Going to see "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" was a seminal moment for me, (if that's the right word). As a totally aeroplane-mad kid, I loved all the aeroplane and war-ie stuff in it, including Mickie Rooney's top hat and scarf, (did the pilot have to 'stir the soup' quite to that degree in a 'Dragonfly' in the hover? - it doesn't matter, I loved it all, unreservedly).
But the bathhouse scene in Japan made me realise there was another aspect to life other than aeroplanes.... Grace Kelly in that white swimsuit.... (Or am I getting confused with the white swimsuit she wore in 'High Society'? Was it a white bathrobe in 'Bridges'? - doesn't matter.) Lump in the throat stuff - (or was the lump a foot or two below my adolescent throat?) - and knowing she got it all orf and was naked in that steamy water with lucky ole Bill and the Japanese couple.... in 1950's provincial Orstralya, that amounted to hard core Saturday arvo porn.
On to Steve McQueen and 'The War Lover'... great movie. I was reminded of that movie every time I flew formation and saw only my aircraft with the halo around it - and all the other aircraft in the formation 'unblessed', without the ring of light.
Even today, whenever I break out of cloud with the sun behind me and see the halo around my lone aircraft, McQueen's character's comment to his crew in 'The War Lover' comes to mind.