There Is a Way, Part I (1966)

Duration: 31:39:00

Year Published: 1966

Sound: sound

Description: Presented by the United States Air Force, this 1966 government film collects stories from the Vietnam War, consisting mostly of interviews with pilots from the 421st Fighter Squadron from Utah. It also includes footage of them in flight and several debriefings of various missions. Many of the interviews have no beginning or end, and seem like candid conversations between friends. One pilot talks about how he loves the freedom that he gets from flying, and how he has more prospects in Vietnam than in the United States. Another describes how different life is here, and how he misses home. At one point, a voice over describes the story of Roscoe, a dog whose owner was shot down, and how he is now “everybody’s dog.” The film also depicts the pilots listening to debriefs and details about when and where they are going to fly in North Vietnam. The film closes with a clip of the pilots suiting up and getting into a plane dubbed, The Patty Wagon.