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Broken Arrow - S2-E9

Factual error: An unidentified airplane has crossed into Canadian airspace. The pilot flying right seat orders the left seat pilot to climb to 15,000 feet. This in itself is odd, because the Aircraft Commander flies the left seat, and bombers would be much higher than that in the first place. The pilot advances four throttles to initiate the climb, typical of a four engine reciprocating engine plane. When we see an outside shot what is shown is a twin engine jet aircraft. And the interior shots of the wreckage later are also wrong for the era too. (00:02:00)

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The Men in Black - S2-E5

Factual error: An assistant to the Captain is wearing an Air Force uniform (as she should be). But it has no stripes on the sleeves. This would denote an Airman Basic. But no Airman Basic is going to be in an administrative position. (00:14:10)

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Hopkinsville - S2-E4

Factual error: Dr. Hynek's wife dials a phone number to contact a club member. She dials four digits. Four digit telephone numbers were in use in the 1910s, and five digit numbers in the 1920s. By the 1950s, when this show takes place, there were even area codes and seven digit numbers already in use. (00:16:40)

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The Roswell Incident - Part I - S2-E1

Factual error: General Harding is asked what will happen to a civilian caught trying to fight the Air Force air police personnel. He responds that he will go to a military tribunal. That is not correct. First of all, the defendant is a civilian and not subject to military authority. This has been so since 1866 when the Supreme Court ruled such a venue unconstitutional. Of note, the incident took place outside of Federal jurisdiction. So, no, he would would have to be turned over to civilian authorities and tried under civilian jurisdiction. (00:37:45)

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The Roswell Incident - Part I - S2-E1

Factual error: General Harding continues to walk around out of uniform, with just his hat showing any kind of Air Force affiliation. General officers have three pairs of clouds and lightning bolts (colloquially known as "farts and darts") on either side of the bill. The show shows him using one with only two pairs per side. What he is wearing is appropriate only for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels. He is using a nondescript khaki shirt with absolutely NO rank on it. No distinctive insignia or decorations at all. While this shirt is authorized when worn with the service coat, it is not authorized for use alone.

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War Games - S1-E8

Factual error: An Army Lieutenant comes in to announce a phone call. His fatigues have the top button buttoned. Not authorized. An exception is when a person is at the firing range. The top button can be buttoned while in firing position to prevent shell casings from dropping inside the shirt. (00:18:05)

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War Games - S1-E8

Factual error: An Army Sergeant would under no circumstances be allowed to disrespect a Captain as he does Captain Quinn. (00:21:30)

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War Games - S1-E8

Factual error: An entire platoon of Army soldiers salutes a civilian, which would never happen. (00:27:45)

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War Games - S1-E8

Factual error: Army enlisted men were not allowed to sport scraggly beards in the early 1950s. (00:30:30)

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War Games - S1-E8

Factual error: Dr. Hynek is showing a movie on a table projector. The light from the projector is shown directed towards a portable movie screen, and is covering maybe the center quarter of the screen. In the next shot the movie is occupying the entire screen. There is no way the projector being that close to the screen would show a full screen image. It would need a special wide angle lens, which the projector does not have, as shown by the tight beam of light from it. (00:03:40)

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War Games - S1-E8

Factual error: General officer topcoats have two mohair stripes on the sleeve. The general wearing the topcoat has none. Second, hands in pockets are not allowed. Regulations state: "members will not... stand or walk with hands in pockets of any uniform combination, other than to insert or remove items." Third, it is unauthorized to turn up collars when it is cold. Gray scarves can be used. Also, the generals both have their 4-star shoulder insignias backwards. The points of the stars parallel to the epaulets should be towards the neck. (00:16:30)

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The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: Captain Quinn refers to the civilian they have just seen as Secretary of Defense Fairchild. In the early 1950s the Secretary of Defense was Robert A. Lovett. The Secretary of the Air Force was Thomas K. Finletter. Nowhere was Fairchild ever SecDef or SecAF. This from a show that purports to be based on real events. (00:10:20)

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The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: A Master Sergeant is being interrogated. Captain Quinn is reading his ID Card. The card has an expiration date of "Indefinite." Enlisted personnel have a expiration date that coincides with their term of enlistment. Only officers have an "Indefinite" expiration date. (00:15:00)

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The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: A man in unmarked coveralls is addressed as "sir." This would imply he is an officer. Yet later, it is revealed that he is a Master Sergeant. Sergeants are never addressed as "sir." (00:08:00 - 00:14:50)

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The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: The Secretary of the Air Force enters a room. A captain not in uniform salutes him. You do not salute out of uniform, and you do not salute civilians. You stand at attention. (00:09:20)

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The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: A vehicle is shown with US Army markings and a "US Government" license plate. First of all this is an Air Force Base, and a US Army vehicle would be the exception. Second, license plates on otherwise identified military vehicles are not used. Third, the license plate is of the 1990s variety and forward, and not one that would be used in 1952. (00:01:50)

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The Green Fireballs - S1-E6

Factual error: Military personnel are seen using coveralls and fatigues. But they have no markings or insignia on them. This is not regulation. (00:02:10)

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The Lubbock Lights - S1-E3

Factual error: A US Air Force Staff Sergeant is seen delivering some documents. He is wearing Navigator wings. There are no enlisted navigators. Navigators are all officers. (00:20:45)

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The Flatwoods Monster - S1-E2

Factual error: Air Force personnel are retrieving supposedly alien debris from a forest. They are wearing dress blues, ties and all. This would never happen. They should be wearing what were then called "fatigues", essentially a precursor of the BDUs in use today. (00:16:00)

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Show generally

Factual error: Military personnel do not exchange salutes when indoors. (00:20:15)

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