Original subtitles

You've got a problem with a woman!

Yes, sir.

You meatheads better start looking on top of you.

If there aren't any Zeroes on the strip,

that means they're up there waiting for us.

Jim, pull out of it! You're going too low!

You don't need your hands bandaged. You need them tied.

What makes you think he's gonna get over it?

His hands'll be all right in another couple of days.

His hands? The man's in love, cretin!

Getting our tails kicked out of the sky

while you're making love to that nurse of yours.

(SIRENS WAlLlNG)

Air raid?

NE WSREEL NARRA TOR: Rabaul, the deadly stronghold of Imperial might,

a storehouse of Japanese ships and planes

poised to attack the allied positions in the Solomon chain!

Heavily fortified, nearly impervious to allied bombers,

Rabaul remains the cornerstone of the Japanese in the southwest Pacific.

The rock on which the Emperor stands

in his desperate bid to hold the Philippines.

But all our brave, young warriors

remain undaunted in our determination to prevail.

Ready to make the ultimate sacrifice,

we stand, at home and abroad, united in our common goal.

Victory against Rabaul!

Victory in the Philippines! Victory against the Japanese!

You know, the life expectancy of a combat pilot's less than a year?

One year? That's all. One year.

We'd better hurry.

GREG: Once every six months,

the medical personnel on Vella la Cava rotated,

and a new group ofnurses came on the island.

I don't know if this brought us

any nearer to victory against the Japanese,

but it gave the Black Sheep something to think about in their spare time.

It gave me a chance to meet Caroline Holden.

GLADYS: Major Boyington, my executive officer.

It's a pleasure to meet you. My pleasure, Lieutenant.

GREG: Flying to flat fields over Rabaul,

Don French took a hit.

Had to bring his plane back on the deck.

He was half conscious when I dragged him out of the cockpit

and my hands were burnt badly enough

to keep me on the ground for a few days.

That left Jim Gutterman in command

and me with Caroline Holden.

I'm not sure that I'm ready to take command ofthe squadron right now, Greg.

You're ready.

I need you.

Thanks.

GREG: On the second mission against Rabaul,

another one of my pilots got hit.

He tried to bring it back and didn't make it.

And all I could do, was watch.

Why's he coming in so low?

He's never gonna make that field.

(SCREAMS) Oh, my God!

Watch over Pat Paterson.

There's a person...

Thought about China?

It's nice to have an experienced fighter pilot to fly with.

You're doing a good job. Thanks.

Watch out for the flak.

I thought I could bring him in, Greg.

I thought the man could make it.

Do you fly a burning aircraft 50 miles and try and land it?

Do you want me to say it was my fault? All right.

It was my fault!

I killed a man, Greg. All right?

But you weren't there!

GREG: Dave Patterson was gone

and l was haunted by the thought he might still be alive

ifl'd been flying that day.

There's no answer for questions like that.

All you can do is try to forget.

David?

Uh-huh.

GREG: The next morning, the 214 flew another mission against Rabaul

with the deadliest objective we come up against in the war.

We'd already lost two of our own,

and the strain was beginning to show.

What's the problem, Hutch?

Nothing, I hope.

Well, then, what are you doing up there?

Trying to fix you up with some auxiliary gun cameras.

Auxiliary gun cameras...

GREG: I told him to.

That's good, Greg.

You want me to go up there with film instead of bullets?

Fly this mission with half my armament?

Look here, Greg,

maybe you'd like it better if I bailed out over Rabaul and sent you a telegram!

Jim, we need pictures of the airstrip of Rabaul,

to see what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong.

Good morning.

They said that you wanted to re-bandage my hands.

ied.

I wanted to see you.

You don't need your hands bandaged. You need them tied.

GU TTERMAN.’ Henderson, we fly early today.

Anything you say, James.

Casey, make the second pass,

Boyle, you make the third.

I'm coming in last to get the pictures.

BOYLE: Roger, Captain.

GUTTERMAN: Here we go!

(CANNONS FIRING)

Where are all the Zeroes?

What are you talking about, Larry?

There are only bombers and transports. No fighters on the strip.

(MACHINE GUN FIRNG)

He's right. There aren't any Zeroes down there at all.

You meatheads better start looking on top of you.

If there aren't any Zeroes on the strip,

that means they're up there waiting for us.

He's right. Here they come.

Find your wingman! Stay together!

And whatever you do, don't panic!

(GUNS FIRING)

Damn it!

GUTTERMAN: Somebody mind giving me a hand down here?

ljust ran dry of ammo.

Watch out, Jim, there's one on your tail!

GUTTERMAN: He's chewing up my backside!

What're you doing?

Trying to out run this monkey!

Jim, pull out of it! You're going too low!

Thank you.

You nearly scared me to death up there.

I didn't think you were gonna make it.

Don't you ever do that to me again, you hear, Jim?

Do it to you?

Maybe if! had a decent wingman,

he could have got that Zero off me...

You don't want me as a wingman anymore?

T.J., he's just kidding you. I want to hear this.

Jim, you could've passed out from the G's when you pulled up.

You could've stalled...

Why don't you mind your own business, Larry?

only had half my guns up there.

Look at these aerial photos.

Look at that.

How'd you make the run? In echelon or in column? Echelon.

That's one of our problems.

All right, guys, look...

Look at the way the aircraft on the runway. Staggered.

Right? Yeah.

If we come in in two's,

we end up strafing the sides ofthe runway

and missing the centre where most ofthe planes are.

You got four Kates today.

If we'd been in columns, we could've doubled that.

Here's another problem. Let me have that.

Recognize your targets! Recognize your targets!

Transport planes? Uh-uh. Bombers! Bombers!

Now, on the other hand, I'm proud of you.

I know you got jumped, and I know that none of you panicked.

And lam very proud of all of you.

That calls for a beer.

I'll have a beer. Beer!

I'm not buying though. I'm buying.

It's pretty easy to take photographs, Greg.

T.J., better study those.

Hey, Casey! CASEY: Yes.

Come here for a minute, will you?

I want you to type a letter for me, will you?

Start it, "Dear Pam,"

it's with the deepest sorrow,

that...

That I have to tell you that your husband was killed

returning from a mission over Rabaul.

t...

He died instantly.

No, don't say that, Casey.

Say that...

Say, "It might comfort you to know

"that he died without suffering."

New paragraph.

Knowing...

Knowing your husband personally,

I know that he loved you and...

Tommy and David Jr.

Tommy and David Jr.

more than anything in the world.

And that...

lwant the children...

I want you to give them this picture oftheir dad.

And that, uh,

he died...

He died fighting for his country.

And that he died a hero.

And...

And I want you to tell them...

I want you to...

I want you to tell them...

I don't know, Case...

I don't know what to tell them.

You write it.

l'll sign it.

I should be back on my feet in a couple of days...

(MEN YELLING)

...and flying again within a month.

Hi, Jim. How'd it go today?

Went fine. Just fine.

I can see you're in good hands. Thank you.

We were thinking' of another party tonight.

Wondering' ifthis man might get a pass and join us.

Who's gonna carry the bedpan for me?

Not yet.

T.J.: Frenchie, is it true,

that certain parts of your vital anatomy are being preserved in alcohol?

(MEN LAUGHING)

And all the nurses and doctors are taking turns for a look at it?

FRENCH: It's a lie.

CASEY: No, it's not. There's a line outside.

T.J.: Get out of here!

BOYLE: Why do they all want to look at it?

T.J.: It's a medical phenomena.

(MAN CHATTERING)

Gladys...

What is it, Caroline?

Nothing.

Hello.

Lieutenant.

(ALL CHATTERING)

All right, genius.

There you go. Okay. Let me see.

No, this one. No?

(EXCLAIMS)

Sorry. She's sorry.

Ever play strip checkers?

Boyle,

pick on somebody your own size, Bobby. Come on, Anderson.

Come on. Really.

Giants have got to stick together.

Hi, Case.

The highest lifetime batting average was Ty Cobb's, .367.

Ty Cobb? Roger Hornsby.

No, not Roger Hornsby.

Hornsby's was .358 in the National League.

Cobb's was .367.

All right. Who won the 1920 World Series and in how many games?

Would you like... Here you go. Have some more popcorn.

Cleveland Indians, five games to two.

But it was a nine game series. Would you like...

Cleveland Indians only won that year...

Hi, Greg.

Hi.

Lieutenant, thought you didn't go in much for parties.

That was yesterday.

Want to dance? I'd love to.

Forget it, Bobby.

Why? She Pappy's girl all of a sudden?

Looks that way, doesn't it?

Greg? l'm cutting in.

You're cutting out.

Come on, Greg. It's not fair. I want to dance!

l'll dance with you. I'll lead with my right.

Hey, let me have a beer.

What was that all about?

I don't know. I guess there's something wrong with wanting to dance.

No, lthink 'ol Pappy's just fallen in love. That's all.

With the iceberg?

Hey, what are you guys, jealous or something?

Leave Pappy alone.

Why don't you watch me do this the right way.

Come up and look. I'd like to see this.

Excuse me. Excuse me...

Excuse me.

You mind, Pappy?

Yeah, T.J., l mind.

Look, I'm not kidding. I wanna dance.

Do I look like I'm kidding?

lmind, T.J.

What's the matter?

I guess I'm really not much up on parties.

Forget the party. Let's go to the beach.

I want to go back to the hospital.

Do you mind?

Yeah, I mind.

It's too early in this relationship to have a fight.

No fights.

Please take me back.

All right.

Hi, Commander. Want to dance?

Why would she want to dance with you, Bobby?

I'd love to.

(WHISPERS) Good night, Lieutenant.

Goodnight? It's early...

(SHUSHING)

lt's oh-one-thirty and you have to fly tomorrow.

Commander, what's another hour

when we're getting to know each other?

Goodnight, Lieutenant.

By the way, I've got a pain right here. It's killing me.

Really? Yeah.

How long have you had it? About five minutes.

lt's terrible!

It's all your fault.

The best thing for it is fresh air.

Bye-bye.

(CHUCKLES)

Marine pilots! They're more deadly than the enemy.

And they said T.J. was the one to watch out for.

Ha!

Do you want some coffee?

No, thank you.

Okay, let's talk.

Do you want to know what I think?

ike him.

It's the best thing in the world for you.

If it's good for me,

why do feel like crying?

There's nothing wrong with crying.

I'm afraid I won't be able to stop.

All right. Go ahead.

Cry for what you've lost.

Don't punish yourself for what you've found.

If you love him,

take all the time the two of you can have together.

Don't let anything come between you.

Does it show that much?

Or did you just know me so well.

It shows that much. On both of you.

This came this morning.

One great piece oftiming, isn't it?

I could give you a couple of days leave.

Starting tomorrow?

lfthat's what you want.

That's what I want.

Okay.

T.J.: Jim, are you all right?

No. I can't get it past halfthrottle.

I give it the gas, but it conks out on me.

ANDERSON: Better take it back, James.

Who's gonna lead the mission?

Looks like we gotta abort.

You think we should call Pappy, see what he wants us to do?

No, Larry, I don't think we should do that.

l'm callin' it. We go back.

Okay...

Jim! Why'd you bring 'em back? What?

I had engine trouble. Couldn't get any power from the blower.

So you aborted the mission?

Ain't that what I'm supposed to do?

No, you're supposed to keep the pressure on Rabaul.

You don't give the enemy a day off

because one aircraft's below standard.

You had 16 airplanes operational.

Why didn't you put someone else in command?

Well, I'm real sorry, Greg,

can't do much of anything right as far as you're concerned.

Casey, you're in command. Get them in the air.

Yes, sir. Come on. Let's go.

Get going!

It was a blocked fuel line.

You know how long it took Hutch to fix it?

Five minutes.

Wonderful.

Jim, you're supposed to set the brakes,

run a pre-flight test every morning,

rev it up to 25,000.

As I recall, it's standard operational procedure.

But you forgot, didn't you?

Now, if you've got a blocked fuel line, you find out before you take off.

You clear it up and you fly the mission.

I'm getting tired of taking lessons from you

like some new recruit you got stuck with.

When you know all the answers, I'll be glad to shut up.

You've got a lot to learn and you need time to learn it.

l'm pulling you off command.

Casey's in charge, and you'll take orders from him.

Understood?

I'm not deaf, Greg.

I think I can still understand English!

Then don't take it personally.

Maybe you'd like to tell me how I should take it.

I've got more to worry about than your feelings.

There's a morale problem in this unit.

The guys are looking to you for leadership and you're not giving it.

But Casey can, huh?

Well, that's fine with me!

Did it ever occur to you

I'm not the only man in this tent who's affecting morale?

Yeah, that occurred to me.

I'm not talking about your hands, Greg.

What are you talking about?

We're up there every day

getting our tails kicked out of the sky

while you're making love to that nurse of yours.

And is that a problem for you?

She's a married woman, Greg.

Who told you that?

Gladys.

Why wasn't she wearing a wedding ring?

She sold it.

Her husband's been missing in action for over a year.

There's a group in London that tries to find POWs.

They needed money.

So, along with a lot of other things, she sold her ring.

Where are you going? To find her.

Greg, give her time.

Please.

Please, Greg.

HUTCH: Take it real easy with those hands, Pappy.

Don't worry about it, Hutch.

Yes? ...Had everybody in Washington hopping.

I'll be right back, gentlemen.

Boyington, this is the last thing I need right now.

I couldn't agree with you more, sir, but you brought me here.

You're on the medical "Can't perform list."

You're supposed to be in the hospital.

I'm an out-patient.

If you can't go with your squadron,

what in blazes are you doing flying a Corsair?

lt's personal, sir.

I can't wait to hear it.

It's very personal.

Wait outside, will you, please?

Mary, do you mind?

It's a woman, Colonel.

What is about a woman?

My problem.

She's somewhere on Espritos and I want to find her.

I don't believe it.

I've got 90,000 men fighting a war out here,

a two-star general from Washington to entertain,

and you've got a problem with a woman!

Yes, sir.

Who is she?

A Navy nurse.

And she got to you.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Yes, sir.

All right, go find her.

But you cause any trouble on this island, anything at all,

You understand me?

I need a favor, sir.

You just got a favor.

I need another favor, sir.

A call from you to the Navy personnel office

ought to locate her for me,

and I'd be in your debt, sir,

if you know what I mean.

You could think of it as an investment that'll pay off in the future.

You'll pay off with interest.

What's her name?

Lard, we've run out.

Greg! Just the man I wanted to see.

General Harry, I want you to meet Greg Boyington.

He's leading the fighter sweeps against Rabaul.

Greg, this is General Harrison Kenlay from Washington.

Pleased to meet you, son. Thank you, sir.

I had a little accident. I'm sorry.

Accident?

The major pulled one of his pilots from a burning airplane

and saved his life, sir.

I've heard about you in Washington.

They say you're trouble.

For the enemy, that is.

Just keep that up, son, we need more troublemakers like you.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

And forget the handshake.

Her name is Lieutenant Caroline Holden, sir.

We're out of booze, gentlemen?

Right here, I believe.

Who's Caroline Holden?

Will scotch do? By all means.

Tell me about...

(CHATTERING)

Hold it a minute.

You out-rank him, and he's giving orders now.

Casey's got the floor and I want all of you to shut up.

Why don't you come round and make me shut up?

We don't have to do none ofthat.

Why don't you come?

Anderson, why don't you lighten up? It's not Casey's fault.

I'm sick of the whole thing.

As far as I'm concerned, Gutterman's got the right. He's in command.

MEN: Yeah!

In that case, why don't you let Casey talk?

All right. I think we can all agree on one thing.

This is just one big mess.

T.J.: Very perceptive, Lieutenant.

It seems to me we got to hold it together

till Greg gets over this thing.

What makes you think he's gonna get over it?

His hands'll be all right in another couple of days.

His hands? The man's in love, Boyle!

This is getting boring.

Wait a minute, T.J. I'm not fin... I'm going back...

(YELLS) I'm not finished yet. Now, sit down!

Sit down!

There's something I want to say

and I think all of you ought to hear it.

Now Greg has put me in charge ofthings.

I know some of you don't like it, but I don't care.

Everybody's been assuming Greg's out of his mind because ofthis nurse.

I don't know whether he is or not,

but he's grounded because of his hands.

He left it up to all of us to keep the discipline and morale of this squadron...

(LAUGHING) What discipline? Shut up, T.J.

We've all let Greg down one way or the other.

All of us!

His private life is none of our business.

Maybe we're all starting to realize how much we depend on him.

Maybe it's hard to keep things together,

but that just means we gotta try harder.

I guess that's all.

That was a real fine speech, Larry.

Hey, what's a cretin?

GREG: Caroline, what's his name?

CAROLINE: David.

He was a major in the infantry.

Infantry, huh?

The Germans overran their position

and David was never found.

They thought he was taken prisoner,

but...

What?

I waited for news.

And when it didn't come...

If he was dead, I wanted to be dead, too.

I waited such a long time.

And then you came along...

For one whole day it was just you.

And then I felt unfaithful.

To a memory?

Come back with me.

Greg,

I'm married!

(CLEARS THROAT) Are you?

Are you married?

Oh, God, I don't know.

(CRYING)

They have found him.

Theythinkthey found him.

They found his name on a list in a prison camp.

They think they'll know in a few days

whether he's alive or not.

I can't go with you.

Not until I know.

You may never know.

I still want you.

Then come with me.

No...

(CRYING)

(PLANES DRONING)

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Some wild party you guys are having.

What're you looking for, Pappy? A knife.

To cut his throat with.

Anderson,

you've been carrying a full set of teeth around for a long time.

I'm gonna take these bandages off,

and then I'm gonna do something about it.

And then, I'm gonna fly with you guys in the morning.

All right, Pappy!

Told you he'd come to his senses.

It's all right now, huh?

How are those hands?

Careful... Careful with the knife.

How do you feel? How do you feel?

feel okay. Great.

You want to try me?

No, no, no. No, sir. No, sir.

What do you mean, "Cut my throat"?

Anybody else...

(ALL CHATTERING)

I'm glad there isn't any takers, 'cause they hurt like hell.

Let's get him!

(ALL LAUGHING)

Tow your plane to the last one. Confirmed.

How're we supposed to take off with that big turkey on the way?

We wait till it gets out ofthe way, Boyle.

Good morning!

Jim, come on. Let's go fly these birds, huh?

Whatever you say, Greg.

Bragg, come on.

Why did you come back?

You asked me to come back.

Any news yet?

No.

I'll be back in a little while.

Greg, I couldn't go through it again.

I wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to you.

lfl lost you.

Pappy!

Excuse me, Lieutenant. This just came over the wire.

Really, really bad weather. The mission's scrubbed.

I'll be right back.

The mission is scrubbed.

VVhy?

Fog over Rabaul.

Seems to me, we ought to fly it anyway.

We can get almost over top of their base before they see us.

It gives us a better chance.

I don't think the fog's going to keep them on the ground.

They may figure that'll keep us here.

Now if I were the enemy,

I'd put everything I had up into the air.

You mean, they're going to hit us? They might.

Anderson, you and l, we go up and fly a pattern.

If we spot them, you guys will get a 10 minute warning.

Roger.

ANDERSON: Pappy, you see anything yet?

GREG: Uh-uh. Not yet.

Maybe we should go a little further out.

We don't have to go further. And you'd better get up here in the sun, Anderson.

(SIREN WAILING)

An air raid?

Commander, are you prepared to evacuate this place?

Most ofthese men can't be moved.

The Japanese don't know it's a hospital.

We could get hit. It's happened before.

Matty, Jane, get the ambulatory patients out for evacuation. Come on.

ANDERSON: Where are they, Greg?

They're coming. Don't waste time with the Zeroes. Get to the bombers.

Try to keep 'em offthe island.

They brought the whole air force out with them.

They got a pretty serious score to settle with us.

(ENGINES ROARING)

(FIRING)

GREG.’ Come on, you guys. They're getting through us.

Too many 25 up here, Greg. We're doing the best we can.

T.J..' They're keeping us pretty busy up here, Greg. How're you doing?

GREG.’ ...Anderson and! are gonna have to get downstairs.

You guys handle it.

Looks like we'll have to.

(SIRENS WAILING)

(BOMBS BLASTING)

Hutch, how bad?

Nothing that can't be fixed!

Did the hospital get hit?

I don't know, Pappy.

Let me help you with him.

Thanks. You better get him out. Okay.

(SIREN WAILING)

(BOMBS EXPLODING)

Where's Caroline?

I haven't seen her, Pappy.

Where's Caroline? I don't know.

Get out of here!

Looks like the bombers are going home.

Let 'em go! The rest of you, disengage.

Right now we can do more good on the ground.

We got confirmations on 11 kills. Eight Zeroes, three Kates,

and at least twelve planes disabled. Pretty good, huh?

(ALL CHEERING EXCITEDLY)

(LAUGHING EXCITEDLY)

Hey, Pappy.

Our teletype's out at the hospital.

This came through us. It's for the Lieutenant.

Thought maybe you'd want to give it to him.

Thank you.

I got your message. Sorry I'm late.

Well...

What are you gonna do?

(CRYING) I don't know.

What did it say?

Come on, T.J.!

It's none of your business. It's between Greg and Caroline.

I don't believe it. Wylie's got a conscience!

All right.

It's said that her husband's still alive.

The OSS found him in France and got him to England.

He'll be back in the States day after tomorrow.

Lookie here.

Hey, Nancy!

Darling, how are you? What's wrong, darling?

l have missed you more than anything in this world.

You have no idea how much I missed you.

When I heardyou were coming back... I heard how much you missed me!

(MEN LAUGHING)

GREG.’ I never really forgot about Caroline.

But then I never really tried to.

lhad enough to keep me busy.

We flew 18 more missions against Rabaul.

We lost men and we lost planes.

But the enemy lost more.

And Rabaul was still there. It was never destroyed.

The enemy kept re-supplying it until finally the war bypassed Rabaul.

And it was cutoff from the rear.

The Gibraltar, the Pacific never fell.

Black Sheep survived it and so did I.

We would always remember what we'd lost.