Putting Nazi Weapons in Jewish Hands: A Wing and a Prayer on PBS

The Public Diplomat

A popular PBS documentary, A Wing and a Prayer tells the little-known story of World War II aviators who risked their lives and American citizenships in 1948 to prevent what they viewed as an impending second Holocaust. Written, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Boaz Dvir (Jessie’s Dad, Discovering Gloria), A Wing and a Prayer features firsthand accounts of daring escapes and heart-pounding action. Dvir, a Penn State University journalism and film faculty member, secured exclusive interviews with operation leader Al Schwimmer, chief pilot Sam Lewis and lead crewmember Eddie Styrak, a Polish Christian, among others. These tell-all interviews provide rich detail about a group of Jews and Christians who helped reshape history, yet have been forgotten by history books. Aiming to change that, Dvir has presented A Wing and a Prayer at prestigious venues around the world, including the Center for Jewish History in New York City, Columbia University’s Global Center in Paris and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Here’s the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryTIielRFFY Follow Dvir (@boazdvir) on Twitter. To buy the film’s DVD, which includes the longer director’s cut as well as five bonus scenes, please call 1-800-222-9728. To invite Dvir to present A Wing and a Prayer, email him at bcd14 at psu.edu.