"Jay Honeck" wrote:
And, as long as we're
picking nits, landing at night or in no-man's land was a bit over the
top, too.

Such an incident really appears to have taken place, according to the
movie's FAQ, http://www.mgm.com/flyboys/pdf/real_vs_reel.pdf :

"-Could a pilot actually land and take off at night from behind enemy
lines?

From AVIATION CENTURY: “....Warneford recovered control of his
aircraft and completed a forced landing in the dark behind enemy lines.
After being on the ground for 35 minutes and repairing a broken fuel line
with a piece of a cigarette holder, he got airborne again and made his way
back to base.” Night landings – forced or intentional – were more
survivable than might be imagined."