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Rescue Dawn
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Rescue Dawn is a 2006 war film by director Werner Herzog, based on Herzog's 1997 documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. The film tells the story of German-American fighter pilot Dieter Dengler, who was shot down over Laos during the Vietnam War and escaped from a prisoner-of-war camp of the Pathet Lao, who were allied with North Vietnam and the Vietcong, at great risk to his life.
The following weapons were used in the film Rescue Dawn:
Rifles
AK-47
A large number of the Vietcong carry what appear to be milled receiver AK-47s. Gene DeBruin (Jeremy Davies) later acquires one during the escape from the POW camp in Laos.
Type 56
The Chinese version of the Russian AK-47, the Type 56 rifle is most seen in the film, usually by Pathet Lao troops and later acquired by the escaping American Prisoners.
Type 56-1
Used in great numbers in the film are the Type 56-1 variant, aka the underfolding stock version of the Type 56 rifle.
Type 56 SKS
Another weapon used extensively by the Pathet Lao are SKS semi-automatic rifles. An interesting note is that the majority of them do not have the under-folded bayonets attached. One is later acquired by Duane Martin (Steve Zahn) during his escape from the POW camp with Dengler.
Simonov Type 45 SKS
Mosin Nagant M44
A skinny villager is seen wielding a Mosin Nagant M44 Carbine with the bayonet removed.
M16 (SP1)
When Dieter Dengler finally gets picked up by American forces, one of the soldiers on board the helicopter can be seen with a slab side M16 (aka SP1) with a three-pronged flash hider.
M16A1
Only seen in the film at the Thai Army base, all of the Thai soldiers have M16A1 Rifles. Since the film takes place in 1965, this is a complete anachronism. Historically the XM16E1 was introduced in 1965, however, these have birdcage flash hiders and the more similar M16A1 was not introduced until 1967.
Submachine Guns
PPS-43
A PPS-43 is seen briefly in the hands of a Laotian fighter.
M3A1 "Grease Gun"
An M3A1 "Grease Gun" is seen in the hands of a female Pathet Low soldier. The extended dust cover/ejection port distinguishes it as the A1 variant.
MAT-49
Another weapon seen was the French MAT-49. In an interesting scene, one of the prison guards is playing around with the gun and he accidentally fires it and drops it to the ground with the gun still firing causing bullets to fly all around the vicinity nearly hitting everyone close by.
Handguns
Tokarev TT-33
Seen from a distance, a Laotian officer wields a TT-33 pistol.
Colt M1911A1
An M1911A1 pistol is seen in the holster of a rescue pilot rushing Dengler to the hospital. It is seen in the black leather issued holster, it is also seen ditched by Dengler early in the movie.
Colt Official Police
Seen only briefly and between blurry shots, another pilot has what appears to be a vintage Colt Official Police in his shoulder rig, evident by the older style grips and frame.
Other
Type 69 Rocket Launcher
A guerrilla fighter runs through the forest with a Type 69 Chinese Rocket Launcher, with RPG-2 style rocket-heads. This is another anachronism since the only rocket launcher available to these forces in 1965 would be the RPG-2 aka the Chinese B-40 rocket.
Model 24 Stielhandgranates
Rather anachronistically, the Pathet Lao soldiers don't carry the shorter Chinese Type II stick grenades, but the longer German Model 24 Stielhandgranate stick grenades of World War II vintage.
M60D
When Dengler finally gets picked up by American forces, an M60D can be seen mounted on board the helicopter that picks him up.
Trivia
Huey Helicopters
When Dengler is rescued, the helicopters are UH-1Ds which were correct (they were introduced in 1963) and supplemented the A,B & C models operating in Vietnam. However, their paint job is woodland camo, which is not correct.
In a continuity error, however, the helicopters change into UH-1N twin turbine variant from the 1970s (first introduced in late 1969), when they approach the Thai Army Base. Note: In the film, Dengler is trying to reach Thailand via the Mekong River. However, exactly where the base is at the end of the film is not clear, but technically Thailand tried to maintain its neutrality during the conflict and it is doubtful they would have a large military base with so many Americans openly working there.
SPH-4 Helicopter Pilot Helmets
Inexplicably, the Skyraider pilots wear SPH-4 Helicopter Pilot helmets from the 1970s, all missing their visor assemblies. Not only is this anachronistic, it makes no sense, as the pilots have no eye protection.
Modern Footwear
Being that boots are such a strong plot point in the film, the film falters in showing obviously modern boots. The jungle boots have the thick Panama Tread (which is circa 1980s), the black leather boots are Corcoran soft leather duty boots and Dengler's boots are brown civilian lumberjack boots. The only period footwear is the black low quarters boots (center of image) which actually look like German NATO boots.
