“Flight of the Intruder” (1991)

“Flight of the Intruder” (1991) is a war action film set during the Vietnam War, directed by John Milius. Based on the novel by Stephen Coonts, the film focuses on the intense and perilous lives of Navy pilots who flew bombing missions over Vietnam. It captures the moral dilemmas and tactical decisions faced by those in the cockpit during the war.
The story revolves around Lt. Jake “Cool Hand” Grafton (played by Brad Johnson), an A-6 Intruder pilot stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Independence. After the death of his bombardier during a routine mission, Grafton becomes disillusioned with the ineffective and seemingly pointless bombing runs that target the jungle with little strategic value. Grafton believes that more aggressive action needs to be taken to strike directly at North Vietnam’s heart.
Grafton teams up with his new bombardier, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil Cole (played by Willem Dafoe), a brash and cynical officer who shares his frustration with the war’s tactics. Together, they devise a plan for an unauthorized, highly dangerous bombing mission on a heavily defended target in Hanoi. Their rogue mission pits them against both the enemy and their superiors, leading to intense aerial combat sequences and moral conflict.