Original subtitles

This is an L-5.

As you can see, it cruises at somewhat

less than the speed of sound, and it

has wings and fuselage of fabric covered, and

it carries no armament.

A small boy with a .22 rifle can

shoot it down, and it can be sabotaged

completely with a pair of manicure scissors.

Yet this midget among giants is as versatile

a tool of war as ever left the

ground.

This is the story of the L-5,

and of the army men who fly it.

And the observation plane will contact the artillery

fire direction center to correct range and deflection.

This is one-five, close on third gun,

repeat range, repeat...

Not bad, Major, your boys are laying it

right in.

Well, this is our part of the show,

Major.

We help the men on the ground see

over hills and around corners.

To think that most of those men were

only field workers twelve weeks ago.

Twelve weeks ago, I was a man with

a wife and kids.

What were you?

Insurance agent.

Used to avoid detection.

Okay, school's over for the day.

Let's wrap this up.

I'll buy you a fast beer.

In English, beer is velocity?

Come on.

Thanks, Clancy.

Name Killnam Sim Lee, Captain.

That's what I said, Clancy.

Tonight I make the plane shine.

Look, you're a nice kid and we like

you, but you can't afford to keep working

for nothing and we can't pay you.

You'd give this uniform.

So you earned it, but we didn't mean

you to become a permanent fixture.

Boots.

New boots.

Frankly, that was a hint.

Colts.

Many colts.

Okay, okay.

Have it your way, Clancy.

Killnam Sim Lee, Captain.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Only don't knock yourself out, kid.

What happened to you?

I was getting ready to send out to

St. Bernard's.

The Major wanted to take a look at

his house from the air.

It turns out he lives halfway down the

coast.

When we got there, you couldn't tell one

roof from another.

Your travel order's come through?

Yeah, only your name's on it.

Mine?

I don't get it.

Headquarters.

21st Field Artillery Battalion, Brady Field, Fukuoka, Japan.

To Captain G.P. Slocum.

You will report this headquarters.

Okay, Gloat.

While you ponder top secrets, you'll live like

a potentate.

The official language they use to let you

know there's a Santa Claus.

Oh, you lucky devil.

Your kids will bring you coffee in the

morning.

Your wife will bring you whatever strikes your

fancy at night.

As for me, I gotta hold down this

little red schoolhouse.

I won't even get a chance to meet

my long-lost brother.

Don't worry, I'll meet him for you.

Give him a real welcome to the outfit.

Thanks.

You understand, of course, that I've been away

for so long, I'll need a brand new

introduction to my wife.

But, uh, after this detail's taken care of,

I'll take young Pete in hand.

Good.

At least explain to him I did my

best to get over there, will you?

Sure.

You know, it's funny.

Think of Pete flying with us.

Last time I saw him, all he was

interested in was football.

The truth is, I never cared much about

football.

Ever since I was a kid, what I

really wanted to be was a gaucho.

Riding the plains free as air, rescuing luscious

creatures like you.

Yeah, that's what I wanted to be.

I even checked the warheads.

Garage mechanic, gardener, garbage collector.

No one, it seemed, ever needed a gaucho.

That was my first disappointment.

You're my second.

We're coming into Hirosuki.

Fasten your belts, please.

You're sure this is the way you want

it?

Fasten your belts, please.

You know,

my favorite historical character is Alexander Graham Bell.

Wally!

Forget everything I've said.

Quick, what's your name and outfit?

Nathan Hale, I'm in the Navy.

Wallace Johnson.

Pete Barker, 21st Field.

Lieutenant Barker?

That's right.

I'm Sergeant Steiner from your section.

Nice to meet you.

Where's my brother?

He hasn't come in from Korea yet.

But the tower reports one of our L

-5s about an hour out, so he'll probably

make it before we do.

No, I'll wrestle with it.

Nice flight, sir?

Pretty boring.

You know, nothing to do but read magazines.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

But around here, if you're a bachelor, well,

you won't log much time looking at pictures.

No kidding.

My aunt advised me to bring my stamp

collection.

Say, what is all this?

Dollar day?

That's a wedding, sir.

That's interesting.

Yeah.

A wedding is like a wedding anyplace.

Once you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Do me a favor, will you, sir?

Put the flag up.

We'll be coming up to Brady in a

minute.

You know, travel's very broadening.

I had an idea that all women did

out here was sit in gardens and fan

themselves.

Oh, they do, they do.

After they punch out.

I don't know what your rank is, but

stand at ease.

Yes, sir.

And for the love of Mike, don't try

to salute again.

No, sir.

I'm Lieutenant Barker.

Oh, this is Private Swenson.

He's supposed to be a line mechanic.

Well, and this is a guy that don't

even belong here.

And if I catch him bleeding this anymore,

I'm going to...

I'm only waiting to use the shower.

So use it.

Oh, and while you're using it, drown those

dice.

There's nothing wrong with the dice, Sarge.

Uh-uh.

Just use it.

Crook!

Oh, this is your plane, Lieutenant.

She's in real good shape, sir.

How would you know?

Well, I checked the log books.

She's only had 200 hours since major, and

she was recovered last spring.

I told you a hundred times, never believe

what you read.

The Lieutenant will expect maintenance.

Nobody ever stayed up in the air by

flapping the log books.

All right, all right.

While you were gone, I changed the oil

on top of the tanks.

Oh, that's why you had to take a

shower.

Have you heard anything?

Last word is he's making it across without

swimming a stroke.

Did you hear that, Lieutenant?

Huh?

Well, you'll be seeing your brother any minute

now.

What direction is he coming from?

Uh, northwest.

Clark!

Yeah?

What do you think of him, Maxie?

I like him.

I don't know yet.

He's a bold pilot.

But the question is, will he get to

be an old pilot?

Army 5035, 12 miles northwest of 2000.

Landing instructions.

Over.

Big brother, here's your little brother.

How'd you like that reception?

A dodo.

In fact, a dodo bird.

I expected to see you start flying backwards

to keep your ailerons cool.

I'm George Slocum.

Your brother asked me to keep an eye

on you.

Oh, sure.

He's mentioned you.

See, I hope you're not...

These ships are not designed for inverted flight.

I suppose you know that.

Okay, I spanked.

And when you buzzed me up there, you

were risking exactly two-thirds of this outfit's

Air Force.

Do me a favor and hang me.

I didn't think.

Seems to be a characteristic of mine.

Captain, you'll both have to accompany me to

the Provo Marshal's office.

What's the trouble, Sergeant?

Violation of local flying regulations.

Stunting over Camp Okita and endangering personnel.

Sorry, Lieutenant.

I guess the Sergeant's never heard of evasive

maneuvers.

You mean he isn't familiar with Training Memo

5?

Apparently not.

You say those maneuvers were a training, Captain?

It seems to me an MP and a

Sergeant at that should be familiar with all

regulations.

Maybe we should do a little reporting ourselves,

Captain.

It isn't as if this training memo were

new.

Why, it's as old as the Army.

I'm for reporting this inefficiency.

Well, now, wait a minute.

I don't like to get people into trouble.

Why don't we just forget the Sergeant brought

this up?

Well, if you insist, let's drop it.

I suggest you spend a little more time

studying the book.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Anything else, Captain?

No, that'll be all.

Then let's not keep the Provo Marshal waiting.

Welcome home, Captain.

Please, I just got the children to...

After all this time, I was afraid you'd

ask me what I want.

Could I be that naive?

Don't talk.

Talk is organized, noise.

Just let me in.

I don't know.

It feels so strange having you back again.

I'm not even sure that you're my husband.

I'll show you my dog tags.

I'll wake them up.

They haven't seen you for so long.

No, no, don't.

No, I can't help wondering whether they remember

me.

They remember you.

Hello, George, Junior.

This is the old man.

How's it going?

Doesn't he make you think of New York,

Nancy?

V.J. Day, Strangers Kissing in the Street.

That horrible furnished room on Lexington Avenue.

He should.

What does she remind you of?

Fort Sill.

Everything very GI.

You're not speaking to me because I decided

to stay in.

What a fool I was expecting you to

be, a real estate salesman.

Well, it just wasn't practical.

I figure when they run out of names

and start numbering more, the fellow may as

well relax.

I suppose so.

How long can you stay?

We'll talk about that later.

Of course, flying is fine, but it never

really interested me.

Ever since I was a kid and saw

those Valentino pictures, what I really wanted to

be was a gaucho.

Really?

Yeah.

That was my ambition.

To become a gaucho.

Riding the planes free as air.

You don't say.

Don't laugh.

Yeah, you used to check the warrant ads

under G.

Garage mechanic, gardener, garbage collector.

No one, it seemed, ever needed a gaucho.

You should have looked under W.

Maybe somebody needed a wolf.

Look what goes here.

You let me give you a lift in

the jeep.

You don't object when I suggest a ride.

You even show me where to steer you.

Yet every time I leave, you step on

my toes.

Maybe I don't dance.

You dance.

All right.

Put it down to my being a nurse.

I'm cooled by pheneldehyde.

My first night in Japan, and what do

I wind up doing?

Throwing rocks.

You're so obvious about everything.

You sneak up on a girl as subtle

as a herd of buffalo.

Buffalo?

This isn't Florence Nightingale.

So far I've been wearing my best gumsole

shoes.

Now I come at you in my G

.I. boots.

You drive me nuts.

That's better.

Now you're honest.

You give me credit for having a little

intelligence.

So your first night in Japan isn't a

total washout.

I keep throwing pebbles, soldier.

Aid for the loved one.

You better take me back to the hospital.

On the way home, you can tell me

all about your career as a gum show.

In one way at least, he's very much

like his brother.

Full of larceny.

You should have seen him try to wriggle

out of that situation at the Provo Marshalls.

What a performance.

He was magnificent.

Almost had me in tears.

George, please don't change the subject.

The Provo Marshall wasn't moved much.

When I say he gave the kid a

chewing out, I mean he had it.

All right, bring him to dinner tomorrow night,

huh?

No?

I'm not sure yet.

George, what is the trouble?

Better not plan anything.

All right.

Now look, honey, the trouble they're worried about

will blow over.

Then I'll be able to stay a long

time.

Sure.

Maybe even a whole week.

Don't knock a week.

A week is seven full days.

If only yesterday I'd have traded a couple

of fingers for a lot less time with

you than that.

I don't want to disturb you, George.

I want you to report to Colonel Rockman

at once.

Head crossed, in force.

All right.

Do me a favor and wait outside, will

you, Jim?

I'll be with you in a minute.

Sure.

You're in luck this time.

You won't even have to pack.

It's a long haul over water, so let's

not do it upside down.

Got somewhere you can knock it off?

Well, we're suggested.

I've been hitting fellows ever since I landed

here.

First you, then the provo marshal, and that

nurse last night.

You don't waste much time.

What nurse?

I gave her a lift in the jeep.

Within ten minutes she had me biting through

bars of cast iron.

I can't quite understand her.

I think she kind of went for me,

though.

Must have been from the psycho ward.

You boys will be flown in later today.

We'll be waiting for you at Poussin.

Right, Skipper.

Come on, we got a minute.

I want you to meet the missus.

Rescue me.

Little George is full of questions.

Daddy, why don't they make planes with feathers?

I've often wondered that myself, son.

When I get back, you and I will

take it up with the Pentagon.

Honey, this is Jerry's brother, Pete.

Always glad to meet the boss's wife.

Okay, now you've met her.

Beat it.

I was going to ask you to dinner

tonight, but...

Don't you worry.

You know my motto.

I keep my eyes open, my mouth shut,

and never volunteer.

I'm sorry I gave you such a bad

time.

I'm such a fool.

Quiet.

Next time, I want to find you just

the same.

Don't change a bit.

Don't grow fatter, don't grow thinner, don't grow

older.

Now, you take Mommy home and seal her

up in a cellophane bag, hmm?

If they had feathers, they could lay eggs.

Well, now, you know you got something there.

Ready to go, sir.

This is Pusan Place from Seoul.

Thank you.

A small navigational error?

What are a few degrees among friends?

Like to oblige, but General MacArthur might not

like it.

MacArthur's only a general.

I'm a taxpayer.

Shut up and take a look ahead of

you.

That's Korea.

Just soloed your first ocean.

Pusan Tower.

This is Army Five-Zero.

Zero-Three-Five.

Two L-Fives 20 miles southeast at 3

,000.

Over.

Army Four-Three-Zero.

Pusan Tower.

Do not land.

Proceed Kimpo Field, Seoul.

Zero-Three-Five.

Estimate fuel for one plus three-zero flying.

Must land Pusan.

Over.

Negative.

Army Four-Three-Zero.

Cruise 6,000.

Reported wind from 135 at 40.

Proceed Kimpo.

Over.

Zero-Three-Five.

Wilco, out.

Did you hear that, taxpayer?

Quiet, I'm on my way.

See, George, I'm not the worrying kind, but

I hope there's a gas station on this

road.

Yeah, tell him.

You're the observer, John.

Tell him.

Jerry, it's me, Pete.

Tell him they're not fishing on horseshoes.

Got to make a ringer every time.

Else the lights go off.

Jerry, we got to get him

out of here.

Take it easy Clancy, my vocabulary is limited.

My boots, I don't mind my life, my

boots, I lose them.

Why these gentlemen to take over?

Very well, Colonel.

You got to fly a mission, kid.

He was always younger than I was, except

in years.

Later.

His philosophy was those three little monkeys.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no

evil.

You can't have a philosophy like that without

getting hurt.

So he got hurt.

Come on, kid, they're waiting.

Leave him here?

We're not leaving him here.

What was Jerry left ten minutes ago.

Come on, kid.

Just stick close beside me, we'll hedgehop it

all the way.

Dear Pete, what has playing quarterback done to

you?

You sound positively cynical.

As I've just been promoted to first Louis,

after only a century, I must reaffirm my

belief that right will always prevail.

This morning I did a strange thing.

I took off at daylight with a student.

It was so beautiful that before I knew

it, I was climbing higher and higher into

the sun.

It's funny, but I lost all track of

time.

There was no time.

Nothing else for that matter, just the sun.

Pete, what are you doing?

Keep her down below the hill.

Pete, get her down.

What's the matter with you?

Pete, can you read me?

Pete, time again at the four o'clock.

Turn into him.

George, he's lining up for a run at

you.

Nasty, these one-way streets.

Haven't you put those things on yet?

Hey, hit the brakes, Clancy.

You sound like a tobacco auctioneer.

Thank you, thank you.

Well, the problem is, now that I've got

you, what am I going to do with

you?

Stay with Captain?

I'd like to have you, Clancy, but no

can do.

No, Corks.

Give back boots.

Well, that's not it, kid.

Here.

This'll keep you in soda pops till Hargrove

comes back.

Cigarette?

I guess I joked off.

It's all right.

Nice the way you drew him up that

canyon.

You've been pitching.

Yeah.

Of course, if he'd gotten me, it wouldn't

have been much of a loss.

One green pilot and one local business tycoon.

My passenger happened to be the United States

ambassador.

Your local tycoon was the president of Korea.

Okay, I'm sorry.

I won't joke off again.

Look, Pete, I know how you feel.

Your brother was my closest friend.

Pete.

Look, I don't want to talk about it.

I want to hurt them, blast them.

I want to pay them off in napalm.

We'll pay them off, but in our own

way.

The Air Force's job is to be the

fists.

We're the eyes.

Now, you see that we're gassed, I'll go

check on Maxine Swenson.

Let me have your pliers.

Sure.

I'll find another one of these things for

the other side.

How about a naval for the tail?

That's a very good idea.

Forget the other side.

Let's beat it.

Thanks for the help.

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

That's quite on, Pete.

The battalion's been landed at Suwon.

That far north?

Yeah, and there's plenty of work for us.

Everything's falling from the Han River north.

Are we gassed?

Yeah.

Well, let's make tracks.

All right, Clancy.

Fasten your belt.

Stay with Captain?

Well, at the moment, I haven't much choice.

Do you know you could go to jail

for this?

A civilian stealing a ride on a military

aircraft?

Pay $10.

I don't want to go to jail.

No, keep it, Clancy.

For the love of Mike, either put those

boots on or throw them out.

Say, George, I see tank tracks to the

right of the road down there.

There's a tin can parked under those trees.

Too bad we're not a couple of jets.

Unless my eyes deceive me, that baby runs

on vodka.

I've marked her position.

Circle around in the mezzanine a minute, George.

You're about to witness the first performance of

an L-5 with muscles.

Pete, get back up here.

What are you doing?

Pete, go help me out.

I'll have you put on a straitjacket.

What do you think it means?

What do I think it means?

Wait, I'll go read some tea leaves.

How do I know what it means?

Greetings, Skipper.

I'm a man of my word.

We was getting kind of worried.

Who's he?

A hitchhiker.

Gas her up.

What happened to the other plane?

Met a tank.

While I'm checking with operations, I'll see if

he can't be picked up.

Where's the command post?

Over there.

You say he met a tank?

That's right.

Jerry Barker's dead.

He got it at Kempo.

Where'd that come from?

25th Battalion pilot got chased by yaks.

They zipped lead out of him all the

way in.

He's okay, but he won't be flying again

for a long time.

All is good for his spare parts.

We've got to try to put it together,

Maxi.

We've got to.

We're going to need it when the lieutenant

gets back.

You heard him, knucklehead.

Get moving.

I'm sorry, but it just can't be done.

Yes, yes, as soon as our planes arrive.

I understand the gravity of the situation.

What?

No, no.

I don't know where they are.

Last report, they left Daegu.

Slocum, where have you been?

Everything's blown up in our place.

They just got back.

We'll take care of it right away.

On top of everything else off, the colonel's

been transferred.

That's why I can't see you all.

What shape you in?

One ship.

Only one left?

One burned at Kempo.

The other got knocked out about 20 miles

from here.

But I'm ready for duty, sir, and so

is Barker, if you'll send a patrol to

get him out.

Get him out?

With what?

There are three infantry platoons cut off above

the river.

Now, they're taking an awful shellacking.

They need medical supplies as fast as possible.

There's a rock infantry battalion in the vicinity

somewhere.

We have no contact with them.

You'll have to make a drop right here.

Okay, but try to do something for Barker,

will you?

Never mind where he went in.

Right now, our problem is moving that plasma.

Okay, where are the platoons?

In the village of Dong Chun Lee, just

behind this bridge.

My ship's at the north end of the

strip.

Okay.

Young Lee.

Park your bow!

Fire!

Sir?

Peachtree One-Five, over on Chun Lee.

This is Logan Three.

Peachtree One-Five, over on Chun Lee.

This is Logan Three.

Surface wind, east-north-east, about 10 miles

an hour.

Sir?

Sir?

Another minute and the government would have had

to send one more of those greetings.

To beat you at theater.

Reds from the rear!

Great!

Wow, what a hem-stitching job.

Yeah, both tanks.

Get on them right away.

Anything new on Pete?

Not a word.

You know, this is going to take long

enough so as we can give her a

hundred-hour check at the same time.

She's overdue.

By right away, I mean one hour.

I want to go looking for Barker before

it gets dark.

Pull the tanks out of that and put

them in mine.

Get going on those tanks.

I'll be back to give you a hand.

Give me Major Hacker, please.

Before Rigor Mortis sets in, help Maxi change

those tanks.

I never had it so good.

Hacker speaking.

So that's your Slocum?

Nice work.

Report just came in.

Those rocks are in behind them now and

it's a slaughter.

Good.

We got banged up a bit, but I

think it can be fixed before dark.

Right.

Order repairs along at standby.

We'll be here, but in the meantime...

Never mind, sir.

Don't look so disappointed.

I can't help it if I'm made of

rubber.

Thanks for the company, boys.

All right, let's get it over with.

I lost us an airplane and I didn't

have the common decency to die in a

crack-up.

That ship controlled eighteen artillery pieces.

Think of that.

Eighteen.

How precise you are about everything.

You must have looked it up in the

World Almanac while I was waiting for you.

I'll try to forget you said that.

Why?

It doesn't matter.

I'm expendable.

This is the machine age, haven't you heard?

Men who are sentimental and believe in such

silly things as helping buddies who've been shot

down are quite obsolete.

The sooner they're replaced by items in stainless

steel, the better.

Pull one more thing like that bazooka gag

and you're grounded.

Go, man, aside I am so sorry Go,

man, aside I am so sorry I made

you cry Won't you forgive me, dear?

Go, man, aside Nights have been lonely, my

days are blue Because I made a fool

of you Won't you forgive me, dear?

My butterfly heart has brought

you pain Won't you forgive, won't you

forget?

Let's be sweethearts again Go, man, aside Sorry

to disturb you, but now it's my turn

to sleep around here.

Okay, Skipper.

My days If you believe me when I

say I love you, go, man, aside Go,

man, aside Get back in the tank, Skip.

Medics!

Medics!

Chest move.

Hit twice.

Big surgery job.

Let's get him to a hospital.

He'll never make it over those washboard roads.

You can fly in there, Lieutenant.

You'll just die.

I've got to do something.

I could probably get off in the dark,

okay.

But there's a truck stalled about half way

down the road.

You're crazy as a coot, so you'll be

like a Swiss cheese before you even get

your tail up.

But Swenson and I may get that truck

out of the way if you're nuts enough

to try it.

Let me get him loaded.

I've got him, I've got him, I've got

him, I've got him.

The brakes must be on.

Stop him.

A boat torch has

just passed us.

Welcome scenery.

Get up

there, Scuttlebutt.

The target is said dead.

Can't see nothing at all.

Too bad we're not over there.

Too bad

we can't switch off our thoughts as easy

as we can turn that thing off.

He passed out about ten minutes ago.

The pulse is weak, but it's a pulse.

Kate.

Well, if it isn't my old pal, the

Gaucho.

We'll have to rush this one and give

him blood on the way.

Glad to see you again.

Call the hospital later.

I'll give you the dope on your friend.

Look, Katie, I have to go right back.

Be a good kid and take special care

of the captain.

He's a great guy and he means a

lot to me.

They're all great guys and they all mean

something to somebody.

Thanks.

Lieutenant, no aircraft can take off without authorization.

Look, I'm in a hurry, Mac.

I've got to get back to Suwon.

Suwon?

No point going up there, sir, unless you

want to join the North Korean army.

My outfit was there.

Well, maybe they got out.

Maybe they didn't.

We ought to know soon.

You can park it at the south end

of the strip, sir.

Does he sleep here?

Maybe.

If I'd known you were coming, I'd have

taken a bath.

Sometimes I get so sick and tired of

the cheap little games we play.

Nothing's real.

We're always pretending.

I don't know why, but the human animal

seems to think he has to disguise his

feelings.

He runs away when he wants to stay

and he stays when he wants to run

away.

He's invented a whole set of fake rules

for himself.

Maybe it's to prove he's better than the

horse or the dog.

The rule book's on the shelf.

Pete.

What I came for was to tell you

your friend didn't make it.

Cry.

But don't cry for him, Pete.

Cry for yourself, for all of us.

Men died out there today.

Few of them might close their eyes.

It was sad, but it wasn't depressing.

It just makes you more keenly aware that

you're still with it.

And so you hurry and try harder to

do what you have to do.

Because for everyone that goes, the burden increases

for those who stay.

We'll be seeing each other again, Pete.

But in the meanwhile, remember what I say.

The burden your friend was carrying cannot be

allowed to drop.

Boy, this is something.

A million miles without a stop signal.

No shaving cream signs either.

I hope we ain't lost.

Gee, what a road.

So long as it points south from me

is Wilshire Boulevard.

Right or wrong.

I hope he knows what he's talking about.

Yeah.

We're given directions without being able to see.

If we get there, it means he's got

radar in the seat of his pants.

Hey, we're coming to something.

Hey, Clancy.

About time you guys showed up.

Oh, this is called a strategic withdrawal, which

means you stay under 60.

You want us to unload here?

Personally, I think it's a waste of time.

The way those North Koreans are moving, we're

not long for Taejon either.

I guess this is as good a place

as any to set up shop.

I hope you stripped that wreck before you

took off.

We got all we could.

How's the skipper?

I want to show you something.

We're going into a brand new business.

Up till now, we ferried brass, bought it

for the artillery, picked up mail, done every

odd job except crop dusting.

But with this aboard, it's going to be

different.

We can fly around picking fights and call

for help.

You mean, with this, we can talk jets

into targets?

Yeah, that's right.

Hey, that's not bad.

Yeah, and I want to be ready to

leave the minute it's light enough to see.

So you, Swenson, give this baby a good

going over.

And you, Maxi, as soon as you've unloaded,

hop back in that can and beat it

over to the air car and tell him

what's up.

Yes, sir.

But what about the skipper?

How's he coming along?

The captain's dead.

Yeah, a couple of hours ago.

But...

What do you want to do, hold it

awake?

Get moving.

You liked the captain, didn't you?

Well, so did his wife and so did

his kids.

Yeah, and so did I.

This is no time to chisel him out

a tombstone.

This is the time to pay off every

mother-loving North Korean south of the line.

He's right, Maxi.

We've got to do something.

I can't believe it.

Why, him and me and your brother Jerry,

we've been together since North Africa.

Yeah, well, save it for your diary.

Where's the battalion command post I have to

check in?

We don't know, sir.

We got separated.

Major Hacker has real teed off at you

ever since you took off.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Be ready to leave when I get back.

Look, Parker.

It's what you did, not why you did

it.

Good reason doesn't change the fact that we

needed that plane and it wasn't there.

Slocum gone, you're my only pilot.

Yes, sir.

Command is a big responsibility.

You've got to subordinate your personal feelings and

carry out every order to the letter.

You can't be a sentimental jackass.

Our Lord helped the man.

Is that all, sir?

No.

Get your camera.

Photograph every bridge, mountain pass and railroad south

of here for 30 miles.

South?

Yes, south.

We hold the area, but no one can

say for sure how long we will.

In case you haven't guessed it, we're not

in very good shape.

One more solid punch and they'll have us

with our backs to the ocean.

Is that all, sir?

I think you'd better go.

Still to the brim, sir.

Yeah, and you've got a date with the

Air Force over Cheung Ju at 10.30,

sir.

Did you locate the Major?

Yeah.

Get in and let's go.

Me, sir?

I don't get it, Lieutenant.

Clarence!

What don't you get?

Well, I appreciate you taking me along, but...

...

...session, sir.

Are they?

Yes, sir.

Now, me, I always been the kind of

guy to duck a fight, if it's duckable.

In a bar, a guy says something, I

don't hear him.

If I do, I knock his teeth out.

But while I'm doing it, he knocks out

mine.

So what do you gain?

Everything important from here on.

But I thought we're out here to...

Well, don't think.

Do as you're told.

Now, wait this one for the books.

The Captain gets his, then what do we

do?

Fly around behind our own lives with a

frown?

Sergeant!

Open that window and start taking pictures.

Yes.

Just as you say, Lieutenant.

1-L-5, 30 miles, 2,000 Tejon.

On present position, 50 miles north.

Peachtree from Shooting Star Leader.

Above you at 8,000, can't see those

tanks.

Where'd you say they are?

Hold it, Shooting Star.

I'll buzz them for you.

What's going on?

Shooting Star

Leader.

Three still in action.

I'll tell you what to do, just get

that stick in the socket.

Put your feet on the rudder pedals.

More pressure on the stick to the right.

I don't think so.

.

This was not the end.

As the first weeks grew into months and

years, other Army fliers carried on, serving the

United Nations forces as the eyes of the

Army in the grim battle for Korea.

Transcription and translation (AI) by Kasamaruti/GM JUL 2025