The first space battle on film?

I just watched the old Japanese movie (1957) Battle in Outer Space for the first time since I was a kid. The special effects and film making are actually better than I remembered.

And as I'm watching the rocket ships battle the horseshoe crab saucers in space, it occurred to me that this may have been the first depiction of an outer space battle.

Earth vs. Flying Saucers and War of the Worlds took place on Earth. Even the early Flash Gordon ship to ship battles took place within planetary atmospheres. Can anyone remember an earlier space battle?

Originally posted by Kunsoo
I just watched the old Japanese movie (1957) Battle in Outer Space for the first time since I was a kid. The special effects and film making are actually better than I remembered.

And as I'm watching the rocket ships battle the horseshoe crab saucers in space, it occurred to me that this may have been the first depiction of an outer space battle.

Eart ...[text shortened]... battles took place within planetary atmospheres. Can anyone remember an earlier space battle?

Originally posted by Kunsoo
I just watched the old Japanese movie (1957) Battle in Outer Space for the first time since I was a kid. The special effects and film making are actually better than I remembered.

And as I'm watching the rocket ships battle the horseshoe crab saucers in space, it occurred to me that this may have been the first depiction of an outer space battle.

Eart ...[text shortened]... battles took place within planetary atmospheres. Can anyone remember an earlier space battle?

Originally posted by avalanchethecat
Memory is hazy, but I think there were a couple of space battles in the original series of Flash Gordon which was '54 & '55.