Original subtitles

All right, for the next five days, it's gonna

be our job to put you through the ringer.

How did I do? For a girl scout, I'd do it terrific.

Go! Hey, something's coming out.

Oh, it tastes like wax.

Quick, put some more berries in it.

Your plan to attack the La Cabo has been approved.

Personally, I don't see how pilots can fly by the book if they can't read the book.

I've got to agree with him, Blake.

What happened? Tokyo.

Pappy, hoorah! She's out of your tail!

We are poor, little lambs Who have lost our way Ba-ba-ba-ba.

They come from the sand lots and grid irons of America.

Young men with keen eyes, quick reflexes, and nerves of steel.

In a few short months, these college youths

will become the most feared airmen in the world.

American fighter pilots. But first, it's back to the books and classroom.

Here, the aces of tomorrow learn the deadly tactics of aerial combat.

How to outthink, outshoot, and outfly the best

the enemy can put into the air against him.

Then, into the air, where the lessons of the classroom are

honed to a razor's edge under simulated combat conditions.

Physically stronger, mentally quicker, better trained, and equipped than his enemy,

it's no wonder the American fighter pilot is the best in the world.

Help! I can't shake the seat. Somebody get him off my tail. I'm coming, Jerry.

Help!

Pappy, her arch is on your tail. I'll have to wait.

Almost there.

Hey, boy-ton, you guys are really bad today!

Black sheep, switch to blue channel. Blue channel. Damage report.

I'm losing oil pressure, but I can make it if it doesn't drop any lower.

I got so much to add to my tail, it's dragging.

Her tail's always dragging, TJ.

Hey, boy-ton!

What do you want, Tommy?

Just want to wish you guys happy in-hand days.

I had to admit, Horachi earned the right to rub it in.

He and his meatballs had been outflying us for a week.

It was a bad habit, and I intended to break it.

But our first big problem was to make sure we all got back on the ground safely.

We got a smoker! Let's move it!

Get that fire equipment out here!

The bullet's all right. He's getting out!

Over here! Let's go! Let's go!

Over here! Let's go! Let's go!

Get that plane off the runway!

What's happening up there? Are they getting better or are we getting worse?

There's only one logical explanation. They must have modified zeros.

No, they're ringers. You know, the race is probably from China.

Yeah, maybe they're just better than we are.

Maybe we're getting old.

I mean, we're getting old. You couldn't be getting old.

Well, they don't have modified zeros. They don't have ringers.

And they don't have a corner on the youth market.

The boxing match up there.

Horachi's on to our style.

What do we do? We change our style. We surprise them.

We're on our moves. We'll find moves.

They just decoded us, Major.

More wants to be on the expitos right now.

Hey, that's great. I mean, no.

Well, we haven't had a mail run in a week,

Tappy, and I thought maybe you'd bring it back.

Yeah. I'll check. What's the date? Ah, beats me.

I don't know.

Ah, where's the calendar?

I mean, it's tough enough to keep track of time around here.

Come on, where's the calendar?

Well, does anybody know if it's Wednesday?

It's not Wednesday.

Well, if it's not Wednesday, it's not a weekly briefing.

I wonder what more wants.

I guess you better fly over and find out, huh?

I'll do that, boy.

Did you fix this up?

No. Did you? Fix up what?

Well, maybe General Moore really needs to have him over there.

Well, getting him off the island's a break for us.

Let's take advantage of it. Come on.

Do you have those meteorological forecasts?

Have I ever let you down? Ah, let's go.

We're going to be tested, General.

You've got to be kidding.

214 is next on the list,

and judging by this week's combat report, there's none too soon.

I've got to agree with him, blank.

You've been taking an awful pacing this past week.

Horachi.

Horachi?

The Japanese squadron commander, Horachi.

Greg, units get tired.

Slip into bad habits. Get sloppy.

How do you know that isn't happening to the black sheep?

Not my boy, sir. They have never been sharper.

Well, then they shouldn't have any trouble with Operation Stand Down.

Who's going to tell the enemy that the war is stopped so we can take exams?

PMF 816 will sweep the slot while you're under evaluation.

They just came through Operation Stand Down with flying colors.

What does that prove, sir?

I mean, they fly by the book.

Horachi has read that book.

We threw the book away six months ago.

Now, that's enough, Greg.

These orders come directly from the War Department.

There's nothing you can do except pass.

What if we don't, General?

Then the Stand Down becomes permanent, and there's nothing I can do about it.

Sir, there's only one way we can win this war,

and that's if Tokyo's as fouled up as Washington.

Your initiative is to be commanded, Captain.

Afford your recommendation to Imperial Command in Tokyo for approval.

But, Admiral, we are defeating the Americans now.

I know Boyington.

In two or three days, he will change his flight tactics.

We must strike immediately.

Are you questioning military procedure? No, sir, but.

..

That's all, Captain.

You'll be notified.

Yes, sir.

Dutch!

Andy!

Hey!

Ho, ho, ho!

You alone!

How you doing?

You still good? I got it.

I got you.

Ah!

Ah! You big ape.

The last time I saw you was in 36th and Pass Island.

You marched a six-foot and raised a seven-foot in water.

Yeah.

They say I killed one.

They don't make them the way they used to.

What are you doing here?

Doing what I like.

Beating the starch out of offices.

I'm in charge of physical fitness for OSD,

and we're gonna have some fun.

Sergeant!

I'll talk at you later.

Stow the gear.

Major J. Pearson.

Flight proficiency squadron tactics, combat techniques.

Lieutenant R. Calder.

Squadron maintenance, written flight tests.

Sergeant D. Savage, physical fitness, weapons qualifying.

All right, for the next five days, it's gonna be our job to put you to the ringer.

Now, it's gonna be tougher than anything you were

up against in flight school, and for a good reason.

Out here, mistakes are final.

You mean the Zeke's are using real bullets now?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Lieutenant Calder will pass out the manual on combat tactics.

Flight procedure, squad regs.

I suggest that you study them, gentlemen.

I suggest that you read them.

You will be tested.

All right, we'll begin at 0600 tomorrow.

Physical fitness.

Till then, are there any questions? Yeah.

I'd like to know what qualifies you to decide whether we're any good.

Are you a combat pilot?

All right, that's a fair question.

No, I have not seen combat.

The corps feels I'm more valuable in this assignment.

But, gentlemen, I do know what I'm talking about.

I spent three years as a military attaché in Tokyo before the war.

I have flown with their pilots.

I know their techniques.

And if you will check that manual on combat tactics being passed out, you'll notice.

..

I wrote the book.

No kidding.

Say, could I have your autograph on this?

Major, is there anything in particular that I should know about your squadron?

I know that frontline units adopt unique procedures, and I'm.

..

I'm willing to take this into consideration in my evaluation of the 214.

We have our own kind of test out here, Major.

It's called staying alive.

And every man you're about to evaluate's past it.

Try and keep that in consideration, will you?

What makes you so sure this ain't gonna work anyway?

Jerome, it's a very simple distillation process.

It's exactly like making moonshine only simpler.

Yeah, well, I bet it doesn't taste like moonshine.

Hey, somebody's coming.

Who is it? It's French.

Oh, good, good. We need those.

By the time you get us back in there... Yeah, we want them.

Hey, something's coming out.

Of course something's coming out.

It's not quite right enough, though. Jerome, we need some more berries.

Put some berries in there.

What are you guys making?

We're making a little liquid refreshment.

We've got six cases of 12-year-old scotch from

the Seabees and you guys are making moonshine?

Well, we're gonna trade it to the Mud Marines on Arabella for some samurai sword.

That's right.

Let me taste it.

Oh, well, no, it's not quite ready.

That's all right. I'll taste it anyway.

Well, you're not gonna be able to appreciate its

true bouquet in this point of its creation, though.

It doesn't have to fight the nose, it should.

How is it?

It tastes like wax.

I warned you.

Well, yes. Well, it has to age.

You could age this up to World War III and it's still gonna taste like wax.

I don't know what you're doing.

I don't care.

But we got tests in the morning.

Either hit the manuals or hit the sack.

But, Pappy, I...

Yes, sir.

Good night.

Yes, sir.

Good night.

Well, I guess we better get back to our tents.

Quick, put some more berries in there.

Yeah.

Give me another fry here.

We got to get this hooded.

Shh.

Quiet, quiet.

How did I do?

For a girl, Scott, you were terrific.

227.

Not qualified.

Hey, what?

How are you?

That's a real Marine.

Hey, what?

Lawrence Casey?

Where are you, Lawrence Casey? Okay.

Lieutenant Casey, where is he?

Casey? Lawrence T.

?

I'm here, Sergeant.

Oh, I hope I did not disturb your nap.

Oh, Sergeant, I was just out reading the manual.

Get your butt on the line.

Now, wait a minute, Sergeant.

I'm not a boot.

I happen to be executive officer around here.

What are you doing?

Your time starts now, Lawrence.

Hey!

I've never seen anything like this before in my life.

Now, I found a spark plug in there for an R4D.

I found a carburetor that I think is Japanese,

and you're patching up the holds with beer cans.

Sergeant, as an aeronautical engineer,

I can tell you, theoretically, these Corsair's can't fly.

Neither can a Bumblebee, college boy, but he gives a damn good imitation.

Now, you get me regulation carburetor's parts and plugs, and I'll use them.

Until then, don't tell me how to keep my birds flying.

Two minutes, five seconds. Doesn't qualify.

What?

That man's a jerk.

Don't worry about that.

Two minutes flat, Lieutenant.

Look, you started the clock about five seconds before I started.

You was the one doing the drawing.

Lieutenant Anderson? It's unfair.

Lieutenant Anderson!

Lieutenant Anderson died.

How they doing, Sarge?

Just timing them in, Major.

Yeah, but you set up the cards, didn't you?

I'm gonna try it.

The squadron, see how it doesn't have to be timed, sir.

Yeah, I understand that, Sergeant.

But I'm gonna do it anyway, all right?

Then be my guest.

Hey!

Yeah!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Well, two minutes, 15 seconds. Doesn't qualify.

Must be an epidemic.

Okay, now it's your turn, Sergeant.

I don't have to qualify.

Too many beers in between rag and office?

No, it's your turn.

It's an order.

Hey!

Don't worry, I'll see you.

Don't worry, I'll see you.

Bye-bye.

The shoes are off!

Come on, Jack!

Congratulations, Sarge.

Three minutes flat.

We got it, though, gentlemen.

Molasses, molasses.

That ends.

Tow the line.

Uh, what happened, TJ? Nothing.

I just pulled a hamstring running.

Why didn't you come to the hospital? I'm okay.

Look, I know you're a rough, tough marine

that's just plain stupid to walk around in pain.

Come on, get in.

Hey, I said I was okay.

Come on.

And I said get in.

Okay.

No shots.

But I like to get my sweet lips on you.

Well, you'd do better, Bob, to put your sweet lips on the manual.

I ain't all this flight school stuff.

Besides, who needs it?

We need it if we're gonna qualify at anything around here.

Hey, you really think you can reach the states on that radio?

Sure, I got this thing all figured out.

At 1300, the ionosphere will be just right

to bounce a signal from here back to the states.

Before you know it, we're talking to the U.S. of A.

Larry, thinking you reach my girl on the radio,

it's really important to me.

I know she misses me.

I can get anybody.

All we have to do is get a hand back in the states.

He makes a phone call and patches us through.

Will you do it for me?

Sure, why not? Let's go here.

Send.

Hey, hey, I thought I could talk to her.

What's all this... The signal's stronger by key.

Once I make contact, I center the frequency and switch to voice.

Oh.

You did it. You did it.

You did it. What'd you get?

What'd you get, L.A.

? What'd you get, San Diego?

What'd you get, Hollywood?

What'd you get, Casey?

What happened? Tokyo.

It's over at the hospital. Get in my, uh... Come on.

All right.

We'll see.

I know that would tell me, uh, the test piece.

Thank you.

Hey, what's the problem? White on blue.

What? A star.

I couldn't remember whether they were white on blue or blue on white.

Casey, you see him every day.

I don't know. I had a mental block, huh?

What about that coefficient of drag question

if the F4U had an in-line instead of a radio? That was .

7.

Oh, damn. The number is on the fin, not the rudder.

Sounds like you did real good, Bob.

Lawrence, you couldn't even remember the color of your plane.

How you doing?

You really want to know?

Well, I'm asking, aren't I, Major? All right.

10% past the physical.

60%, the written exam. Maintenance was a total disaster.

How does that compare with other combat units?

It's below average.

Well, this is just out of curiosity.

How do you explain all of our air victories?

Sir, this system is based on norms set up in Washington.

What norms?

The average proficiency of combat-ready squadrons in the United States.

This isn't the United States, Lieutenant.

Hasn't your stomach told you that?

Major, we try to take conditions out here at the consideration.

All right. Still.

Your air performance will be 50% of the score.

You mean if we do well in the air, we can pass this test?

That's a big if.

Personally, I don't see how pilots can fly by the book if they can't read the book.

This book means a lot to you, doesn't it, Major?

It's like the obstacle course means a lot to Dutch.

Does it, uh, does it make you feel superior

to men that risk their lives every day, does it?

Major, I know you don't like me.

If it helps you, I'll give a damn about you.

Do you understand that, Major?

The only thing I care about is what you can

do to my squad, and that's all I care about.

I could save the lives of every man in your squadron if you'd let me.

You know, the men resent my presence here.

That's natural.

But, Major, I hold you responsible for not maintaining proper military discipline,

proper military procedure.

Don't make it easy for every one of these men to pass those tests.

They are making mistakes.

And sooner or later, they're gonna make the same mistakes

in the air, and some of them will not live to regret it.

What are you gonna do? Are you gonna hit me? No, not.

..

No, the book at you.

Your plan to attack Bellalacaba has been approved

by the Imperial Staff with one modification.

Yes, sir.

Ishma's squadron will conduct the raid.

You will fly a cover for them.

You will open the door.

Ishma will close it again.

Admiral, Ishma's squadron is not ready for such a mission.

They will be destroyed by the Americans.

Those are the orders, Captain.

Black Sheep leader, this is Bulldog.

Start your run when ready.

All right, let's play this like the real thing.

Okay, flight.

Break.

Damage report.

I think it's through a coconut at me, Pappy.

B-flight.

Break.

Break.

Negative.

This is the way to fight a war.

Negative.

Hey, knock it off.

Bulldog.

Black Sheep leader here.

Back on station.

Bulldog here. Stand by one.

Black Sheep leader, this is Bulldog.

First Division Malactus bogeys take a heading of 180.

Angels, 15, 150 knots.

Form a Diamond 3.

Extra wingmen, join on me.

Second Division.

You will intercept. Over.

They don't use a Diamond 3 anymore, Pearson.

Black Sheep leader, this is Bulldog.

Do you need a repeat of instructions over? Negative.

Anderson, break off and join up on me.

Swing in on my left, Casey.

Well, pretend that it's 1940 all over again.

The tactics Pearson called for were

outdated, and we hadn't used them in months.

So we were all a little mentally rusty at first.

But as the flight wore on, we began to get back into it.

Not bad, huh?

Uh, for college boy.

Yeah, that's where they belong, college.

I was flying Pearson's wing, playing odd men out.

When I looked around out of habit,

that's when the trouble started.

Zero's nine o'clock low.

How'd they get this far south?

First Division on me.

All right, take the second upstairs and fly cover.

We'll take them head on.

How'd you go?

Excuse the scissors.

They expect us to fly scissors, Pearson.

Now, if you want to see combat tactics,

get on my wing and shut up.

Run out and get them, Larry.

Still aren't Pearson?

I'm with you, Major.

Get out of the way.

You're gonna seek on your tail.

How'd we do?

It's been flying 30, air to air.

Air to ground 90, air to air 30.

What's this mean?

It means I'll set it up.

Hey, you see how those Zeke's got inside of us when we were flying in pairs?

Hey, Casey! Call Expedals.

Find out how Zeke's got through.

Yes, sir.

Sir, they scored a 20 in maintenance.

A 30 in physical fitness, 55 on the written exam,

60 in the air now.

Those figures speak for themselves.

They are five points below the minimum acceptable score.

That's stand-down is permanent.

This is a combat report on 816, which you qualified.

They were ripped apart, sweeping the slot.

If it weren't for 214, which you won't qualify,

the enemy would have hit Villa La Cala.

I don't understand.

Neither do I, Major.

I do.

They had to be badly outnumbered.

We are always outnumbered.

As you were, Greg.

I don't see how this changes 214 status.

My authority comes from Washington.

Are you pulling weight on me, Major? No, sir.

I only meant that these procedures are set in Washington,

and they've got to be followed, or OSD makes no sense.

I agree with that.

Greg.

General, I have a suggestion.

Anything.

Well, the aerial evaluation was at best conducted under extenuating circumstances,

so I suggest 214 be given another chance to qualify.

Now, do either of you majors have any objection to that? No, sir.

I don't seem to have a choice.

Good, and it's settled.

General, the air tactics that we've been asked

to follow have been outdated since 1941, sir.

Those standards were set in Washington, then taken back to Washington.

Are you questioning my objectivity?

That's exactly what I'm doing.

Shut up, both of you.

Colonel, I want you to go to Villa La Cala as a neutral observer.

With pleasure, sir.

With pleasure.

The attack on Villa La Cala was not as successful as we had hoped.

However, the Imperial Staff feels

Ishmael Squadron did pave the way for a second and fatal blow.

I understand, sir.

You will have the honor of leading the second attack.

Thank you, sir.

This morning was the first time you'd seen a Zeke flame, wasn't it?

I remember my first time.

It was in China when I was with the Flying Tigers.

We were flying over to Aunt King, and this guy got on my tail.

We were looping.

It seemed to take forever.

And then this tiger blew him apart, and I had to fly through the debris.

I'd all up my throat for 24 hours.

I still get that lump.

It just doesn't take... It just doesn't take as long to get rid of most days anyway.

Pouring a little oil on the water? Yeah.

Would you please be quiet?

We've been here for two hours, Bob.

Shush, shush.

We're not gonna catch anything if you keep up with that racket now.

We're not Indians. Suppose it's rigged wrong.

It is impossible to rig it wrong.

I did it exactly as it says in the book.

Man, where'd you get that book?

I told you it would work!

Well, what happened was... Well, you know what happened.

Well, I know what happened.

What happened was you were caught in a Japanese booby truck.

Yeah, that's what happened.

Yeah, they're all over the island!

I can't see anything here.

Sorry. I'm meant to be nervous.

Me too.

TJ, when were you sleeping for?

If Micklin finds us in here, he'll find out why he was here.

He looks like a... Oh! Oh, God!

Sergeant, you scared me after death.

I damn near shot you to death, ma'am.

What are you two doing in my supply shed?

What do you think they're doing in here, Andy?

What we're doing in here is none of your business, Sergeant.

That's all right. I think maybe we better tell him.

No, no, there's no need for that, ma'am.

No, we should, because I think we might just need your help.

Now, what we'd like to do, Andrew, if you don't mind, is tapping your generator.

We can hang some lines across these Poles here for lights.

How about a cold beer, Andy?

Where are you going to put the fire pit?

We'll put it over there away from everything.

Good.

I don't want you using that generator for a couple hours,

because I ain't got the fuel to waste it, and you got it.

Don't worry about it, Andy.

Got the record player here.

Hey, back piece coming back.

We got to get everything out of here.

Jerry, go to the plane and head him off.

Me? Cold.

Hey, we got to get everything out of here.

Get rid of that. Get rid of that.

He's coming.

Come on, we got to put it.

Come on.

Put it in your tent. I don't care what you do with bait.

Grab that.

Hey, what happened, Greg?

We'll take the aerial test over tomorrow.

Oh, we're not grounded, huh? Not yet.

Papi, you can't..

I can't what?

Colonel Arder radio to head.

He wanted yesterday's combat report sent to his desk ASAP.

And we can probably send it back on this plane here.

Colonel Arndt?

Yeah, and you know Colonel Arndt.

I'll have those reports on my desk as soon as possible,

or you'll be a second lieutenant.

Third lieutenant.

Yeah, third...

Bragg?

You want to tell me something?

Or do you want me to find out for myself?

It must have been a mistake.

Yeah, it must have been.

Hey, Pappy, what's the story?

Hey, we get another chance, you guys.

That's great.

We'll show them our, Pappy. Wait and see.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant, what was that all about? Nothing, sir.

Nothing?

You'd better tell them, Jerry.

Sir, do you know what tomorrow is?

K-1759er, this is LaCava, over.

Hey, Casey, what are you doing in there?

Uh, morning, Greg, I was just fooling around with him.

Radio, you're gonna miss breakfast.

You know we fly in 30 minutes.

Yes, sir.

Pappy?

Pappy!

Just came over the radio.

The Japanese broke through the A-16. They're on their way here now.

Major! Later.

I want to go up.

No.

I won't get in your way. I'll pull my own weight.

No.

Look, it'll be your air evaluation.

Not by the book, by your tactics.

All right, you're my wingman.

You got it.

Hey, I got those M-O-Lose change, but what's your oil pressure?

The seals on that cooling me in that hole.

What is it, chewing gum?

No, it's old shoe leather.

Clear the prop!

All right, black sheep, like we did it yesterday.

Engage his divisions.

Fight has sections.

Wingman spread 500 feet.

Are you Boynton? Yeah.

Yeah, it's me, rice ball.

Come on down, Boynton. What a spot.

Hey, do me a favor, Tommy.

My wingman, leave Malone.

It's an observer.

Sure, Boynton.

First I get you, then I get you observer.

Follow me.

I had a boy, Tommy.

I had a boy come to me.

Coming to you, Pearson.

It was Pearson's first crack at a real dogfight.

I stayed in close with him in case he got into trouble.

I hoped he wouldn't.

I wanted him on the ground after this fight was over.

Return to base.

Return to base.

My black sheep form up on me.

Damage report.

Negative.

Pearson, okay.

Congratulations on that zero.

Hey, Tommy.

Boynton, Tommy.

Oh, no.

Where are you?

She's looking late.

That's right, because you passed, guys.

Major, can we come in? Please.

Thank you.

I'm rewriting parts of that manual.

And I thought maybe we could spend some time going over your tactics.

Sure.

Hey, would you like a drink?

Yes, indeed, I would.

Great.

Look, I noticed that when that Zeke chopped power,

you went into a barrel roll.

Why? Well, I had to.

That was the only way I could stay with him without losing speed.

What I want to know is how did you get from the Diamond III to 42...

I was wondering, Major.

Maybe if we, uh, modified the rudder assembly, gave it a little more snap.

Well, uh... A couple extra sets of, uh, cable up there, some equipment.

Hey, what is this? Don't hit me.

Don't hit me. Don't hit me.

Yeah, you do it.

You'll be happy, I swear.

Surprise!

Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you!

And you know it's going to be the same thing after this war?

I mean, nobody gives a damn for a peacetime, Marie.

You know what I mean? Mm-hmm.

Good credit.

Hey, Anderson.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Is this some more of that moonshine of yours? He makes.

..

Carly makes the worst booze.

Um, uh, Pappy, that was a moonshine. You tasted it.

Uh, I was making wax for the candles.

What do you mean?

Hey, can I get your hand off it?

It's a 51-50 stuff.

I did it! I did it! I got it! I got it!

Come on! Come on!

Come on! It's K-1759er.

This is LaCava. Over.

LaCava, K-1759er, San Francisco.

I have your party on the line.

Go ahead, Mrs. Boynton. We have your son.

Happy birthday, Cammie.

Thanks for watching!