Introduction

Bat 21 (also stylised as Bat*21 and Bat-21) is a 1988 American war drama film directed by Peter Markle, and adapted from the book by William C. Anderson, novelist and retired United States Air Force (USAF) colonel (also published as Bat-21 and Bat-21: Sam on the Scope; also released as an Ebook.).

Set during the Vietnam War, the film is a dramatisation based upon the rescue of a US air navigator shot down behind enemy lines in Vietnam.

Outline

During the last days of the Vietnam War, USAF Lieutenant colonel Iceal E. “Gene” Hambleton (Gene Hackman) call sign BAT-21 Bravo, is flying on board an EB-66C electronic warfare aircraft, engaged in electronic countermeasures preparatory to a major bombing strike. Without warning, a number of SA-2 Guideline SAMs are launched from North Vietnam, targeting their aircraft. A massive SAM explosion tears off the tail and Hambleton, in the navigator’s position, ejects as the sole survivor of the six-man crew.

While still coming down by parachute, Hambleton makes radio contact with Captain Bartholomew “Birddog” Clark (Danny Glover), the pilot of a Cessna O-2 Skymaster, flying a forward air control mission near where the EB-66 was destroyed. Birddog becomes Hambleton’s link to rescue.

Hambleton, an expert on electronic weapons systems and who holds valuable information, is known to the North Vietnamese, who begin an all-out search, attempting to capture him. An effort to steal supplies from Vietnamese villagers is not successful, as Hambleton is discovered and kills an aggressive peasant farmer, apologizing to his grieving family as he escapes.

Knowing that his current location is too dangerous for rescue aircraft, Hambleton devises a plan to reach safer territory. He plots a course to the river which is the boundary of the target area, then communicates his intended path to Clark in a code composed of various golf courses he knows well. This will allow the rescuers to keep track of his progress, making it easier for them to pick him up.

Several attempts are made to recover Hambleton. Two helicopters are lost and members of its crews are killed or captured. Clark ultimately flies a “Huey” helicopter rescue mission, but as he retrieves Hambleton, the pair are shot down by ground fire, with Clark being wounded. An F-100 bombing raid both assists and hinders their progress through the jungle, as North Vietnamese irregulars are trailing them. In the end, Hambleton and Clark are rescued by a US river boat patrolling nearby on the Cam Lo River.

Cast

• Gene Hackman as Lieutenant Colonel Iceal Hambleton
• Danny Glover as Captain Bartholomew Clark (Call sign: “Birddog”)
• Jerry Reed as Colonel George Walker
• David Marshall Grant as WO1 Ross Carver (‘Jolly Green’ Pilot)
• Clayton Rohner as Sergeant Harley Rumbaugh
• Erich Anderson as Major Jake Scott
• Joe Dorsey as Colonel Douglass
• Reverend Michael Ng as Vietnamese Man
• Theodore Chan Woei-Shyong as Boy on Bridge
• Don Ruffin as Helicopter Crew Member
• Scott A. Howell as Helicopter Crew Member
• Michael Raden as Helicopter Crew Member
• Timothy Fitzgerald as EB-66 Officer
• Stuart Hagen as EB-66 Officer
• Jeff Baxter as Helicopter Gunner
• Alan King as Helicopter Gunner
• Bonnie Yong as NVA/VC Officer
• Willie Lai as NVA/VC Officer
• Martin Yong as NVA/VC Soldier
• Jim Aman as NVA/VC Soldier
• Freddie Chin as NVA/VC Soldier
• Dennis Chong as NVA/VC Soldier
• Liow Hui Chun as NVA/VC Soldier
• Fung Yun Khiong as NVA/VC Soldier
• Henry Lee as NVA/VC Soldier
• Michael Lee as NVA/VC Soldier
• Jeffrey Liew as NVA/VC Soldier
• Fredolin Leong as NVA/VC Soldier
• Benedict Lojingkau as NVA/VC Soldier
• Johnny Michael as NVA/VC Soldier
• Clarence Mojikon as NVA/VC Soldier
• Wilod Nuin as NVA/VC Soldier
• Harold Sinpang as NVA/VC Soldier
• Paul Yong as NVA/VC Soldier
• Conidon Wong as NVA VC Soldier

Historical Accuracy

Portions of Bat 21 were highly dramatised, including the climactic battle. Some characters were composites of real people, while others were created for the film. However, some other details were accurate, including that rescuer Captain Larry Potts was African American.

The actual rescue took over 11 days, during which a major attack was delayed, resulting in numerous South Vietnamese soldiers being killed and wounded. A Forward Air Observer aircraft was shot down and USAF First Lieutenant Bruce Walker and US Marine Corps First Lieutenant Larry Potts parachuted to the ground safely, eluding capture. In an ensuing attack, six more Americans lost their lives attempting to rescue him. The North Vietnamese, alerted by the intense efforts to find the flyer, increased their efforts to find Hambleton. Walker was discovered and killed by the Vietnamese forces. During a covert nighttime operation more than 2 miles (3.2 km) behind enemy lines, Hambleton was finally rescued in a land operation by US Navy SEAL Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas R. Norris and Republic of Vietnam Navy Petty Officer Third Class Nguyen Van Kiet.

Production

Bat 21 was filmed entirely on location in Sabah, Malaysia, with the assistance of the Malaysian government. Resources, locations and other assistance were supplied by the Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which also supplied aircraft and pilots, including the services of Captain V. Thiagarajah, who flew both on- and off-camera.

Helicopters used for the filming included Bell UH-1N ‘Huey’s’, and Sea King helicopters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Fighter jets used were F-5 Freedom Fighters.

Release

The film premiered in the Philippines on 08 September 1988, a month before it premiered in the United States on 21 October.

Trivia

• Colonel Hambleton died from cancer on 19 September 2004 at age 85.
• The true story’s ending was quite different. Navy SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris, and Vietnamese SEAL Petty Officer Nguyen Van Kiet took a sampan in to pick up Colonel Hambleton, after repeated attempts failed, with major losses of helicopters and men.
  • Lieutenant Norris was awarded the Medal of Honour for his actions.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Peter Markle
• Producer(s):
  • Michael Balson … producer
  • Mark Damon … co-producer
  • David Fisher … producer
  • Evzen Kolar … line producer
  • Gary A. Neill … producer
  • Jerry Reed … executive producer
  • David Saunders … co-producer
• Writer(s):
  • William C. Anderson … (book)
  • William C. Anderson … (screenplay)
  • George Gordon … (screenplay)
• Music:
  • Christopher Young
• Cinematography:
  • Mark Irwin … director of photography
• Editing:
  • Stephen E. Rivkin
• Production:
  • TriStar Pictures (Tri-Star Pictures, presents)
  • Vision PDG (Vision P.D.G., presents)
  • Eagle Films
  • Bat 21 Limited L.P.
• Distributor(s):
  • TriStar Pictures (United States, 1988)(theatrical)
  • Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (Sweden, 1988)(theatrical)
  • Media Home Entertainment (United States, 1990)(VHS)
  • Eurogroup (France, 1989)(theatrical)
  • Senator Filmverleih (West Germany, 1989)(theatrical)
  • Shochiku-Fuji Company (Japan, 1989)(theatrical)
  • Astral Video (Canada, 1989)(VHS)
  • Future Film (Finland, 2009)(DVD)
  • HGV Video Productions (Canada, 1990)(VHS)
  • Kino Lorber (United States, 2018)(Blu-ray)
  • Kino Lorber (United States, 2018)(DVD)
  • MGM Home Entertainment (United States, 2000)(VHS)
  • NSM Records (Germany, 2020)(Blu-ray)
  • NSM Records (Germany, 2020)(DVD)
  • Roadshow Home Video (Australia, 1989)(VHS)
  • Showtime Video (Finland, 1990)(VHS)
  • Starlight
  • Video Treasures (United States, 1990)(VHS)
• Release Date: 06 August 1988 (Taiwan).
• Running time: 105 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)