The Bridges at Toko-Ri

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• SPOILER: The novel and film were based on actual missions flown by pilots of the U.S.S. Essex and U.S.S. Valley Forge against bridges at Majon-ni and Changnim-Ni, North Korea, in the winter of 1951-1952. The two rescue missions depicted in the film - the sea rescue of a pilot down in the Sea of Japan, and the attempted land rescue of a pilot down behind enemy lines -- both took place on the same day, February 8, 1952. However, unlike in the film, the jet pilot and rescue pilot from the U.S.S. Valley Forge who were shot down behind enemy lines both survived. They were captured by the North Koreans, taken to a prison camp, and released at the end of the war. At the time James Michener wrote his novel, the two pilots were officially listed as "Missing, presumed dead."
• Movie Goof (miscellaneous): In several scenes where Forney is flying with a green hat and scarf, when they show actual footage of the aircraft in flight, the pilot is wearing a helmet and goggles and no green scarf.
• Writer James Michener wrote the story after spending time aboard the USS Essex. One of the pilots aboard the Essex at the time was Neil Armstrong. It is not known for certain whether any of the characters in the book or movie were based on Armstrong.
• Movie Goof (factual errors): Based on the 1953 novel by James Michener, the aircraft flown were actually F2H Banshees, not the more prevalent by 1955 F9F Panthers.