All language subtitles for Black Sheep Squadron S01E01.en

(male reporter)
Five days

after the Japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor,

the Pentagon announces
that America needs
her fighter pilots,

which have been
fighting valiantly

to preserve
the Chinese mainland

against the relentless
Japanese onslaught.

Hit hardest by this request

is General Claire Chennault
and his Flying Tigers,

whose mercenary band

have successfully
been turning back
the Japanese bombers

as they search for targets
over Mainland China.

So one by one
these valiant Americans
leave China

and head back
to their American units
to fight in the South Pacific,

with a special thanks
from Chiang Kai-Shek

and the entire
Chinese populace.

(Greg)
l'm Greg Boyington,

one of
those valiant mercenaries,

only] was having trouble
getting out of China.

As a matter of fact,

l was having trouble
getting out ofbed.

A victim ofa plane
that needed a new carburetor.

Most of us were planning
to leave China,

but Chennault owed
everybody back pay

and we were hanging around
in hope that he'd cough it up,

but it didn't look
too promising.

[airplane whirring]
Greg, it's me, Freddie.

Did Doc Richard
see you come in?

It's okay, he's at the hotel.
He's one ofthe ushers.

[chuckles]

[groans]

Okay, let's go.
How you doing, Norm?

Can you even stand up?

I mean,
I'm the bloody maid of honor.

What am I supposed to do,
hold you up

during the entire ceremony,
or what?

What's wrong with him?

Ah, he's been
like that all day.

Ijust think
he's identifying
with Charlene,

bridal nerves
or something.

[all laughing]

[dog barking]

[crickets chirping]

[grunts]

You know,
you don't look so hot, Greg.

You gonna be okay?
Yeah.

I'm serious.
You okay?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Anybody got a bottle?

Yeah.

(Freddie)
Okay, let's go.

[whining]

[airplanes humming]

[man speaking Japanese]

J‘J‘[organ playing]

(Greg)
My wingman, Norm Fraser,

had some last-minute plans
to marry an Indian girl
he met in Calcutta.

[agreed to be the best man.

Damn it. I said
he wasn't to be moved.

Then we better
leave him there,
don't you think, Doc?

Oh, yeah, at least
till he hemorrhages.

(chaplain)
Dearly beloved,
we are gathered here

to join this man
and this woman
in holy matrimony.

[bombs whistling]

[siren wailing]

lfthere is any man here

who can show cause why
this man and this woman

should not be joined
in holy wedlock,

let him now speak
or forever hold his peace.

Due to the power
vested in me,

You may kiss the bride.
Let's get the hell
out of here!

[women screaming]

[bombs exploding]

[people screaming]

[bombs exploding]

Get going, Doc.
I'm okay.

There's a slit trench
where the hotel cooks hide.
I'll go there.

Let's get out of here!

Which way are we goin'?

Over by that building.

Are you sure?
Positive.

[gaSPing]

Where's the slit trench,
Greg?

[panting]

I thought it was around here
somewhere.

[airplanes droning]

[siren wailing]

(Greg)
You know how much that fathead
Gen. Chennault owes me?

(Dr. Roberts)
I don't wanna hear it.

He owes me
for my last five kills.

I don't wanna hear it.

Then this morning
he gives me a ship

that won't go
50 feet off the deck,

Chennault can't pay you
until the Chinese pay him.

One way or another,
he is going to pay me.

Tell Gen. Chennault
I wanna see him.

[crickets chirping]

[door opening]

How are you, son?

Well, to tell you
the truth, General,

l'm ticked off.

They said you were dying.

Dying to get paid.

Doesn't what we're doing here
mean anything to you,
Boyington?

I'm a fair guy.
We've got a contract.

You're supposed to pay me $500
for every Zero l flame.

And right now
you owe me for six.

I can't give you
what I don't have.

[growling]

[dog barks]

It's against regulations
to have pets.

Get rid of him
or I'll have him shot.

It's okay with me
if you throw him out.
Help yourself.

[barking]

[dog snarling]

No luck, huh?

I've had all
I can stand from you.

I'm gonna get my money,
Chennault.

One way or another,
you're gonna pay
what you owe.

[door opening]

(Greg)
You see what I mean
about Chennault?

A certified stuffed shirt
and a tightwad.

I never
would've come over here
to begin with

except I owed
a lot ofpeople money
back in the States

and l was trying
to pay them off.

So here I was, no money
and strung up
like a Christmas turkey.

I had a major's commission
in my old branch

at the service
in the Marine Corps.

All I had to do was
get 500 miles to Calcutta
and pick it up.

Right then and there
I decided to steal an airplane
and get out.

[engine whirring]

Okay, come on, come on.

[barks]

Come on.

[airplane whirring]

Who authorized that flight?

[airplane roaring]

[airplanes droning]

[barking]

[gun firing]

[airplane roaring]

[guns firing]

[airplane roaring]

[guns firing]

[guns firing]

[gun firing continues]

[guns firing]

[engine sputtering]

[engine sputtering]

[sighs]

[shouting in Hindi]

[birds chirping]

[barking]

[man speaking in Hindi]

(Col. Mathis)
You don't have to like it,
Boyington,

but you're commissioned
as a second lieutenant.

(Greg)
A second lieutenant,
you're kidding!

I've read
your old service record,
Boyington.

You were almost
thrown out ofthe Marines
four years ago

for drunkenness
and brawling.

You're lucky the Corps
is willing to take you back
at all.

Personally, I wouldn't
let you clean toilets

in a boot camp.

You're
a pretty charitable guy.

You could begin
by addressing me as "sir."

My deal with the Marines Corps
was set up by Admiral Nimitz

and approved by
the Secretary of the Navy.

I'm to be reinstated
as a major.

Tough luck,

you didn't make it.

Yes, I did.

You just haven't heard
about it yet.

Your orders are coming through
this afternoon.

I took the liberty
of arranging your position
for you.

You're to be stationed
in a rear area
ofthe South Pacific.

A little island
called Espritos Marcos.

You're going
to hate it there,

it's the armpit
ofthe Pacific.

Welcome aboard,

Lieutenant Boyington.

Major Boyington.

[snarling]

And get rid ofthat dog.
It's against regulations.

Why don't you take him
on your way out?

[dog snarling]

What's the matter with him?

I think
he just hates jerks.

[airplane droning]

lam Major Boyington,

with the General's
personal staff in Washington.

Yeah, I knowthat, uh,
it sounds a little strange,
but, uh,

you see,
the General's housekeeper
died suddenly

and the General decided
that he wanted his dog
in the Pacific.

Yeah.

That's right, I'm scheduled
out in three days,

but I figured
you might be able to get me
an earlier flight.

To be frank, Sergeant,

I'm not getting along
very well with this dog,

and I wanna get back
to Washington.

Oh, no, that's fine.

You hold that plane.

I'll be there in 10 minutes.
Thank you, Sergeant.

Major Boyington?

That's right.
I lost all my luggage
in Honolulu.

Flight operations
has gone into a real mess.

Had to borrow this uniform
from the General's aide
in Waikiki.

ls, uh, that
the General's dog, sir?

That's right.
Real beauty, isn't he?

Yes, sir,
a real prize-winner.

(Greg)
l was back in the Marines

and on my way
to the South Pacific.

J‘J‘[music playing]

(male reporter)
The troops
of the Japanese empire

overwhelmed
the outnumbered Allies
in the Pacific.

As Bhutan falls,
American morale reaches
a new low,

as one by one,
Pacific islands succumb.

Things are no better
in the air,

as the Japanese Emperor's
pilots,

seasoned from years
of fighting over China,

wreak havoc
on unskilled American pilots.

American designers
are back to the drawing board

for swifter,
more maneuverable planes,

as the light,
faster-turning Zeros

descend on
the valiant, outnumbered
American fighter pilots.

As Marine foot soldiers
cling to the beachheads,

the war in the air
becomes paramount.

Victory in the air
will guarantee victory
on the ground,

and a swift end
to the hostilities of war.

(Greg)
Hey, Sergeant,

can you tell me
where Col. Laird
hangs out around here?

Uh, second quad
on the right, sir.

Thank you, Sergeant.

You're already
in big trouble, Boyington.

Sir, I'm sorry, sir,
but I don't know
what you mean.

You're supposed to be
a big-time hotshot,

six Zeros.

Well, let me
tell you something,

I'm up to my brass buckle
in hotshots.

I don't need another one.

Especially not a rule- and
regulation-breaking drunk.

You got it?

Sir, I don't know
what Col. Mathis told you
about me,

but we just didn't hit it off,
that's all.

And I'd really like
to start off
on the right foot here, sir.

Who are you trying to kid?

"Morning report from
air transport commander
on new arrivals.

I've got a Major Boyington
on board."

Major Boyington!

"The Major
was a pickup in Calcutta.

"He's bringing in
Gen. Moore's dog

from some little burg
in West Texas."

But that wouldn't be you,
would it, Lieutenant?

May
see that, sir?

Thank you.

That's gotta be a mistake
all the way around.

Oh, yeah?

Sure. To begin with,

Gen. Moore's
from Pennsylvania,
not West Texas.

I'm a Lieutenant,
not a Major,

and I'll bet if you check
A.T.C. regulations,

they've got a provision
against importation of animals

without
military authorization.

If I were you, sir,

I'd pass this back up to
A.T.C. general headquarters
and flag it.

I mean, if you want to go to
that much trouble, sir.

You're damn right I do.

And you can bet I will.

You really think
you're pretty sharp,
don't you?

Well, sir,
any way I answer that
I'm gonna end up in trouble.

Let me tell you something,
Lieutenant.

We have just two books
on this island,

and everything runs
by those two books!

Now do you know
what they are?

One ofthem wouldn't be
the Marine Corps manual,
would it, sir?

Right on target.

And the other one
is Naval regulations.

Nav Regs!

Now, have you ever seen
either of those two books?

Well, sir,
when l was in boot camp,

I flipped through
the Marine Corps manual
once or twice.

But I have to admit
I'm a little hazy.

And to be
perfectly honest, sir,

l was sort of waiting
for the Navy
to synopsize their manual

because someone told me
that it was, uh,
a thousand pages long, sir.

1,256 pages.

And you
are going to live by them,

every single one of them,

or you're gonna rot
in the brig.

Now, get out of here
and report to quarters.

And tell Maj. Sanderson
that you're under hack.
You know what that means?

Yes, sir, house arrest.

That's right.
Until I can figure out just
who's kidding who

with this air transport
command manifest.

Dismissed!

Yes, sir.

[telephone ringing]

[men chattering]

Pentagon.

Admiral Nimitz's office.

(operator)
We have an overseas call
for Adm. Nimitz.

Uh, the Admiral's
in a conference right now.
Who's calling?

(operator)
Who's calling, sir?

Tell him it's his son, Ted.

Uh, one moment please.

...prime importance.

This is for you,
Admiral.

Oh.

Teddy, where are you, son?

I beg your pardon, Admiral?

(Adm. Nimitz)
Who is this?

This is Greg Boyington, sir.

There must be
some mistake.

l was told
my son was on this line.

Oh, no, sir.

I told your aide
that your son Ted
suggested that I call.

He must have made
a mistake, sir.

Where is Teddy?
Isn't he still in Honolulu?

Did he get
his mother's cookies?

Yes, sir, he sure did.

They were a bit crumbled,
but they were great.

I even had some myself, sir.

Uh, look, Admiral,
do you remember me?

I sent you
a four-page night letter
from Kunming.

And your office responded
and wired me

that l was to be reinstated
into the Marine Corps
as a Major.

Yes, I remember.

There must have been
some foul-up, Admiral,

because it came through
as a second lieutenant.

I figured
you'd want to know.

If you're in Kunming,
how could you have seen Teddy
in Honolulu?

That's impossible.

Well, that's a--
that's a long story, sir.

I'd like to hear it,
please.

[blowing]

Well, you see, sir,
I was transferred to...

[mimicking static]

And Ted was in...

...and then we met
in the Southeast.

[Greg mimicking static]

...and we had a drink
before I was transferred to...

...in April.

We seem to be breaking up.

What, sir?

Look, get on with it.
Why are you calling?

Well, as l was saying,

l was re-inducted
in the Marine Corps
as a second lieutenant,

and I'd really prefer
to be a Major, sir.

Do you think
you could get that
straightened out?

You're already an ace?
You have six kills
or something?

Yes, sir.
You think you could talk
to someone for me?

(Adm. Nimitz)
Where are you?

Espritos Marcos.

Okay,
I'll cable Gen. Moore.

He'll have
your commission papers
amended.

Check with his office
in the morning.

Yes, sir
and thank you, sir.

And next time
you see Teddy,

ask him to write his mother
more often, will you?

Oh, absolutely, sir.
But you know
Teddy's so busy with...

[mimicking static]

[Greg mimicking static]

We better disconnect.
I can hardly hear you.

Good hunting.

[thunder clapping]

[door lock rattling]

[rain pattering]

[exclaims]

Where's the dog?

Huh?

[dog whining]

Hey!

[whimpering]

Is this dog chicken
or what?

Who are you, mister?

Forgetting the fact
that you're, uh,

not supposed to drink
under hack,

you got crummy taste
in bourbon, Greg.

This stuff
will rot your guts out.

[yawning]
What else is on your mind?

I'm from General HQ,
the other side ofthe island.

Mmm-hmm.

I got a report on you
from Col. Laird,
so I did some checking.

Your military record reads
like something out of
the Eight Ball Almanac.

This is very amusing, pal,

but I've had about all of you
I can stand.

Get outta here.

Maybe if you
didn't start off so crisp,

you wouldn't get
into so much trouble, son.

If I want spiritual advice,

I'll get drunk
with a chaplain.

I also read that
you were one of the first
American aces.

You shot down six Zeros
while you were with Chennault.

It's been swell.

You're about
to get pitched out.

10 years ago
I'd have enjoyed
having you try,

but now it's a lot easier
just to pull rank.

l'm General Moore.

[laughs]
That's nice.

Out you go, Sparky.

Just a moment
till Sparky gets his coat off.

[sighs]

[thunder rumbling]

(Greg)
Oh, boy,

I've done it again.

[thunder clapping]

Betty Grable.

l have a few tips
for you, Greg.

General,
about Laird's beef--

Shut up.

You're assigned
to Col. Laird.

I think Laird's
a first-class jerk.

You, on the other hand,
are a blue-ribbon jerk.

You run your mouth
with your mind in neutral,

and that can be
a very dangerous habit.

[sighs]

Now, maybe,

maybe when the time is right,

I can help you.

I don't know.

We'll have to see.

General,

I'm a combat pilot.

How many qualified
combat pilots
do you have out there?

I've seen the reports.

We're losing guys
just because
they're so green

they don't know
how to cover up.

You aren't
gonna fly, Greg.

You might as well
get used to the idea.

You're 35 years old.

You're too old
to be a pilot.

You got to have the reflexes
of a 20-year-old in combat.

With all due respect--

Don't pull my leg.
You haven't got any respect.

That's the one thing
I like about you.

[sighs]

Here, take this.

So that's supposed
to be my dog.

I wouldn't have
an ugly mutt like that.

But I'll let you keep him
if you want.

I'm gonna give him to you
to hold until I get back.

Oh, yeah,

your commission
came through, Major.

(Gen. Moore)
That ought to get you clean
with Laird for now.

And stay away
from that stuff.

What's the matter,
Major?

[sighs]

Just make it Greg,
will you?

Right.

l'm, uh, Larry Casey.

Just got in last night.

How do you do, Larry?

[grunts]

Looks like
a real bore here, huh?

This paperwork is endless.

Where does it all go?

I don't know.

I've been filling out
these supply forms
for two weeks now.

Yeah. Well, you should see
what they gave me.

It can't be worse
than what I've got.

It sure can.

[typewriter clacking]

l'm handling the disposition
of court-martials

for the whole
Southwest Pacific.

Can you beat that?

I'm just offthe boat

now I'm supposed
to start slammin' these guys

who've been out there
fightin', into the brig.

You're kidding me.
Let me see.

It's a big responsibility.

And I don't think
l have the right training

to be making
these decisions.

lwasjust thinkin'
of asking Col. Laird
to give me something else.

Hey, wait a minute.
Hold on.

Look, this is something
that l have a great deal
of experience with.

Then he should've
given it to you.

You're right.
He should have.

Larry. It is Larry?

Yeah.

Tell you what.
Let's swap.

You take the supply forms,

I'll take
the court-martials.

Well, I'm not sure--

lam. Let me help you
with that.

Thank you.

But...

Hello, hello...

I don't--
I don't understand.

Why do you want...

Are you sure this is okay?

Look, Larry,
how'd you like to get out of
this ticker-tape foxhole

and into a real combat unit?

That's why I came over here.

I'm a pilot,

not a paper shuffler.

I think I'm about to form
a squadron.

Excuse me, Major,

but, uh,

I happen to know
a few things about protocol.

To begin with,

they don't let Majors
set up air combat squadrons,

and second of all,
all squadrons
are formed in the Pentagon.

That's protocol.

I never pay any attention
to protocol.

Where are you gonna get
your pilots?

All the guys out here
are attached.

Not those.

You're kiddin'.

Those guys are all screw-ups.

So am
.

[typewriters clacking]

[papers rattling]

[sighs]

(Greg)
This guy was a Lulu.

”A captain
with four air victories

and a tendency to slug
superior officers. ”

”Jerry Bragg,

”High school football,
tops in his flight class
at Pensacola.

Drunk and disorderly,
assault and battery. ”

Not bad for only four months
in the service.

This guy hits officers
and steals Scotch.

My kind of Marine.

I'm a little worried
about his flight record,

but we'll straighten him out.

[men chattering]

[birds chirping]

What if some of 'em
aren't here, Greg?

lfthey're not here,
we don't want 'em.

[men chattering]

May l have
your attention, please?

[men laughing]

[men continue chattering]

Hey, listen up!

[Greg whistles]

[chattering stops]

l'm Major Boyington

and I'm the one
who posted orders

for you guys
to be here this afternoon.

I want
the following officers

to form up
on Lt. Casey.

"Second Lt.
Robert Anderson.

"First Lt.
Donald French.

"First Lt.
T. Joseph Wiley.

"First Lt.
Robert Boyle.

"First Lt.
Jerome Bragg.

"Capt. James W. Gutterman.

"Second Lt.
Michael Swenson.

Second Lt.
Fred Josephson."

[Casey yelling
marching commands]

[continues yelling commands]

[Casey yells commands]

(Greg)
My name is Greg Boyington.

I'm supposed to decide
who's going to be
court-martialed

and who's going to be allowed
to go back into action.

Hey, that's my Scotch!

Lt. Wiley?
T.J., right?

How'd you get that away
from that transport captain?

Lt. Wiley
is under general arrest

for breaking the beak
of a transport pilot.

[men applauding]

The Captain wouldn't let him
bring back 15 cases of Scotch
from Sydney,

so he confiscated it.

l, uh, convinced the Captain
to share it with me.

You guys like standin'
around in twos or what?

No.

[man laughs]

(Greg)
l'm forming a squadron.

Help yourself,
Lieutenant.

I've gone through
all the court-martial records
from the Southwest Pacific.

And l have selected you men
for your lack of brains,

talent for trouble,

and because you are
the only pilots available.

Now, for those of you
that don't join my squadron,

I'm gonna recommend
court-martial proceedings.

For those that do,
I'm gonna sign you up.

Any questions?

I got a question, Major.

Go ahead.

How about
if I just knock you
on your backside?

[men whooping]

You'd get
some bent teeth trying.

Well, you see,
that don't matter
much to me.

As you know,
I'm being beefed already

for hittin' a Colonel
in Sydney.

You're only a Major,

and kind of an old one
at that.

[men laughing]

Suppose I give it a go?

Suppose you do?

[snickers]

[grunts]

[men cheering]

[men whooping]

[men cheering]

$20 on the Major.

Yay!

Hold it, Corporal.

It's quarantined,
don't go in there.

Forget it, there's a fight
goin' on in there.

[men clamoring]

Go!

[men grunting]

I said hold it, Major.

[yells]

[men clamoring]

[men shouting]

[men chattering]

[men cheering]

You got him,
come on.

Get him, get him. Go.

[man laughing]

Come on, Major.
Get up.

[both grunting]

Come on, get him.

[man whoops]

[gaSPing]
You want more
or you had enough?

Oh, yeah,
I've had enough.

You're pretty tough
for an old man.

Anybody else?

I don't know about
the rest of these guys,
Grandpa,

but I'll fly with you.

[men whooping]

Don't you know
squadrons are formed
in the Pentagon?

Got a thing about
protocol, Gutterman?

How do you figure
you're gonna form one
way out here?

Well, to be perfectly honest,

I thought I'd steal one.

[men laughing]

[laughing]

You're nuts, mister.

In or out, Gutterman?

How old are you, anyway?

35.

You figure
you're gonna fly with us?

I never met a combat pilot
over 25 years old.

You have now.

Gutterman,
I can fly a lot better
than I can fight.

Well, ifthat's true,
you must be
one hell of a pilot.

Okay, Gramps, l'll fly.

(man)
Yeah.

(men)
Yeah!

But I believe you're
gonna be court-martialed
before any of us.

[grunts]

You guys get enough, huh?

What do you mean?
None of the court-martials
have gone through?

Yes. Uh, I'm sorry, Commander.
I'll look into it right away.

Yes, sir.

No, sir. The fact is
we have a lot
of new men here,

and the, uh, the paperwork
is, uh, overpowering.

Yes, sir, overpowering.

lwill, sir. Right away.

[typewriter clacking]

[men chattering]

Lieutenant,

Apparently
none of the court-martials
have been getting up to Fleet.

Well, well, sir, uh,
--

Well, where are they?

You've been working on them
for 10 days.

He's been working
on supply forms.

I've been working
on court-martials, Colonel.

Damn it, Boyington!

Everything's in channels,
Colonel.

But the Fleet
hasn't received any ofthem.

That's right,
and they won't.

Well, then you
better tell me why,

and in one big hurry, Major.

Because I didn't file
any ofthe charges.

l disapproved them.

You disapproved them?

How many?

All ofthem.

You disapproved
every court-martial
in the Pacific

for a three-month period
oftime?

Yes, sir.

You're joking?

No, sir.

Sir, the--the way I see it,

if any ofthese guys
pull this kind of stuff again,

that's the time
we nail 'em for it.

Not now.

Why not
keep them fighting

instead ofjust
sitting around?

l'm shipping you out,
Boyington. Right now.

You are through,
do you understand me?
You have had it.

You are finished!

lam shipping you out!

[echoing]
Out!

I'm having
a run of bad of luck
with my commanding officers.

I think you better move up
the timetable, Greg.

I think you're right.

(Greg)
I knew

ifl could get
this bunch ofjerks
up into the sky,

[could turn them
into the best fighter squadron
around.

They had guts and orneriness
and that's what you need.

But I had to steal planes.
Before you can steal them,

you have to find them.

The best place to do that
was the General HQ

on the other side
of the island.

[dog whines]

I'm going to check
squadron rotations.

You see what kinda base
you can scare up,

something isolated
but close enough

so we can to get up
the slot and back
without runnin' out of gas.

If we get caught
doing this,

we're gonna get so buried
under official reprimands,

we're not gonna see daylight
for 25 or 30 years.

What's so great
about daylight?

Some ofthe best times
I've ever had
were in the dark.

[snickers]

Jim, we got to
get offthis island
in 10 or 12 hours,

or Laird's gonna drop
a net on us anyway.

I figure
it's gonna take him
at least that long

to have the adjutant corps
type up all the charges.

[laughs]

You better get goin'.

Okay, Gramps.

[all chattering]

Lieutenant,
what's been taking so long?

I've been outside
waiting for 45 minutes.

Uh, I'm sorry, sir.

I'm afraid
I don't understand.

Aren't you
the Lieutenant

that went to get
the medical reports
on the returning squadron?

Uh, no, sir, no, sir.
See, you have me mixed up
with somebody else.

Well, damn it,
I don't have all day!

Of course, you guys
don't give a rat's butt
about my problem.

It doesn't make
any difference to you

ifthere are 15 or 20 pilots
flying in that squadron

with active cases
of malaria and yellow fever.

Uh...

Since you're...
l'm--l'm sorry, sir,

see,
--
don't understand...

You got a squadron
coming out of action, right?

You mean 214?

Of course I mean 214.

Uh, now you mean

uh, there are malaria cases
in that squadron, Doctor?

Son,

what have we just been
talking about?

Well, sir, uh,

I guess, uh,
I mean that, uh,

this is the first time
that I've heard about
anything like it.

It's hardly
the kinda thing

that you would spread around,
now, is it, Lieutenant?

Uh, no, you wouldn't.

I've got to process
all the medical forms,

and arrange to have
an entire squadron

airlifted to a temporary
quarantine area,

and I don't have all afternoon
to get that done, Lieutenant.

Uh, well, now you see,
now, I haven't heard about,

uh, any kind of
medical airlift, sir.

You haven't heard, Lieutenant,

because until I read
the Flight Surgeon's report,

I can't make a decision

on whether we're dealing
with active tri-cycular
gal-cometic malaria,

orjust a dormant
hyper-jaundiced condition
masquerading as malaria.

Now, the two symptoms
are almost identical,

unless you're alert
to the differences.

Uh, yes, sir.

It's possible
that the Flight Surgeon

has misdiagnosed
this whole thing.

[titters]

Would it be convenient,
Lieutenant,

for you to get them
for me now?

Uh, yes, sir.

Thank you.
Sure.

And, Lieutenant?
Yes.

Would get me
some blank medical forms,

in case l have to alter
the diagnosis.

How can you, uh,
change the diagnosis

without examining
the patient, sir?

By reading
the blood toxin report

and checking it against
the white blood cell count,
of course.

Something
these flight surgeons
never think to do.

lfthey did,

it would save us
a lot oftime and trouble,
don't you think?

Why, you would think
it would.

You certainly would, yes.

Uh, I'll get, uh,
214's medical history
for you, Commander.

Oh, if you want,

you can use
Col. Warfield's office.
He's in Sydney.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
Sure.

[birds chirping]

Well, how'd you do?
Pretty good.

I think I found us
a good base.

Oh, yeah?
Where is it?

It's a little island
about 60 miles
south of here.

The Seabees haven't
finished the strip.

Before they could finish
working on it,

the war took a left turn
and put this little strip
out of reach.

I got
some aerial photos.

Looks like
we can fly off it.

If we can get
some reserve tanks,

we can make it
to Bougainville and back.

It'll be tight,
but I think it'll work.

(Greg)
I don't know, Jim.

Wait, you haven't heard
the best part yet.

As a matter of fact,
it's what makes this
the perfect base.

See, there's a hospital
not three miles
from the end ofthe strip.

And this hospital
is still being used
as the main port of entry

for all military medical
personnel ofthe, uh,

female persuasion.

Beginning to sound
like a pretty good base.

I also ran into
about 30 nurses
who were stationed there.

They're quartered
in a compound near the beach.

I thought tonight
might be a good time
to have a luau.

Um, good, okay.

Call Casey. Tell him to steal
a truck and bring the rest
ofthe squadron over here.

Tell him we're taking off
tomorrow at 0800
on a hospital plane

and to get out of there
without being observed.

No kidding. You mean
you found a squadron?

214.

As luck would have it,
it turns out I'm the ranking
medical officer

on this whole damn island.

[trucks passing]

You should read
the medical record.

The whole squadron
is infected with malaria.

It's the worst epidemic
I've seen in my entire
two-hour medical career.

l've arranged to have
all the pilots under Commander
quarantined for 14 days

on the Isle of Munata.

How long will they let you
stay in the Major grade?

I try not to worry
about that kind of stuff.

Two weeks ago,
l was a second lieutenant.

How are we supposed
to get orders to fly
those birds over to da Cava?

Colonel Laird is still our CO.
When he finds out
what you're doin', we're dead.

I've been giving that
a great deal of thought.

Damn, that's good Scotch.

Where did you
get this stuff?

I didn't know there was
this kind of Scotch
anywhere on the island.

Well, sir, uh,

I'd rather not say.

Stole it?

I gotta tell you
something, son.

When you delivered this bottle
to me this afternoon,

I figured,
"Who would send

an old blister like me
a free quart of Scotch?"

Dorothy Lamour.
Yeah.

How are you and Laird
hitting it off?

Great. He's got me up
for a dishonorable discharge.

[laughs]

Well, all things considered,
you lasted longer
than I thought you would.

Sir, do you have any plans
for this evening?

Plans, no. Ijust thought
I'd sit it out here
and enjoy your gift.

Would you like
to go to a luau?

A what?
A luau.

Luau?

Are there gonna be any girls?

30 nurses.

And I've got another case
of Scotch.

Just what is it you want
from me anyway?

Nothing.

Come on, you'll never
make that fly, Greg.

But you give me
just one minute.

I'll take
these damn stars off

because I learned
a while back

that Generals
don't make out.

[people chattering]

J‘J‘[music playing]

We were really bored
at Vella da Cava.

I mean, it was okay
while the Seabees
were building the strip,

but after they left
there wasn't anything to do.

Really?

No, really. We were
stationed there for six weeks

and the only guys there
were doctors.

I mean, there was
one really nice one

but there were 30 nurses,
you know what I mean?

Getting a little buggy
towards the end.

What's his name?
I'm going there,
I'll look him up.

Uh, Jim Reese.

Little Tennessee boy,
he was real cute.

And he was dating

30 nurses?

Well, maybe not 30,

probably more like 20.

The nurses really go
for doctors, you know
what I mean?

[giggling]

Come here,
I wanna show you something.

[people chattering]

Uh, hey, wait a minute.

You're not trying
to get me off away
from the others

'cause I wouldn't
wanna do that.

Oh, no, no.

I mean, you know,
we just met.

Frankly, uh, we were
sort of warned
about you pilots.

Well, uh,

l'm something
of a doctor myself.

You're a doctor? Duh!

I don't like

to wear this
around the compound

because people
keep coming up to me

and ask me
for medical alcohol.

Uh, uh, isn't that
kind of unusual?

I mean a doctor
who's a pilot.

lt's--it's very unusual.

Uh.

Uh, what is it?
I mean, uh,

you're a doctor.
That kinda changes things.

That is obvious, eh?

Yeah, I mean, well,
you know.

It's different with
doctors and nurses.

It's like we belong
to the same club or something.

You're right.

(Greg)
With reserve tanks,

I can make it
from Vella whatever

to Bougainville and back.

Look, Greg, I'm a little
bagged right now.

Do we have
to discuss this thing here?

I admit we need
a squadron and pilots.

Suppose I told you, General,
that right now
under your command,

you've got a squadron
that's coming out of action
two weeks early

with malarial infestation.

And this squadron
won't have anybody

to fly their planes
for two weeks.

Suppose I told you that?

Okay, suppose
you told me that,

where you gonna
get the pilots?

Where do
get them?
Is that the question?

Right. All the pilots
are attached on this island.

You'd need
20 unattached pilots
to fly those birds.

Right, now, General,

if I could get those 20 pilots
on this island,

would you give me the squadron
and cut the orders?

There are
no unattached pilots
on this island, boy!

So, forget it.

[chuckling]

You're wrong, sir, there are.

Where?

Here, and there,

and passed out
all over this beach.

You mean--

you mean all these guys here,
they-they're the pilots?

Yes, sir.

Capt. Gutterman there
is one ofthe biggest foul-ups

in the South Pacific.

And I recognize some of
these other officers,
at least four ofthem

who are awaiting
court-martial.

They all are, or were.

That's why I found 'em.

[laughing]

[laughing]

Shut up, honey,
I'm trying to sleep.

Okay, yeah!

[continues laughing]

At least you gotta admit
they're unattached, General.

Can they fly?

General, this is gonna be
the best damn squadron

in the South Pacific.

You give me this squadron
and I promise you,

you're gonna bag Zeros.

And I'm supposed
to screen Laird off of you
for two weeks.

I guess you realize, Greg,
that if you don't pile up

a hell of a kill record
in 14 days,

you gotta come back here
and get dumped
in the stockade.

Take a chance on me,
General.

Take a chance
on all ofthese bums.

What's the number
of your squadron?

214.

[sighing]

Okay, if they come out
of action early, you got it.

Two weeks.

It's gonna be
the shortest combat tour
on record.

Thank you.

What're you gonna
call the squadron?

I'm gonna call them
what they are.

What's that?

The Black Sheep.

[chuckles]

[droning]

I don't want to talk about it,
T.J.

Come on, either you did
or you didn't.

The nurse I was with
has got a crush on some doctor

she met over
at Vella La Cava.

She's almost
engaged to him.

Gotta cut my tie.

Hey, you're kidding,
what was the guy's name?

I don't know.
Was it Jim Reese?

That's right,
Lt. Reese.

(Gutterman)
How'd you know that?

Oh, I had some
of the same trouble, Captain,

but, uh, I managed
to steer around it.

[snickering]

I gotta meet this guy.

Hey, here it comes.

(Greg)
Before we took off,

[got a hold of
a 214 flight backup.

These guys
hadn't been killing anything
but mosquitoes.

In the six weeks
of their current combat tour
they had lost six planes,

and hadn't shot down
one Japanese Zero.

Not much of a record.

(Maj. Buell)
You guys the replacements
for 214?

(Greg)
We sure are, Major,
l'm Greg Boyington.

Maj. Buell.
What is goin' on?

We get pulled out of action,

they tell us to bring
our planes back

and report
to the flight surgeon.

Now they tell me
all my boys got malaria.

I'm sorry to hear about that.

Nobody has malaria.
I got two weeks left
on this combat tour.

You know how fouled up
these Rear Area types can get.

I hope you get it
figured out, Major.

[soldier groaning]

These guys are supposed
to be fresh replacements?

They look sicker
than my boys.

They are sick but they're
still willing to fly.

That's what makes
the Marine Corps pilot

the most respected man
in the service.

I hope you don't really
believe that, Major.

I'm supposed
to take your men over
to the hospital facility

on the Servace atoll.

You ready to go, Major?

All right, let's go.

Well, look at it this way.
If worse comes to worse,

you all get a trip
to Sydney.

Some ofthose planes
over there can barely fly.

You take care
ofthe ones that do.

And if you crash one,
I'm gonna knock your head off
when
get back here.

I sure hope you guys
start feeling better, Major.

Nobody's sick,
I keep telling everybody!

[plane engines starting]

Hey, Gramps!
(Greg)
Yeah?

You wouldn't make a kid
like me go up in a crate

like this, would you?

(Greg)
Okay, we're gonna
take off in twos.

I'm gonna take off last
and circle the field.

You guys warm up on deck.

Vella La Cava's about 50 miles
south of here.

Only four of you
have flown combat.

Gutterman, Anderson,
French, and Boyle.

So, for now,
you're flight leaders,

even though two of you
don't have rank.

Now, for those of you
that've never been
in a fighter before,

they're just like the trainers
back in the States.

Only one difference.

There's a little button
on the stick.

When you press it,

it fires real bullets.

Let's go, guys.

(Greg)
Okay, you guys.

We only have these birds
for a little while.

We're going to have to
make it count.

I learnt some nice tricks
in China.

These Zeros
can be shot down.

Just gotta know
how to do it.

I'm gonna teach you.

You can start by learning
how to fly in formation.

Some ofyou guys
are bouncing up and down.
Line them up.

Fly 'em straight and level.

Gutterman,
will you stop crowding me?

You're about to take
my wing tip off.

We're supposed to be
flying in formation, T.J.

Did anybody ever teach you
about flying in formation?

I'm not flyin' in formation.

l'm flying in holy terror.

Now, will you stop
climbin' all over me?

Where did you
get your wings, T.J.,
in a raffle?

Just get the hell away
from me, will you, Jim?
I'm not kidding.

(T. J.)
I'm sorry about that.

(Gutterman)
What are you doin', Wiley?
You put a burst into me.

My mistake.

You okay, Jim?

(Gutterman)
I don't know.
Hold on a minute.

I got some trouble,
Peppy.

My right aileron
is all shot to hell.

l'm--l'm sorry, Jim. l--l hit
the trigger by mistake.

That button is tricky.

When we get down
on the ground, T.J.,
you're gonna lose some teeth.

Okay, Jim,
what're your damages?

l'm rolling into
a slow right-hand turn.

I cracked
with a lot of left rudder,

but I'm banked over,
Gramps.

I'm gonna have trouble
getting it down.

Okay. Everybody form up on me
and stay loose.

Okay, Gramps, [see a strip.
What now?

Boyle and Anderson,

flip to 10,000
and fly high cover.

The rest ofyou guys get down

and get your aircraft
off the strip.

l'll fly you down, Jim.

(Gutterman)
Right.

[all whooping]

[women cheering]

Welcome to Vella La Cava!

Hey, it looks like
we're finally gonna have
some fun.

Ooh, lthink
we got some pilots!

Okay, Jim,
let's make a pass at it.

I'll stay on your right.

(Gutterman)
lcan't flare it out.
I'm going in.

He's out.

Go over and get him.

(Greg)
Casey, commandeer one
of those jeeps.

Gun 'em until they're
100 yards over the hill.

Okay, Peppy,
I'm on my way.

Okay, ladies.
Let's go. That way.

[people chattering]

Take it easy, Jim.

Jimmy.

I told you what
I was gonna do, T.J.

[men chattering]

[men cheering]

Pappy,
I got $20 on Jim.

You're covered. Give me
an extra $5 at 2-to-1.

You got it.

How about you, French?

I'll take some of that, Pappy.
I want Wiley.

[T.J. grunting]

[both grunting]

(Greg)
You want in?

I'll put $20 on T.J.

Give me the $20.

[men cheering]

Hi, are you guys gonna be
stationed here or what?

Come on, T.J.,
nail him

Oh, that's nice.
That's really nice.

I mean, I'm so glad
you dropped by.

Yeah.
Which one do you like?

Well, the Captain's
kinda cute.

Yeah, have you
got $10?

Oh, yeah, but--

Come on,
put him away.

I don't understand.

[men yelling]

Get up, you guys!

We need a winner
or all these bets are off.

[all clamoring]

(men)
Come on! Come on now, T.J.

You can do it!

[all groaning]

Are you in command
ofthis circus, Major?

Temporarily.

I would like to inform you
that this airstrip

is going to be off-limits
for all medical personnel.

[men groaning]

You got that, girls?

Yeah.

(Gutterman)
I believe I'm in need
of some medical assistance.

Me, too.

[both grunting]

Look, Commander.

I think you got
the wrong idea.

See, these men--

You know,
you don't make a very good
first impression, Major.

Neither do you,
honey.

Oh, welcome
to Vella La Cava, guys.

Let's go check out
the living quarters.

Casey, come here.
Yes, sir.

Pick somebody
and go find out
what's left of Jim's plane.

Let's go.

Next week, there's
a large concentration

of Japanese fighter pilots
arriving on San Mintos reef.

They're getting
a strip ready.

We gotta blow up the field,

or our bombers
are gonna get clobbered.

Conserve your fuel, gentlemen,

because returning
from the Slot is going to be
a major problem.

Maybe we'll get to scrounge up
some extra tanks
over at Pelatau.

Uh, I'm here to report
on those two pilots

we got over at the hospital.

Capt. Gutterman's
got a concussion.

So I'm gonna
keep him overnight.

But Lt. Wiley tried to break
into the nurses' quarters

on the second floor
and he fell offthe ledge.

[men chuckling]

Well,
--
put him in a room
to check on him
for internal injuries.

I went
to get my medical bag,

and by the time I got back,
he did it again.

[all laughing]

Where is he now?

Lt. Wiley is
missin' in action,

somewhere in that hospital.

[men cheering]

I sure am glad
you guys got here.

Ever since those
Seabees pulled out,

l have had
one God-awful problem.

I've lost about 30 pounds

and I believe
I'm developin' a heart murmur.

War is hell, Doctor.

Uh, l'm Greg Boyington,
you must be Jim Reese.

I'm what is left
of Jim Reese.

l'd gladly trade you guys
the floor plans
ofthe hospital

for a little relief
from some ofthem ladies.

[men cheering]

214, we're to be here
for at least two weeks.

Depending on the hunting.

Mmm. Well, you best get
your flak vest, Major,

'cause we got word
over at the hospital

that some Rear Area flathead's
on his way out here.

He's supposed
to arrive tomorrow
sometime in the afternoon.

And I believe
he's looking to skin your hide

and nail it
to the outhouse door.

Let's see the floor plans
ofthat hospital.

You got it.

Yes, yes.

[all chattering]

Now, here in the Store,
I call it the Store--

[all laughing]

Okay, I wanna
remind you guys

that we're only here
to find Lt. Wiley

who's in
extreme medical jeopardy.

Now, any of you men
lay a hand on a nurse,

you're gonna have to
answer to--to somebody.

Right, Pappy.

[crickets chirping]

Come on, let's go.

[men laughing]

(Marine #1)
You sure this is okay?

(nurse #1)
Yeah. Sheryl will
take over my duty.

(Marine #2)
Hi, there.

(nurse #2)
Hey, Marie,
cover for me, will you?

(Marine #3)
Hi.

(nurse #3)
Gee, I'm still on duty.

l'll cut it five minutes
short.

Sure this is okay?
What about the wounded?

They're all asleep.

(Marine #4)
Hi.

(nurse #4)
Kill the lights,
will ya, honey?

[chuckling]

(Cdr. Delmonte)
All right,
this is Cdr. Delmonte.

Who's on duty here?

[nurse chuckling]

(Greg)
The bomber wing was
getting clobbered.

The Japanese were moving
more and more fighters
into the area.

We had to hit that field
on San Mintos reef

before they could
get it set up.

Trouble was, it was deep
in enemy territory.

And getting there and back
with a bunch

of unseasoned pilots
could be dangerous.

On the way to the target,

I decided to get in
a little classroom instruction

on ducking and flaming Zeros.

Gutterman and Wiley,
let's see a scissors movement.

Boyle, calm down.

(Boyle)
Roger, Papp y.

Come on, come on, T.J.,
close it up!

You gotta stay
tight on his tail
and cross under him.

Listen, you meatheads.

These Corsairs we're flying
can't turn with a Zero.

Zero 's lighter,
but we're faster.

You try and turn with him,
he's gonna cross under you

and rip your belly open.

That's why we fly in pairs.

The Zero gets on your tail,

you and your wingman
make a scissors movement.

Then you're gonna end up on
the Zero's tail and flame 'em.
You got it?

(Gutterman)
Right, Gramps.

(Anderson)
Got it. Roger, Pappy.

(Boyle)
Okay, Pappy, we got you.

Okay, Casey and French,
let's see it.

Come on,
Bragg, Anderson.

Better.

That's better.
Now you're gettin' it, guys.

Gutterman,
you're too close.

Okay, you guys.
new eddy, two, five, six.

We need a shot at the strip
on San Mintos reef

(Gutterman)
We're ready, Gramps.

Keep a sharp lookout
for bogies.

Anybody seen one,
you stay tight.

Don't break out without
checking with me first.

Don't fly on my wingtips
so close, will you?

lfl don't move, lsuppose
you're gonna shoot me down?

It's been known to happen,
Captain.

Okay, follow me in.

And stay out of the trees.

(Greg)
Wiley, pull up,
you're coming in too low.

Get outta here.

Pappy, l, uh, kicked
one of those palms back there.

Why didn't you pull up,
T.J.?

(T.J.)
l was so intent
on strafing the field

l--l didn't see
the palm trees.

Looks like I got
a little left wing damage.

Damn, Wiley, looks like

you knocked two feet
off your wing tip!

l'm losin' altitude,
what do ldo, Gramps?

Increase your power.

I'll stay with this jerk
and fly cover.

You go on, Gramps.

Hey, Gutterman,

if you want to close up
a little bit now, it's okay.

That's very humorous, T.J.

(Greg)
Okay, Jim, stick with him.

Head for the bomber base
at Pelatau.

I'll take these guys home.

Right.

[men laughing]

How the hell are you,
Colonel?

You really think
you're pretty smart,

don't you, Boyington?

We already had
that conversation.

You keep asking me
the same question.

Let me list the charges
against you.

Disregard of
a superior officer's
direct commands,

piracy of 20 airplanes,

the theft
of a squadron number,

illegal formation
of a combat squadron

without Pentagon approval,

conduct unbecoming an officer,

And I will throw in
impersonating
a medical officer,

just to make it
a round half dozen.

You left out a couple,
Colonel.

lnsubordination,

drunk and disorderly...

Well,
, uh, I don't wanna be
greedy, do
?

Why don't you get
your Rear Area butt
out of my chair?

You know, I've been looking
over the personnel records

ofthe men
in this squadron you formed.

Capt. Gutterman

is a disgrace
to the American uniform.

He has been dealing
in everything

from contraband liquor

to black market
silk stockings.

Lt. French has been
under hack

almost his
entire military career.

Oh, Lt. Wiley.

Crashed three planes

while undergoing
Marine Corps pilot training,

and I'll bet you've got him
flying right now, haven't you?

You have your facts
mixed up, Colonel.

My facts are
perfectly accurate!

They may be accurate,
but they're not current.

Lt. Wiley shot down
Capt. Gutterman yesterday,

making it four.

Ahem, it's, uh, five, sir.

He crash landed on
our bomber strip on Pelatau.

He's okay
but he wholesaled the plane.

There, you see?
Now it's five.

You know, that boy has only
been flying for three months,

and he's already
a Japanese ace?

Boyington.

You're as good as in the brig
right this minute.

Oh, it was very clever,
you getting Gen. Moore

to support you in all this.

With all due respect
to the General,

he's not gonna last long
in this war either.

I'm gonna fly directly
to Fleet Headquarters,

and I'm comin' away
with your court-martial!

[clattering]

Get out of here

before I kick your chin up
between your eyes.

Take your hands off me!

You realize
what you're doing?

What the hell do you think
you're doing?

Get your hands off me!

Adios, Colonel.

You're under arrest,
for gross insubordination!

And you better--
Don't you come near me!

Don't make me use this.

Take your hands off me!

Anybody who breaks
a regulation under my command

is gonna go to the brig!

Do you hear that?

And I don't care
how many Zeros he's shot down!

You're gonna
go to the brig, Major!

You and all ofthese
drunks and eight balls!

You better get the hell
out of here, Colonel!

Keep away from me!

That's tellin' him,
Pappy.

[car engine accelerating]

Shut up, Don.

Just shut up.

How're you doin',
Pappy?

(Greg)
I'm doin' okay.

Where's T.J.?

I left him on the ground
at Pelatau.

How's his plane?

Not good.

They got a Corsair
on the ground over there
that nobody's usin'.

The pilot set it down
two weeks ago

and just walked off
into the jungle.

I'm trying to get somebody
to fly it out, but...

Needs a little work.

T.J.'s got a mechanic
workin' on it right now.

Says he'll bring it over
later tonight.

Personally, I think
we ought to ground that kid.

I'll have atalk
with him.

You better have
more than a talk, Gramps.

I'll take him.

You take French.

llike the kid.

He flies a nurse better
than anybody in the service.

But come to flying a plane,
he's got no instinct.

I'll take him
as my wingman.

We need everybody
up in the air.

If he's gonna be flying,
I'll keep him.

Kind of got
used to him yelling:

"Gutterman,
get off my starboard wing!"

[all chuckling]

Keeps me
from going to sleep.

(Greg)
Hey, Jim.

Come on inside, will you?
I want to have a talk
with you.

[men chattering]

Laird found us.

He's going to try and move
around our end

and bring this whole mess
up to Fleet.

Gen. Moore can cover us
for a while,

but let's face it,

unless we become a pretty damn
successful outfit in a hurry,

they're gonna ship us
out of here in cages.

I got another piece
of bad news for you.

l was talking
to a bomber pilot
over at Pelatau,

he says they already
got the word on us.

Special orders,

214 isn't gonna get
any fighter escort duties.

We know where
that came from.

If Laird can keep us
from gettin' bomber escort,

we're not gonna
get any Zeros.

Zeros don't come up after us.

They only go after bombers.

Damn Laird!
He wouldn't give me a chance.

Listen, Greg,

I don't like the man,
but let's at least be honest.

You didn't give him
much of a chance.

I know.

Just that I got a weakness
for guys like that.

Show me a rule book commando,
and Ijust can't help myself.

I gotta stick my foot out
and see if I can trip him.

Sounds like a serious
personality flaw.

I got more
than one, Bunky.

Well, we're sunk.

We're never gonna suck
the Japanese into a straight
fighter plane shootout.

They got orders to only
go after the bomber wing.

You got an idea?

Yeah.

Well, let's hear it.

I'm gonna get a bottle
of Scotch I got hidden.

And get drunk.

That ain't much
of a plan, Greg.

I never said it was.

[birds chirping]

I'm sorry, Pappy.

Hey, that's okay, Jerry.
Here, sit down,
have yourself a drink.

[sighing]
l was just over
at the hospital.

Got a lock
on that side door.

Don't worry about that.

Anderson used to work
for a hardware store.

We'll get him to pick
the lock and make us a key.

Yeah!

[both laughing]

You ever seen
the light, Pappy?

No.

Heard some guys
talking about it.

You know, it's spooky.

You sit around
and you just know
your number's been called.

Ain't that something?

I ain't even seen a Zero,
and I got that feeling.

You do, huh?

Yeah, Pappy.

Why don't you
tell me about it?

I don't see
how that will help.

Listen, Jerry,

we don't have
a chaplain here,

and I'm your
commanding officer.

So if you got something
that makes you feel funny,

why don't you
tell me about it?
Maybe I can help you.

l was just sitting around
this afternoon.

I got this feeling
I was a dead man.

I knew if I was
going on a mission,
I wasn't gonna come back.

It's a feeling.

But it's real.

Get up, Jerry.

What is it, Gramps? Why?

I got something
that's gonna help you.

Hey, what are you doing?

[grunting]

[panting]

[both grunting]

[Jerry coughing]

[panting]

Hey, Bragg.

Yeah, Gramps?

You still
see the light?

No.

If I don't die
in the next ten minutes,

[laughing]

Come on,
Gutterman. Wake up.

What happened to you?

I know how we can do it.

I know how we can get
those Jap fighters
to come play with us.

You okay?
What happened to you?

We'll fake 'em off.
How do you like that, Jim?

It's a hell of
a plan, isn't it?

[chuckling]

Yeah, Greg,
that's a whale of an idea.

Why don't you pick out
a piece of the floor
over there

and grab yourself
some shut-eye?

'Cause in three hours,
we're going to be flying.

We're gonna be in the air
before the sun's up.

Extra fuel. Everybody goes.

You're serious,
aren't you?

You better believe it.

We're gonna hit Bougainville,

we're gonna get every fighter
that the Japs have there

up in the air
foragame of tag.

They won't go up, Greg,
they got their orders.

Oh, yes, they will.

This time they will.

Where you going?

I'm gonna arrange things
with the General.

Gonna wake up
you bums at 0430.

[yawning]
l was sound asleep.

What did he want?

He's drunk.

l was having
a hell of a good dream.

Guess I won't
get it back now.

(Greg)
This mission was important.

Even though we'd hit
San Mintos reef
and put it out of action,

the Japanese just up and moved
the fighter squadron to Guam.

It was still pounding hell
out of the bombers.

They wouldn't come up
and fight us,

and that posed
a strange problem.

And ofcourse,
strange problems
bring strange solutions.

All my life
I'd been a huckster.

l conned my way
into the Service
and stole the squadron.

Maybe last night
Bragg knocked
some sense into me.

Why should I spend my career
only messing with the Marines?

What the hell?
Why not spread it around

and start conning
the Japanese?

[airplanes roaring]

In five minutes we're gonna be
over the Jap fighter strip
at Bougainville

headed to ward Guam.

Everybody form up in a ”V.”

Like a bomber flight.

Now the whole trick here

is to make the Japanese think
we're bombers
on the way to Guam.

Then they'll come up
after us.

Everybody up to 13,000.

[airplanes roaring]

Okay, you guys.

Youjust flunked
the fighter pilot test.

You're now bomber pilots.

Let's get on their frequency
and sound like it.

This is bomber group
to Charlie One.

We're at 13,000 and turning
onto our final approach.

Set up on targets

and check formation points.

Roger, Charlie One.

(Gutterman)
We have, uh,
base leg operational.

We're set up on Guam.

E. T.A., five minutes.

Tail gunners
and waist gunners,
keep a sharp eye out.

Roger, group.

We don't have any
bogies so far.

Keep the formation tight
and stand by.

(Greg on radio)
We'll commence bombing
in five minutes.

Keep sharp.

[speaking Japanese]

[alarm wailing]

(Greg on radio)
Keep these
formations tight, men.

We've reached our target.

[siren wailing]

Roger, Charlie One.

First assault squadron
is ready for run.

We're coming down
to 6,000 feet.

(Greg on radio)
Standby.

(Anderson)
Roger, we're with you.

Flight leaders, check in.

(Gutterman)
”A ” flight, ready.

(Anderson)
”B" flight, ready.

(French)
”C" flight, ready.

(Greg)
Roger, flight leaders.

(Greg)
Change back to
regular frequency.

All right, now we've got
them on the way up.

Hold your positions.

(Greg)
Get set, on your guns.

[man speaking Japanese
on radio]

Okay, here come
the meatballs.

Break into twos
and let's go get them.

Hey, I got one eating my tail!

l'm comin', T.J.!

Get a little closer,
will ya, buddy?

(Greg)
Okay, French, cover me.
I'm on one.

(French)
Right, Gramps.

Way to go, Pappy.

Two bogies at seven o'clock.
Get under him, French.

(French)
Got it, Gramps.
l'll fly cover, you take him.

(Greg)
Casey, give us some help
over here, will you?

Hey, Casey,
where the hell are you?

(Casey)
I've got problems ofmy own.

(Greg)
Break left, break left, Jerry.

(Greg)
They're breaking off,
I guess they've had enough.

Okay, let's get out ofhere.

(Greg)
That's it, meatheads,
let's head for home.

How many kills do we have?

Uh, I got three, Greg.

I got two.

Got two, Pappy.

What about you, Gramps?

lgot two of 'em, Pappy,

and I didn't see the light.

How about you, Wiley?

I got shut out.

Didn't get anybody.

(Greg)
Well, at least you didn't
get one of us.

There's some
satisfaction in that.

(T.J.)
How many did you get, Gramps?

I got five.

Eighteen ?

[whoops]

That's gotta be
a squadron record.

(Greg)
It actually happened.

We got 18 victories
and no losses.

Sometimes, I guess,
we just get lucky.

[men cheering]

[all whooping]

(Stiller)
Congratulations,
Maj. Boyington.

We just got a confirmation
from an Aussie coast watcher

and you have 18 kills.

[men cheering]

[all applauding]

We'd like to
get your statement

or any remark
you might have to make
for the folks back home.

You're gonna be
an honest to goodness war hero
in about 48 hours.

[men whooping]

Well, tell the folks
back home

that I wasn't
up there alone.

And that we just got lucky,
that's all.

Oh, go ahead
and tell 'em!

Pappy faked 'em out,
and we kicked
the hell out of 'em!

[men cheering]

Pappy?

Yeah, that's right,
he may be an old man,

but he can shoot like crazy.

[men laughing]

[men chattering]

Yeah, I know, Colonel,
I think I'm pretty sharp.

Would you like
to pull yourself away
from all this, uh,

glory,

and step inside, Major?

Excuse me, fellas,
I'm gonna get chewed out.

[all laughing]

[plane engine droning]

(Gen. Moore)
Congratulations, fellas.

For a bunch of black sheep,
you shoot pretty straight.

(men)
Thank you.

[all chattering]

You have been charged
with disobeying orders,

illegal constitution
of a squadron,

assaulting
a superior officer--
Wait a minute.

You pulled a gun on me
if you remember, Colonel.

...piracy of
20 Marine aircraft,

and conduct
unbecoming an officer.

Listen, Laird, you've got
big trouble brewing.

I doubt that.

Oh, yeah? If you wanna play
boy scout, that's great.

But if you try
and court-martial a squadron
that just chalked up

eighteen Zeros, you'd look
like mud to the press

and to the Marine Corps
public relations people.

We will see about that.
(Gen. Moore)
No, we won't.

General, l was just
about to relieve
Maj. Boyington of his command.

No, you won't, Colonel.

Boyington is right.

We're supposed to be selling
the war effort out here.

Now somebody does
something good,

you don't hang
ajacket on him.

That just doesn't
make any sense.

I don't wanna
be argumentative,

but this Major
is in my command

and l have the right
to bring him up on charges.

That is my right
as a Marine Corps officer.

I suppose
that's true, Colonel.

But you've got no right
to relieve him
if I don't want him relieved!

It's the same thing.
No, it's not the same thing!

Technically, he can still
command his squadron
and be under hack

while awaiting
a general court-martial.

Here, look it up.
It's in the manual.

However, lwould recommend
that you don't make
a fool of yourself

and go on record

as court-martialing
a national hero.

Our job is to win the war

and guys like Boyington
are doing it.

General, this man
is not a hero, he is...

He is a bum,
he is a drunken bum!

General, you cannot run
the Marine Corps
and not follow regulations.

You cannot...

[Scotch sloshing]

I will not withdraw
the charges.

Major, you are under hack,

pending disposition
ofthese charges.

lfthe General wishes,
you may remain in command

of these, uh, men.

However, you will not be
allowed to leave your quarters
when not flying.

And you will not be allowed
alcoholic beverages.

And you will not be allowed
to attend outdoor movies.

We'll see who ends up
winning this one, sir.

I intend to have Boyington
cashiered.

You get out of here, Laird,
before I throw you out again.

General, you are a witness.
This man is threatening me
for the second time.

Laird,
suggest you get
the hell out of here
before he kills you!

Yes, sir.

[chuckles]

I've got to admit, Greg,
watching you get into trouble

has become one of
my major amusements.

[guffawing]

At least I get
to keep my squadron.

For a while.

Uh, those nurses
still on the island?

Yes, sir.

That's why
I picked this out.

Uh, you're gonna
have any luaus?

Yes, sir.

You take those damn stars off.

[sighing]

War is hell,
isn't it, son?

Patsy Kelly.
Patsy Kelly?

Yeah.

Ah!

[droning]

(Greg)
Somebody once said
that wherever] went,

Ijust set up
my own Marine Corps.

There was a reason for that.

They didn't much like the way
they had it set up
before I got there.

My guys stayed in more trouble

on the ground and in the air

than any other squadron
in Marine Corps history.

We were a haven for drunks,
and screw-ups,
and troublemakers,

but it didn't seem to matter
to the nurses.

And God knows
it didn't matter much to me.

Some of us lived.

Some died.

But we were always
Black Sheep.

(Greg)
Just name a hero,

and I'll prove he's a bum.