Flight Of The Intruder Trivia Quiz

Answer: A-6 Intruder

The full name is the A-6 Intruder and its name is mentioned several times in the film. The A-7 Corsair II is briefly shown towards the end of the film when the daylight raid is launched, and the F-4 Phantom II is also briefly shown as the fighter aircraft that intercepted the MiG that attacks an A-6 crew. The A-4 Skyhawk is shown briefly in the background only.

Answer: United States Navy

During the career of the A-6 Intruder it was used by both the Navy and Marines however the Navy was much more a prominent user of the aircraft, and the movie is based on a Navy flight crew operating the Intruder.

Answer: Cool Hand

Grafton is often called by his call sign as well as it is displayed on his helmet. If you look closely enough you can also see the name printed on his plane just below the canopy.

Answer: SAM suppression

Also known as "iron hand", the role of SAM (surface-to-air-missle) suppression involves the aircraft flying alone armed with a missile called a "shrike". The objective is to get enemy radars to turn on and find the plane. In turn the Intruder fires the shrike, which is designed to lock onto the radar and destroy it, thus taking away the opponent's ability to fire more SAMs in the future.

Answer: Crocodile

The event that triggers the bar fight is a dispute between Jake Grafton and a fighter pilot when the line "Fighter pukes make movies. Bomber pilots make HISTORY" is stated by Grafton. One of the fighter pilot's cohorts calls McRae a derogatory term and during the bar fight McRae tosses him into the cage.

There is a humorous post-fight scene back at the aircraft carrier where the captain is chewing out some of his pilots for being involved. In summarizing the event he says "Seven hundred bucks damage, thirty men in the brig and... an alligator injured". (Even though Cool Hand has already corrected the captain on the animal being a crocodile he keeps referring to it as an alligator).

Answer: Downtown Hanoi

Even though it is restricted, Grafton proposes bombing "SAM city", which was located in downtown Hanoi. It is a collection of SAM missiles located in downtown Hanoi in Resistance Park - a community park which displays hulls from US aircraft placed there to be a motivational tool and symbol of their superiority.

His reason for the proposal is seeking justice for his friend dying, as well as wanting to do a "real" mission that makes a difference. Cole's reaction is to remind him that he could have Grafton court martialed simply for making the suggestion, but later in the movie he agrees to the mission.

Answer: He abandoned his friend when they got shot down.

When Virgil Cole first arrives, the captain says he knows all about Virgil's past - particularly when when he and his friend were shot down the friend didn't make it and he did. The assumption is that Cole left his partner to die. Later in the movie it is revealed that after getting shot down, Cole's friend stepped on a landmine, but they stayed together to try and escape enemy territory.

Despite their efforts Cole's friend reminds him of a pact they made earlier that if one is injured that the other would go on. Cole did so but couldn't live with that so he turned around and went back to his friend, who by then has already been killed by enemy soldiers.

Answer: None

As is stated at the beginning of the film the A-6 Intruder carries no defensive weapons. Its defensive resources are limited to low level flying, ECM (electronic countermeasures), and flares.

Answer: Their unauthorized target has just become an authorized one.

After the pilots provide their testimony the Court-Martial Captain is informed that the President just authorized project "Linebacker II", authorizing the unrestricted bombing of all military targets in North Vietnam, which SAM city is considered - or in the words of the Court-Martial Captain "we'd look like real idiots for court-martialing an A-6 crew for doing what the President of the United States just told us to do".

Answer: "I will fear no evil..." Psalm 23:4

As Virgil Cole focuses on the bombing run, Jake Grafton spoke the following passage: "I walk through the dark valley (quick scene break) I will fear no evil (quick scene break) for you are with me (quick scene break) your rod and your staff (quick scene break) they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)