History Channel Program Spotlights WWII Hero Alex Vraciu '41

December 8, 2006

December 8, 2006, Greencastle, Ind. - Alex Vraciu, the celebrated World War II Navy pilot and 1941 graduate of DePauw University, is featured in an episode of the History Channel series Dogfights. A segment entitled "The Zero Killer" airs several times in the next few days, including Saturday at 2 a.m. and Tuesday at 11 p.m.

A synopsis of the program states, "It's 1943 and the skies over the Pacific are filled with the infamous Japanese Zero fighter. They are decimating all American aircraft; no allied plane can match Japan's deadliest fighter plane. The American Navy rushes to deploy a new fighter to take on the unstoppable Zero... the F6F Hellcat. The Zero has met its match. Now, you're in the cockpit with legendary dogfighters Robert Duncan, Hamilton McWhorter and Alex Vraciu, whose epic dogfights blazed a new chapter in the annals of aerial warfare. We recreate famous battles using state of the art computer graphics. Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. Rare archival footage, first-hand accounts and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics."

Learn more by clicking here.

Efforts continue to honor Vraciu with the Medal of Honor for his service to America. Read more in this previous article.

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