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 Tigersharks. Release The film premiered in the Philippines on September 8, 1988, a month before it premiered in the United States on October 21. Reception Film historian Alun Evans in Brassey's Guide to War Films, considered the production an unusual look at "... the perspective of a service non-combatant." In a contemporary review, Roger Ebert noted: "'BAT*21' is the kind of lean, no-nonsense war film Hollywood used to make back before the subject became burdened with metaphysical insights." Listed in the "best" category of "The Best (and Worst) War Movies of All Time", Popular Mechanics, characterized Bat*21 as the "Best Vietnam War Movie." References Notes Citations Bibliography Anderson, William C. BAT-21: Based on the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. Hambleton, USAF. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1980. . Evans, Alun. Brassey's Guide to War Films. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, 2000. . External links 1988 films 1980s war films American war adventure films American aviation films 1980s English-language films Films about shot-down aviators Films about the United States Air Force Films directed by Peter Markle Films scored by Christopher Young TriStar Pictures films Vietnam War aviation films Vietnam War films War films based on actual events 1980s American films