Top Gun Heroes 'Based On Brit Flying Aces' says Historian
The 1986 film told the story of Maverick, Iceman and Goose, a group of macho and unmistakably American trainee fighter pilots.
Set at the Miramar airbase in California, it was, in every sense, a patriotic feel-good film.
But according to a new book by military historian Rowland White, the instructors who taught the pilots in real life were from Scotland.
"I was very surprised to discover the British influence," White told Sky News Online.
"I'd seen the movie as a teenager and loved it. I never for a moment imagined there was a British influence.
"I was researching my new book [and] it was through conversations with aircrew from Ark Royal's fast jet squadrons, I learned about the Royal Navy's connection with Top Gun."
In his book 'Phoenix Squadron', White reveals that the pilots, from the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm were drafted in to help the Americans who were losing a large number of dogfights in Vietnam.
"The US Navy benefited from British skills, experience and techniques," he said. "After all, Top Gun's dog-fighting syllabus was, essentially, written by a Royal Navy fighter pilot."..
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Set at the Miramar airbase in California, it was, in every sense, a patriotic feel-good film.
But according to a new book by military historian Rowland White, the instructors who taught the pilots in real life were from Scotland.
"I was very surprised to discover the British influence," White told Sky News Online.
"I'd seen the movie as a teenager and loved it. I never for a moment imagined there was a British influence.
"I was researching my new book [and] it was through conversations with aircrew from Ark Royal's fast jet squadrons, I learned about the Royal Navy's connection with Top Gun."
In his book 'Phoenix Squadron', White reveals that the pilots, from the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm were drafted in to help the Americans who were losing a large number of dogfights in Vietnam.
"The US Navy benefited from British skills, experience and techniques," he said. "After all, Top Gun's dog-fighting syllabus was, essentially, written by a Royal Navy fighter pilot."..