For the BBC Radio 2 show often referred to as the "Dawn Patrol", see Sarah Kennedy Radio Two is one of the BBCs national radio stations and is the most popular station in the UK. It broadcasts throughout the UK on FM radio between 88 and 91 MHz from its studios in Broadcasting House. ... Sarah Mary Kennedy MBE is a British broadcaster, born July 8, 1950. ...

The Dawn Patrol is a 1930 World War I film starring Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. It was directed by Howard Hawks. 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Clockwise from top: Trenches in frontline, a British Mark I Tank crossing a trench, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Irresistible sinking after striking a mine at the battle of the Dardanelles, a Vickers machine gun crew with gas masks and a Sopwith Camel biplane. ... Richard (Dick) Barthelmess (May 9, 1895 - August 17, 1963) was a silent film star. ... Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. ... Howard Hawks Howard Hawks (May 30, 1896 – December 26, 1977) was an American film director, producer and writer of the classic Hollywood era. ...

It was remade in 1938 by Edmund Golding with Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone in the leading roles. It also featured David Niven. 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, one of his most famous roles Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 – October 14, 1959), was an Australian - American film actor born in Hobart, Tasmania, most famous for his romantic swashbuckler roles. ... Basil Rathbone Basil Rathbone (June 13, 1892 – July 21, 1967) was an English actor most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and swashbuckler film villain roles. ... David Niven was the second unofficial James Bond. ...

The story revolves around the pilots and crew of an RAF airbase, who deal with the stress of combat primarily through nightly bouts of heavy drinking. RAF is an three letter acronym for: Royal Air Force -- the Air Force of the United Kingdom (see also Air Ministry) Red Army Faction (Rote Armee Fraktion) -- a German terror organisation Rigas Autobusu Fabrika -- a factory making buses in Riga, Latvia Rapid Action Force in India Računarski Fakultet RAF...

The two aces of the group, Courtney (Barthelmess/Flynn) and Scott (Fairbanks/Niven), have come to hate the commanding officer, Brand (Hamilton/Rathbone), blaming him for sending fresh pilots directly into combat. Unknown to them, Brand has been arguing continually with his commanders to allow him practice time with the new pilots, but command is desperate to maintain air superiority and orders them into combat as soon as they arrive. Brand is so disliked by the two he can't even easily join the men for the nightly partying, drinking alone and clearly breaking under the strain.

The tension grows worse when an elite German squadron, implied to be the Red Baron's, takes up position on the line across from them. After losing several of the squadron's long-timers the ranks become increasingly made up of new recruits, who have absolutly no chance against the Germans. In the midst of this Brand is recalled to headquarters and Courtney is promoted to commander.

It is not long before he also learns of the impossibility of the job, and his relationship with Scott quickly sours. Things grow considerably worse when his brother appears as one of the fresh recruits. He then goes through his own pleading with headquarters, only to be refused, and his brother is killed on his first mission.

The film ends when Courtney eventually discovers the only way out: after learning of what amounts to a suicide mission far behind enemy lines, he "steals" the loaded plane out from under Scott who had volunteered to take it.

The film is one of the first in which Rathbone and Flynn had to act "out of character", and both rise to the occasion with aplomb. Rathbone's portrail of the stressed-out Major Brand is particularly convincing.