of times I've watched it. Over 40 yrs in I still get the same grin on my face every time. Thx for a great video !

[@thturner7719]

I served as an OS on Nimitz from 77 to 78 and got out just after the Nimitz's second deployment to the Med and about a year before this movie was filmed. My Division Officer gave me the re-enlistment talk and told me about the upcoming movie with Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen. He said they were planning to use some ship's crew in the film and told me if I re-enlisted I might possibly get to be in the movie. I thanked him but said "no thanks" and told him to tell Kirk and Martin to give me a call at home if they needed me. I never heard from either. I do have a fellow OS who is in the movie in several places. In one place, he's in CIC on the air search radar saying "I lost the helo!" when the SH3 explodes when the Senator causes the flare gun to fire. His name is Steve Weaver and he stayed in and retired.

[@anonimous2451]

OMG that is hilarious. Remember that recruiter that lied to your face......yea same approach. Like dangling a carrot before a mule.

[@pastorart1974]

I was an RD on the HBW, DDG-7, escorting Enterprise from California to Vietnam in June of 1971. My ship has a Re-Union coming up in Michigan in May. After making RD3 I made OS2. I was one of the first OS's in the Navy.

[@eknohekim]

Score for this movie is dynamite as well. Very memorable.

[@alantoon5708]

As a retired Army Bandsman, I loved it...

[@flippinnickelproductions298]

And NO CGI 👍

[@whos-the-stiff]

I have the 4k blu ray version on its way to me, with a cd of the soundtrack included. Can't wait.

[@alantoon5708]

@@whos-the-stiff you will love it. I do not know whether your version contains interviews with some of the VF-84 crews, one being Emory Brown, but if it does, well worth the price of admission.

[@JGlaister]

I was whistling the theme while he was showing those clips.

[@mindeloman]

I love how there was a shot in that movie that was so close to the nose of an F-14 you could clearly see the yaw string on top of the nose, buffeted around by the slipstream. Very cool to see old tech on display in one of the most technical advanced airplanes at the time.

[@warwickkinscher5986]

Google-search and have a look at the nose of a U-2 just as it hits 80,000 feet! Same yaw string bobbing around in front of the space-suited pilot’s visor. It’s not known as a stratospheric glider with a couple of turbojets producing what by then is minimal thrust for nothing! Just enough to keep the glide ratio at zero, and just the good ole laws of aerodynamics at work regardless of the platform!

[@arohk1579]

Ah your high tech gear is no match against my scissors. Oh shit he cut my string now what do I do :).

[@timorvet1]

That scene was filmed from the tail gunners position in the B-25. The cameraman had indicated to the pilot by hand signals, as there was no radio comms between the two aircraft (if memory serves me) if he could get close enough so he could touch the tip of the refuelling probe with his foot, unaware of the static electricity build up (dont quote me on that) which is said to have launched him back through the aircraft at a great rate of knots.

[@alpell2547]

Thank you. I loved this movie... I was wanting to go into the Navy as a Corpsman in 1984, after graduating, but a baseball scholarship took my life in a different path. Upon graduating in 1991 from Texas A&M University, and with Desert Storm going on, I wanting to ask Jon, but my teaching and coaching bosses said, "I'd be out of a job if I joined." So, at 58 years old and a 33 year teacher and coach veteran, I still wish I had served our country as my father, Navy during Korea, and my many uncles had served. Thank you for your Service and your videos... I love history, but teach science... go figure!

[@rizald3471]

Outstanding job, sir. As a child, I enjoyed The Final Countdown and to this day still do. Thank you for your service! My father proudly served with the US Navy from 1968-1998.

[@Tomcat1322]

"The Final Countdown" is one of my favorite movies. As a F-14 Tomcat fan, watching those F-14A "Jolly Rogers" in action, gives me goosebumps.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

I loved that movie! Thank you for your service, Sir. I enlisted in the Army during my senior year of high school. I went 19K (M1A1 Tanker) and was a gunner during Desert Storm in 4th Battalion 70th Armor, 1st Armored Division, VII Corp. We were the battalion that destroyed an entire Iraqi Republican Guards division in less than two hours during the battle named "Madina Ridge". My great grandfather served in WWI and my grandfather lied about his age to join the Army TWO YEARS BEFORE PEARL HARBOR. He served 28 years in the Air Force as flight engineer and maintenance chief. ✌

[@larrywest538]

Thank you Michael, to you and your family for your commitment to our Nation… Freedom is not free… A price must be paid… You and your family paid it… My Father and his two brothers served in World War II… One of them a forward gunner on a Destroyer… USS Braine was killed at Okinawa… given the history of that War, I would hardly call Jamie’s comment a ‘racist one’ for simply using the term Japs 🇯🇵 that said, today Japan is our Allie…

[@paulmcsweeney3241]

Hi Michael, I joined the Australian army at the age of 17 and drove M113 APC's just after the end of Vietnam. All fun time, no real action. However, I wanted to tell you a story I heard. A column of Iraqi troops were marching down a road during Desert Storm. From behind a hill they heard someone call out "One Australian soldier is better than ten Iraqi soldiers" The commander was a little miffed by this insult, so he picked out a squad and sent them over the hill to take care of the insulant dog. After a brief firefight, the Iraqi's heard the call, "One Australian soldier is better that a platoon of Iraqi's". This incensed the commander even more so he sent his top platoon over the hill. Yet again a firefight could be heard, but no Iraqi soldiers returned. Finally, the call came from behind the hill, "One Australian soldier is better than a company of Iraqi's. The commander was raging by this point and sent all the remaining men from the company over the hill. A massive firefight begun, but a lone Iraqi soldier shortly came back around and waving frantically at the commander, yelling "Stop, stop, Don't send any more troops. It's a trap. There are two of them!"

[@RobertWilson-i7h]

Fellow AVT Corpsman Ed Mead was a former ABH Yellow shirt on the Nimitz when they filmed this movie he always got excited telling us rookies about his experience there and also about his getting blown off the flight deck later on the Nimitz. Great guy you really bring back some great memories Cdr

[@Leartech81]

Entered the Navy in 81 - Yep: Full beards, boondockers and dungarees... I was a WestPac guy... USS Okinawa LPH-3. Lost the ship's Huey when the antenna that ran along the belly came loose and took out the tail rotor. In pretty rough seas, also... The Huey was the rescue helo so had to send a skiff out to grab the crew... luckily everyone was brought back safe.

[@thebronzetoo]

The Oki's Huey Det had an office just off the flightline at North Island, circa '84-'86. I got a ride in it once. I was at Marine Barracks NASNI and a family friend (Marine) was one one of the Oki-3 pilots at that time.

[@olentangy74]

I entered in 1974, same thing. We are among the first to get the "new" uniforms, and I thought, what the hell? I was a WestPac type too. USS Enterprise Air Wing.

[@mntmst]

Fellow Brokinawa sailor. WestPac 1980 and 1981. A very small part of Operation Eagle Claw

[@brettengland192]

This movie, in my opinion, is an absolute masterpiece. I live in the Norfolk area, where much of the footage was shot, and covered the Navy when I was a news photographer for WAVY-TV 10. Having shot flight ops on all of the Norfolk-based carriers, I was always impressed with the quality of the flight ops depicted in this film. Science Fiction is my favorite film genre. As a niche of that genre, stories featuring time travel always pique my interest.

[@atty64]

Agree Brett!....great movie and I still get chills watching it!!

[@stevensons78]

The wave still rules wavy tv 10

[@recortes_favoritos]

This movie was one of my inspiration to go to the Brazilian Navy, in 1981. At that time, we had an aircraft carrier, but no jet planes. I miss every single moment of my naval career.

[@mylovelybeard]

The Minas Gerais was a beautiful carrier, oldest operational carrier vessel in the world I believe at her retirement. Such a shame there wasn't the strength of will or money to preserve her. Brazil can be forgiven for that. Here in the UK we still send them to the breakers, despite their combat history. An island nation, virtually sea-blind. Breaks my heart.

[@gregb6469]

No jets? What aircraft were you all flying off the flattop?

[@robertaguilar2124]

If no jets, then maybe any helicopters? How was this carrier used or operated?

[@SevenSixTwo2012]

@@gregb6469 Probably just had the ship for bragging rights, so they could say they had an aircraft carrier in their fleet. All other neighbouring nations would automatically assume it must be full of attack jets. Psychological deterrent 101, same as having a gun with no bullets! 😅

[@gregb6469]

@@SevenSixTwo2012 -- I was wondering if we might have thrown in a squadron of F6F Hellcats when we sold them the obsolete carrier.

[@DannyColica]

I have always said that this is one of my all time favorites. Working in Flight Deck Control on the USS Forrestal and being a private pilot, I have always had high interest in aviation. When this came out the concept of F-14's up against Zero's and what possibly would go through the mind of a Zero pilot. Understandably what the Senator would think is one thing but the Zero pilot having to face this adversary, sort of like what the two Navy pilots must have thought when they encountered what was described as UFO's of the California coast. Just love this movie, thank you for all your post.

[@brady3474]

I was in VA-105 on Forrestal1986 Med Cruise

[@jimsteele9975]

@@brady3474 Damn! I operated with Forrestal in the Med in 1960! When was she decommissioned?

[@brady3474]

@@jimsteele9975 1955

[@Gamble661]

So after being rescued from the open ocean the senator pretty much spends all his time making demands and being an insufferable asshole. In the end he pulls a bonehead move that results in his own death but more importantly, the deaths of four servicemen and the loss of an aircraft, all because he's not getting his way. So....pretty much your typical politician.

[@Nciswit1]

Politicians, were and still are self centered, narcissistic, mostly bi-polar asswipes! No change from the past!

[@rickwilliamson9248]

The more things change...

[@Philistine47]

Yes, Chapman is an entitled jerk. But from his perspective, everything he's seen since the first F-14 flyover seems - pretty reasonably! - like a massive conspiracy directed specifically at shutting down FDR's political rivals. The officers and men aboard _Nimitz_ have repeatedly refused to give straight answers to direct questions, even though legally they should be obligated to do so. And finally they cap it all off by trying to dump him on some uninhabited island under the pretense of delivering him to Pearl Harbor as promised.

[@MatthewPettyST1300]

@@Philistine47 They wanted to dump the Senator off at a different Island but Gilligan, the Skipper , and the rest all said NO. Find someplace else.

[@acdii]

He played it so well too.

[@jtjames79]

"Training accident". It's always a training accident. That's how you can tell when it's wormholes and aliens.

[@samuelWx]

word!

[@KutWrite]

Yes. They hit a weather balloon filled with swamp gas and set off some St. Elmo's fire inside the Aurora.

[@7thsealord888]

... wormholes, or aliens ... or some super-rich @$$hat screwing around in a flying armoured suit he built himself. :)

[@ThatCanadianGuy-e1p]

Best explanation.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

@UCoQvBxIysyRXEJs4FKSiYXA "Training accident, isn't that the usual BS?" "It's not that simple." *cuts to scene of news being informed of a training accident*

[@francispitts9440]

This has always been one of my favorite movies. I served from 79’ to 83’ in the Marine Corps and I saw this movie basically the same way you did at a theater off base. I was impressed with how accurate they made different scenes. I also liked the story behind the film. It’s just an interesting topic. I wasn’t a fan of Top Gun. It was pretty silly as far as my feelings went. Thanks for covering this.

[@axiomist4488]

Absolutely, Top Gun was a kid movie. You had to be that naive to believe all the nonsense. like the "canopy to canopy" scene !!! =)

[@MrJeffcoley1]

@@axiomist4488 Even more unrealistic than any of the flying scenes: The inquiry into the F14 crash that killed Goose was completed within a day or two and Maverick was cleared to rejoin his class in time to graduate

[@dh2032]

@@axiomist4488 I aways though that way a split screen show the to planes on screen at the same time, like telephone seen a call is made or answered, and the over side of the call comes in as part of the screen, goes out when they hang up the call?

[@jimsteele9975]

@@axiomist4488 yeah!.......my first reaction to that scene was "WTF.!.....the tails would be in the way and causing a mid-air!"

[@jimsteele9975]

@@MrJeffcoley1 Great points!

[@Gman-26]

We were privileged enough to see this in boot camp. (1980) I remember that day it well. You didn’t get much time off then. I still remember being amped up , hearing all the cheers when the zeros were splashed. This movie resides in my DVD collection.

[@JohnMichael-mm7yj]

I greatly enjoy your information from the aviation perspective. I was not an aviator, I was Nimitz ship's crew for 4 years, '79 to '82. My favorite aspect was how they utilized actual sailors and marines, including speaking and action parts. For me, watching the movie and recognizing ship's crew is even better than paging through the cruise books. Love your other videos too; I was also aboard during the Gulf of Sidra incident and listened to the live comms as it all unfolded. I still have the t-shirt from back when the score was only 2 - 0. Also aboard when the A6 crashed, and watched from the Conn as the RH-53s lifted off for Iran. Maybe there will be a REAL Story Behind Eagle Claw someday?

[@davidweston6653]

Tks for your service👍

[@lonegunmanx1824]

I would love to hear about eagle claw!

[@vanceb1]

I was going through USCG OCS in Virginia in the summer of 1980. One weekend we went to see Final Countdown in Norfolk. During the scenes where the F-14s shot down the Zeros the theatre absolutely came apart. The crowd went nuts. We found out later that nearly everyone in the theatre was from the Nimitz. I'm sure everyone in the crew saw this movie about 10 times.

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

Was across @ Pier 12, Norfolk, when You Deployed 80' for Eagle Claw, when you came back, saw President Carter, @ Ceremony, CV-67, No they will never, discuss "Eagle Claw". Even Ward won't. But take Note Seal team "six", was created cause of the Failure.

[@americanpatriot9276]

Gonzo Station, deployed on the Nimitz Dec of '79, VQ-1 from Guam. We were there for Eagle Claw, too.

[@xjp1998]

I remember as a kid going with my brothers and my dad to see this movie in the theater. My dad was a pilot and he talked about just how hard it must have been for the pilots of the zeros to work with the 14’s and we all loved it. My brothers and I went to a local hobby shop and they had 3 of the Jolly Roger 14’s there and we got all 3 and went home and Build them. I had that model for years. I still wish I had it but it was destroyed when I moved from Ft. Hood to Camp Casey.

[@64powers]

If your still interested in that model check eBay they may have a kit.

[@craigharris41]

I remember it as well. This movie is a "take-off" of the Philly Experiment".

[@Glittersword]

Hell neighbor, I was at Camp Stanley.

[@oldfrend]

decided to get my nephew into model building and aviation history, so i thought i'd get him a VF-84 tomcat kit. the only one i could find was this super expensive japanese one that was probably way beyond his ability or interest to build. fortunately i found a smaller, less complex one, but it wasn't a jolly rogers 'cat. sundowners i think. still, close enough and colorful decals, so good enough for government work XD

[@donc9751]

Well sad your F-18 model was destroyed, but on a positive note, at least you were leaving Ft. Hood! Lived there 4.5 years although as an Army dependent in the early 70's. Graduated HS there, go Roo's!

[@cliff8669]

I saw this movie in a theater in Japan. I was stationed at MCAS Iwakuni Japan. Me and three other Marines cheered when the zero's were splashed. We booed when the Marines on Nimitz were killed and cheered when the Japanese Pilot got shot. I still have my ticket stub from that theater in my scrapbook. Right next to the ticket I got from the base MP's for failure to yield to a A6 Intruder while on taxi. I was in my 1964 grey Datsun Sunny station wagon. The base SgtMaj took pity on me because it was the first time he ever had that come before him...so he said.

[@davidkarson710]

Retired MAJ, USA here. One of the best Hollywood naval productions ever accomplished. Great insight into the back story of the motion picture. Own the 2-disk Limited Edition in the special 3-D reflective case. Always the best "Gouge" from you guys in the know!

[@victordisalvi3967]

Kirk Douglas was the most famous person to come out of my hometown of Amsterdam, NY. I served on the Kitty Hawk from ‘82 -‘86 and missed out on the chance to see him when he returned home in ‘85 for a parade in his honor. Thanks for the recap on a great movie.

[@thebronzetoo]

I was at Marine Barracks North Island from '84-'86!

[@00calvinlee00]

My Sister In Law served on the Kittyhawk as part of the Decom Crew. Plus she was the last boat here in Philly before the Yard closed. I still cannot bring myself to call her the "Sh1tty Kitty".

[@thebronzetoo]

@@00calvinlee00 don't forget the Danger Ranger!

[@rickyj5547]

He was in the us navy in ww2.

[@rtstrong]

Loved this film as a kid. Love it even more now because it’s such a snapshot of the US Navy circa 1980.

[@crankychris2]

Kirk and Martin in their prime and real carrier footage makes this movie a winner.

[@DC05570]

“The Final Countdown”: an awesome movie and equally awesome song (by Swedish metal band, Europe)

[@Ichijoe2112]

35 years ago I was like 😝 Today I'm like 😫 When I'm forced to listen to that one hit wonder.

[@repro7780]

....and now I can't get that song out of my head!

[@marcodeodorico7618]

Of course, the movie and the song are completely unrelated.

[@deathwrenchcustom]

@@Ichijoe2112 They may have been that, but they had some GREAT songs. Oddly, the bulk of the movie Hot Rod uses the album as a soundtrack. 👍🏾❤

[@frostyvr9805]

@@Ichijoe2112 they weren’t a one hit wonder. They were a 2 hit wonder

[@DoroteoVilla]

Saw it in the theatre. Loved it. It was one of my first encounters with time travel scenarios and I was blown away by the execution.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

I think Final Countdown is one of the best time travel movies, establishing a perfect going back in time to set up the events of the present loop. Like Terminator 1. I saw it in the theaters too and at the time felt a little cheated of my big shootout, but in hindsight its perfect as it is. And all the glorious aircraft and carrier p0rn didn't hurt either.

[@marksauck3399]

The last scene was TwilightZone great but the lead up to it, the 5 minutes or so was squeezed too much as well as somewhat disappointing. I left the theater disappointed.

[@DenmanShooter]

I always thought the cheap and cheesy special effects of the "time tunnel" or whatever you want to call it, were excellent for what the movie was trying to convey. Sometimes, too much money can produce special effects that may be realistic looking but lack a look of "fitting in".

[@bigfoot14eee99]

It was 1980. That was state of the art at that time.

[@trevormiles5852]

@@bigfoot14eee99 To me the movie was about how the people interacted with the situation they were in. Special effects would have taken too much away from the story. For example. a simple glance at the date on the box with a little bit of Hollywood acting was enough.

[@scottlowell493]

That was done with a combination of rear projection and optical (analog) printer. It combined the live scene with the swirling effect. It was impossible back then to truly match the environment and lighting. Raiders of the lost ark's climactic final scene has a similar unconvincing cloud effect.

[@bigfoot14eee99]

@@trevormiles5852 Agreed.

[@vinniethefinger7781]

Look how bad the visuals are in Indianapolis with Cage and the new laughable Midway. The visuals are so bad it actually takes away from the movie. A net negative. Too much in many cases is not good.

[@onlyonecannoli3952]

FYI, no Japanese Zeros were harmed in the making of this film.

[@RobertMememe]

No zeros were in the movie LOL

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@RobertMememe that tends to prevent such damage XD

[@lelandframe1029]

By the terms of surrender, General MacArthur ordered ALL Japanese Zeroes remaining after the war to be destroyed! So, movies like this one and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" had to use modified T-6 Texans and SBD Dauntlesses to stand in for Zeroes.

[@hithere7382]

@@lelandframe1029 That was horribly shortsighted of MacArthur. We could have a few Zeros at Warbird Flyins from time to time but instead due to his egotistical narcissistic ass...

[@Ralphie_Boy]

🤣👍

[@edmclaughlin4923]

I was missile systems specialist in the Air Force when this movie went to tape . We were playing dungeons and dragons in the rec room at Chanute AFB. I don't have to tell you what the conversation was about. I love the AF. I got my College education while enlisted. I have no idea if that is still possible now. All I know is, if I had the choice, I would have taken the raise and stayed in. I was even offered OTS. I turned that down. A tech sergeant was my mentor. Saw me through all my supervisory ranks. There were two tech sergeants that took me under their wings. Those men are cemented into my conscious as was a female staff sergeant in Electronics school. I will never forget their faces.

[@psycronizer]

good on ya buddy.

[@jamesweemsdishman]

Our jets leasurly crawling trying not to stall training the Zero's . The shear restrained sound of power as they whistle & maneuver was AWESOME! I was as frustrated as the sailor's in the film, saying 'So, were gonna let em do it to us again?!"😡☠️

[@TracySmith-xy9tq]

This is on my top ten favorite movies list. I rewatch it every so often. My father, a WWII Navy vet who served aboard a carrier, liked this movie, too.

[@csilt]

I remember watching this movie on VHS when I was younger. I digested all things military aircraft, I was obsessed. I remember being really fascinated by this movie and loved the concept. Later on my Dad took me to see Top Gun in theaters and I was totally in heaven.

[@nowayjackson]

One of my favorite movies ever. I was 14 seeing it in a theater. The plot was so fascinating to my adolescent mind that coukd very easily suspend disbelief and logic. It influenced me to follow naval aviation the rest of my life and also ignited an interest in Pearl Harbor history in a way high school History class never could. Great job on this documentary Ward. Learned several things I did not know about the film’s production.

[@kfeltenberger]

In either the late 80s or very early 90s, there was a board game that simulated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The game designers had a bit of fun and added an extra counter sheet that covered Nimitz and her air group as well as her extended battle group. The scenario was right out of this movie and the battle group counters gave you the option of adding them if you wanted to extend the scenario and chase the Japanese back. When I saw the game at Origins and talked to the designers, they said that the interest in the extra scenario and countersheet blew them away and that the majority of people who bought the game didn't buy it to play the historical scenario but rather to play what might have happened in the movie had Nimitz not been sent back to the present.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

I was a member of the Spacebattles forum a decade ago and this movie was very popular as a what if discussion. I guess it is a movie that appeals to both scifi nerds and history what if buffs alike. Of which that forum had no shortage of neither at the time.

[@atomix62t]

Your narration could not be better, thank you for your service.

[@danielkelley819]

As a retired Naval Aviator and airline pilot, I love any movie with airplanes! As a history buff, I was really fascinated by the "time and space" dilemma faced by the Captain and his crew, Fun movie! Bravo Zulu, Ward!

[@gordonhall9871]

i liked when they were listening to old AM transmissions -- the Germans were on the outskirts of Moscow

[@MichaelSmith-zl4sy]

The super shiny planes had the “Hollywood “ paint job. Had to look good for the movie. and yes I served onboard U.S.S Nimitz (CVN68) (1985-1988) v4 division (grapes)

[@will3kgt]

My brother- in- law, Mark Pearce, was the guard who checked in the limo at the beginning of the movie.

[@freddieneve2311]

Ha! Same here! But I was the AZ for IM-4 Div and occasionally held watch in AIMD! 85-89 Miss those days..

[@sendero9388]

Hey smith, you and i surely crossed paths. I was a final checker trouble shooter working flight quarters in VA-35 on the 85 med cruise.

[@jimpenn7628]

Great commentary. Thanks for your service Mooch! In the flick at 3:11 as the SH-3 taxis out to take Lasky to Nimitz, an RA-5C Vigilante comes into the frame on the right. Sweet!

[@antoniog9814]

19:40 Fox & Shoes were the two pilots filming that sequence. In a prior interview, Fox stated he leveled out at about 100ft above the water. That would rattle anyone. Shoes was the one who flew the refueling sequence. He has a great story of how his wife was allowed on the B-25 and a guy wanted to touch his foot to the refueling probe. The guy stuck out his leg. Shoes was hesitant due to the static electricity generated, but the guy persisted. Shoes was given the go-ahead so he went along. He said the guy was ok afterwards, but the shock shot him backwards almost to the cockpit.

[@MelbaOzzie]

Why would anyone want to do something so stupid? What am I missing here?

[@callsignslick3118]

The photo of Pearl Harbor that was supposedly shot by the RF8 was actually a photo taken from a Japanese aircraft over Battleship Row during the attack. If you look closely, you can see in the upper left of the photo splashes and wakes from torpedoes that have been dropped and are heading toward the battleships at anchor.

[@nopenoneforme]

You can also see shock waves in the water, radiating out from the side of the battleship, from a torpedo strike.

[@21watt]

I loved this movie. I remember me and my brother being taken on a tour of the Nimitz in Norfolk by one of the crew in 1976 after being refused entry by a tour group, it was the highlight of that day for us , that was in June forty five years ago

[@marrmar1]

Hi Ward, I was a Marine in the early 80's and I actually had the chance to have a ride on the USS Nimitz. Thank you US Navy! I was allowed to only come out of my room and night and I took many self guided tours. My favorite was to watch the Night Cat Shots and recoveries. I still dream about them. I miss the adrenaline in being a Marine and now my life is calm and very sane compared to the world I experienced during my time. Thanks for the video and especially Thank you for your service!!

[@jamesmorris889]

I saw this movie first as a 9YO in Australia. My eyes were wide open to the planes and possibility of time travel from this film. When I tell younger ones born in the 1990's about this film they just look blankly at you. I think those born in the 1970's were a generation growing up in the Cold War, seeing movies like this gave me an appreciation of the defence treaty with the USA and my father's service in Vietnam with the Australian Army.

[@philipmathenia5732]

The F14 was always my favorite carrier aircraft. Great review on The Final Countdown. The best parts are like you say the aerial and carrier operations of the aircraft.

[@STARDRIVE]

I like the dual purpose of the folding wings.

[@mpwhite64usaf]

I loved this movie! I wish my wife were still alive to see that I am not the only one that picks apart mistakes in military movies...I was a cop in the Air Force and there have been a couple movies that had us in the back ground...or sometimes in the foreground and always doing stupid stuff no AF cop would ever do. My wife would get so mad at me!

[@impossibledrms]

I'd have to agree. I was also AF Security Police. 79-85, 81152. Embarrassed at times as to what is and was portrayed.

[@MichaelRamirez-o2b]

New to the channel. I’m an Army veteran and love the content. I saw this movie as a kid in the late 80s. I wanted to be the soldiers in the film. I’m still awed at the concept of the movie when I watch it. Nice job

[@tubaman1240]

I watched the movie at least 6 times over the years and I find your analysis and narration 4.0. Well done Ward Carroll!!!

[@MrMightyZ]

I saw this when I was 10 and when the squadron was recalled I was so frustrated and dissapointed that I nearly cried and for the next few months I often drew pictures of Tomcats dogfighting Mitsubishis. All of the carrier and jet footage absolutely blew my mind. I thought after all this time it might look a bit clunky but it is still thrilling footage.

[@acefox1]

I remember being a young aviation geek and recording this on our BetaMax around 82-83. Since Top Gun was still 3-4 years away I probably wore that tape out watching that great carrier aviation footage as often as I could. 😎

[@jimhinkle7245]

Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I'm a big fan of the Final Countdown, seeing it as a young boy in the theatre. You brought new life to it. Thank you for service as well!!!