After World War Two, many American aviation films reflected the Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.  In a world where atomic destruction seemed like a possibility, these films tried to reassure us that American victory was certain.  A movie that highlighted America's Cold War Air Force capabilities was Strategic Air Command, starring Jimmy Stewart.  

"Strategic Air Command" featured America's newest Bomber, The Boeing B-47 Stratojet.

"Bombers B-52" starring Natlie Wood and Karl Malden left no doubt about what aircraft would be featured in it. 

After the turmoil of the Vietnam War era, a new wave of Cold War hit the screens, most notably Top Gun, released in 1986 and starring Tom Cruise, who must battle his inner demons to defeat his Soviet adversaries. 

The first scene from "Top Gun" (above) and an oral history interview from a real Top Gun pilot, Rick Ludwig. 

Also released in 1986, Iron Eagle replaced the Soviet Union with the fictional state of Bilya as the evil enemy. 

However, not all Cold War aviation movies produced were the "Rah Rah" type. Some films looked at the dangers of the atomic age, and the madness of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction), most famously Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove.

"Dr. Strangelove" used dark comedy on a very serious subject.  In a famous closing scene, Slim Pickens gleefully rides a nuclear bomb (above).

Not as well known today as "Dr. Stranglelove," the 1964 film "Fail Safe" stars Henry Fonda as the American President who is forced to sacrifice New York to save the rest of the country from nuclear destruction.

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