John Bond Classic "Tora Tora Tora" Movie War Birds - B-17 - P-40 - Zero - Val - Kate

...Some "Tora" Movie Facts-

"Tora Tora Tora" won the Hollywood Oscar for Special Effects in 1970.

Charles Wheeler, the film's cinematographer, was nominated for an Oscar.

The 30+ "Japanese" airplanes flying in the movie were converted AT-6 "Texan" and BT-13 American trainers

rebuilt at a cost of about $30,000 each. They were later sold at auction for $1,500 or so apiece, and most of

them are still flying in private hands. The "Zeros," were AT-6's, the dive bombers, "Vals," were BT-13's, and

the torpedo- and level bombers, "Kates," consisted of AT-6 fronts and wings and BT-13 tails. Many of the

replica Japanese aircraft are today owned by members of the Commemorative Air Force, an organization that

specializes in re-enactments and aircraft preservation. One of the B-17's shown in the film was later fully

restored and is currently on display at the Yankee Air Force museum in Ypsilanti, MI.