Original subtitles

Attention, flight A Flight A

Japanese aircraft sighted over Kunsing area

Aggie blue from aggie blue one Go ahead

Blue two okay, skipper Blue three, check

Blue four receiving you r5-s5, sir

Blue five, okay Blue six, okay

Eighteen attack bombers, three points to your right. About 15,000

What do you know, only three to one That won't even wake me up

Gordon to Dale, over Go ahead, sir

Listen, Dale, this is your first time up

Don't try to win this war all by yourself

Stick close. Tail them in formation

What time is it?

11:27 Those boozers are overdue

All safe and accounted for? Of course

Of course

Look, captain Jim Looky! Wham, wham

Termites

Better get a new oxygen tank She only registers 500

Hap

You got something on your mind? Me?

Nothing but japs Why?

You're not pulling out of your dives fast enough

I'll watch it

It only takes one I know, Jim

Hate to look around one day and find out you're the little man who wasn't there

You and reardon better go up this afternoon and simulate a diving attack

Mustn't get rusty

A little rough in spots, Dale, but I think when you iron a few things out

Dale?

Dale?

Bill, take care of Dale

Mike? Yes, sir?

Did that box of instruments come up from rangoon?

Fix the panel in Dale's ship

This belonged to Dale too

Come in

Quite a collection

He should have stayed in college where he came from

but he begged for a chance

Begged for it like some kid asking to go to the circus

and I gave it to him

What happened?

He didn't watch his tail And outnumbered, as usual

He did bring his ship back

he did

But tomorrow or the next day

there will be somebody else in it

With three of them on his tail

Or six or ten

How's Miller? Just a flesh wound in the shoulder

I'll give him back to you in a week

How are you?

You can have me back anytime

Why don't you go home?

You need a nurse

Suppose you cut yourself shaving?

When did you sleep last?

Monday. It was a very good day for it

Well, try Thursdays. They're good days too. Excuse me

Larry?

Get me the weather on m5 and check on those oil drums

Find out what's holding them up As if I didn't already know

Think hap could run this show for a couple of days?

I've got to run down to rangoon The colonel promised me some replacements

I'm gonna need them now that Dale when will you be back?

I don't know

Might keep right on going till I get to San Francisco

Nice town, San Francisco

There's a place on Fisherman's wharf

they serve oysters you have to cut with a knife

Ever try Simpsons in London?

Roast beef you can cut with a fork

No floor show though

No floor show

Take me with you

No, Brooke, we can't do anything like that

I know. I couldn't leave anyway

There's a new batch of evacuee children coming this afternoon

Wanted to see me, Jim?

Yeah, I want you to take care of the store while I'm away

Got to go to rangoon

Larry, have the station wagon brought around and put my things in it

Got to catch a plane for rangoon

Did that gasoline shipment arrive yet?

I wish somebody would figure out a ship that would fly on rice

Want to check the scoreboard?

Mccurdy will fly number two while you're in charge

Make sure that second-string pitcher does some work on his guns

I thought you and Jim

didn't I tell you to credit my ship only to Dale?

Look Jim, I got nobody back in the states

I thought Dale's folks would find that $1,000 bonus handy around the farm

Or is it a gas station?

You got your halo on crooked, pal

Car's ready Right

Start working on Selby and mcintosh as a team

I think they're about ready. Okay Jim

Don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of things while you're away

And no gin rummy with Brooke

She's my pigeon. Bye, pigeon. Bye-bye

What do you see in that guy?

San Francisco

Never mind

Any more on flight 8 from Hong Kong?

The airport informs me the plane has been delayed. The storm, you know

Oh, there were two gentlemen here expecting me

I believe they just came in

You'll find them in the cocktail lounge with Mrs. bales

Mrs. bales?

If anything more comes in on that plane, let me know. Yes, sir

Squadron leader Gordon, I'm lieutenant barton. How are you?

Hello, blackie. Hello, Jim. My wife, Jim

How do you do?

What are you doing here, blackie?

I heard you needed pilots, and I needed the job

I didn't know at the time that you were head man

I'll run upstairs and pack

Excuse me. Train leaves for lai chau at 6:00 in the morning

Be on it

She knows, Jim

I hate to turn you down, but I've got to

Look, Jim, I don't want to put this on a personal basis

but you know me, you know my work

I'm a good flier, Jim I know you are

You could work for me anytime. We get along, but

I haven't been on that stuff for a long time, Jim. Honest. That's just soda pop

It isn't that. I'm trying to hold on to a fine bunch of men

It isn't always easy to keep peace in the family

Some of them would remember that lefty matson case

But, Jim, I was cleared of that. I know

The army gave you a clean bill of health

but you'd be flying with a lot of men that knew lefty

I'm really doing blackie a favor, Mrs. bales

I don't want any favors I just want a chance to get back on my feet

This is the last outpost for me, Jim

it just wouldn't work out. I'm sorry

Good-bye, Mrs. bales, blackie

Any news yet? No, sir. Not yet

Mr. Gordon, I made some excuse so I could talk to you

No matter what happens, please don't ever tell blackie that I did

Mr. Gordon, I hate to butt in like this

but you've got to give him another chance to fly

Mrs. bales, I can't jeopardize the morale of an entire squadron

Just to give your husband a job

But it isn't just a job. Though we need the money, it's something more

I married him right after that happened

He told me the whole story

I thought I could make it up to him, but I can't

There's some things that even a wife can't do for the man she loves

He's got to find it himself

Doing the things he loves best

even if means paying with his life

It isn't easy for me to say no You don't know what you're asking me to do

Do you know what losing your self-respect means?

That's what's happened to him

I know I live with him

I've caught him looking out of a window, watching a plane

Watching it till he couldn't see it any more

Afraid to turn around and look me in the face

Mrs. bales Mr. Gordon, you know men. You command a squadron

You've seen them die Some of them go out smiling

Have you ever seen the look on a man's face

When you tell him he can't fly anymore?

It's a living death, Mr. Gordon. I know

Please don't say any more

I'd rather he went with you and took what came

Than to live with him the rest of his life

Watching him die a little every day

Have him on that train tomorrow morning

You can't go with him, you know

Yes, I know

And please don't ever tell blackie I spoke to you

I just received news for that plane from Hong Kong, sir

It was attacked by a Japanese fighter squadron

Is it down? No, sir. It's coming in on one wing and a prayer

Get me a cab

Rangoon calling again, Woody

Jason, flight 8. Go ahead, rangoon. What do you want now?

Am I gonna bring the plane in? No, you dope

I'm gonna park it up here on the clouds and wait till the storm blows over

We did everything to cover your landing, Jason

Fire and crash trucks are standing by

Bring her down easy Easy"?

Rangoon calling Jason, flight 8 What's your position?

My instruments tell me I'm flying upside-down

5,000 feet below lake Michigan

But I must be wrong because I can see the lights of the field

Head for cover I'm coming in

I can see them, Mr. raffkin

Bring that Mike outside

Lower the landing gear, Alabama

If he walks away from this one, he's a miracle man

Pull up, Woody You're coming in on one wheel

Woody, this is Jim Gordon

What are you doing up so late, pappy? Never mind that

The runway at the north end of the field is mud and water

Your only chance is to get that wheel up and skid in on your belly, but watch the wind

Stop worrying, pappy. Just get that mob out of the way

Or somebody will get a hot engine in their lap

Pull up that landing gear

You're gonna spill, Woody You're coming in crosswind

Good ol' real estate

What do you say, pappy? Woody

Nice landing

Did you like it? Why, you lucky

what do you mean, lucky? Coming in crosswind

Why not? I wanted the wind to blow the fire away from the cabin

Meet my better half while he's still awake. This is Alabama Smith

This is captain Jim Gordon of the flying tigers How are you?

That's enough Jason, that was magnificent

Save it. I'm gonna find a promotion for you

Listen, you can take my job, the rangoon airways, the Burmese

And the rest of this cockeyed country and give it back to Marco polo

Chop, chop But Mr. Jason

I didn't sign on to be a target for a bunch of four-eyed japs

You're not resigning. No, I'm quitting, definitely and for good

And me too

And forward Mr. Jason's mail to kunsing airfield

Thank you very much, Mr. raffkin

Here come the replacements

Take these men over to the barracks

What's this thing? Headquarters

It looks like the taj mahal with a hangover

What's that? The milk bar?

No, the barracks. Pick out a cot with four legs if you can find one

Dump your stuff and report back to me at the hangar

What hangar?

That's a hangar? I like the green roof, but isn't it drafty?

I didn't promise you la guardia airport

Look, pappy, if I'd have known this

I wouldn't have come out here for $612 a month

How did you get mixed up in this anyway?

You never used to like chop suey. You'll find out

Get yourself all set, and I'll see you later

What are those things you wear on your backs, laundry tickets?

No, in case you're forced down in Chinese territory

they'll know you're an American volunteer

What if you're forced down in enemy territory?

Then you've got nothing to worry about

You all set, Woody? The red carpet's a little threadbare

the brass band's a little out of tune

but outside of that, I'm all set

Would you like the blue or the pink bridal suite, sir?

The blue comes with a sunken tub

What did you expect, the la guardia airport?

Drop this off for me, will you?

I've got to make a reconnaissance

I'm getting that old feeling

Jim, is that you?

I won't be a minute

I'm just finishing a bath Be right out

How was rangoon? Did you have fun?

How many replacements did you bring back?

You would come back just when I was stealing a bath

Then, of course, the boiler went burst and the water ran out

Jim Gordon with you? Won't I do?

Say, tell me something You always use Jim's tub?

Yes, we all do Cozy

It happens to be the only bathtub in kunsing

I see. It must be a very chummy spot on Saturday night

Do you sing and dance too or is your act limited to patter?

fine, fine

You're one of the new replacements, aren't you?

no, not one of the replacements

Jim told me he was having a little trouble out here

so I thought I'd give him a hand

And I think I'm going to like it

I'm so glad

If there's anything we can do to make you comfortable, don't hesitate to call on us

Oh, I will, I will How about dinner?

I never get quite that hungry

and if you should use the tub, you'll be sure and empty it, won't you?

We've no plumbing So sorry

What happened to that one? I overshot the field yesterday

Came in a little too high, I guess

I'll watch it

Brooke! Been behaving yourself?

No, she hasn't. She's been taking me at gin rummy since you left

Miss elliott, Mr. Jason We've met

What do you think of glamour boy?

He's a difficult man to get to know. So shy

Anybody in my spot would have done the same thing

Hap Davis, Woody Jason

Glad to have you with us, Jason. Thank you, hap

I'm gonna put him in your hands, hap

I don't need a nurse I've already got one

If you'll excuse me, I have to go on duty Wish me luck?

You don't really need it, do you?

Did I do something wrong? Do you ever do anything right?

Pappy, why don't you stop picking on me?

Come on. I'll introduce you to the rest of the fellas

I don't like to point, chum, but she happens to be the skipper's girl

Great. She's got a sense of humor, hasn't she? We all have

In fact, we wake up two or three times a night, laugh and go back to sleep

I would have hated to have been in that burning plane with anybody else but Woody

You don't have to sell Jason to us. We know he's got a good record

But out here, everybody starts even

Does that go for me too?

Sure, it does

Thanks, fellas

Selby

I got your 30 pasted together

We're not sticklers for discipline here, Woody, but we expect results

Relax

Gentlemen, this is Woody Jason. Hi, fellas

Woody. His bark is worse than his bite

Shake hands and count your fingers

I'm mccurdy from Brooklyn How are you, Brooklyn?

You ever know a little girl by the name of Sally gray?

No, you wouldn't You're not her type

My name's Norton. I'm from don't tell me. I know

A state of beautiful women You ever know the mcdott sisters from fort worth?

I'm from Dallas

Reardon, Maine. I don't think you'd know anybody I'd know

Now, there's where you're wrong. I knew a redheaded girl by the name

Selby, Michigan. Selby mi

hello, Michigan What a football team

I used to date a little what do you call those? Majorette

Yeah, a majorette

What a football team

My name's mcintosh. How are you, Mac?

I come from nowhere You got a girl there?

Bentley's that gal's name

A tall brunette with a p-40 figure and plenty of armor

Boy, I can't wait till I get back Back?

Yeah, you don't think I'm gonna make this my life's work, do you?

Give him time, boys He'll catch there's a war on

I know there's a war, but you fellows have no part of it

We're all out here dough

Sure, that we are, but it's good to know every check you cash in

Means a jap's cashed in too

Wait a minute, fellas We're all making the same salary

600 bucks a month and 500 a jap, right?

Back home most of us would kill rattlesnakes whether there was a bounty on them or not.

I know, but you're protecting your own home This is not our home

It's not our fight. It's a business And I hope business is good

What's the matter with him? His brother crashed behind enemy lines

We found him after the japs got through with him

I didn't mean anything personal we know you didn't, Woody

Let's take a walk

get down

Tails up Let's go

Come on, Alabama! Where are we going?

The bank's open

Is anybody hurt? Not yet

Which one do I take? Are you crazy? Wait till you get combat training

Training? Me? I'm losing dough

And I'm running this outfit! Get back

1,500 smackers up there, and that guy cuts me off

There's a shelter at the first aid. What are we waiting for?

I don't know, but I came out here to fly

Hey, Woody That ain't the way

Come back here

Smart fellow taking plane no bullets! No ammunition?

What? No got

contact him by radio Him no take earphone

Let's contact Jim

Aggie dispersal calling aggie blue one, Gordon

Aggie dispersal calling aggie blue one, Gordon. Go ahead

Aggie blue one, Gordon, back to aggie dispersal. Go ahead

Hello, Gordon. Wingman Jason took off in p-40 ship

He's unarmed and without radio communication

Request you locate and signal him to return to base immediately. Go ahead

Get your checkbook out, general

Woody, are you all right?

I'm all right

Well, I walked away from that one

Hey, whose side are you on?

Report to my office immediately

A few more landings like that, and he'll be a Japanese ace

Where do you think you are, with some broken-down flying circus?

It would have been a cinch. I was riding the murder spot right above those japolas

If I had ammunition, I'd have blown them clear out of China

And you washed out a good ship

You talk like that crate is more important than me

I can't afford to lose either planes or pilots

Pappy, it's like I told you down at the barracks

All I get out of this is the dough, so you can't blame me for trying

In a skeet match, the guy who knocks down the most pigeons wins the cup

I can't have grandstanders trying to hog the show

Results here are based on cooperation and understanding

Discipline in the air is strict because that's the only way

An outfit like this can operate

Wait, hap. All right, I'll admit I was wrong

I made a mistake

In this kind of warfare, a fella likes to feel he's flying with somebody he can trust

What do I care? It's every man for himself, isn't it? Not these days

Wait till you look back and see a jap sitting on your tail

In a ship that you can't outmaneuver

Then you'll know what I'm talking about. Okay, pappy

From now on I'll study my lessons and practice the piano every day

There won't be any more trouble

I'll be a modest, respectful soldier if it kills me, I swear

You got a cigarette?

Keep them

You got a match?

Afraid you're gonna have a little trouble with that ball of fire, skipper

Woody's all right

Gets a little off beam once in a while

but he's gonna develop into the best flier in this squadron

That's what counts

You see how he went after those three japs? That took nerve

Yeah, he's got nerve, all right

Got a cigarette?

These are the planes you'll be tangling with

Know them so you can identify them

Plenty of these planes carry detachable auxiliary gas tanks

which give them great range

These tanks are dropped when they reach the objective

so they don't lessen the plane's fighting efficiency

The kawanishi 96 can carry about a half a ton of bombs as well as scout

But the most modern fighter and the toughest one to crack, is the nakajima

It isn't fast, but it's light and maneuverable

If you find yourself in trouble and have to bail out, there's one important thing to remember

Do a closed-chute fall

Drop as far as possible outside the combat area before pulling the cord

That's to prevent our little brown friends from following you down

And machine-gunning you while you're hanging helplessly in the air

It's a quaint little habit of theirs

And watch for the man who's hit the silk

Protect him whenever possible

You know what I'm not gonna do, pappy?

I'm not gonna ask you what to do if that chute doesn't open

Because you'll say take it back to the factory

No hits, no runs, no errors

There must be something I'm doing wrong

Yesterday I unloaded a whole case of shells

Before I seen I was firing at my own shadow on a cloud

You keep shooting at those clouds, the angels are gonna get sore at you

Thirteen for our team and nobody benched. Nice work, boys

Thirteen? You ain't superstitious, are you?

If you are, the next time I go up, I'll make it 14

I'll bet

I could take that scoreboard down to the bank and cash it in right now

Two thousand smackers and today's only Thursday

Any of you hangar pilots top that?

I knew a fellow who tied it once, only he didn't live to spend it

It's too bad he waited. If I hit my stride, you guys can take a vacation

At my expense, of course How does it feel to be a one-man team?

I don't get it. You're not the first ball carrier

That didn't appreciate his interference

Give me that in straight English

Twice I've been on the tail of a nakajima

When you've cut in for the kill and the credit

Hold it, blackie Wait a minute

Let him talk

There's only one guy Woody Jason

Listen, sorehead

every time I ever cut in on you I probably saved your life

If I were you, I'd be the last guy to talk about cutting in

I saw the tunnel that my pal lefty matson dug in the Cleveland air races

Probably figured his turn wrong Everybody saw what happened

sure, It was all cleared up in the investigation

But they forgot to smell your breath

Quit it! Save it! Attention, "a" flight

elements "a," "b" and "c."

Enemy aircraft in force over mekong bridge Tails up

Get moving, you two guys I'm not through with you yet

tom. You know where I live

Hear about Jason? He got another nippo today

Yeah. It's too bad they don't pay off on dead pilots

Hey, wait a minute, fellas You can't pin this on me

If blackie hadn't opened his parachute so soon, it wouldn't have happened

Maybe if you'd have followed blackie down, it wouldn't have happened either

You were nearest to him What happened? A mitsi got in my way

I guess it's easier to see 500 bucks than a pal of yours in trouble

Hey, you got five planes now That makes you an ace

Ace? How do you spell it?

Mike, that ship gassed?

him full to top

Jim, do you mind if I use that ship?

Where are you going? Up for some fresh air

It's a little heavy in the barracks

Go ahead

I got to know the truth about one thing

Could you have prevented blackie bales' death?

No, Jim. I saw him fall, but I didn't see him open his chute

I was sure he'd wait until he was safe

If I thought he was in danger, I'd have looked after him

That's good enough for me

I never saw anything like the way he went after those ships

It was something First one and then another and then

none of us want to go, Mrs. bales

We'd all like to live to be 108

But few of us get a chance to go out

In a blaze of glory like blackie did

H-he wasn't afraid

Blackie wasn't afraid of anything

You know, we got a pretty tough bunch of guys up there

They've got to be for what they're up against

But when it came to real fighting spirit, none could touch blackie

D-did they like him? they were crazy about him

He was great to be around

always making cracks and keeping people's spirits up

I'm glad

I suppose you'll be going back to the states

This belonged to blackie

So much?

sure. He knocked a couple down the week before

He never wrote me That shows you what kind of a guy he was

He wouldn't even tell his wife how well he was doing

I got to be going

And good luck to you

Are those our children laughing?

Yes It's that wonderful young man you sent to us I sent you?

You were a Saint to think of it

He's the first ray of sunlight these children have known in months

I think I'll take a look at Mr. sunbeam

You're just about to witness that great, that colossal

that stupendous mystery known as the disappearing half dollar or

or now you see it and now you don't

Now I need a young lady to assist me Will any young lady step up, please?

Some young lady, any young lady?

That's the girl

boy. This will amaze you before your very eyes

In my hand here I have a brand-new half dollar

It's brand-new I made it myself this morning

You can still smell the mint on it

Uh, I will make it disappear into my elbow. Watch very closely

Here it goes Don't take your eyes off of my hand

Well, now, watch me very closely Watch very closely what happens

See? Oop, it slipped Watch it closely. You see?

Watch my hand Everybody watch it very closely

Here it goes One, two, three

Hocus-pocus, bowlegged locust What happens? It's gone

What do you know about that? How do you like that, huh?

I wonder where it is now

I wonder where it could be I think I know

Yes, I do I see it

Here it is, right behind your ear

What do you know about that?

How do you like that? Isn't that wonderful?

thank you very much, miss

And now excuse me

Don't tell them but that's the only trick I know

My public won't let me go

If you persuade your public inside, I might be able to change some bandages

Absolutely

Right this way to see the beautiful nurse perform the greatest trick

She is lovely, she is beautiful and she's mad at me

Come quickly

Well, I guess they're going away

I hope so

Have the children get ready I'll change their bandages now

Careful. She's slipping They're pretty tough to hold when they're this young

Some of them never get any older

Where did you dig up all these kids?

Most of them were dug up, as you put it, after the bombings

Are they all orphans?

The little girl you're holding walked almost 1,000 Miles across China to get here

She lived on roots or whatever else she could find to eat

How did she find this place?

I don't know Some instinct brings them here

perhaps, one child tells another

But always after a bombing, here they are

Starved, patient, silent

I had no idea Very few people do

there you are, darling

What's she selling? She's brought you these rice cakes as a tribute

Tribute? For what? That corny trick with the half dollar?

No, for your courage and loyalty as a member of the flying tigers

What else did she say?

Um, we are humbly grateful and beg you to accept these useless rice cakes

Even though they are not worthy of so honorable and so brave a warrior

tell her okay and thanks

and I'll keep them flying

Why don't you have dinner with me tonight, and we can have these for dessert?

I'm having dinner with Jim

these are good

You want I should come back again or you want to order now?

What's good tonight?

We have special American dishes

Egg fu Yung, candied duck or chop suey

Have you any roast beef you can cut with a fork?

You surely have oysters you can cut with a knife?

No floor show? No, sir. No floor show

But music Very nice

Can't you turn that record over? Has it only got one side?

him turn over, no music

but him turn over

Never mind

We're getting so we like it

Look, chin, why don't you surprise us?

Bring us something new like,chow mein

Ah, very nice Very good chow mein, American dishes

I'm sorry, Brooke. Sorry? What are you talking about?

Well, you know, all this

If we were back in the states we'd be having dinner at some good restaurant

dancing once or twice, might even go out to a show

What's the matter with this? The food here is excellent

As for the music, there's a wonderful orchestra on that record

A little hoarse by now but we can still dance

Ask me and see

Miss elliott, may I have this dance?

I've promised it to that dashing lieutenant in the horse marines

But I don't think he'll mind

What's wrong? This came for you

It's in code, so I thought it might be important

I hate to break in on you two That's all right

I'll have to get back to the field and decode this. Of course

Sorry, Brooke I guess we can never really plan anything

ah, it's ready Nice dish, very nice

Sorry, chin. We got to run along What I do with this?

You eat it

Me eat this?

I dragged you all out of bed and every place else because this arrived

I haven't had any mail for months

I didn't know that any of your friends could write

Well, here it is

Commencing the first that's tomorrow

Your squadron assumes continuous night reconnaissance in alternating patrols

Signed r.T. Lindsay and so forth

In simple language, that means we start a night patrol as well as day

But, Jim, we're not set up for night flying

We have no beacon and no landing lights

We'll use the headlights on the trucks. How?

We have six vehicles We'll line three up on each side of the runway

That's all right for takeoffs but what about landings?

Those lights can be seen from 5,000 feet up on a clear night

Fine. Suppose there's a ground fog. What happens then?

Well, Woody, all you have to do is use your fog knife

Fog knife? What's that?

Don't tell me Jason hasn't got one of those Every ace has one

Sure. When you're caught in a heavy fog

all you do is cut a hole in it with your fog knife

And drop down like in an elevator

You must have fallen through one of those holes on your head

Easy, easy. Let's save that for the annual barbecue

Now pay attention No pilots must leave the post

All leaves are automatically canceled

Starting tomorrow morning at 10:00, every man on the field

Must report to Dr. Singh for a physical checkup

That's all Scatter and get some sleep

Got a minute?

What are you gonna do, stand me in the corner? No

I'll be leading flight "a," and hap will be leading flight "b''

I want you to take over hap's old position

number two in back of me and my flight

Don't worry about a thing. Good night

Some of you guys don't seem to understand the reasons for these special tests

Sure we do. It's to find out if we need a seeing eye dog

It's funny now

The first time you're on a night flight

And a string of tracers come hissing out at you from the dark

you'll be glad we rechecked your eyesight and reflexes. Sure. We know that

Night patrol calls for peak efficiency and perfect physical fitness

Where did you dig that up? I've been studying

Don't, doc. That's cold, and I'm ticklish

Nothing wrong with his reflexes

Alignment blocks, please

Is everything all right?

All these reports go to squadron leader Gordon

The final decision rests with him

I sure would hate to miss out on night patrol

I hear those japos glow in the dark like bugs

Good morning, gentlemen Having your oil changed?

Is my eyesight failing me or is it that beautiful hunk of man?

You keep that up and someday they'll put you on the radio

Come on, fellas Let's go to the gasoline dump and get a breath of fresh air

You asked for that I'm not beefing, am I?

Where's the gadget you wanted me to come back for, doctor? Yes, over here, please

When I examined Mr. Jason this morning, this had not arrived yet

I asked him to come back with the others

Is that what you wanted? Yes, thank you

You know, Jason, people that fly upside down

Get a pretty twisted picture of what's going on all around them

Yeah, thanks, hap Thanks a lot

You well enough to travel, Alabama?

Think I'll fall apart, doc?

You should outlive confucius

That's good enough for me

You want to see me, skipper?

Sit down, hap

I've made a change

Tex Norton will lead flight "b" instead of you. That's okay, Jim

I'd rather be up there in my old spot anyway, protecting your tail

It isn't that, hap

I gotta hand you one on the chin

But I'd rather it came from me than from somebody else

Go ahead, Jim

You're through flying

The doc said I'd live to be a hundred

If you stay on the ground

Wait a minute

I can't send a man up that doesn't know whether he's flying upside-down or not

Take a look at that physical Your depth perception's a mile off

I know you've been gunning 'em since they were box kites with broomsticks for rudders

but, you gotta believe me, I'm doing this for you

You've been close winging in formations, overshooting your landings

you don't have to say any more

I'm sorry

I was kind of figuring on going back to the states anyway

maybe get me a chicken ranch or something

I hear there's a lot of dough in eggs. Eggs?

Who are you trying to kid?

You haven't been saving any money

You've been giving it away as fast as you make it

Look, hap, I need you here

What could I do now?

Taking care of these crates on the ground is just as important

As flying them upstairs

I got to have a man I can trust on the ground

I wish you'd take that job, hap

You're not doing this to

I really need you

Well, ground kind of hurts my arches

but, well, I'll think about it

Wait a minute I didn't swing at that one

I never could bat without my spike shoes anyway

let her go

How are things going? You better not be seen talking to me

I'm poison ivy Everything I touch breaks out into a rash

I, um, I just got a letter from Mrs. bales

What's she writing you about? I sent her blackie's things. She wrote to thank me

She said to be sure and give you her regards

you are a difficult man to get to know, aren't you?

Why don't you have dinner with me tonight and get to know me better?

You don't take no for an answer, do you?

Why should I, when it's just as easy to say yes?

Isn't it?

swell! I'll meet you tonight at the orphanage at 8:00

Right? See you later

wait a minute

Don't say anything to anybody about Mrs. bales, will you?

I don't want to spoil my record. All right

And be on time

Those guys only got seven lucky hits off of me in three innings

Yeah, swell. I'm going off the reservation tonight. I got a date

What about night patrol? You're on "a" flight

don't worry about it I'll be back in time

But if anyone asks any questions about me, you cover me

I'm getting that old feeling

All right, fellas, synchronize your watches at 10:55

It's now 10:54 and 57

58, 59, mark it

Tex, "b" flight must relieve us at exactly 11:55. Right

Otherwise, we might mistake you for the enemy. That's about it

Take off in four minutes

I thought Jason was here

Well, I thought I saw him getting dressed just a few minutes ago, sir

Well, get him on the field. Yes, sir

Warm 'em up

Did you see Woody? I just stalled the skipper. No

He'll wring my neck too if he finds out Woody left the field

Against orders? but he said he'd be right back

Well, he's Jim's number two man He'd better be back

Tell pilot Jason takeoff is in two minutes

warm it up, Mike

Waiting for Mr. Jason, please

Tell him he'll be right there

I still don't think this is right You keep your mouth shut

But if anybody's gonna take Woody's flight, it ought to be me

Are you crazy? I've been flying number two for Jim for over a year

I know every one of his quirks, every one of his moves

We're a team Don't you understand? Yeah, I know, but

it's like he was the ball carrier and I was his interference

sure, but I still don't like it

You're to stay on the ground Not so long as Jim is in the air

Missed the 5:15 again

You're gonna have a hard time talking yourself out of this one Who, me and pappy? No

I wonder who's flying number two? Where have you been?

I'm late. So what? So hap took your flight, that's what

All right, I'd do as much for him, wouldn't I? But hap was grounded

"A" leader to "a" two Go ahead

What's the matter, Jason? Have you gone to sleep?

"A" two to "a" leader What do you want? Go ahead

Hap! Where's Jason? What are you doing here? Go on back

Sorry, Jim. Remember me? I'm the little man who's always there

Besides, it's too late

"A" leader to flight "a'' Nakajima fighters on port quarter, Combat formation

Attaboy, skipper Give 'em the old one-two

Don't worry, Jim I'm climbing his back porch now

Pull out, hap Pull out

I hope you two had a good time

Cause hap paid the check

There's an army truck out of here day after tomorrow for lai chau. Be on it

Don't say that, Jim. Until then, you're confined to your quarters

But I'm still a good flyer

I'll knock down ten of those rats for every one of our boys

It's out of my hands now None of these men will ever fly with you again

and they have to fly

December 7, 1941

A date which will live

In infamy

The United States of America

Was suddenly and deliberately attacked

By naval and air forces

Of the empire of Japan

The United States was at peace with that nation

And at the solicitation of Japan

Was still in conversation

With its government and its emperor

Looking towards the maintenance of peace in the pacific

I believe that I incorporate the will of the congress

And of the people when I assert

That we will not only defend ourselves to the utmost

but will make it very certain

That this form of treachery

Shall never again endanger it

Hostilities exist

There is no blinking at the fact

That our people, our territory

And our interests

Are in grave danger

With confidence in our armed forces

with the unbounding determination

Of our people

we will gain

The inevitable triumph

So help us, God

I ask that the congress declare

That since the unprovoked

And dastardly attack by Japan

On Sunday, December 7, 1941

A state of war has existed

Between the United States

And the Japanese empire

How are you, Jim? Good, colonel. And you?

I don't have to tell you what our entrance into the war means

To the volunteer group in China

Our responsibility is grave You and your men will have to take greater risks now

I think they know it, sir This hits them where they live

I don't think any of them will let you down I'm sure they won't

Intelligence reports that the Japanese are starting a new drive from this point.

But to camouflage that move, they're starting a fake attack from this point

Under cover of which, they intend to bring up supplies and munitions from here

We must destroy this bridge and delay the supply trains which pass over it

I see That's the only way we can give general chiang kai-shek

Sufficient time to establish his defenses

I know that area It's a nest of antiaircraft and nakajima squadrons

They can send up an anac umbrella

High enough to make any attack ineffective

I warned you what we'd be up against

But there's a way to do it, I think?

A bomber squadron, even with our protection, wouldn't stand a chance

But a single ship might get through. How?

By flying through the canyons instead of over them

Taking off at dawn and hugging the sides of the hills away from the sun

a pilot might bring his ship through the pass and directly over the bridge

Sounds like hedgehopping to suicide. Maybe

But if you think it can be done, I'll order a bomber here right away

I think we can use that transport. What?

They've been flying over enemy territory for five years

They get potted at, of course but they don't attract as much attention as a military ship

What about bombs? It's got no bomb rack, no bomb release, nothing

We can figure that out

There's eight or nine cans in our munition dump marked, "nitro U.S.A."

I think I can find a messenger boy to deliver them

A job for a volunteer, of course

Doggone it You ought to be tar and feathered, Woody

Getting yourself slung out of this outfit just when things are getting exciting

What's going on out there?

Huh? You heard me. What's happening?

That's the skipper's idea

He's gonna go fix breakfast for the jappies

Gonna serve them soup

Who's going with him? Nobody

If you ask me, it's a one-way trip

These reports must go out daily to keep colonel Lindsay informed on our status.

Yes, sir. Ship Norton to ground operation

Selby and Evans to night patrol, flight "a."

Miller ought to be about ready now to start in again with reardon as a team. Right

That's about all, except you'll have to keep after kunming for gas, oil and supplies

And toungoo for replacements

Take good care of the store, Mac. I will, sir

I have Dr. Singh's report on barton

How is he?

You can have him back in a week

Colonel Lindsay's waiting outside, Jim. Right

I haven't wanted to question you, Jim

but I thought you were gonna call for volunteers

It only takes one, doesn't it?

Mike, rev it down Mike, cut those motors

What do you think you're doing? Cut those motors

Get into your parachute

I'd land and throw you out if I could take a chance on that cargo back there

Bail out at 1,500

You can't handle this crate all by yourself. It's a job for two of us

Somebody's got to handle this stick while the other guy drops the stuff

You know that as well as I do Not the way I got it rigged

I know I've been a lot of trouble to you since we first got to be friends

You're the only guy I know who stuck by me

If you're trying to alibi the way you've been living, we'll run out of gas

Maybe I did start out just to have a bunch of laughs

Woody, anyone who looks ahead in this racket is crazy

I don't blame you for grabbing what you can today

You don't mean that If you did, you'd have dropped me long ago

Hit the silk

I had to talk to you

I don't know where I'm going from here or

When I'll see you again

It's like Brooke said

I don't know anything about anything

Why we're here, why we're fighting, all that sort of stuff

She tried to straighten me out too

Although half the time she was talking about you and roast beef

And San Francisco and all those crazy things

See what I mean? 1,500

Are we gonna say good-bye like this? Bail out

I got it coming to me

But there's one thing you gotta get straight on

A whole lot of us just don't grow up. We stay kids

The most important thing to a kid is the street he lives on

It's his life It's his whole world

That was me when I first joined up with you

Hong Kong, Shanghai, chungking

they didn't mean anything to me

Just a lot of names in a geography book

not towns where millions of people were being maimed and killed by bombs

If you called them Texas, Maine or Michigan

That would have been different

They were my street That's why I acted the way I did

Not because I was a heel but because I was still a kid

It cost another man's life to make a man out of me

If you don't think that will stay on my mind as long as I live

then you don't know any more about me than I think you did in the first place

that's all, and happy landing

Sit down, Woody

Check the course

Well, here we go into the tunnel of love

Pull her up

Did you know I used to drive a roller coaster?

Delivering nitro?

Were you killed?

Take over. I want to get into this chute. Right

Looks like the supply trains are moving

But the bridge ain't

You may serve the soup course now, pappy

Get her closer

If I get any closer to that bridge we'll have to pay a toll charge

Let her go Not yet

Give the gentleman a cigar

If they want to cross that river, they'll have to swim it

You all right? I'm all right

This crate's got enough lead in its belly to sink a battleship

Don't look now, but our tail feathers are on fire

Huh? This is it, pappy Let's take a powder

Six cans of nitro aboard and that train's still running

Yeah, but this is one train we're gonna have to miss Come on, let's go

Throw it on automatic

Hit the silk, Woody

Here we go

Happy landing, Jim

Do me a favor, will you, pappy?

Give my leather jacket to reardon. He's a cold character

Divide my address book evenly between the boys in the barracks

And give my silk scarf to the next head-chopper that thinks this is an easy racket

You sent for me, sir? Yes, barratt

This is your first time up Don't try to win this war all by yourself

Stay close to formation If you find yourself in trouble, pour on the coal and head home

Just a minute

This is for you

Take good care of it

It belonged to a pretty good flier. Sure

Flight "a." Flight "a."

Reconnaissance patrol, two minutes

How about having dinner with me? I hear chin has a new record. Swell

Closed-captioned by captions, inc. Los Angeles