11:02am UK, Monday September 15, 2003

Tom Cruise is set to star in a movie re-run of the Battle of Britain that suggests an American had a lot to do with winning it.

180 Tom Cruise serious looking

Cruise to star in controversial war film

Cruise will play US airman Billy Fiske in the new film, which, to the fury of RAF veterans, bears the provisional title of The Few.

The script has him lead the Allies to victory over the Luftwaffe, despite the fact that the real Fiske only ever flew three combat missions.

One of just 12 Americans involved in the World War II battle, Fiske never downed a German plane and was killed when he crash-landed his aircraft.

An industry insider told the Daily Star the film would never sell if a Briton had the starring role.

"The hero must be American. The public wouldn't have it any other way. To get bums on seats the writers twist the facts."

Hollywood has been making a habit of rewriting history in favour of the Americans.

Saving Private Ryan scarcely mentioned the British and Canadian contribution to D-Day and U-571 had the US - not the Royal - navy capture the Nazis' Enigma codebook.