'Dive Bomber' Anchors a Stellar Veterans Day Schedule on Turner Classic Movies

FacebookTwitterPinterestEmailEmailEmailShare
Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy and Errol Flynn star in "Dive Bomber." (Warner Bros.)

Turner Classic Movies continues a long-standing tradition of special programming for Veterans Day. The schedule includes a lot of popular favorites, but the most interesting entry this year might be the 1941 movie "Dive Bomber."

The new World War II movie "Midway" puts its focus on the heroic dive bombers who took out the Japanese aircraft carriers at the Battle of Midway in 1942. The technicolor spectacular "Dive Bomber" purports to tell the story of the medical and scientific research that made it possible for pilots to attempt the daring maneuver in battle.

Directed by Michael Curtiz ("Casablanca"), the movie stars Errol Flynn as a Navy doctor who decides to become an aviator to better research the physical toll that flying takes on pilots. Fred MacMurray is the lieutenant commander who grudgingly comes to appreciate the work done by a man he considers his nemesis.

There's a lot of Hollywood drama that goes into the creation of the flight suit, but there are awesome shots of the USS Enterprise. It's a movie that deserves to be seen more often.

"Dive Bomber" will air at 12:45 p.m. ET on Veterans Day.

The evening's schedule is the almost perfect WWII triple feature with "The Dirty Dozen" (1967) at 8 p.m. ET, "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) at 10:45 p.m. ET, and "Where Eagles Dare" (1968) at 1:15 a.m. ET.

In previous years, TCM has invited veterans to present their favorite movies on Veterans Day, but the channel decided to give the tradition a break this year after its massive celebration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day back in June.

RELATED: Ben Mankiewicz Details TCM's Epic 75-Film Series for 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Check out the full schedule for Veterans Day below.

Monday, November 11

Veterans Day

6:00 AM The Big Parade (1925)

9:00 AM The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

12:00 PM Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944)

12:45 PM Dive Bomber (1941)

3:15 PM God Is My Co-Pilot (1945)

4:45 PM The Negro Soldier (1944)

5:45 PM Glory (1989)

8:00 PM The Dirty Dozen (1967)

10:45 PM Kelly's Heroes (1970)

1:15 AM Where Eagles Dare (1968)

4:00 AM Mister Roberts (1955)

Story Continues
Movies Television Entertainment