Dive Bomber (film)

Dive Bomber is a 1941 American aviation film directed by Michael Curtiz. It stars Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray, Olivia de Havilland, and Ralph Bellamy. The film is notable for its spectacular Technicolor aerial photography, which showcased the then-new planes and techniques of dive bombing.

The plot centers on a group of U.S. Navy doctors and pilots working to solve the problem of altitude sickness and physical blackouts experienced by pilots during high-speed dives. Lieutenant Douglas S. "Doug" Lee (Flynn) is a hotshot pilot who clashes with Lieutenant Commander Joe Blake (MacMurray), a dedicated doctor determined to understand and prevent pilot incapacitation during flight. The film follows their research and development efforts, interwoven with personal drama and romantic subplots involving Lee's relationship with Linda Fisher (de Havilland).

Filmed with the cooperation of the United States Navy, Dive Bomber served as a piece of patriotic propaganda in the lead-up to World War II. Its realistic portrayal of naval aviation and the challenges faced by pilots, coupled with its focus on scientific solutions and teamwork, aimed to bolster public support for the American military. The film was a significant commercial success and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Special Effects. Although the medical science depicted in the film has been somewhat superseded by later advancements, Dive Bomber remains a significant historical document and a visually impressive example of early Technicolor filmmaking.