Sharp-eyed readers, particularly those with an interest in aviation, may have noticed a somewhat disturbing bit of information at the end of a photograph caption on page A5 of Tuesday's paper.

The photo was of a T-6 fighter plane painted to look like a Zero, the aircraft the Japanese used to wreak havoc in the Pacific during World War II, including the attack that drew the United States into the fighting.

The replica Zero was part of a group of aircraft on its way to the Alberta International Airshow, where, the caption said, "they will re-create the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor."

Granted this show would be taking place on Canadian soil and not in the same country that had- 2,117 of its Marines and sailors killed in the raid to be re-enacted. But even so - and Canada was, after all, part of the Allies - to depict such a day of tragedy for the purpose of entertainment seems risking an ascension to the height of crassness.

When Enola Gay pilot Paul Tibbets died last fall at age 92, a portion of the obituary circulated by the Associated Press referred to how he had drawn criticism for a re-creation of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima - complete with mushroom cloud.

As an Air Force flyer Tibbets was a hero, and he always said his conscience was clear over the thousands of deaths the bomb had caused, but in re-enacting that mission just for show he disrespected himself as well as those who died.

In general, war as entertainment is a tricky business from an ethics standpoint. Realistic and thoughtful movies like, for example, "Saving Private Ryan," released 10 years ago today, tend to be lifted by their excellence and educational value above the clouds of reproach. Lesser works that seem mainly to glorify violence do not.

Here's hoping this weekend's re-enactment - provided by a group of pilots from Texas, by the way - is as heavy on history and honor as it is on the din of planes and munitions. (Steve Lundeberg)