Maps of Movies
Wings (1927)
Where Wings says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The French front of Wings was built around San Antonio, Texas: an airfield, a battle camp, and a sky over Kelly Field
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Scenes and places
Two rivals in one small town (1918)
Jack and David are rivals for Sylvia, and neither notices that Mary, the girl next door, is in love with Jack. Enlisting as pilots is their way out.
Set in Hometown, small American town (unnamed) — The unnamed small town where Jack and David compete for the same girl while Mary waits next door.
The film never names the town, and no source says where it was shot.
Boxing it out at flight training (1918)
Jack and David start as enemies in a tough training course. A bloody boxing match shows each the other's courage and turns them into best friends.
Set in Army flight training camp (unnamed) — The camp where the rivals train as pilots and settle their quarrel in a boxing match.
A training field and a parade ground in San Antonio stand in for the camp.
Filmed at Brooks Field, San Antonio — AFI says the crew spent a year at the ground school at Brooks Field; which training scenes were shot there is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Fort Sam Houston, the Quadrangle, San Antonio — A reader comment on a Texas aviation site says scenes were filmed in the Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle; which scenes is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The airfield in France (1918)
Newly sent to France, Jack and David are billeted together with Cadet White. Their acquaintance with White is all too brief.
Set in Airfield in France (unnamed) — The front-line airfield where Jack and David share quarters with Cadet White.
A Texas flying field doubles for the French front.
Filmed at Kelly Field, San Antonio — The film was shot on location at Kelly Field; the link to this airfield scene is not stated directly. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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A night off in Paris (1918)
Mary, now an ambulance driver, finds the famous ace Jack while he is on leave. He is too drunk to recognize her.
Set in Paris — Paris on wartime leave, where Mary finds Jack. Google Maps · Apple Maps
No source says where the Paris scenes were shot.
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel (1918)
The epic Battle of Saint-Mihiel is the climax for Jack and David. Thousands of extras fight on a battlefield built for the film.
Set in Saint-Mihiel battlefield, France — The great battle the film builds to, recreated with thousands of soldiers. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A military camp in the Texas hills stands in for a French battlefield.
Filmed at Camp Stanley, north of San Antonio — The recreation of the battle was shot on location here. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Dogfights over the front (1918)
Jack, the ace called the Shooting Star, flies into the air battles the film is known for.
Set in Skies over the front, France (no fixed place) — The air combat that made the film famous, not tied to one place.
Real Army pilots and planes were brought in for the flying.
Filmed at Kelly Field, San Antonio (air) — AFI says the aerial sequences were shot above Kelly Field. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Home after the war (1918)
The war is over and Jack comes home to a hero's welcome. The story returns to the people he left behind.
Set in Hometown and the Armstrong home (unnamed) — Back in the small town where the story began.
No source says where the homecoming scenes were shot.
Characters
- Jack Powell — A small-town young man who enlists as a combat pilot.
- David Armstrong — Jack's rival from the same town, who becomes his closest friend.
- Mary Preston — The girl next door, in love with Jack, who joins the war as an ambulance driver.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in Wings really filmed?
- Where in Texas did Wings build its French airfield?