Heroes of the Eastern Skies is a 1977 Taiwanese war film based on the true story of a small group of Chinese flying aces in 1937 at the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, specifically the Battle of Shanghai and the Battle of Nanking.
It won 6 awards at the 14th Golden Horse Awards, including Best Film and Best Director (Chang Tseng-tse).
Liang Hsiu-shen as Colonel Gao Zhihang (died 21 November 1937 in history). He was the commander of the 4th Air Force Group based in Jianqiao Airfield. He was killed by falling Japanese bombs while refueling in Zhoujiakou airfield, en route to Nanjing.
Feng Hai as Lieutenant Shen Chonghui (died 19 August 1937 in history). A man with few words, he was killed when he crashed his plane into a Japanese warship, sinking it (in actual history, he was MIA and declared dead.)
Yu Tien-lung as Lieutenant Yan Haiwen (died 17 August 1937 in history). He parachuted from his plane and was surrounded by Japanese soldiers demanding his surrender. Shouting "No captives in China's Air Force!" he committed suicide; he was buried with special honors by the Japanese army.
Chiang Bin as Second Lieutenant Li Yougan (died 18 September 1937 in history). He was killed in mid-air being strafed by enemy fighters after parachuting from his plane.
Chin Han as Major Liu Cuigang (died 26 October 1937 in history). He was killed when he crashed his plane with a Japanese tank. (In actual history, his death was due to an accident while flying to Taiyuan city to assume command of the 28th Pursuit Group from wounded Captain Chan Kee-Wong.)
Lee Ching as Ye Rongran, Gao's wife.
Sally Chen as Xu Xilin, Liu's wife.
Terry Hu as Zheng Qiuxia, Li's wife.
Carter Wong as a Japanese pilot.
Awards and nominations
1977 - 14th Golden Horse Awards
Won - Best Feature Film
Won - Chang Tseng-tse, Best Director
Won - Ho Hsiao-chung, Best Screenplay
Won - Lin Hung-tsung, Best Cinematography
Won - Wang Chi-yang, Best Editing
Won - Hsin Chiang-sheng, Best sound recording
Nominated - Liang Hsiu-shen, Best Actor
