Kampf in den Wolken (1943) was reportedly director Steven Spielberg's favorite and remade by him in 1989. Spielberg's film, entitled Always - Der Feuerengel von Montana (1989), starred Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and Brad Johnson in the principal roles, as the same Pete Sandich, Durinda Durston and Al Yackey. The characters of "Ted" and "Nails" were also included. The setting of that film was updated to the present and centered on the activities of forest fire-fighting pilots. Spielberg also included a clip from 'A Guy Named Joe' in his film Poltergeist (1982).
Three weeks after Van Johnson ("Ted Randall") began shooting his scenes, he was critically injured in an automobile accident on 31 March 1943; the next day, MGM announced they would replace him---reportedly with either John Hodiak or Peter Lawford. But Spencer Tracy, a close friend and mentor, insisted that they shoot around him during his convalescence. Johnson didn't return to work until the first week in July of 1943, more than three months later.
This picture was featured as MGM's big Christmas spectacular of 1943.
Along with Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne insisted the film's production be halted until Van Johnson was well after his auto accident, in which he was seriously injured. During this period, MGM snatched Dunne up to make The White Cliffs of Dover (1944), released the following year as the MGM 20th Anniversary film. As a thank you for her gratitude, Johnson appears in a small role in 'Dover.'