Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.MX

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

Our story begins in the midsummer of 1942

oh the Hawaiian island of oahu.

Here, the gentle surf which rolled on waikiki

occasionally drowned out the roar of planes overhead,

constant reminders of the task to be done.

The Japanese had conquered the island chain to guadalcanal,

and we had to start the long climb back

despite the initial lack of men and materiel.

This is the story of a group of young American men

who comprised the marine fighter squadron vmf-247,

men representing and represented by the American flag

which flew at the base of a sleeping volcano,

unmistakable evidence that our country, then as always,

would fight against aggression and all the aggressors

that challenged the rights of free men.

Here it is, Mac. Come and get it.

Come on, fellas. Let's celebrate.

Come on and get your beer.

Save one of those for me!

Hey, beer!

I'll always take a beer.

Hey, here he is!

Come on, come on, give me a beer.

Captain Griffin, being that I'm the smartest,

the squadron has selected me

to make a little speech of congratulation.

Attention!

Gentlemen, major Kirby,

your new squadron commander.

This isn't usual, major.

May I speak, sir?

Go ahead.

Well, this is a joke, sir.

We thought when major Hardy was injured that griff...

I mean, captain Griffin, would be in command.

I mean, with the urgency and all, and us on alert,

well, we arranged this... or I arranged it

as sort of a rib to... to congratulate him,

if you see what I mean.

I see.

Well, relax, men.

And you can hang on to that beer.

It's scarce enough in the islands.

I know we'll see no more beer in the ready room,

but this is uh, an unusual occasion.

We'll forget it.

When the command meets the commander

for the first time, it's like a wedding.

Nobody knows how it's gonna turn out,

whether it'll be a happy golden anniversary

or a divorce.

We'll see.

What's this?

On your way to a rodeo?

No, sir, no, no. It's just 'cause I got high arches.

Almost all texans got high arches, heredity.

You know, like eskimo babies, they got thicker skin...

Okay, but don't wear them when flying.

My arches are just as high in the air

as they are on the ground, major.

Not when flying.

- Yes, sir. - Major.

This character takes some getting used to, his conversation,

but I put up with him for two reasons:

One, he's my brother-in-law.

The other reason is, this idiot is rich.

As soon as this ruckus is over,

I'm going to retire on his money.

I hope the major knows

I was just clowning about the boots.

Sure.

Thank you.

This squadron has a warning order to stand by.

I can tell you we will be receiving orders

to move out almost any minute.

Start getting your personal gear

and personal affairs up-to-date.

Well, anyway.

See? He didn't get the job.

Well, that's logical,

since the minds working under those brass hats work in reverse.

Fellas, I think we looked a little jerky

when our new co got his first hinge at us.

I've heard about this guy. He's rugged.

He was leading close air support training at north island.

He made those guys come in so close to the beach

they picked up seashells in their oil coolers.

You guys are wrong. He's all right.

I know he's all right.

Here's the squadron roster and table of organization.

We're in good shape.

Come.

May I speak to the major, sir?

Go ahead.

I'd like to thank you, sir.

That letter sure helped my family.

I mean, it was written in a way that...

Well, it helped us all, sir, about my brother.

That's all I wanted to say, sir.

Your brother? What's your name?

Malotke, sir. My brother's name was Joe.

He served with you at midway.

Oh, big Joe malotke. Good guy. I'm sorry.

If you're half as good a man as your brother,

I'll be proud to have you in my command, lieutenant.

Thank you, sir.

Give me a rundown on each man, job by job.

Captain Carl Griffin, executive officer.

And they call you Carl.

Griff.

Captain Walter Tanner, communications officer.

Good man.

Fine.

Captain Harold jorgensen...

Operations officer.

Major, may I speak frankly?

Sure.

It's me you're worried about, and naturally.

In a spot like this,

when they don't give the squadron to the exec,

it's because he hasn't been recommended.

Naturally, the new co would be worried.

I like plain speaking. What was the beef?

No beef. I didn't think major Hardy would recommend me.

We just didn't mesh.

You think he acted out of personal dislike?

You know Hardy?

I don't think he ever in his life

acted on an emotion of any kind.

I think it was his cold, honest opinion

that I wasn't up to command.

I think he was wrong, but...

That's just a case of different opinion.

Well, that's life in these marines.

You wanted a combat command,

and I wanted to sell the brass a pet theory.

Close air support for ground troops.

That's right.

Here we are, so let's get the job done.

The name's Dan.

We'll make a squadron out of this.

What else?

How can you call this stuff personal effects?

Well, this concludes my affairs in Honolulu.

I'd like to have a copy of those conclusions.

I bet you would.

What can you say in 10 words?

By the way, what did you say your phone number was?

Come on!

Get the lead out of that pen.

Ten words, Shakespeare.

Okay, malotke, okay.

It's from Burt.

He just says he can't write for some time.

Gone away, I guess.

I wonder if it's midway, like Joe.

No. Midway, we got.

Jorgy, I'll see you at the club.

Okay, Burt.

Mrs. jorgensen, it's from your husband,

and of course, the tenth word is “love.”

Shall I leave it on the table for you?

No.

Okay, Billy.

Thank you, my friend.

It's from that cute little Billy castle.

I just love that boy.

Excuse me.

Do you think we'll have time?

Sure. We'll make the time, Charlie.

Okay, then.

Got word from your son Charlie.

He says he can't write for quite a while,

but he knows that his ma and pa will know

that he will act so that they can know

there will be no shame brought on his lodge,

and to tell his sisters

to take good care of his horses

and to keep on with their schoolwork.

At this rate, I'll be here all night.

Bedtime story! Bedtime story!

Your daddy sent you a bedtime story.

I'll read it to you.

Papa says he's on a big island,

but he's going to fly away very soon

and then hurry back to us.

But in the meantime, he...

He wants us not to do anything wrong

and to take care of each other.

As soon as he gets back,

we're going to live on the ranch.

Can I have a pony?

Of course, darling.

All night, the coded messages said,

"urgent. Urgent. Urgent!”

It seemed hard to believe that anything was urgent

oh that beautiful pacific dawn

when vmf-247 sailed for cactus airfield

on the island of guadalcanal.

But urgency there was!

For the hard-pressed ground troops

were holding the airstrip only by effort beyond maximum.

On the 16th day of August,

the battle for guadalcanal was still very much in doubt.

Cactus base. Richter speaking.

Put colonel Riley on.

He's right here, sir. It's colonel Richter, sir.

Hello, red. How's it going?

Your overlay just got here.

Let us get a look at it,

and I'll call you back in a minute.

Ring off.

General, red's in trouble.

He's diminished his reserves and can't contain the jap attack.

His right flank has been turned,

and he's lost contact with the 42nd marines.

The ground command will send the reserve battalion

in a flanking movement through this gap.

- Right, colonel? - Yes, sir.

Is there a new eta on our air support?

No, sir. Not for two days.

When and if you contact them,

see if it's feasible to use them

in a strike at the north Ridge.

Yes, sir,

if there still is a north Ridge.

Cactus base, this is dogface.

Request air support. Urgent.

I say again:

Request air support. Urgent.

Jigsaw one, Jigsaw one.

This is cactus base. How is your fuel? Over.

Hello, cactus base. This is Jigsaw one.

We are okay. What do you want?

Have a request you make a strafing run on hill 702.

Runs north to south. Acknowledge. Out.

This is Jigsaw one. Wilco.

Jigsaw two, 10, and nine,

join on me for a strafing run.

We have arrived.

All other chicks, pancake.

See you later.

All jigsaws, nice work.

Prepare to pancake.

Check your fue...

Jigsaw 10, get back in formation!

Acknowledge.

Jigsaw two and nine, how is your fuel?

Two, on reserve.

Nine, oranges sour.

We'll have to pancake. Out.

Hiya, Clancy!

How are you?

Oh, a little grayer, a little older.

Any smarter?

Haven't seen you since midway, major,

but I'm sure glad you're here.

How you doing?

Ah, not so good.

All right, let's have the regular beef.

What are you short of?

Everything.

Except japs.

Them mud marines will get him.

Well! Fancy little airstrip we got here, eh, major?

Well, it's all ours.

So far.

This must be a pretty valuable piece of real estate.

The down payment's been pretty high.

They got him.

How are we set on gas and refueling?

I've only got 400 drums of jap gas.

We refuel by hand,

and no spare parts, either.

Give up?

I only regret I ain't got but one life

to give for my country.

Save it! We need a good line chief.

Well, we better get these planes dispersed.

Oh, better not spread them out too much, major.

No transportation for a scramble.

Well, I don't like it.

All right. Get them refueled as fast as you can.

Yes, sir.

Hey, Dan!

Joe! Seems like I can't get away from you.

How's the leg?

Fine! Of course, I had a good doc after I escaped you.

Hey! You took us in pretty close.

Cowboy's knees are still knocking, and so are mine.

And so are mine.

Doc curan, this is captain Griffin, my exec.

- Glad to meet you, sir. - Same here.

Doc was medic at midway.

Oh, we got to be nice to you, huh?

Hey, fellas! Come on over and meet the bartender.

Griff, attention!

Dan.

Glad to see you, sir. This is captain Griffin, my exec.

Colonel Riley, colonel foster,

major Kirby, captain Griffin.

Glad to see you, too, Dan.

Climb in. We'll go over to headquarters.

Thank you, sir.

Is old grumble-guts still on the long island?

Yes, sir.

Dan.

Yes, sir?

I was making a tour of positions when you hit that Ridge.

Nice going. Get all your people in okay?

One pilot missing, sir.

Condition red, sir!

I'm getting too old for this sort of thing!

Get our gang. Get everybody to help with those fires!

Dan, those planes should have been dispersed better.

Yes, sir.

Hit the deck!

Where are you going?

I'm all gassed up. Let me go get 'em.

You'll never get off the ground.

Better get yourselves quartered.

Then come back and...

We'll see what we can salvage out of this mess.

There's no report on Simmons from ground intelligence.

I guess he's gone.

I guess so.

Let's go.

It's okay, isn't it, major?

Couldn't think of a better name.

Hope I can get a couple of meatballs put up beside it.

I think my pa would be pleased

if I kind of even things up.

Hope so.

You will, malotke.

Hey, cowboy! Ernie! Come here! Hey, Billy!

Hey, hey, I'm back!

Hey, you guys! Billy! Hey, hey, I'm back!

You been taking a walk, boy?

Well, it was such a nice day.

I bailed out when my tanks went dry.

Yeah.

After I splashed a nip.

- You got one? - That's great.

A whole platoon of mud marines can confirm it.

My hero!

Uh, you fellows wouldn't want to take

a little word of advice

from a combat-hardened veteran, would you?

Yes, major. I just got a nip...

Knock it off.

There's no quarters for you to be confined to,

but you're under arrest.

And get ready to face a general court,

'cause that's what I'm recommending for you.

Griff, how about trying to square Simmons, huh?

Yeah, this is a pretty rough deal.

Simmons was a stupid jerk.

Break it up.

So you knocked down a nip, huh?

That's right, captain.

What kind?

Well, it was only a light observation.

I don't know. I thought I was doing the right thing.

Where did you go to school?

Harvard business school.

What did your plane cost?

A hundred and fifty-thousand dollars.

And how much do you think a light observation plane costs?

I don't know.

Come on.

Well...

Fresh air.

Seabees can lend us a couple of mechanics.

Good.

I had a talk with Simmons.

He knows now that he cost us a combat plane

in exchange for an observation plane.

Didn't you wangle a couple of jeeps out of those seabees?

Used my best salesmanship.

No soap.

I suppose you've got to expect kids to act like kids.

I expect them to act

exactly according to the uniform they're wearing

and the insignia on their collar.

You trying to intervene for Simmons?

General court's a tough thing to face when you're 22.

Tough thing to face when you're 90.

How's Kelvin?

I don't know. He's still in sick bay.

Finish this flight schedule, will you?

How goes it, Kelvin?

All right, major.

He's got magnesium burns.

I was puffing a fire extinguisher

into the cockpit of my plane.

The signals must have exploded.

Relax. It's ours.

That pby's been trying to sneak in here

all day between raids.

Bring in personnel and evacuate wounded.

General Finney's supposed to be aboard.

I better get down to the strip.

Anything I can do for you, Kelvin, holler.

Simmons has really taken this to heart.

I think the major was just hoping and praying

for somebody to get out of line

so he could lower the boom,

teach us all to be good little boys.

Fine guy.

Look,

this is a battle, not maneuvers.

The major's got himself a short-handed squadron

with no replacements, planes, parts, or pilots,

and we're flying off an airstrip

that may be retaken by the enemy almost any minute.

He was absolutely right in racking up Simmons,

and I don't want to hear any more of this kind of griping.

Does everybody tune me in loud and clear?

Speaking for one,

I'm receiving you loud and clear.

Well, maybe after the heat's off a little,

the major will get soft-hearted about Simmons.

Soft-hearted?

Don't you know a heart is strictly nonregulation equipment

for a professional soldier?

And Kirby's a professional soldier.

You interest me no end.

Well, you know I didn't mean you in that crack, griff.

I know you've worn a uniform all your life.

Listen, some guys take a look at the world

when they're young,

and they don't like what they see,

and they realize that some of us

are going to have to fight for the rest of us

from here on in.

I'm a professional soldier,

and I don't mind saying that I'm kind of proud of it.

Well, I hope griff didn't think I was including him in that remark.

I know you weren't,

because if I thought you were,

I'd knock you for a series of slow rolls.

'Cause you know something?

I'm a rarity.

I'm a guy who's fond of his brother-in-law.

Let's watch it, black. Take it easy.

Sorry, injun.

You flyguys have sure got it easy.

What a break! Imagine, sleeping under cover!

The lieutenant made a funny.

Thank you and good night, lieutenant!

Naval bombardment! Come on!

It's a raid!

You guys get this kind of treatment every night?

Not every night, sir.

They didn't come down this slot last Thursday night.

Hope we still have this strip for you

in the morning, major.

Get under this.

Thanks, sarge.

Hey, cowboy!

Let's get off the deck and get upstairs.

Count them off.

Right.

All right. Line up.

Griff, how you been? How are you?

- Good. - Attaboy.

Malotke.

Never knew what hit him.

Poor guy!

Now he won't even get a chance to collect what they owed him.

He never even got off the deck.

Hit the sack, you guys. You'll need some sleep.

He was the nicest guy in the squad.

Of course, you never got to know him.

Get some sleep, griff.

I knew him.

I knew a whole squadron of him at midway.

I knew him, all right.

Jigsaw one, this is Jigsaw four.

My engine's running rough. I'm returning to base.

Jigsaw one to Jigsaw four.

Negative. Stay with us as long as you can.

Jigsaw one, this is Jigsaw four.

I can't keep up. My engine's still running rough.

I'm returning to base. Over.

Jigsaw one. A Roger.

Tallyho. Bandits.

Ten o'clock, low. Two miles.

Jigsaw. Commencing attack.

Jigsaw four, get back in formation.

Jigsaw four, they're on your tail!

Well, the way I figure it,

jorgy might have made it.

He bailed out at 12,000 feet,

about three miles north of the beach.

The wind was about 15 knots to the east.

And with any luck, why, he might have hit the island.

Well, if he did, I hope the natives find him first.

Charlie's right.

He could have made it with a little luck.

We haven't had any luck so far.

Why should it change now?

Man, who could win a war without coffee?

Who's winning what war?

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Is it anybody's birthday?

All right, what's the gag?

I found a cake.

What do you mean, you found a cake?

Yeah. Where did you find it,

in some deserted galley?

Certainly not.

It was cooling over at the artillery mess.

Oh, buddy, and how! It is a cake!

Uh, I suggest you eat it in a hurry.

A slight beef may develop any minute.

Now, where would them guys in the artillery

get the stuff to make a thing like that?

They must have influence.

Want a piece, Clancy?

Sure.

Here you are.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Old, ugly, and mean,

but his honesty's never been questioned.

It's never even been mentioned.

Tanner?

Here you are.

How about another piece? = here.

Thanks a lot.

I want everybody to go over to graves registration.

The mud marines just brought in jorgensen's body.

I want you to take a good, long look

and remember what you've seen

the next time you feel like going hunting on your own.

You heard what the man said.

You didn't win any friends back there,

but you certainly influenced people.

With two divisions set up for this afternoon's strike...

You made your point, Dan.

The object lesson was brutal.

You're making your point by your tone of voice.

You disapprove.

The wet blanket could have waited.

Clancy saved that cake to give them a lift.

Well, let Clancy win the popularity contest.

We got a different job.

Look, Dan, I know we can't have them pulling out of formation,

and you were right about the court martial for Simmons.

Otherwise, they'd wind up the same as jorgensen.

No, I was wrong about the Simmons thing,

and now your wet-nursing them's going to come in handy.

Go on back and tell them you talked me out of the court-martial.

I don't get the change of pace.

Between jungle fever and japs,

we're going to run out of pilots soon enough.

And anyway, they've had a better object lesson now than Simmons.

McCabe?

Yes, major?

I'm rearranging divisions.

Ernie's gonna fly on your wing.

Well, whatever you say is the word, of course, sir, but...

Do you think it's good for morale

to make a section when the guys don't like each other?

You don't like Ernie?

About Ernie as a person, I'm neither hot nor cold.

I just don't like guys who have rough engines.

Order rescinded.

Major?

By making this beef,

have I gotten myself in trouble with you?

Bud, you just keep speaking plain english to me

and we'll get along fine.

Put a new chamois on there.

Ernie.

Yes, sir?

I've had to reorganize since losing jorgensen.

You're gonna fly on my wing.

Major, my engine was running rough.

If you say it was rough, it was rough.

I got 100 dollars to 50 that says some of the guys refuse to fly with me.

You're on my wing.

Hey, major?

You know it would be easy for me to claim that my engine was rough.

If you're telling me that,

you're going to get a court-martial,

and I'll lose a good pilot.

Good pilot?

Major, does a good pilot get so scared

he breaks out in a sweat on a mission?

His mouth gets so dry he can't...

Every one of them.

You?

The second I push that throttle forward.

And anytime you meet a guy

who says he doesn't, avoid him.

He's an idiot.

See you, Ernie.

You got yourself a wing man, major.

Thanks.

What are you doing, painting my portrait, Simmons?

Just practicing a little exterior decoration, junior.

I'll be catching up with you soon.

Hey, fellas.

Hi, griff.

Come here. I got news for you.

There's a tropical front with a thermodynamically warm cumulonimbus.

Hydrometer's moving east at 13 knots.

Longitude one-seven.

Why, that's absolutely fascinating.

What do you want us to do,

jump up and down and kick our heels?

Maybe you should.

It means the jap bases are socked in.

They can't get a plane off the ground for 24 hours.

Whoo-hoo!

I'm going to get myself a neat, sweet, 24-hour sleep.

In that case, it's a bath in the.

The seabees are beginning to sniff

whenever they get downwind of me.

All pilots report to the operations hut.

Clancy never brought any good news in his life.

Colonel Riley and his battalion have hit a snag.

They want an assist from us,

so we're going in in a little different method of attack this time

which the colonel will explain.

My outfit is pinned down by a heavy concentration

of machine gun emplacements

just below the top of the Ridge.

We need some help.

Our front lines are marked by intermittent panels like these.

A hundred yards to the rear,

you'll see this arrow.

If possible, your run should be made parallel to our lines.

Exactly at 1340,

my mortar crews will outline the target area.

We're counting on you to kick the door open.

Then that's just what we'll do, colonel.

We'll come in from seaward hugging the deck

and holding our fire until we're right on top of them.

Did you say something?

No, sir.

Well, uh, yes, sir.

This mission comes as a surprise to me.

There was a bright rumor about a vacation.

In this racket,

you believe one percent of the bright rumors

and 200 percent of the dark ones,

and you'll win most of your bets.

I know you fellas haven't been trained for close support,

so observe my first run.

I'm coming in at treetop level,

and I don't want to see anybody above me.

Just remember those guys need our help,

and we can't do them any good

unless we come in low.

Questions?

Yes, sir.

If we're going to be that close to the deck, sir,

I... I'd like to get a bayonet on my propeller hub.

That might be pretty hard to rig,

but if you'll hop in the Jeep with the colonel here

and go to the forward area as our observer,

I'm quite sure somebody will hand you a bayonet

with a rifle attached to it.

And you may get a chance to use it.

That's an order.

- Colonel. - Thank you, major.

See you, men.

Texas.

Sir.

Carry on.

Your brother-in-law!

That idiot! Making high-school jokes in a briefing session.

I'll eat him out when he gets back.

Well, you should. It's your fault he's acting the way he is.

This "come bring your troubles to pop" attitude

is what's making them all act like a bunch of college kids.

Well, that's what they are.

Not out here, they aren't.

This is where we separate the men from the boys.

I'm still saying what I think until you tell me to shut up.

Here it is.

This is no time to be playing eager beaver to prove a pet theory.

These guys rate a rest.

Nobody rates a rest out here.

Why isn't castle in flying gear?

I scheduled black in his place.

Castle's been throwing up too much.

The kid's high-strung...

Castle flies.

Nobody's ducking these missions because of bellyaches.

We're all sick.

We don't have to gas by hand no more, major.

I rigged up a pump from a dishwashing machine.

A dishwashing machine?

Yeah.

Imagine them seabees over in the mobile field kitchen

having a dishwashing machine!

What's the Navy coming to?

Can't wash dishes with their hands?

The rate we're going, Clancy,

we'll be able to refuel with an eyedropper.

Can't you put a few more in the air?

Ah, my conscience even bothers me about a couple of these

you're taking on this mission.

Hey, you flyguys. Major.

You flyguys got your own galley?

No. We eat with the mud marines. Why?

I'm checking all the galleys.

Some joker stole my dishwasher.

Somebody stole his dishwasher.

Maybe he just goofed off.

What's the guy look like?

Ain't a guy. It's a machine.

A machine? For washing dishes? = yeah.

Has everybody gone nuts?

Have you ever heard anything so crazy, major?

Never did.

I have. It's part of a mobile kitchen unit,

and it's checked out to me,

and if I find the guy...

Did you look in the artillery mess?

Them artillery men steal. No ethics.

They're over in that area.

All right. Thanks.

Clancy!

I'm beginning to worry about your chances in the hereafter.

Does the major mean the major approves

of the use of dishwashing machines

with amphibious assault groups?

The major means that the major approves

of line chiefs who can improvise.

Here they come.

You a flyguy? = yeah.

Can't fly much lower than that, can you?

Only if you're a bachelor.

In here, colonel.

The reason we were late,

we tangled with some zeros on the way to the target.

How'd it work out?

It could have been tragedy.

We thought you weren't coming,

and one of my patrols overran the panel.

Well, that's what we've been screaming for.

We need better coordination between ground and air.

Did we hit any of your men?

You didn't.

Can you make another run at it?

That we will. How about 15007?

Fine. I'll get an okay from the old man.

Billy castle.

How many of us have jungle nausea?

Almost everybody.

Castle have it any worse than anybody else?

No.

We lost castle today.

Schedule another mission.

Fifteen-hundred. Same target.

A Roger.

Shall I take your observer along?

Major, get me airborne.

It's too rough down here with these ground guys.

Flying scares me.

I'll send you up another man.

Right.

You know, major, the strafing runs looked really great.

If the target had been right,

you would have clobbered that nip position,

and the mud marines would have been off and running.

Why don't they use this close ground air all the time?

Because the brass hasn't been convinced yet.

Griff will probably want you on this strike.

Yes, sir.

Well, why hasn't the brass been convinced?

I don't know.

My grandfather claimed there'd never be a horseless carriage.

Two divisions warming up.

Good.

You take cowboy on your wing.

I'll take Ernie on mine.

I'll lead the run.

Major!

I found a couple of tents.

Three of them, to be exact. We sure can use them.

Where do you want them rigged, sir?

Well, anyplace in the area.

Uh, you'll find there's a small hole in the side.

Them artillery gyrenes came over claiming they were their tents.

They claimed that where the hole is, the serial number should have been.

So I said, "prove it. Otherwise, knock it off."

Very intelligent attitude, Clancy. Thanks.

Yeah, there's officers...

Then again, there's officers.

Sergeant!

Yeah?

There was a supply truck parked over there about an hour ago.

Ten Coleman lanterns are missing out of it.

Got any ideas that might help?

Don't quote me, you understand,

but I saw some of them seabees over there this afternoon.

They're down in that area.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Copper.

Hey, fellas! Hey!

Hey, fellas, hey!

Clancy found it. He says he found it.

One of them mud marines give me a big beef.

Said he had it stashed up in back of a palm tree

after he took it off a nip officer which he killed.

I gave him a smash in the kisser...

This mud marine, that is.

He was smaller than me.

Them guys will lie about anything.

Sake, huh?

Now, you gentlemen know the regulations.

Why don't you knock it off?

Beware of booby traps,

particularly foodstuff or potables.

- Potables? - That means booze, gentlemen.

I think we can find a little regulation

that will allow us to open the bottle.

Who will volunteer?

Eeny, meeny, miney, moe, catch a cowboy...

Well, what do you know? = it's me!

Aw, come on, cowboy.

You know, this stuff could be booby trapped.

It is!

Major.

Fix it?

Fix it? It's better than brand-new.

Quite a clambake they're having over there.

They're really sopping up on that sake.

- You ought to go over... - Thanks, Clancy.

Yes, sir.

Dear Dan, this is for you at Christmas,

wherever you may be.

Go ahead, Tommy.

Hello, major... uh, dad.

This is for you and all the flyguys

and... and the mud marines and... and you.

Miss you.

We miss you.

And it's hard to say good night

when you aren't here.

When I say good night, I say, "our father..."

I didn't mean to breathe over your shoulder, Dan.

That's all right, Joe.

But listening to that kid

made me feel like the man in my favorite story.

My kid sent me that for last Christmas.

It caught up with me at midway.

I been carrying it around with me ever since.

Kind of childish, I guess.

I don't think it's childish.

Do me a favor?

What?

Play it again.

Busted again.

Too bad.

Have a belt?

No, thanks.

That's a prescription.

Major?

There's a headquarters messenger outside to see you, sir.

- Send him in. - Yes, sir.

Major, if it's about those missing tents,

and this ain't one of them,

remember, you've seen me.

You've had them for years.

Hey, you. Come on in.

The general would like to see you immediately, sir.

Right away.

Yes, sir.

I hope the major don't forget,

because you know as far as them tents are concerned...

I know. You're pure as the driven snow.

Yes, sir.

Good evening.

Sit down, Kirby.

All the comforts of home.

Yeah.

Some sergeant scared that up for me.

He wears an old campaign hat.

The name couldn't have been Clancy.

Yeah. That's the name.

Two new squadrons are coming in tomorrow,

and 12 replacement aircraft

are being ferried in for you.

Thanks. I can sure use them.

Dan, like you, I've always claimed that

air ground support can put the foot soldier

on enemy real estate faster than any other tactic,

and that's just how much faster the war will be won.

We've got to prove our point here.

You made a good start today.

Unless I absolutely need you,

your squadron will be exempted from flying interception missions.

Work with the infantry.

After we prove the tactic,

the information will go through channels,

and we'll probably use it in the next war

or the one after that.

Major Kirby,

are you criticizing the standard procedure of the armed forces?

Not at all, sir.

Me, too.

Good night, Dan.

Good night, general.

Why don't you hit the sack?

'Cause I gotta write a letter.

You been in this game long enough to know

that those things should be left to the chaplain.

Let the padre write them.

He was killed today,

on the Ridge with the infantry.

What drivel!

Suppose I told the truth?

What if I said, "your son is suffering from jungle nausea

and malaria and ordered into the air by a commander

who couldn't send him to sick bay”?

Dan, I prescribed that drink for you.

I don't want it!

Operation cactus!

This ought to be called operation shoestring.

Hi!

I am loaded!

And don't you like that sake?

It's got a very high octane rating.

Why don't you get some sleep, my tough commandant?

You'll need oxygen for that hangover in the morning,

and we haven't any more oxygen.

In that case, I will suffer.

Good night, tough guy.

He'll suffer?

Proverbial penny.

I wasn't thinking about anything.

That's a psychological impossibility.

The human mind is never at rest.

Even while sleeping, the mind works.

You want me to lie down on the couch and tell you my dreams?

I can tell you sitting up.

I dream of scheduling a mission where all the pilots

and all the planes come out even.

Where you have blank-number of operational planes

and blank-number of available pilots.

Everything's even. Good pilots, good planes.

There's nothing to decide. Everybody flies.

And even major Daniel Xavier Kirby can't work up a lather.

I don't think Dan started this war, griff.

Even if he did,

I don't think he did it on purpose.

I can't help feeling sorry for castle.

Don't you think Dan does?

Dan's a mighty man,

a classic commander.

Come home with your shield...

Or on it.

I got work to do.

Oh, Dan.

I think there's a problem building up for you.

Griff's got the jumps.

I know.

Well, he's the best man in the squadron.

I don't know what the outer edge of his endurance is,

but I've got to use him.

I ought to be getting 80 bucks an hour for this.

For what?

Of course, I'd have to grow a little beard

and have an office in the swankiest part of town.

If you've got something to say, now's the time.

Griff's identifying you as the villain.

It's your fault this whole air operation

hasn't enough men or equipment.

Knock it off, Dr. Freud.

After this is over, griff and I will go out

and get knee-walking tight and forget it.

I got a mission to fly.

Jigsaw four, this is Jigsaw one.

How badly are you hit?

I'm badly hit on the knee.

My engine is losing rpms. Over.

This is Jigsaw one.

Return to base immediately.

All Jigsaw planes, this is Jigsaw one.

Simmons, join on shorty.

All other planes, join on me. Out.

Grab the stuff. Go get the doc.

Hello, Charlie.

How you making?

Pretty rugged, major.

I don't feel like there's anything missing.

I guess I'm still all doped up.

If that transport sneaks in tonight,

we're gonna get you started stateside.

That's fine.

- Say, major. - Yes?

Write a letter for me, will you?

Well, sure. To your folks?

Well, yes, but send it to Mr. Peters,

he's an Indian agent,

monument valley, navajo reservation.

He'll read it to them.

See, they... they can't read.

What will I write, Charlie?

Oh, you write it, major.

Just say what happened to me,

that I still have the other leg.

Say it your way.

Tell them that they might just as well sell those colts

they were raising for me to break. I...

I don't guess I'll be busting many broncs from here on in.

I guess the automobile

is sure to replace the horse, eh, major?

I wrote you up for a citation, kid,

not that it matters much.

I understand, major.

You just relax,

and doc will give you something

to help you go to sleep.

Good night, major.

Good night, Charlie.

Caught your slipstream and dropped my wing.

I didn't think I could pull out.

I'm a bachelor, but going in this low

is strictly for the birds.

I swear one of those jokers was throwing rocks at me.

Next time, I'm going in on my back

to make sure I see the ground.

You know, if we'd have covered each other yesterday

like we did today,

maybe Charlie wouldn't have got knocked down.

We could have used Charlie, couldn't we?

Sure could, cowboy.

Hey, you loused up the scheduling of these two missions.

You've got the older guys flying this tough ground strike

and replacements are flying cover

for a bomber mission.

That's a milk run. Let's switch it.

No. Send the replacements on the milk run.

The older guys have had some ground strike experience.

They've also had it tougher than the law allows.

That they have,

but I didn't make the rules.

I only live by them.

Maybe I did make one mistake.

You ought to go with the bomber crew.

That'd give them a commander who understands combat,

give you a little command experience.

Pick out one of the replacements

to take your place on the ground strike.

Well, let's see.

I haven't got any training reports on these guys yet.

I don't know which one of them's had the most air support training.

Let's leave it the way it is.

I'll fly the ground strike with you.

Sure. You'll fly the ground strike with us.

You beef at the decisions I make,

but you're too soft to make them yourself.

You just can't bring yourself to point your finger at a guy

and say, "go get killed."

You gotta tear your guts out

worrying about his flight record

or because some dame back in the states

is giving him the brush-off

or whether he knows whether his baby's born yet or not.

You got enough troubles of your own for one man.

Stop trying to pack everybody else's around.

Schedule that mission.

Roger.

I got a belly full of you,

and I'm not buying the bill of goods you're selling.

In my book, it's easy to be a turtle,

put a shell between yourself and the rest of humanity.

Maybe I'm not making my point clear.

Four hundred years ago, a poet said it better than I ever could.

No man is an island.

When the funeral bell rings, it isn't just for the dead guy.

It's a little bit for all of us.

Each man's suffering belongs to everyone,

or else why are we shooting off these guns?

I don't know what your reaction's going to be,

but here's what I hope it is.

I hope you'll say, "let's take off these insignias,

step out in the boondocks,

and get it settled!”

Major, you're wanted at general headquarters

right away, sir.

Uh, the pilots think they're going to be relieved right away.

Is that true?

Definitely not.

Kirby. Bill.

Gentlemen,

the biggest jap convoy ever sighted

is heading down the slot.

Flattops, cruisers, cans, transports,

and barges full of jap reinforcements.

This looks like their Sunday punch.

We're going to send everything flyable after that force

and continue round-the-clock operations until we smash them.

The tbfs will carry torpedoes,

the dive bombers, 500-pound sabss,

and the fighters, 100-pounders.

I know we can do it.

Thank you, gentlemen. That will be all.

Let's get the show on the road.

Major Kirby.

Dan, your outfit has had it the roughest,

but this calls for everything we've got.

I understand, sir.

I knew you would.

Let's hope it won't take too long.

Right, sir.

Ernie.

We're making up some jungle juice, major.

Come on over and cut yourself in.

You better save it.

We got another mission to fly.

Alert the pilots,

and tell griff and curan to come to my quarters.

This will come as a wet blanket.

I know.

King-size.

Well, into each life a little rain must fall.

Simmons!

You've been doing all right on that catching up routine,

but don't get careless or Ace-happy.

Live marine's better than a dead hero.

Yes, sir, skipper. I've got the word.

Bandits, nine o'clock low.

There it is, boys. The Tokyo express.

All Jigsaw planes, this is Jigsaw one.

Looks like the show's over for quite a spell.

Let's go home.

Had our two zeroes

and one of their new modified fighters.

Yeah. The second zero came in on Kelvin.

Anybody beside Kelvin and Simmons?

No. That's all.

I was flying Simmons' wing.

I didn't see simm after he was hit.

Did anybody see if he got a chance to bail out?

He didn't.

We were going in on the barges,

and Simmons banked like...

I saw him explode

while he was trying to open his hood.

- Captain griff... - You're Martin, the new replacement.

No. Mathin, sir. I was flying...

Here, have a belt.

I didn't want anybody to think that I...

Don't think.

I just wanted to know if I jumped the sprocket...

You heard the man. Don't think.

Come on, kid. Mix yourself some varnish.

Come on.

I suppose you've heard.

I've been relieved. I'm going stateside.

Guess they've got another job for me.

I'm sure the rest of the squadron

will be relieved in the next couple of days.

I guess the guys won't squawk about that, huh?

What do you think?

In my considered opinion, I welcome being relieved.

I want to speak some plain english.

Go right ahead.

I recommended that you not take over the squadron.

You want to know why?

There's no regulation says you owe me an explanation.

In a way, I feel it's my failure.

As you know, it's a commander's duty to train the man...

Train the man under him for fitness in command.

This is all unnecessary, major.

I know the marine manual as well as anyone,

even as well as you.

And section nine of the manual:

"The duties of leadership and command.”

- So long, griff. - So long, major.

We can save the stamp.

Darling, I could divorce you for this,

coming home without notice.

A girl's entitled to know in time

to have her hair done.

You look pretty good to me.

Pretty good, that is.

Tommy.

Tommy.

Tommy.

Hello, major.

You're a little formal, aren't you?

But then, it has been a long time.

Tommy, give your father a kiss.

Oh, he's too big to go around kissing men.

Aren't you, boot?

Oh ho ho!

Do you surrender?

Unconditionally.

Look what he brought you.

Gee, thanks! How'd you get it?

Buy it from some of the mud marines?

I took it off a jap officer

whom I defeated in single combat, hand-to-hand.

Oh, flyguys never get souvenirs.

Ground echelons get all the souvenirs.

He sounds like he's already served a hitch.

The neighborhood's full of servicemen's children.

They compare notes.

We wives do, too.

Was it rough, baby?

Look who's talking,

a guy from guadalcanal.

They just call it canal.

Your squadron flying wildcats, major?

- Yep. - Darling, don't call your father major.

You can call me colonel pretty soon.

Vandergriff said buy the insignia.

Second colonel?

Lieutenant colonel!

Well, it's better than being a mere major.

Mere? I like that.

Aw, mom.

Lights out.

How about some cocoa, huh? I'm hungry!

No, and no raids in the middle of the night.

The kkitchen's out of bounds for you.

Well, I could use some cocoa.

Then you could bring him a cup.

Your order's countermanded, mom.

Not even a four-star general outranks me in this house,

but I'll bring you in a cup.

Good night, boot.

Good night, maj... uh... colonel.

Good night, dad.

Good night, son.

He was asleep.

I've been building myself up to ask the 64-dollar question.

How long?

How long what?

Answer me, or I'll dent your head!

You're going to have me around for a long time.

I have a station job at goleta.

A station job?

Oh, what a beautiful sound.

And goleta,

that beautiful, hot, dirty little town.

Probably have to live on the wrong side of the tracks.

Darling, I'll never complain about goleta again.

You're not the complaining type.

Are we all buttoned up?

Cat's out, door's locked...

All secure, sir.

Hello, Dan. Sit down.

How have you been?

Fine, till I got this call from you.

Cigar?

No, thanks. I'm a cigarette man.

Dan, I've just received a dispatch

to form a new squadron

that has to be ready for combat

in a forthcoming major operation.

I have orders to go to Washington.

They'll get them canceled if you'll take over this squadron.

Hey, colonel...

There's a lot of opposition to close-air support.

Maybe you don't know, but the brass think we can't pinpoint targets

without hitting our own ground troops,

which has happened too often in the past,

but this time, your squadron will be all first-team.

Okay, coach.

Put me in even though I ain't got no headgear.

I've assigned the other pilots who were with you at the canal,

and major Griffin will be your exec.

Griffin?

Yes. Why?

Nothing.

Okay, Dan. I'd like to see you get

flight operations started right away.

Maybe there's something to this nonsense about esprit de corps.

I don't speak French, colonel.

So long.

Scuttlebutt has it they're forming a new squadron

with you as co and me as exec.

Is that right?

That's what the man said.

Is it okay with you?

Well, I'm not too happy about it,

but contrary to popular opinion in certain quarters,

I think I can handle the job.

You'll get a chance to prove it.

Hi! Ha ha!

- How are you? - Fine!

Hey, Dan, how about coming home

and having a drink with us?

No, thanks, cowboy.

You know my wife Virginia, don't you, Dan?

- It's been a long time. - Hello, Dan. Meet Jack and Jill.

Hey, Jack looks like he'd already tumbled down the hill!

Jack ran into a haymaker... from Jill.

You're sure you won't come home and have a drink with us?

Joan's cooking dinner.

Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing Joan.

I'll be by and see her tomorrow.

Good.

Cowboy for you,

- and the cowgirl for griff. - Come on.

See you, colonel.

See you, skipper.

There's a strange man in the house.

Anybody want to kiss him?

Mm-hmm!

What goes?

Oh, I'm putting "lieutenant colonel” on all your gear

so you won't lose it while you're traveling.

You know more than you've been officially told.

Spies should concentrate on wives.

They always know what's going on on any base.

Maybe I've been finding it hard to tell.

That you turned down Washington to get a squadron?

That shouldn't be hard to tell me.

- Well, I... - It's as simple as this.

They wanted the best. The best is colonel Kirby.

I understand.

No wonder those beautiful gals on those lovely tropic isles

couldn't tempt me.

I've seen pictures of those isles and the gals.

Are you telling me you love me?

Right.

Why don't you just say it?

I love you.

Glad I didn't marry onhe of those burst-into-tears dames.

What good are tears?

Excuse me.

Hey, mom, can I have 20 cents to buy a...

Hey, why are you crying?

Take a walk, darling.

Hey, dad, mom's crying,

and when I asked her why, she said, "take a walk."

Well, then, maybe we'd better take a walk, kid.

Come on, colonel!

Hello, major!

Glad to have you aboard, sir.

Happy to be aboard, sergeant.

Sorry. Pfc.

Mps?

Mps.

- Oh, hello, griff. - Hello, colonel.

Dan.

Could have expected to see you here.

They sent me along for the ride.

I got my orders the day after you left.

Well, this is what we asked for.

The 47th marines have hit a stone wall

and haven't been able to keep up with the advance.

Hill 708 here is a solid arsenal of jap artillery, mortars, and machine guns.

Our troops are on three sides.

Three hundred meters. That's pretty close.

That's what you were trained for.

Just make your runs accurate and stay on the target.

We've got to flatten their position but fast.

How fast?

Air control's waiting to brief you.

Let's go.

Roger and out.

Roger and out.

Roger and out.

Roger and out.

Roger and out.

Red rock one, red rock one,

this is ant pace. This is ant pace.

Hello, ant pace. This is red rock one.

Jap emplacements at target areas 3726, 3727, 3824, 3825.

Make continuous attacks until all ordnance is expended.

Attack north to south.

We'll Mark target area with white phosphorous and red smoke.

Are you in a position to observe? Over.

Affirmative. Out.

Red rock one, this is ant pace.

Commence attack when in position. Out.

Any closer, and those guys will be using bayonets instead of propellers.

That's the way I feel,

so that's what I told him.

My mother says if I'm real polite

to my commanding officer,

I'll be sure to be advanced.

Well, in the interest of being polite,

I think I'll take a run down

to the gunnery course of this far-flung battle front

and check my guns like the man said.

You know, everybody keeps giving advice

on how to get along.

It's all so simple.

The general tells the colonel.

The colonel tells the major.

The major tells me. I do it.

Every time I go out to do it, though, I...

I'm more scared than I was the time before.

Guess it figures.

With every mission you fly, your chances get smaller and smaller.

Did you ever hear of balt's law of mathematical percentages?

I always flunked math.

This mathematician, Dr. balt,

proved that the percentage possibility

of lightning striking twice in the same place

is exactly the same as it striking anywhere else.

Oh, maybe you're making some sense,

but not to me.

You're taking exactly the same chance

as a fellow flying his first mission,

no matter how many previous missions you've flown.

Oh.

Did they check up real good on this fellow balt?

Oh, yes.

You want to hear something funny?

"Unfortunately..."

This is from my tailor.

"Unfortunately, if he receives any future orders for suits for me,

he'll have to make them without vests

because of a material shortage, government restrictions.”

Boy, what a rough time they must have stateside.

If you feel that jumpy, why don't you go see doc?

There's nothing the matter with me, griff.

I'm just scared.

So aml,

but I figure there's no sense in yelling about it.

Somebody upstairs is rolling the dice.

A guy hasn't any control over what number comes up.

Well, it's almost 1400. I've got to go.

Griff...

There... there's one good thing.

If my dice stop on seven...

Y-you know, Virginia, the kids.

Ah, shut up.

It's the same way about you in my book

if my dice stop on a miss-out number.

See you later.

Direct all fighter aircraft to discontinue present missions

and proceed to repel kamikaze attacks on the fleet.

Divert all fighters from present missions

to repel kamikaze attack on the fleet.

Acknowledge.

Calling all Drake and Ruby aircraft.

This is sourdough.

This is urgent. This is urgent.

Proceed at once to point X-ray

to repel kamikaze attack on fleet.

This order supersedes all previous orders.

Flight leaders acknowledge. Over.

Hello, sourdough. This is red rock one

with eight chicks orbiting at point able.

Will proceed as directed. Out.

Sourdough, this is red rock nine with eight chicks

proceeding to X-ray. Out.

I kamikaze j

I kamikaze j

j the eyes of Texas are upon you j

sing on the air once more, and I'll eat you out!

All right, all right, all right.

Red rock nine, this is 12.

Oil temperature in the red.

Can only turn up 1,800 rpm.

Losing rpm steadily. Over.

This is red rock nine. Head back for the field. Out.

Red rock 12, Roger.

Red rock nine, this is red rock 12.

I got a couple of zeroes on my tail,

position 30 miles northwest of point zebra.

Give me some help. Over.

This is red rock nine.

Head for the deck. Take evasive action.

I can't help you.

Griff, let me take my section after those zeroes.

Get back in formation and stay off the air. Out.

Red rock 12, mayday! Mayday!

This is cowboy bailing out over point zebra!

Griff, let me go help him.

Shut up, red 10.

Sourdough, this is red rock nine.

Angels, eight. Seven chicks. Out.

Bail out, skipper! Bail out!

Only eight of our ships were hit,

but we're all afloat.

Pancake all fliers.

Give the boys a well-done.

Pancake all fighters.

Well done. Well done.

My division went in on a destroyer.

She was listing to one side as we came on.

And there was a tugasaki-type tug boat.

We stayed in formation.

Well, that's about it, major.

So we lost a guy we didn't have to.

We could have covered him.

Save it.

Major Griffin, group commander wants to see you right away, sir.

Right away.

It's how I said it.

We could have covered cowboy.

What difference would a couple of planes more or less

have made in that shindig?

Don't ask me questions.

I'm not information please.

All packed?

I'll put your gear aboard, sir.

Uh, colonel,

if you find a jug in your footlocker,

I don't want you to have no false suspicions.

I bought it fair and square from a transport pilot.

I hate to stoop this low,

but there was nothing for your going away present

lying around loose.

I'm sure this one blot on your record will be overlooked.

So long, Clancy.

So long, sir.

And I've served under worse skippers.

And I've had worse line chiefs.

If I have to go where there's another war,

I hope Clancy will be there.

And you, too, doc.

So long, Dan.

So long.

Dan?

I didn't expect to get the squadron on your recommendation.

I thought you were a heel.

I was, and you're going to be.

I didn't do you any favor, griff.

I'm sorry about cowboy.

I know how tough it is to make a decision like that.

You're going to wind up staggering into your bunk every night

with your hip pockets dragging,

then you'll lay there and look at the ceiling

while your stomach turns over

and you hope to god

you called every shot right during the day.

The next morning, you'll wake up,

wish you were a flight lieutenant again

so all you'd have to do is what the man told you.

And you'll get bad-tempered and snarly, just like me.

You'll probably wind up just like me,

climbing into an aircraft with your hip pockets dragging

to go back to some desk job.

Brother, I didn't do you any favor.

I'm going to say something dizzy.

If and when we meet stateside,

will you get drunk with me as my guest?

I'll be happy to come aboard.

So long.

So long.

I'll try to call the plays right.

I had a good coach.

Well, I'll be looking forward to that stateside wingding.

So long, colonel.

So long!

What's this? You're co, and I'm exec?

That's right. Get me a status report.

Have all the pilots assemble in the briefing room.

Right away?

For the future record, all orders are right away.