History Main / SittingDuck

* Used in both series of ''Franchise/{{Battlestar Galactica}}'', in different ways. In the [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaClassic original series]], the Cylons planned to attack the ''[[TheBattlestar Galactica]]'' while all of her pilots were being honored at a party on the planet Carillon. Fortunately, Commander Adama was far too GenreSavvy to let that happen, and came up with a BatmanGambit of his own.
** In [[{{Series/BattleStarGalacticaReimagined}} the reboot series]], the Cylons were able to ''[[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard invoke]]'' this trope via a computer virus that [[EverythingIsOnline remotely shut down all of the Colonial fleet's systems]], leaving their ships adrift in space at the [[CurbstompBattle worst possible moment]].

->''"Your ships are very impressive in the air, or in space, [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy but at this moment]], [[MagnificentBastard they are on the ground]]."''

* ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''ToraToraTora'', obviously. In ''ToraToraTora'', one of the American commanders is GenreSavvy enough to have some of his planes dispersed to various auxiliary airstrips to avoid keeping all of his eggs in one basket. Otherwise, he is bound by his orders to gather the planes together in the middle of the airfields to protect them from saboteurs, which plays directly into the Japanese attack plan.

* ''Film/DasBoot''. The U-boat manages to survive every attempt to sink it, until it reaches harbour only to get sunk by an Allied air raid where it cannot [[DiveDiveDive dive to safety]].

* ''Film/DasBoot''. The U-boat manages to survive every attempt to sink it, until it reaches harbour only to get sunk by an Allied air raid.

* The Wolf Pack arc of ''{{Area 88}}'' focuses on a mercenary group who destroy most of the planes at Area 88 while they're on the ground.

Historically, a combat pilot would get no credit for destroying an enemy plane while it was still on the ground, until the Americans began to grant credit for such kills during WorldWarII[[note]]It was decided that it was better to destroy a German fighter on the ground rather than risk letting it take down an American bomber or two in the air later.[[/note]]. It was theoretically possible to become an ace by only destroying planes on the ground, although German airfields tended to be very heavily defended by [[MoreDakka anti-aircraft batteries]] that could do wonders for shortening your flying career.

* As GDI in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'', you are told to infiltrate and then attack a Nod Weapons depot before they can deploy their tanks against you. Which is a good thing, as the sheer mass of tanks takes up a quarter of the map. However, They aren't crewed, so you get some satisfying target practice after the pain it is to [[ ThatOneLevel infiltrate the base in the first place]].

* In the pilot for ''Series/BuckRogersInTheTwentyFifthCentury'', by DressingAsTheEnemy, Buck is able to put bombs in the tailpipes of almost all of the Draconian attack fighters while they are preparing to launch.

* The Japanese raids on [[WorldWarII Pearl Harbor and the Philippines]], catching the American Pacific Fleet and the hundreds of planes, bunched together to prevent sabotage, based on Oahu flat-footed as big easy targets for the Japanese to destroy, is quite possibly the TropeCodifier. Although the Imperial Japanese Navy failed in their ''primary'' objective, the destruction of the American carriers, and contributed to the US entering the war, it was a punishing blow for the unprepared American forces. It would be six months before the Allies could regain the initiative and start pushing the Japanese back.

Historically, a combat pilot would get no credit for destroying an enemy plane while it was still on the ground, until the Americans began to grant credit for such kills during WorldWarII[[hottip:*: It was decided that it was better to destroy a German fighter on the ground rather than risk letting it take down an American bomber or two in the air later.]]. It was theoretically possible to become an ace by only destroying planes on the ground, although German airfields tended to be very heavily defended by [[MoreDakka anti-aircraft batteries]] that could do wonders for shortening your flying career.

* ''Film/PearlHarbor'' and ''ToraToraTora'', obviously.

* In the VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}, approaching a landed UFO is a very tricky and dangerous business, but if it works out, its as good as yours.

* ''BlackSheepSquadron'': {{Lampshaded}} by the narrator in one episode to show how a particular new pilot was both [[TooDumbToLive very foolish]] ''and'' very good. He attempted to take off while being strafed by Japanese Zeroes, and somehow managed to get up in the air AND get behind the planes that had just been flying behind him trying to shoot him up. He still gets [[WhatTheHellHero chewed out]] for trying that to begin with.

** Also averts this trope a few times, with ''you'' being the sitting duck after being on the recieving end of a surprise attack on your base or needing to refuel mid-combat. Slowly taxiing to the runway while fuel trucks and hangars are bombed to oblivion around you is one of the most intense scenes in the game.

* In the VideoGame/{{Halo}} series, all Covenant spacecraft have DeflectorShields that reduce humanity's [[MaccrossMissileMassacre Archer missiles]] into a WorfBarrage. Once they go down for whatever reason, those same missiles prove to be quite effective. In particular, the first mission in the fourth game has the player shred an entire cruiser with a measly two missile pods.

* In the pilot for ''BuckRogersInThe25thCentury'', by DressingAsTheEnemy, Buck is able to put bombs in the tailpipes of almost all of the Draconian attack fighters while they are preparing to launch.

* ''SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow''. Dr. Totenkopf's robot aircraft catch Sky Captain's planes on the ground (and in their hangers), almost completely wiping them out. Only Sky Captain's plane manages to get off the ground.