Original subtitles

Norman Francis Vanderveer.

Right where I left you.

Didn't you promise never to walk through

that door again?

Yeah, well.

Make a lot of promises when you're

puking up a gallon of my ties.

Good to see you. Good to see you, too,

Jim.

You're back from your exile in Panama.

As a matter of fact, I am.

We asked Navy real nice we come back to

Pearl.

Surprisingly, they said yes. Yeah.

You always were persuasive. It wasn't

just me.

When I told the brass that Norman

Vanderveer wasn't having any fun without

me, they signed the orders right away.

Yeah.

Wish I had known about my amazing

influential name before.

Welcome home.

It's damn good to be back.

I swear. Panama must be what hell is

like. It's hot, there are mosquitoes the

size of birds, and crocodiles.

Crocodiles? Mhm.

So, where's your band of misfits? Uh

well, they hit Hotel Street as soon as

we hit the dock. I came here on account

of the fact that you owe me so many

drinks.

>> Well, you're way behind.

What will it be, Lieutenant?

>> Let's get a

whiskey and soda.

>> That I can do.

>> I'm going to lose the letter, too.

Some beautiful hula girl?

>> I shucks, Lieutenant. I'm just writing

my ma.

Yeah, the only girl in my life is the

Big E.

Big

E. She is one hell of a lady, huh?

She's got men inside of her 24 hours a

day.

>> Jealously, such an ugly thing.

>> No, no, it's not jealousy. It's that I

happen to have a new lady in my life as

well, thanks for asking.

>> Okay.

>> Brand new PBY Catalina.

>> Wow, congratulations.

>> Thank you. You know, she's a real

beauty. Faster and sexier than the old

model.

Which one is now?

>> Well, the Dauntless is no speed demon,

but

pretty sure you wouldn't want to race

me.

>> Sure she's fast in a dive,

but how fast is she in the water?

>> I hope I never find that out.

>> Agreed.

Cheers, buddy.

>> This morning, the Japanese attacked

Midway Island.

The United States of America was

suddenly and deliberately attacked by

naval and air forces of the Empire of

Japan.

I ask

that the Congress declare

that since the unprovoked

and dastardly attack

by Japan

on a Sunday, December 7th,

1941,

a state of war

has existed

between the United States

and the Japanese Empire.

>> You tell the ladies you're a Helldiver

and they just swoon.

>> I haven't flown a biplane since

training.

>> That's not the point. They hear

Helldivers and they think of the movie,

they think of Clark Gable. Then you're

in.

>> I don't even know what this movie's

about besides Helldivers. And I can't

dance.

>> There wasn't no dancing in it. You're

thinking of Gene Kelly.

>> No, I'm not.

>> He danced in that movie, that big number

with Norma Shearer.

>> It Happened One Night?

>> Yeah.

>> You saw a stinker like that, but you

didn't see a classic like Helldivers?

>> I guess not.

>> That's a damn disgrace of a naval

aviator who hasn't seen Helldivers.

>> Prepare to launch plane.

Prepare to launch plane.

>> We've completed our turn into the wind,

sir. We're ready to launch on your word.

>> Get the planes in the air.

>> Aye, sir.

>> Get ready.

>> Launch, launch, launch.

>> Aye, aye, sir.

>> Clear the flight deck.

>> When we get back to Pearl, I have to

catch that Helldiver flick.

>> You'll love it. You'll be using it to

pick up the clean girls in port before

you know it.

>> Can't wait.

>> Good hunting, Ramsey.

>> Good hunting.

>> Pilots, start your engines.

>> Morning, Lee.

>> Morning, sir.

>> Don't tell me you've been sitting here

since reveille.

>> No, sir.

Well,

not entirely, sir.

>> So, you did the pre-flight checks then?

>> Twice, sir.

>> Why twice?

>> There's been some mechanical problems

with the SBDs this morning.

I didn't want to be one of them.

>> That's good thinking.

I'd hate for us to get all dressed up

and have nowhere to go.

>> Looks like we're up, sir.

>> You ready?

>> I'm excited, sir. Just uh

a little nervous.

>> That's totally healthy.

I'll never forget how nervous I was the

first time I did a night takeoff.

>> You serious?

You took off a carrier at night?

>> Not exactly.

A night takeoff is where you throttle up

off the deck with your eyes closed.

>> Really?

Sir?

>> Hold on.

It's always the worst part.

>> Launch plane.

Launch plane.

>> Remember,

if anything happens, don't panic.

>> All right, if we end up in the drink on

the takeoff,

>> there's a beautiful destroyer there

waiting to pick us up.

>> All right, sir.

Here we go!

Woohoo!

Right at the rail, huh?

You'll always remember your first time.

Absolutely, sir.

Be a hell of a lot better once we sink

some [ __ ] carriers.

Walling into formation with VB-6.

Does it?

Does it always take this long?

No.

And Pop says Browning probably hasn't

crawled out of bed yet to give us

>> Go ahead.

>> Yeah.

I don't

It looks like more mechanicals down

there to me.

>> Probably.

>> But I like my version better.

Either way, it's better up here than

down there.

Going to be a shitty day to push planes.

>> You're damn right, sir.

>> Gunner?

>> I'm ready for some action.

>> As long as the wildcats are doing their

job, probably won't see a whole lot.

>> Sir?

>> I see it.

So does McClusky pulling into formation.

>> What?

Where are the wildcats and devastators

at?

>> Huh.

Must be an old fool's operation.

Don't worry.

Wildcats know what they're doing. If all

else fails, that's what those shiny guns

are there for, right?

>> All right, sir.

>> Please tell me we're

at Rascal Flatts.

>> So,

what?

Reducing altitude.

Yeah.

Good news.

You can come off the O2.

>> Fastest taking this in.

>> Thank god.

How long

>> will we up there?

>> Got an hour and change.

>> Oh.

Yeah, an hour and change and my face

itching and my head swimming.

>> Don't let one of the heavy bomber boys

hear you worried about the O2 masks.

>> They're going to keep them on eight to

12 hours.

>> Yeah.

Better them than us, though.

>> Maybe.

Those big sons of certainly stay up a

hell of a lot longer than we do.

I'll tell you, all that circling and

reduced altitude

sure didn't do us any favors in the fuel

department.

>> That's what I like about you, sir.

You always seem to find the dark clouds

inside the

silver lining.

>> Just keep your eyes peeled for tabs and

enjoy the flight.

>> Aye, aye, sir.

Hey, Bandit here. Sir.

>> Yeah.

>> I got a

stupid question, but it never came up

during gunnery training. It's about the

plane.

>> What's that?

>> Where's the head?

>> Does it look like there's a head in this

plane?

>> No, sir.

Since I

I've been staring at this water for

hours and

I might have had too much coffee this

morning. That's all.

>> You have two options.

>> You either hold it

>> or if you look down below your seat to

the left

>> You'll see a tube.

Found it.

Be careful at this altitude.

>> Don't let your keanie accidentally touch

any metal.

>> You know what?

Think I'll just hold it.

And that's the limit. Just dry me up.

What's going on?

>> Biff just turned his ship.

>> I'm seeing red.

>> I see it.

Biff sees it, too. taking his head.

And get your ears on, it'll be a little

count for zeros.

>> We have six, baby six. I have spotted an

enemy carrier group.

>> Sir.

>> McCluskey is reporting enemy carrier

group sighting.

>> This is it.

What's our target?

HOLD ON, SIR. I'M GETTING A LOAD OF

CRAP, SIR.

>> PUT IT ON.

OPPOSITION, HEAVY FIRE FROM THE

BATTLESHIPS, carrier group

>> Did you CATCH ANY OF THAT?

Sort of.

WHAT'S OUR TARGET? THE FRONT OR THE

BACK? I DON'T KNOW.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

>> Best season

>> It's diving.

>> He's waggling his wings.

>> Already committed.

>> No, no, no.

>> Hold on.

Stop, sir.

>> SCRATCH ONE FLAT TOP.

YOU CAME BACK THERE.

I SEE YOU DOING URINATING, SIR.

STOP BRAGGING AND GUNS UP.

WE GOT MORE THAN SOGGY DOORS TO WORRY

ABOUT.

THREE ZEROS INCOMING.

CONTEST.

THREE. I SEE THREE.

THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER.

WHAT DOES SKY SAY? ONE. TWO OF THEM.

HANDS.

THERE'S ZEROS EVERYWHERE.

GUESS WE FOUND OUT WHERE THE COMBAT AIR

PATROLS were hanging around.

Two more. THREE O'CLOCK.

FIVE.

AND THEY'RE REALLY DUMB.

WELL, WE DID JUST SINK THEIR CARRIER.

WHAT?

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON ANYWAYS? HOLD THEM

OFF, MAMA.

I'M GOING TO PUT IT TO THE DEATH. YOU

GOING TO WHAT?

GOING TO WHAT? YEAH.

I DIDN'T say assistance. I'M

ON FIRE.

HOLD ON, LEE.

WE ALMOST PASSED OUR PICKET.

WE'RE IN. WE'RE IN.

YOU OKAY BACK THERE?

LEE.

LEE, you with me?

I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay.

You?

I'm all right.

WELL, I'M NOT HURT.

WHAT'S THE DAMAGE?

I DON'T EVEN

KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

OIL PRESSURE IS DROPPING.

I'M FIGHTING

HOW far away from the

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT? WHY?

FUEL LEAK.

RELAY AND TRANSMIT.

GOD.

THIS IS FBD.

6B14.

OPEN TANK AND DEAD STICK.

WE'RE MAKING A WATER LANDING 10 MI WEST

OF ENEMY FORCE.

TANK, HOLD ON.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ROUGH.

NO.

NO.

>> Take your jacket.

I've been living in a day never

You're out in the sunny

holding me tight.

And when I'm feeling alive

>> What the hell?

Which one of you jokers glued my rations

shut? Huh?

Oh, yeah, very funny. Word of advice,

you all better sleep lightly.

Hey.

Picking up some chatter.

Did they get another flat top? Hold your

damn horses, I'm listening.

It's chatter from some SPDs.

They can't find their carrier and

they're all low on fuel.

Sounds like things went a little

pear-shaped and now they're going to

have to ditch in sea.

Which carrier and how far from it? They

didn't say.

Japs could be listening, I guess.

Well,

let's get in the air. You got it. Nuss,

see if you can figure out where we think

the [ __ ] fleet was and where the carriers

are. Best guess. We'll see if we can't

find these guys. Aye, sir.

All right, boys, listen up. Lunchtime's

over.

Mansfield, report to Midway Station that

we're going to continue our scouting

operations for [ __ ] forces. On it. Nuss,

I want you to plot a course in such a

way that we might be able to find one of

these guys. You got it. Mansfield, I

want you to keep those ears on. All

right, I want you to write down anything

that you pick up. Names, positions,

anything. On it, sir. Nuss, I need a

heading and waypoint soonest.

Smokey, let's go.

Did you miss me?

Always.

Open the cow flaps. On it.

Everybody's accounted for.

Contact.

All right, everybody, heading out.

>> Damn it!

SIR!

GET OUT OF THE PLANE!

GET OUT!

GET OUT!

LET'S GO!

>> LET'S GO!

>> COME ON!

>> YOU WAIT FOR US.

>> THE RAFT! The raft!

>> Lee!

>> Lee!

>> You think we

we got it, sir?

You think we hit the flat top?

>> Yeah.

There's no way I missed it.

No way.

>> You win, win then.

>> Yeah.

Yeah.

>> We stuck it to the Japs. Now I don't

have to clean up a soaked gunnery

compartment.

>> I'm sorry.

How about the raft?

>> It's okay.

>> When does the plane start going down?

We just float here.

And watch the show.

And we'll get picked up by breakfast.

Breakfast?

What do you think they'll

they'll be having?

I want a single as That's my favorite.

What about you?

>> You got to raise your standards, Kenny.

I think it's steak and lobster.

Steak and lobster.

I want to see that woman.

>> Yeah.

I don't know.

>> All right, let's get you patched up.

>> All personnel,

incoming friendly aircraft.

>> Incoming aircraft starboard 301 on

approach.

>> Initial reports are very promising, sir.

We sunk three carriers.

>> 1400 hours. Enough time to refuel,

rearm, and send out a second sortie to

finish the job.

>> We have men in the water.

>> Yes, we do, sir.

>> Sailor, did you see that plane go down?

>> I, sir.

>> Redirect the Phelps to collect that

crew.

>> I, sir. Redirecting the Phelps.

>> We've been very successful so far, sir,

but we can't let ourselves be distracted

with rescue missions.

>> Successful?

We launched 32 planes. All of six have

returned.

>> And that is unfortunate, but what an

excellent ratio of return for three

carriers.

>> Yo, tower reporting inbound enemy

aircraft. Battle stations! Battle

stations!

>> Uh, this complicates things a bit.

I'm going to go adjust the op plan.

>> Unidentified aircraft inbound.

>> Tell the bridge I'm on my way.

>> I, sir.

>> All hands to general quarters. General

quarters.

>> That's what I'm

>> telling you, there isn't any radio

navigation beacon from anywhere but the

island.

>> Right. Okay, so we use the island, find

where we are, and then where the enemy

fleet is.

>> Which we don't know because they filed

their navigational plans with us.

>> We don't know where they were, so that's

where we're going.

>> Well, we don't know where our carriers

are. How are we going to triangulate

with only two points of reference?

>> Byangulate? Is that a thing?

>> We're just going to have to go in a

search pattern.

>> Search pattern? There's got to be like

200 miles of ocean.

>> Every damn day.

>> Hanks, could you hop down here before I

put my 45 in my mouth, please?

>> You got it, sir.

>> Hey, why don't we just ask where to

search?

>> We're already outside our mission search

area.

If we ask where to search, they're just

going to tell us to search the mission

search area.

>> Besides, if the beacon's off, they can't

answer anyway.

>> Grace, Mansfield, will up and make some

coffee.

>> Listen to you making everybody in this

boat stupid.

>> All right, nice bomb.

>> Where was the enemy fleet last known?

>> Right here.

>> Head there.

If we sunk three carriers, we're going

to see smoke and see debris.

We follow the party, we head back to

Midway in circles. We won't see any [ __ ]

carriers, but we might find a pilot or

two.

>> Good idea.

>> I'm full of them.

Be a doll, send the coffee up when it's

done, yeah?

>> On deck, the starboard watch. Relieve

the wheel and lookout.

>> The situation on the Yorktown is still

developing, but they've taken at least

two torpedoes midships and listing to

port.

But, Master's considering abandoning

her.

Well, that'll be up to Fletcher.

>> What about our planes?

>> They took a shellacking, same as us.

Lucky we have it Fletcher sent the

remaining SBDs out of the tour right

before the attack.

>> Well, obviously, there's a carrier or

two still lurking about.

>> Let the scouts find the enemy.

>> McClusky did not have kind words to say

about Captain Browning.

>> No, I

I don't expect he would.

>> I want the planes on standby, ready to

go.

Scouting six and the rest of our

armament is being fit for action.

Bro Gallagher is eager to get in the

fight.

When the scouts find them,

I want you to point the E into the wind,

get the planes in the sky.

>> Aye, aye, sir.

>> All stations, report with man and ready.

>> I better, sir. Turn to starboard 30

degrees. Guys are spotting oil slicks

and debris.

>> Yeah, I see them, too.

>> All right, boys. Keep your eyes peeled.

Look for anybody happy to see us.

>> Lee.

Wake up.

Lee, get up.

Lee.

Wake up, buddy.

>> I got two more minutes, man.

>> Wake up, buddy. Come on.

>> WHAT IS IT, MAN?

>> SORRY. SORRY.

SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

ALL RIGHT. SORRY.

>> I WAS having a dream.

I was in

a bath

with a beautiful wine girl.

>> Ugh.

>> No kidding.

>> It was hot.

With bubbles.

>> Ugh.

>> Bubbles.

>> You're going to pour emotion on me.

Let me get that patch now.

>> No offense, sir.

But I prefer my dream.

>> I like your dream better, too.

I would too.

>> I didn't hear the sound of the pickup.

>> Well, I saw a few aircraft

fly overhead, but

I think it's just a PBY.

Hello.

Good job, son. Look at that.

Now we sunk their carriers.

They got bigger problems.

How the japs over know when they've been

licked though? So.

We have to just sit here and sigh for a

while, okay?

Aid kit went down with everything else.

We're going to make do.

All right.

It's fine until the salt hits it.

And then it burns down to my fingers to

the tallest. All right.

I'm going to tie it up real tight, okay?

Okay. Yeah?

All right.

All right.

Yeah.

Lie down on this.

All right.

All right.

This is going to sting just a little.

All right.

All right, on three.

Here we go.

One.

Two.

Okay. Is that better?

Better?

Okay.

Okay.

Think they'll let us go home after this?

I just

I just want to go home.

I just want to see my mom again.

You will.

They'll send us home.

Little short leave.

We'll be good as new.

They'll send us back.

We'll have a parade.

We'll be hula girls.

Poker chips.

They'll be lays.

all the way down

hotel suite.

This is going to be great.

First round?

It's on me.

Ah, hell with that.

First round's on my classy.

It was a sad match. Thanks.

Those are ours?

Definitely.

Def.

At least 20 OF THEM.

YEAH. ME.

ME.

HEY.

HEY.

>> ME.

>> THEY'RE TOO HIGH.

They can't hear us. They can't see us.

They can't hear us.

They're probably too busy.

You know, what time do you think?

Yeah.

I hope so.

I got it.

Yeah.

They got it.

Okay, they got it.

They got it.

And the

home

of the

brave.

>> Holy Christ, that is a T-bone steak.

>> Hey boys, I think we got one.

>> English, Mansfield.

>> Man in the water, floating on his back.

>> We just flew over a poison cherry about

needles in a haystack.

>> One of ours?

>> Yeah, it's hard to tell.

>> Spread the word. Turn around, bring her

down.

>> It's a little too rough to set down.

>> Yeah, thinking the same thing.

>> We'll still run it.

>> Ugh,

not good. Just hope we don't hit those

swells like a sack of crap against the

wall.

>> I'm not particularly comfortable with

that guy behind.

>> Me either. Just pointing out we might

not be taking off for a while once we

pick him up.

>> Well, give you a chance to work on your

tan.

Hold the voice now.

>> All right boys, listen up. Water's

looking a little rough down there.

>> Great, I got some bad news, too. We got

a bogey inbound.

>> Yeah, coming right up our exhaust pipe.

>> What is it?

>> Don't know.

It's white, slow, might be a daisy.

>> Uh, that's a biplane. Can't tell that's

a biplane?

>> It's in and out of clouds. Hold on.

It's a Zero, it's an arrow.

>> Nuts.

>> [ __ ] where we are.

>> Got it.

>> Mansfield, make yourself useful and drop

that guy a boat with some crackers.

>> I got

Everybody else, hang on.

>> Whatever prayers you're saving for a

special occasion,

now would be a good time to use them.

>> Oh Jesus Christ.

>> I can't see him. Smokey, come on our

six. We're taking

>> I can't get on him.

>> I don't know where he is.

>> I can't see him.

>> Smokey, YOU GOT HIM.

>> HE'S GAINING ON US.

>> HOW'S IS BOAT COMING, MANSFIELD?

>> Working on it.

Make another pass.

>> Go the right skipper. That's where we

dropped it anywhere near that poor

bastard.

>> Well, that's why they invented swimming,

Mansfield. Or we may be racing for it if

we don't get the hell away from that

zero.

Damn it, where is he?

>> I just spotted him headed up stairs.

He's going to hit us from above.

>> That's not good.

All right, boys.

>> Eyes to the sky. If you see a meatball,

you [ __ ] strike right on him.

Go,

Smokey. Break it off. WAY TO GO, SMOKEY.

>> WOOHOO! HEY, YOU SCARED HIM OFF, SMOKEY.

>> Champion machine gun of Honolulu, you

damn right I did.

>> Skipper.

We took a few rounds in the legs. Maybe

a pontoon.

We should check it out while we still

got sunlight.

Set us down, yeah?

>> Yeah, I'll get some distance and put her

down.

>> Thanks. You okay?

>> Yeah.

>> Going to clean yours back there?

>> Take a look.

Me and Champion Machine Gun of Honolulu

ain't got nothing to do with that. That

zero had us dead to rights. He chose to

go play somewhere else in a hurry.

>> Oh, yeah. We know. But

let Smokey have his moment.

>> You think so?

>> What's that noise?

>> I don't know.

Maybe a ship along.

Sound like kind of funny on the water.

Sound travels real far.

Not sure.

>> I wish it would stop.

>> Yeah, me too.

>> Sir.

>> Norman.

>> What?

>> Call me Norman.

>> Norman.

>> Yeah.

>> I'm thirsty.

>> Me too.

Guess we know what the ancient mariner

thought like.

>> Who?

>> It's a poem.

About the sailor who shoots an

albatross.

This bird leads him out of the Arctic

and

he shoots it with a crossbow.

>> Well, why did he do that?

>> You know, it's

not particularly clear why he does it in

the poem.

The rest of the crew beats him because

they thought the bird brought the wind

with it.

They tie this albatross around the neck

of the sailor.

He wears this rotting bird around

hoping it'll bring back the wind with

his suffering, but

it doesn't come.

Instead the crew starts dying one by one

till he's the sole survivor.

I know it doesn't sound like a good

story, but

it's a

parable of swords.

In the end, this poor bastard suffers

and suffers.

He's suffering

redeemed by God

and rescued.

Hang in there, Lee.

You're going to be okay.

We both are.

>> Admiral, sir.

>> Good morning, Captain Browning.

>> Last night, the submarine Tambor

reported location of bearing of several

contacts.

I can send word to Commanders McClusky

and Gallagher to ready their pilots to

launch at first light.

>> Let them sleep.

Midway has their scouts in the air.

And if that turns out to be a landing

force,

we will need to stay put.

>> Cover the arm.

>> And if it is a fifth carrier, we will

engage

once we get confirmation.

I will not make the same mistake as

yesterday, overextend.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Oh, good.

I remember my wake up call.

Can I get you to send room service to

bring me my pancakes or is it sleep?

Lee!

LEE!

LEE!

LEE!

LEE!

DON'T GO RUNNING OFF ON ME LIKE THAT,

LEE.

Scared the crap out of me.

>> You know me.

Always running off.

Chasing tail.

>> Yeah?

Found some tail out here?

>> Learned my lesson.

>> Let me check that wound.

>> No, it's okay.

I'm okay.

No, it's it's fine.

It's getting better.

>> Let me check the damn wound, Lee.

There, you're right.

It is getting better.

>> Told you.

>> Keep those eyes open, all right?

I need you to help me spot our pick up.

I'm no good without my coffee.

Count on you.

>> Yeah, I'm on it.

I'm on it, sir.

>> You got to be cheating. You beat me four

times. Odds are not in your favor.

>> Harold, you

>> Good morning, fellas.

>> Ciao.

>> Morning, NAS.

>> The boys watered and fed?

>> Aye, sir.

>> You ready for another day of being shot

at by zeros?

>> Nope.

>> Hell, nope.

>> All right. Well,

bon appétit.

>> Okay, this Are you

You here?

>> NAS Midway just sent orders away. Airway

to scout and report any and all enemy

surface ships we come in contact with.

Relay positions.

>> We're already doing that.

>> And now we're still doing it.

And we got a search area to find.

>> All right. Well, tell the boys to weigh

anchor and uh

NAS, you just

just keep on doing your thing.

>> Okay, here we go.

Possible main body fleet sighted 700 mi,

92° off Midway, bearing 262°.

Two carriers, four light cruisers, two

heavy, six destroyers, eight troop

transporters.

>> Bring them on.

Bring them all.

Bring the long and the short and the

Bring the long and the short

>> What?

What?

What? It's just one fish.

Oh

god.

Please no. Please no.

>> It's a ray. A gray shark.

>> No.

That's right.

Does it

eat humans?

>> Not that I'm aware of.

>> They're all over the waters off Pearl.

>> When you get back, I'll take you shark

laying and you can see one

up close.

Oh no.

Thank you.

But I respectfully

decline.

>> Good to see

>> I just saw one and too close

for comfort and

I think I'm going to swear off all

things

H2O after this.

>> You say that now,

but

no one likes a land lover.

>> I'm from the sea. I speak.

Okay.

I grew up

on Erie.

Nobody

is going to call me

a land lover.

Not even you.

Sir.

>> That's a lake, McKinney.

It doesn't count.

>> I'm just from Mississippi.

>> Huh?

>> River boy.

>> Hell no.

>> I'm Hawaiian.

>> So, you play a lot.

>> Yeah.

Well,

aloha.

>> This is weird.

>> Yeah, where were we?

>> Bring them on.

Bring them on.

Bring them on

and show

them to all.

Bring them on.

>> Mhm.

>> Bring them on.

Bring them

on and you show

them to all.

>> Obviously, you don't understand. Let me

try and explain again in simpler terms.

Suicide mission. Earl and I did the math

the second we got these orders.

>> Gentlemen, clear the room.

Commander McCluskey, is there a problem?

>> They're objecting to the mission, sir.

Apparently, a heavily damaged carrier

with no ability to launch aircraft is

proving to be a formidable

>> What? Maybe so.

But I believe I was asking Commander

McCluskey.

>> He has us flying 240 miles to the target

with 1,000-lb bombs.

>> The ordinance is to assure destruction

of the target.

>> Lugging a 1,000-lb that far, you're

sentencing those men to ditch in the

sea.

We don't have enough gas to get home.

>> Per the specs of the dollars, you'll

have enough fuel to complete the

mission.

>> Sure.

If the carrier sits there quietly and

allows us to slowly fly up, drop our

payload, and slowly fly away. But what

the hell are the chances of that?

>> Commander McClusky and the pilots know

the planes better than anyone.

And I'm as eager as the next guy to sink

another carrier.

But not at the expense of more men in

the water.

We work the plan.

Allow the planes to land on the deck.

Not the ocean.

>> Aye, sir.

>> Get your men ready for action.

>> Thank you, sir.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Help.

Help.

>> I'm here, Lee.

I know, I'm in.

>> I don't

I don't want to

be in the in the

water anymore.

>> I don't either.

I can't

I can't wait anymore.

Help. Help me.

I'm trying to leave. I'm trying to

>> What can I do?

>> Tell me. Tell me what you want.

>> I want

I want to go.

>> I need you to send me the math.

Just send me the buddy.

>> I need to go home.

Yes, sir.

This

I found this way.

Back home.

Come on, come on.

Don't leave me.

Don't leave

>> Hi.

Is anybody else seeing this?

>> Yep. Looks like a couple dozen SBDs and

some Wildcats.

>> I guess they found the carriers they're

looking for.

Looks like that's our cue to go back to

Midway.

Fuel's looking a little low.

>> We got some J-cans left for gas, but

showers and real chow sound mighty good

right about now.

>> Yes, sir. Let's come around and head

home.

>> Ree.

Look.

Ree, they're going to fly right over us.

Ree, they're going to see us.

Hey.

Hey.

Help.

Help.

Down here.

Hey.

Help.

Down here. Help.

Help.

It's a

It's all right, Ree.

They had to.

They flew right over us.

Ah, good.

Good.

Good.

No. No, no.

No.

Ree.

Hey, we're going home.

We're going home.

We're going home, Mom.

We're going back.

Come on.

Come on. Get up.

We're good.

We're okay.

We're okay.

Ree.

We're safe.

We're going home.

Please, Ree.

Please.

Stop.

I really love you, Ree. I really love

you, Mom.

>> Next tag at 21:30.

>> Thank you, petty officer.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Admiral, on the bridge.

>> Ensign.

>> Turn on the running lights.

>> Belay that.

>> Admiral, we cannot turn on the running

lights, sir.

These waters are thick with Japanese

submarines. We'll be broadcasting our

location to every eye for miles around,

including our pilots. Who are not

experienced or trained to land on a

carrier in the dark.

>> Ensign.

Light the whole ship up.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Petty officer.

Light the ship, full deck and bow.

Summon the captain to the bridge.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Henry.

Light the ship, full deck and bow.

Yes, everything.

>> There they are.

Thank god.

>> I hope you realize what you're doing.

>> I'm giving our pilots a chance to land

rather than crash.

Thank you for your advice, Mr. Browning.

You are dismissed.

Good night.

>> Good night, sir.

>> Okay, sailors.

Keep your eyes open.

We have planes struggling to get home.

>> It's like the island took a few legs.

At least the dock's still here.

>> Yeah.

Be damn easy to find even without a

radio beacon.

>> I think even some of the airfields are

on fire.

>> Yeah, the island was

leaving before the Japs anyway.

>> Looks like we're all tied down. You boys

need anything else from me?

>> Nah, I think we're good.

We're just going to see what the skinny

is on the situation.

Go get yourself some grub.

>> Wouldn't want to miss Smokey's story how

he took on the whole [ __ ] navy on his

own, right?

>> We're expecting a full reenactment.

From you.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Gentlemen, boys, skip.

Boys, see you in the AM.

>> Skip.

>> Skip.

>> Skip. Leaving Chief.

>> You been outside seeing anything big?

>> Uh, not really. Just a little trouble

with the neighbors next door.

>> The little guys with the bad

decision-making skills?

>> Yeah, them's the ones.

>> So,

what the hell happened here?

>> Uh, yeah, airfield's wrecked, but could

have been a hell of a lot worse.

The Marines flew every fighter they

could get in the air and uh messed up

their formation up there, uh chased them

off.

They haven't been back since.

>> And the more current events?

>> That's a mixed bag of good, bad, and

FUBAR.

>> Sounds about par for the course.

>> Good news is the Navy scratched four [ __ ]

flat tops.

Bad news is the Yorktown got blown.

She's still afloat, but that's about it.

>> And the FUBAR?

>> Carrier planes were slaughtered after

they dropped their bombs.

Especially the ones from the Enterprise.

>> How bad?

>> Well, let's just say that there's not a

pilot left on the Big E to field a

baseball team.

>> I you know,

we were going to think of it earlier and

we saw plenty of SBDs in the air then.

>> Those were a Hornet and Yorktown versus

flying off Enterprise.

You okay, sir?

>> Uh

yeah, I'm uh

I'm okay.

Thanks for the info, Chief.

>> You're good. Thank you, gentlemen.

You got it covered here?

All right. Take it easy.

Sailor, make fast these lines.

You're right there, Skipper.

>> Um

yeah.

I have a lot of friends on the

Enterprise.

Half of them were in my class in

Pensacola.

>> Is that right?

>> Yeah.

Tom Schneider

Hank Webber

Phil Ramsey

Norman Vandivier

>> Vandivier?

>> Yeah.

>> Well, I know Vandivier.

He and I got into some uh

disagreements over darts and billiards

back in the good old days at Pearl.

>> Yeah.

Back in the good old days before the

Japs bombed us.

>> Yeah.

>> Didn't know you two were in the same

class together.

How'd you guys become friends?

>> Um

well

it was a positively frigid Florida

Christmas afternoon.

We'd just been given holiday shore

leave, and like all good pilot cadets,

we ended up at the closest bar to

celebrate the spirit of the season.

>> It's a minor tradition.

>> Oh, yeah.

Uh the place was packed. There were

aviators everywhere, and

as happens in

such situations,

me and old Norman, well,

we got to know each other the

old-fashioned way.

Bar fight? No.

Whiskey, a little sugar, some bitters

around the rim. Come on.

>> You're a good family man, right? You

know that.

>> Hey, it's true. It's true. Yeah, we hit

it off.

We had plans to do our time and then fly

beautiful, rich women around the globe

in a seaplane.

>> Globe.

Of course, it's going to scare the hell

out of the passengers if he brings his

dive bomber experience to the Endeavor.

>> So, I'm thinking he can make a better

flight engineer at this point.

>> Yep.

>> Which means you can have the co-pilot's

seats

if you can still stand me after the war.

>> What about Peg?

>> We need a stewardess.

>> Oh, Christ.

>> And

What's supposed to happen like this?

Everything going to [ __ ] one day.

>> Well, Douglas bombers are tough.

We've seen them hit rough seas at 100

knots and the pilot and gunner smell

without a scratch.

>> They've been out there for 3 days, and

we're taking hot showers.

We should be out there looking for them

right now.

>> It's night. We're not going to find them

in the dark.

Besides, we need to provision up,

refuel.

Take a look at the bullet holes in our

wings. None of that's going to happen

tomorrow morning.

This just doesn't feel right.

Look, go get some chow and a stiff

drink.

I'll go report in.

See if I can't pump the R and M's for

some intel.

Maybe they'll know where some of these

guys went down.

>> All right. I'm serious. I want to be in

the air the second we're cleared.

>> I hear you.

I'll see what I can do on the clearance

side. You get everybody drunk and

convince them to sleep on the boat.

Deal.

>> Thanks, Cal.

I mean it.

>> Yeah, skipper.

Getting me all misty-eyed.

>> I always wanted to be a pilot.

I wanted to see the whole world.

So, I joined the Navy.

When I went to Hawaii,

I knew that I was in paradise. I never

wanted to leave.

I was going to do my time for Uncle Sam,

fly around beautiful women to exotic

places.

This is not how it was supposed to be.

Still, there are worse places to die.

Under the still clear ocean,

under the beautiful stars,

with a friend.

>> See you on the other side, Lee.

>> Admiral.

Hornet reports completion of their

sortie having struck two heavy cruisers

with 1,000-lb bombs.

>> That's good. Launch two scouts to take

photographs of what remains of the

Japanese fleet.

>> Aye, sir.

>> George,

any thoughts?

>> We are running low on fuel and we'll

need to slow to allow the oilers to

catch us.

>> When does Wake become a threat?

>> At our current course,

we could potentially be in range of

their land-based aircraft by sometime

this evening.

>> I don't feel the need to risk any more

lives or planes to sink two heavily

damaged Japanese ships.

>> I concur.

>> Remain on course at speed

till we collect our planes and then

break up mission.

>> Aye, sir.

Sir, perhaps

Aye, sir.

>> Take him with the [ __ ] flag painted on

the bullet shield.

>> What the hell?

>> No, like I said, a kill. Like how the

wildcat pilots paint kills on the nose

of their planes. It's like that.

Yeah, so apparently, the Japs had a

hanger and took out a few planes on the

ground. Some marine dumbass loaded one

of the salvage 250s from one of the

planes over by the latrines and set up

shop. Shot down a zero. Crashed on Sand

Island.

And the guy shot himself.

>> Mansfield, no spam. Focus on the job.

>> Aye, sir. Sorry, skipper. We're on

course. We have a fair amount of mileage

to eat up before we course change.

>> Keep me posted.

>> Look, I'm sorry.

I'm still sorry.

>> Not your fault.

>> It certainly seems like my fault.

>> Who was first plane back? Just

bad luck, I guess.

>> You didn't have to be first back.

You could have checked in in the

morning, but I was so eager to get

clearance.

>> That's all right, Carol.

It's all right.

Apparently, Pappy Cole found a TBD pilot

in the water yesterday, so

I'm sure they're going to be fine.

>> Yeah, I'm sure.

Still, feels like a bullet order.

>> I mean, a bullet order that has us

following a crippled Japanese fleet back

to Wake Island with no intention or

capability of actually attacking it.

>> Yeah.

>> Well, you don't think it's a damn fine

use of our time? I mean, what if these

damaged battle wagons, leaking oil and

traveling at about 50 knots in general

waters, somehow by the grace of God

turned around, made a run for Midway?

>> I'm sorry, Skip.

>> You have control?

>> I have controls.

Just want a damn plane.

Don't worry about it.

Oh, [ __ ]

>> You think they see us now?

>> What, they're raising a flag or

something?

>> No, watch. They're zigging. They think

we're spying for a sub or something.

>> I wish. Noss, you think they're changing

destination?

>> No way, skipper. There's nowhere else

for them to go.

>> I wish they'd get to where they're going

in a hurry.

They are crawling.

>> Yeah, they got damaged ships they're

attending.

Fleet's only as fast as the slowest

ship, after all.

>> Well, get comfy then, because at this

rate we've got a long flight ahead of

us.

>> You have controls?

>> I have controls.

>> I'm going to get some shut-eye.

Hey.

>> Sweet dreams, Sally.

>> YOU LITTLE [ __ ]

>> GOT YOU.

>> PULLING BACK UP FLEET. LOOKS LIKE they

picked up a little steam and patched up

some damage. They might even take a pot

shot at us.

>> Copy. They probably ran their bunkers

down to fumes.

>> I'll keep my distance.

>> Probably a good idea.

>> All hands, eyes on port side.

>> What do you see, Nance?

Gosh, another one.

Starboard side.

>> Hell. We've wandered into range of

Wake's airstrip. Dinner's over, boys.

At least we got some altitude this time.

Does give us a couple more options. I

don't know what those options are right

now, but we'll think of something.

Little weather right now would be

fantastic.

>> Good idea.

This one is squall.

>> Hang on, boys.

>> Keep them off our back, Smokey.

>> I'm on it, Skip.

>> Yes, yes, yes. Somebody doing what?

Somebody doing what?

Three top. Look low. Watch the smoke.

Come behind them.

Where the hell are they? I CAN'T FIND

THEM.

LOOK LOW. LOOK LOW.

GOING UP HIGH. GOING UP HIGH.

WHERE THE HELL are they?

We can't get all of THEM AT ONE TIME.

WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?

CAN'T FIND THEM.

YES, YOU got all of them. Yes.

>> Yeah, we took a piece off him.

Hopefully that'll slow him down.

Down.

Drop the water and play along the scene.

It's awfully dark outside. I'd rather

hide and hope he gets bored and goes

home. Agreed.

>> We've completed our turn and are en

route back to Pearl.

>> The galleys are serving something

special tonight for the aviators in the

flight deck apes.

Sure they could save you some.

>> I've got a fondness for Yankee pot

roast.

>> Admiral Fletcher will be taking command

of the Saratoga tomorrow when she

arrives with replacement aircraft.

>> Yes, I know.

I saw the dispatch.

It's a tragedy

to lose a tough girl like yours, Tom.

I wish you would have the planes to help

defend her.

>> We lost a lot of planes sinking those

carriers.

But we could have lost a lot more.

>> You were true to the men.

And they won't forget that anytime soon.

>> I hope Fletcher doesn't use them all up

listening to overeager men like

Browning.

>> I certainly will drink to that, Admiral.

>> Well, why don't you get started on the

toasts and I'll begin the reports.

>> See you, George.

>> Wait.

I'm thirsty, Lee.

I can't share.

This albatross.

I'll abide that.

Water

everywhere.

But I won't die.

I won't die.

I'm dying.

That's your fault, mate.

Here we go.

That's your job.

I can't suffer anymore.

I don't know if I can suffer.

>> Hey.

>> Hey, welcome aboard, Doc.

>> Yeah, welcome aboard. All we have is

Mansfield. There's only got two

techniques for medicine, aspirin and

stitches.

>> I'll try and teach him something.

>> Good luck.

>> All right, boys, listen up.

There's at least 100 men out there from

the Enterprise alone waiting to get

picked up. We've got supplies.

So, let's go.

>> We never did go look for that poor SOB

we dropped a boat to.

>> Oh, yeah. No, they picked him up.

Hand to God, a destroyer picked him up

yesterday and nearly ran him over.

Marine aviator, go figure.

>> Well, we're going to keep on looking.

>> I'm all for looking, but uh how long can

someone in the water last?

>> It doesn't matter. We've been nearly

shot down twice since the Japs came to

town, and I sure as hell don't want

someone out there looking for us.

We've got orders to search and rescue,

so

we're searching and we're rescuing.

And when we run out of fuel, we'll come

back here, we'll get some more,

and we'll do it again.

Our brother's been out there long

enough.

It's time we bring him home.

>> I don't know.

I don't know.

>> Norm and Francis Vantage.

>> Didn't you promise never to walk through

that door again?

>> We had plans to do our time and then fly

beautiful, rich women around the globe

and

10,000 a year to start. It's three times

more than what we get paid flying for

Uncle Sam.

>> I still got 4 years in though.

>> That's the beauty of it. So am I. In

those 4 years, we will log enough hours

to get a job like that.

They're going to want to hire us. Pan Am

is huge. They're opening up routes to

China and Australia. All right, they're

hiring tons of pilots. They're dying for

us.

>> I don't know.

4 years is a long time.

>> Mhm.

>> I would kind of think about settling

down here in Hawaii when I get out.

>> You still seeing that that hot number,

what's her name? Um, you know, Ellie?

So,

it's getting serious?

>> I think she's a good fit.

>> It's perfect. Free vacations for her.

That's competition for me. It's a

win-win.

>> I'll give you a maybe.

>> Like I said before, it's perfect. A

maybe is three Mai Tais away from a yes.

>> Terrible swords.

>> Anyway,

poor bastard

suffers and suffers.

In the end because

of his suffering,

he's redeemed and restored by God's

mercy.

>> You know, you only mentioned one poor

bastard.

Not two.

>> I only

I only meant one bastard.

>> I know what you meant.

>> I'm sorry, Lee.

>> It's okay.

See you on the other side, Norman.

>> See you on the other side, Lee.

Chill.

>> Yeah.

>> I'm here.

I'm here.

Hey.

Hey.

All right, send her down.

Easy. Easy.

>> All right, Doc. You're on.

Smokey?

>> Feel like taking a swim?

>> You see in gun champion Olympic class

swimmer, you know me.

I got control.

Let's go.

Go get him.

>> Let's go, boys.

>> You got it.

>> Come on, Louis. Be careful, man. You got

him.

>> Doorman, Francis Van de Beer.

>> Thought I left you back at Pearl.

Blackout drunk under a table. You still

owe me like 10 drinks.

>> I owe you an eye for an eye with this as

a

>> Less talking, more swimming.

>> Come on. Come on. Here we go.

>> All right, go Smokey. We got you.

>> Hey, we're in shock. We're in good

hands.

>> Welcome aboard.

We're going to take you home.