A gripping 1930 pre-Code war drama directed by Howard Hawks, The Dawn Patrol is a raw and realistic portrayal of the psychological toll on British Royal Flying Corps pilots during World War I. Aces Dick Courtney (Richard Barthelmess) and Douglas Scott (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) resent their commanding officer for sending untested recruits into deadly combat, only to discover the crushing burden of command when the roles are reversed. Celebrated for its groundbreaking aerial combat sequences, anti-war sentiment, and Hawks' authentic direction (drawing from his own experience as a flight instructor), the film won the Academy Award for Best Story. Its iconic flying footage was later reused in the 1938 remake of the same name.