Pacific Stars and Stripes, Sept. 15, 1955
Seoul-(AP)- Preparations are
underway here to produce a new Universal-International film, depicting
the life of a U.S. Air Force Colonel who helped build up the fledgling
ROK Air Force.
Two Universal officials are visiting here to scout
location spots for the movie, entitled "Battle Hymn." They are director
Douglas Sirk and production manager Gilbert Kurland.
The hero of the film is Col. Dean Hess, the first
American advisor to the ROK Air Force.
During a one-year tour in Korea, which began in
July, 1950, Hess took an active part in training and building the
ROK Air Force. It had no combat planes and only training craft when
the war broke out.
Hess personally flew combat sorties in formation
with Korean pilots. The ROK's flew propeller-driven P?-51 Mustang fighters
then. Now they have U.S.-supplied F-86 Sabre jets.
Sirk and Kurland said it was likely that part
of the film would be shot in Hollywood.
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