All language subtitles for Men of the Fighting Lady (Andrew Marton, 1954).english

Men of the Fighting Lady (1954)

♪ to the glory of the Navy ♪

♪ Our wings of gold ♪

♪ Will have their share ♪

♪ From the blue of the sea
to the blue of the sky ♪

♪ Our planes will fill the air ♪

♪ Aloft we'll go
to strike the foe ♪

♪ In battles yet untold ♪

♪ When we return,
the world will learn ♪

♪ Of our glorious
wings of gold ♪

♪ With banners high ♪

♪ We'll do or die ♪

♪ For our glorious
wings of gold ♪

Welcome aboard, Jim!

I'm getting a little old
for this kind of thing.

Some garage.

You wouldn't think she could lay more
eggs than an old B-17, would you?

You mean to say
that carries more bombs

than an old flying fort?

15. That's 9,000 pounds.

Everything's stepped up.

War travels at 600
miles an hour now.

This is the jet
department over here.

Bring the stand up.

Jim: Reading all these, when
does a pilot get time to fly?

Fliers are taught to believe
in instruments, and they do...

even those that don't
believe in themselves.

They seem to tell
you everything

except how to fly
by the seat of your pants.

Holes, holes, holes!
Nothing but holes.

What are these
madmen trying to do,

always taking my planes
out and wrecking them?

Plenty of ack-ack, huh, Ski?

Ack-ack? This peeping
tom went in so low,

he got hit
by his own bomb blast.

He does more damage
to my planes than the enemy.

Cinch that up.

Ski's job is to keep these
planes in good repair.

He, uh, he thinks
he owns the planes.

Yep. A quarter of a million dollars'
worth of airplane

just to blow up a couple
of ox carts.

The bombs alone will cost more
than any target they'll hit.

And now and then, you
lose a pilot, too, eh?

Yep.

Man: Come in.

Hello, Wayne.

Doc, meet Jim Michener.
Commander Dowling.

Not... not James A. Michener?

That's right.

Well. You know, until I read
your tales of the south pacific,

I didn't know what a wonderful
time I had in world war ii.

Neither did I till Rodgers &
Hammerstein set it to music.

Why didn't you stop
while you were ahead?

Even Shakespeare couldn't make
this dirty little war romantic.

Jim heard about our Christmas
story. Doc will fill you in.

Thanks for everything, son.

You're welcome.

I was hoping somebody was going
to write our Christmas story.

I'm glad you're the one.
Hang it up over there.

Oh, thank you.

Michener: "Any man's death
diminishes me

"because I am
involved in mankind,

"and therefore never send to know
for whom the bell tolls...

it tolls for thee."

I'd expect to find that

in the chaplain's office.

Flight surgeon
is a chaplain and a doctor

and a psychiatrist
and a friend all in one.

Say, there's an idea. An article
about a flight surgeon.

One enchanted croaker.

No. Ensign Kenneth
Schechter's your story.

Oh, the Christmas yarn.

It began a few days
before Christmas.

It began with bacon and eggs
and coffee and fear.

Breakfast never
tastes like breakfast

when you're getting
ready to fight.

[Bugle plays]

You've just been swabbed
by it, that's all.

Gentlemen...

The target for today is the railroad
marshaling yards in Wonsan-Ni.

[Men groan]

Men: Not again.

Officer: I'd like a new
target, too,

but we're not going to get it
until we knock this one out.

Here's a change
in the bomb line.

Put it about 4 1/2
miles north at K-2-9.

Check your in and out courses.

I'll read the coordinates.

Follow me.

Dowling: Follow me. That
fits Cat, all right...

Cat Grayson, commander
of the squadron.

The kind of a man who has
to prove himself every day...

prove himself to himself.

Charlie Uncle, 1-2-4-7.

The Wonsan Limited is due
in at 0700, as usual.

Let's knock it out this time.

Any questions?

Dowling: A lot
of questions, Michener,

but they aren't asking them.

They know there are no
answers to why they're here.

They'd been told it's a police
action, which makes them cops...

and others have told them
that they are containing a blaze,

which makes them firemen.

All they know is they're
buying time...

Now and then paying
with a life.

All right. We'll take
off at 0615. Let's go.

Grayson: Thayer, come here.

You didn't report your cold.

What cold?

I ought to ground you.

Dowling: Congestion can be
serious at high altitude.

Altitude? You said
a dirty word.

Well, how low
will he take us today?

400 feet.

I say 600.

My guess is 350.

200 feet.

200? He wouldn't
take us that low.

Mr. Grayson? Want
to double the pool?

Howie, maybe you'd better stay
down and doctor that cold.

Now, now.

Yeah, now, now.

Taking chances isn't heroic,
Howie. It's foolish.

Play it safe. Look
out for number one.

Nobody else will.

Is that how you won
your Navy Cross?

That's why I'm still
around to wear it.

[Tone sounds]

P.A.: Red flag. Red flag.

Check all tie-downs,

wheel chocks, intakes,

exhaust pipes, and all loose
gear about the deck.

Power. Man your planes.

Stand by to start engines.

Dowling: Every detail in a jet
bomber is important...

oxygen tube, radio line,
shoulder harness,

Mae West, parachute, locking
handles, circuit breakers,

aileron boost, gun camera,
and, oh, a thousand others.

P.A.: Stand clear of intakes
and exhaust pipes.

Start engines.

P.A.: 0-6-3-0, Plumber
squadron airborne.

All we got to do
is wait around.

Plumber 1 to flight.

Emergency field King-1-8
partially closed in.

Emergency landing
field King-5-0, ok.

Plumber 1 to flight.

Plumber 1 to flight.

The Wonsan Limited
is loading on track one.

All aboard.

[Firing]

Plumber 1 to flight.

Now this time, let's get this
target lined up and wipe it out.

Plumber 1 to flight.
This is the last pass.

Let's make it good.

Due to technical
difficulties, the Wonsan

Limited will be a few minutes
late departing.

Plumber 1 to flight.
I'm hit.

I think I can make
it back to the ship.

Where is he now?

About here.

Get the eggbeater ready.

Hear this. Prepare
helicopter for takeoff.

Plumber 1 to flight. I don't think
it's going to hold together much longer.

I'm bailing out.
Send a fisherman.

Plumber 1 to flight. It's going
to be Tocsin cold down there.

All right. I'm up.

Dowling: Out of the frying
pan and into the sea.

If you don't rescue a man fast,
you just don't rescue him.

35-degree water,
just above freezing.

The life expectancy of a downed
pilot is 20 minutes.

After the first 4 minutes,
your hands freeze,

your face turns purple,
and your feet are useless.

17 minutes.

Grayson's tough.

Wait!

That's him!

Grab the sling!

He's too far gone.

Well, here I go again.

Dowling: Grayson dangled like a caught
carp, but it had to be,

for if the whirlybird didn't get
to the carrier and back within 20 minutes,

Cy Roberts, in the water
now, would be dead.

Has he picked him up?

Yes, sir. Just now, sir.

Here he comes!

Well, it's about time.

You've been asleep 4 hours.

You again, Cy.

You're fast becoming
my favorite fisherman.

Do me a favor,
will you, commander?

Anything, Cy. Anything.

Next time you think
of bailing out, remember...

when you go in the drink,
I have to go in, too,

and I hate swimming,
even in a heated pool,

let alone the Sea of Japan.

You know, one of these times,

I'm going to catch a cold.

I haven't dismissed you yet.

I'm ok, doc.

What are you trying
to do, kill yourself?

I don't try to get hit.

Then why don't you go
in at 1,000 or 1,500 feet?

They won't hit you there.

And I won't hit them.

That railroad track
is that wide.

Miss them by a few feet,

and all you do is sprinkle
a little dirt on them.

You don't have to come back
with mud on your windshield.

No other skipper does.

Every skipper has his minimum.

Mine is 250 or less.

I don't want
to ground you, Cat,

but I'm afraid I'll have to.

Nobody's grounding me.

Look, it's not you,
it's the other men.

You're setting an example
they just can't compete with.

You've ditched 3 times, bailed
out once in the last 7 weeks.

That's the way
the little ball bounces.

Doc, you got any of that special
medicine for me?

I might have an odd
one here for you.

Seriously, Cat...

dilute medicinal brandy?

Doc, you know
better than that.

Another thing... if the old
man knew about that disk,

it would wash us both up.

Ski: Hey, Neil, give me
a hand with the tree, huh?

Why did you have to lose
the best plane I had?

Where's Conovan going?

Helping Ski with the tree.

Oh.

Join us?

Thank you.

Well, who's springing?

Mr. Dodson.

Won the pool again?

Well, I missed by 50 feet.

You only went down to 250.

Next time, I won't
disappoint you.

Still playing the hero,
huh, Grayson?

You make me homesick for 1942.

Yeah. 1942. We were
all heroes then.

We knew what we were
fighting for:

A pinup of Betty Grable,
a right to boo the Dodgers,

and come home
to mom's apple pie.

Get with it, Grayson. That
was 1942. This is 1952.

We're obsolete.

We're as obsolete
as a couple of B-17s.

The only difference between us
is that you don't know it.

What are you building?

There are no heroes this time

and no Ernie Pyles
to write about them.

This isn't a war.
Haven't you heard?

It's a police action, and nobody
back home wants to read about it.

Bullets kill you
just as dead now

as they did in 1942.

And people will keep
right on firing bullets

as long as there
are rover boys like you

who get your kicks
out of ducking them.

For the drink.

You know, men like Cat
shouldn't lead a squadron.

There isn't a better
flier out here.

It takes more than flying.

Grayson isn't human.

He'd be bored stiff going
to an office every day.

Go bowling
on Wednesday nights.

Spend Christmas
with your family.

He likes this.

I don't.

Conovan: Ken, Howard,
it's all ready for you.

Give me a hand.

You know, Dodson's right.

Dodson's got a wife
and 3 children.

But he's had his war. He's earned
the right to sit out

this nuthouse chess game.

You plaster railroad
tracks in the morning.

By the afternoon, they're
repaired and back in business,

waiting to be plastered
again the next morning.

They know we're coming, and they're
waiting for us with a sky full of flak.

What's the percentage?

The same percentage for Grayson.
He's a retread, too.

If Cat Grayson wants to play Clark
gable, that's his business,

but he's got no right gambling
with other men's necks.

As long as I have
to fly missions,

I want a Grayson, not
a Dodson, up front.

Ted Dodson can match Cat
Grayson medal for medal

and have a couple
of stars left over.

That was the last war.
This is a new deal.

Man: Lights.

Douse the lights.

Be patient, Ken. Remember
your anthropology.

The world's young. Man has
billions of years to go.

Yeah, if he lives that long.

Grayson: All aboard.

[Train whistle blowing]

[Bullets hit airplane]

Plumber 3 to Plumber 1.
I'm shot up.

I think I can make a landing.

Get ahold of the flight
surgeon.

Aircraft coming
in for emergency landing.

Get the eggbeater ready.

Thayer coming
in for an emergency landing.

Thayer? Right.

Flight surgeon calling
officers of the deck.

Pass the word. Men with type
"o" blood may be needed.

Volunteers report to sick bay.

P.A.: Aircraft coming
in for emergency landing.

Type "O" blood volunteers,
report to sick bay.

Dowling: You see, Michener,
whole blood is perishable...

useless after about 10 days.

When a man like Thayer
might need it,

his shipmates
are a walking blood bank.

Take the squadron aboard.

Stand by to recover aircraft.

Dowling: The men
in the air didn't like it.

They'd much rather have
Thayer land first,

but if he crashed
and chewed up the deck,

maybe no one could land,

so they had to come
in one by one,

and it all took time.

Meanwhile, Thayer
was just circling,

waiting, and hoping.

You sure you're
all right, Howie?

Right enough, Ken. Thanks.

What were you
thinking up there?

About my father.

I was thinking, "I'd better
get out of this,

or my dad's sure
going to be mad."

He's been flying for Western
Air 18 years

without getting a scratch.

Ski: What are you
trying to do,

bust them up faster
than I can fix them?

What do you want me to do,

keep this outfit airborne
with tissue paper?

57...58...59 holes.

Look, if you don't like the way
I'm running this show,

maybe you'd prefer
to be grounded.

[Classical music playing]

Come in.

Ah, Ted.

Save your medicine
for the heroes.

Sit down.

I don't want
any sermons, either.

You're going to get one whether
you like it or not.

I didn't ask for this war
any more than you did,

but I'm here. Let's hope
it stops a bigger one.

Isn't that expecting
a little too much

from the Wonsan
railroad track?

I'll grant it's not easy
to hate a piece of track,

but I'm learning.

How old are you, Ted?

32?

37...Day after tomorrow.

Christmas day
is your birthday, huh?

That must have scorched
you as a kid...

everybody giving you
one present instead of two.

Look...

Nobody has to fly in this war.

Why don't you let
me ground you?

That's the second time today

somebody's said that to me.

When I decide to take
off my wings,

I'll do it myself.

Good morning, Kenneth.

Here we go again,
off to the wild blue yonder.

It's going to be a lot bluer
than it was yesterday.

I'm sorry for the way Grayson
burned your tail off.

I know you weren't just
talking for yourself.

You were talking
for all of us.

My few well-chosen words
must have done some good.

Frank Merriwell Grayson
is about to get orders

not to go under 1,100.

This you know,
or this you guess?

Like Rosie said
to the butcher,

"I got friends."

But remember, no
matter where you fly,

take care of yourself.
Don't get careless.

I knew guys who got
it coming home,

guys who got it
on the milk run.

Well, like they say,
it's the way the ball bounces.

The trick is to hang
on to the ball.

Shall we join the ladies?

Let's.

Target "B" overcast at 3.6.

Minimum altitude 1,100...

Feet, Mr. Grayson. 1,100 feet.

One foot lower, and I'm
grounding you for good.

We're not hurting
them at 200 feet.

You lost two aircraft
last week...

half a million bucks.

At a time when folks back home

are trying to cut taxes.

Are you trying to sabotage

the administration,
Mr. Grayson?

Anything from Air
Intelligence, Mike?

Are we doing two cents'
worth of good?

We keep them busy repairing
that railroad track.

That's better than having
them bevel us.

Ok. Get them
out and get them back.

And remember...

yeah. 1,100 feet.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

1,100 feet. Yes, sir.
I understand.

Plumber 1 to flight.

Now, remember, nobody goes
under 1,100 feet today.

You men have
been flying too low.

[Bombs dropping]

[Machine-gun fire]

Plumber 1 to flight.

Nice going, men.

We didn't do very much damage,

but we certainly
made a lot of noise.

Now, if you'll be so
kind as to follow me,

I'll lead you home gently.

Plumber 1 to 8.
Where are you?

Plumber 1 to 8.
Are you with us?

Plumber 1 to flight.

Looks like tail-end
Charley's missing.

Keep a lookout
and report position.

Plumber 5 to Plumber 1.

Maybe
his radio's out of whack.

Plumber 5 to Plumber 1.

I better go back to the target
area and take a look.

Plumber 1 to Plumber 5.

Plumber 8 just
caught up with us.

I'm hit!

[Airplane stops falling]

Plumber 5 to Plumber 1.

The ship's handling all right.

I'll make the carrier.

Plumber 1 to Warhead.

Plumber 5 coming
in for emergency landing.

P.A.: Clear the deck!

Fire and emergency
detail stand by!

Ski: Take it away! Get going!
Get going!

Fire on the flight deck!
Fire on the flight deck!

[Alarms ringing]

[Taps playing]

Dowling: That night,
over the loudspeakers,

our chaplain said...

Chaplain: O God,
we humbly beseech thee

for the soul of the pilot,
our shipmate,

Lieutenant Commander
Theodore Dodson,

who died in his country's service
this day.

We bless thee for thy grace

that enabled him
to fight the good fight,

to endure unto the end,

and to obtain the victory.

Deliver him not
into the hands of the enemy,

but command that he be
received with the holy angels

and conducted into paradise.

God bless all the men
aboard this ship.

Amen.

What good are you?

What good are you without men?

I never thought I'd be
packing Dodson's gear.

How do you think it's going
to be unpacking it?

At least I'm not married.

Ken, who did you pick
to inventory your gear?

You. Who'd you pick?

You.

You ever think
of being married?

Not lately.

They say it's better when you
don't think about women,

so I'm trying not to think.

I'd like to get married, but...

but what?

What if you fell in love
with another girl?

After you're married?

It happens, doesn't it?

It isn't supposed to, not
if you marry the right girl.

I'd probably fall in love

a couple of times
a month anyway.

I always do.

That's expensive.

Yeah. I know.

Anyway, I'd like to have kids.

Don't ask me why.
I don't know myself.

For kids, you might
as well get married.

Now, will you stop making
me think about women?

Hey, you should have
seen that stuff at the...

what's the matter, Howie?

Grayson: Why is it, doc?

Why is it a guy like me

without anybody in the world,

not a soul...

Why is it a guy like me

with nobody to go back to,

nobody waiting for me...

I'm here, and...

God wraps his arms around crazy
characters like you.

I don't know why.

Why?

Did you ever read about the native
tribes of New Guinea?

They fought their wars
till one man

on the other side was hurt.

Then they stopped fighting.

They figured
that one man could prove

as much
or as little as a million.

And they're uncivilized, eh?

Time for my rounds.

I think I'll go with you.

[Knock on door]

Come in.

How are you?

Hiya, doc, skipper.

Hi, fellas.

I thought a little of this
might help tonight.

I'll take my medicine
now, doc.

Wait a minute.

It's days like this
that make me

prescribe for myself, too.

To Ted Dodson,

a good man.

What good did he do?
He didn't help Brown.

Brown came back
without a scratch.

A man has to do
what he has to do.

He thought he could help.

Good night, boys.

Night, doc.

He thought he could help.

They can put
that on his tombstone.

His wife and kids ought
to appreciate it.

Well, they'll never
put it on mine.

If I get it, it won't be
because I volunteered

for anything
I didn't have to do.

Dodson always said, "look out for yourself
because nobody else will."

Well, from now on,
I'm looking out

after number
one and nobody else.

If everybody did that,
there'd be less casualties.

The doc's right.

A man has to do
what he has to do,

and that's that.

I know you men are bored

every time I mention
the Wonsan railroad,

but today it's different.

We're going to have
a little change.

We have permission to seek
out targets of opportunity.

[Men muttering]

We're taking napalm bombs,
and we'll hit anything

that looks like it
ought to be hit.

That is, after we hit
the railroad again.

[Men muttering]

We have hit this target
26 consecutive times,

and it's still there.

The Princeton plastered
it for 6 months,

and the Valley
Forge before that.

A few hundred yards of cold,
impersonal railroad track

until you get to know it.

Now, some of you men have
been pretty irritated

because I like mud
on my windshield,

Korean mud.

I want to tear up that track
because I hate it.

It killed Ted Dodson,
and I want to kill it.

I want to see all you men

at the Christmas party
this afternoon.

That's an order.

Man: Didn't somebody for...

Dodson's.

Yeah.

P.A.: Stand clear of intakes
and exhaust pipes.

[Machine-gun fire]

Dowling: The railroad
mission completed,

they started to look

for their targets
of opportunity.

Man: I'm hit! I'm hit!
Help me! Help me!

Plumber 1 to flight.
A man is hit.

Plumber 1 to flight.
A man is hit.

Report location.

Plumber 3 to Plumber 1.
I think I see him.

Plumber 1 to Plumber 3.

Report identity and location.

Identity unknown so far.

Heading for solid overcast.

Dowling: Thayer knew
that if the man, whoever he was,

got lost in that scud
up there,

it was curtains.

I'm going after him.

He didn't know
what he could do for him

if he did reach him,
but he had to try.

Plane in trouble,
rock your wings.

Plane in trouble,
rock your wings.

Can you hear me?

Plane in trouble,
rock your wings.

Plane in trouble,
can you hear me?

Plane in trouble, can
you hear me now?

Plane in trouble,
rock your wings.

Kenny, can you hear me?!

I'm blind!

For God sakes, help me!

I'm blind!

Help me!

Kenny, put your nose down.

Put your nose down, Ken!
I'm on your right wingtip!

I can't see, I tell you!

This is Howie. Howie Thayer.

Listen! You've got to put
your nose down right now!

Dowling: Thayer
was racing against time.

If he didn't get
through to Schechter

before he hit that cloud bank,

no one would ever find him.

Ken, put your nose down!

Get it over! Push
the stick forward!

That's it, Ken! That's it!

You're doing fine!
Now, listen...

Grayson: Plumber 1 to Plumber 3.
What's happening?

He's hurt. He thinks he's blind.

Get him to ditch,
and I'll send a whirlybird.

I'll see what I can do.

Get back to me
as fast as you can.

Wonderful, Ken! Wonderful!

Get me down, Howie!

Get me down!

Take it easy, boy.

Drop your left wing.
Just a little.

Water.

Water.

[Whispers] Water.

Jettison your bombs!
Jettison your bombs!

The rest of your bomb load!
Drop it!

Come out of it, Ken! Wake up!

Steady, Ken. This is Thayer.

I'm right alongside you.

Howie...

I was... I was almost out.

Do as I say, Ken.
Jettison your bombs.

Fine, Ken. You're doing fine.

Drop your right wing.

Push over a little more.

Attaboy.

Get me down, Howie!

I'll get you down, kid.

Dowling: Thayer didn't know

if Ken could take
the next order,

but he had to give it.

There wasn't time
or gas to wait anymore.

They were heading north
instead of south

at 370 knots.

Ken, put her
in a tight left bank.

I'll tell you when you...

no!

It's no use. I can't make it.

You do as I say.

Come on. We're going home.

Go into a left bank.

I can't.

That's it! I'll tell
you when you...

a little more!

Now level off.

Lift your wing a little.

Great! You did it!

Where's that lousy canteen?

Howie! I can see
a little light!

Howie!

Thayer: Ken, I'm right here,
on your left wingtip.

Push over a little, Ken.
Drop that right wing.

I'm...

I'm going.

Stay awake, Ken!

Answer me, Ken!

Tired.

Thayer: Ken, you
better bail out.

You hear me? Bail out.

Don't pass out on me, Ken.
Now, listen carefully.

You have to bail out.
Bail out!

Do you hear me, Ken?

Bail out.
It's your only chance.

It's jammed!

It won't work!

I can get a whirlybird from Yoko
in less than 10 minutes.

Let's go, Ken. Bail out!

It's no use.

Pull the curtain! Pull
the ejector curtain!

It's no good, Howie. You got
to think of something else.

Radio: Plumber 1 to Plumber
3, what's the matter now?

He can't bail out.

He's got to bail out.

He can't. Something's fouled up.
He can't get out.

Grayson: Ok, try for King 5-0.

I'm taking the rest
of the squadron back to the ship.

All right, Ken, we're
heading for King 5-0.

I'll lead you in.

You'll have to fly
by the seat of your pants.

Ah! Ah!

What's that?

Answer me, Ken.

I can't stand the pain.

Your first aid kit.

You know what to do.

Yeah.

You got it, Ken?

In the upper arm just
above the elbow.

The vein... I can't
see the vein.

You don't have to.

All you have to do is get
under the skin anywhere.

Stuff taking effect yet?

You all right?

I want to vomit.

Must be the morphine.

You think so?

Howie?

What is it, Ken?

I almost passed out.

Keep talking to me.

Ohh! Guess what I'm
looking at.

The map, I hope.

The most beautiful
sight in the world.

A cruiser... ours...
firing at the commies.

Are we only to the battle
line?

How far to King 50?

60-70 miles.

Keep talking, Howie.

Drop your right wing, Ken.

The mountains are the same
color as the Tehachapies.

It's the same... same ocean
we have at Santa Monica,

same sky and the same sun.

From here you can't
tell one country,

let alone one person,
from another.

For some reason, they're not
people. They're targets.

And we're not people.

We're bombs.

Funny what you think of when
you're trying to make talk.

A two-bagger I hit. Tied
up the game in the 11th.

Then we blew it in the 12th.

First time I tasted coffee,

first time my dad let
me take the car alone,

my girl's telephone number.

What is it?

All right, for all the good it
will do you, Berkeley 70712.

By the way, Merry Christmas.

70712.

Merry Christmas.

Howie?

What is it, Ken?

I'm really blind.
I can't see any light,

none at all now.

They'll fix you up.

Now, listen, you
miserable ape.

If you don't get me
down right away,

you're going to be
inventorying my gear tonight.

You know what a rotten
job that is.

Just another few minutes.

We must be getting
close to King 50.

Howie, I'm passing out ag...

stay awake, Ken!

Dowling: Thayer knew
they'd never make King 50.

It was still too far. The
overcast was closing in.

Time was running out.

Kenny, we're going down.

Push your nose over.

Drop your right wing.

Ease back on your power.

Pull out, Ken!

Pull back on your stick!

Put your nose up! Up!

Pull out, Ken!

What happened?

Closed in solid... put
your nose up! Full throttle!

Oh, what's the difference?

Pull your stick back! For
God's sake, pull out!

Do as I tell you, Ken!

That's it.

Where are you taking
me now, genius?

Dowling: Time and gas were
down to just about nothing.

And now it hit Thayer that this could
cost him his life as well as Schechter's.

Go into a 9-0 left turn.

Easy... I'll tell you
when to come out of it.

That's it.

Schechter: Where
are you taking me?

Where do you think?

Not the carrier!

It's too dangerous
for everybody.

Drop your right wing a little.

It's too risky, Howie.

That's taking a dim view, son,

but you always
were a pessimist.

Pull up your left wing.

It's tough
enough hitting the deck

when you can see it, but...

like pinning a tail
on a donkey...

first rule is to get
a good grip on the tail.

Oh, cut the stale jokes, Howie.
I'm scared.

No other place to go.

Keep that left wing down.

Plumber 5 to warhead.

Coming in with Plumber 4.
He's badly wounded.

They're coming in now.

210 coming
in for emergency landing.

Clear the deck! Fire
and emergency detail stand by.

210 coming
in for emergency landing.

All hands to the hangar deck!

All hands to the hangar deck!

Bring it down!

Get a move on!

Take that down!

Take it down!

Ease off on your power.

Going down.

There they are!

Drop your gear.

Is the gear in the green?

Your guess is as good as mine.
I can't see it.

I'm sorry, Ken.

They're down and locked.
You're in good shape.

Yeah, sure, I'm
in great shape.

All right, your hook's down.
Open your canopy.

We're turning for home, son.
Bring her around.

Ease a little on the right
rudder. Turn her, Ken!

Ok, hold that turn. Steady.

Ease out of the turn
on a 5-count.

5...4...3...2...1.

That's it.

Ease the nose down.

She's under us, Ken. Let's go.

300 feet above the water.

You're ok.

200 feet... Easy, easy.

Ken, pull out! We have
to go around again!

My fault, Ken.
We'll make it this time.

That's it.

You're ok. Now, let's go in.

Easy, easy.

It's going to be
all right this time.

You're 100 feet off the water.

Pull back a little.

You're approaching
the deck now.

Kill it a little.

Coming in fine.

Pull it back a little.

Cut it! Cut the throttle!
You're on your own now.

He made it.

He made it!

Easy, easy now.

Take it easy with him.

Handle him lightly.

Get it out of here!
There's another man waiting up there.

Let's go!

You all right?

Now, Ski, I know it
wasn't a perfect landing,

but at least it
stayed on deck.

You did a great job!

I wouldn't care

if you turned both of these
crates into junk.

You did a great job!

Thanks for them kind words.
How's Schechter?

He's going to make it.

I know he's going to make it!

Sometimes I think I should
have found a home in the army.

Come on. Get out of this, boy.
Get yourself...

From my bookie in Newark.

He made it himself
in sing sing.

Ha ha ha! No.

Gentlemen.

Gentlemen, can I have
your attention?

First, I want to wish every man
in the air group a Merry Christmas,

and as Cat Grayson would say,
a Tocsin New Year.

I wish to God that every one of you
could be with your families

on this, the happiest
of all days.

Since that is impossible, Naval Special
Service has done the next best thing.

It has brought
some of your families to you.

Hi, pop. I'm learning.

Hey, that's my kid!
That's my kid!

Boy: Hey, mom.

Here, Andy.

Oh, Andrew, Merry
Christmas, darling.

Little Andy's taking care
of the place real good,

but hurry back. We miss you.

Michael and Joan are fine.

Merry Christmas, again.

Andy: Merry Christmas!

Good-bye, darling.

Officer: Captain Thayer,

may I speak to you
for a minute?

Thayer: Why, surely.

We're sending Christmas
messages to men overseas.

We understand you have
a son flying in Korea.

Thayer: I have.

You're talking to him.

I'm wh...

Merry Christmas, son.
Everything's fine at home.

Your mother's well,
and so are Ann and Terry.

I...Well, I'm
chauffeuring a DC-6B now.

Some class, eh?

W-well, maybe we can all be
together next Christmas, eh?

You keep well, son.

Thanks.

Thank you, sir.

Children: ♪ silent
night, holy night ♪

♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪

♪ 'Round yon virgin
mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant so
tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪

You see, Lieutenant Commander Dodson,
we didn't forget your favorite carol.

We just finished wrapping
your presents, Ted.

The ones you sent
us came yesterday,

and we've all agreed not
to open them until Christmas.

Haven't we, boys?

Boys: Yes. Yes.

Just in case, I hid
them you know where.

All right, boys, it's your turn
to talk to daddy.

Go ahead, Johnny.

Dad, you said you were
gypped at Christmas,

but not this year.

We remembered
your birthday, too.

I'm sending you two presents
instead of one.

So is mommy,
Richard, and Billy.

That's right. Happy Birthday,
darling, and a Merry Christmas.

Come home soon, Ted.

These are from me.

These are from me.

And these are from me.

Officer: Ensign Kenneth
Schechter, recognize the place?

Go ahead, folks.

Hope you're having
a nice Christmas, son.

When are you coming
home, Kenneth?

I miss you, honey.

Father: Better hurry
up and win that war, Ken.

Mary is looking
at bridal veils.

How's this?

[Men cheering and whistling]

Man: Got a sister, Mary?

Hey, sweetie, I'm not doing
anything on the fourth of July.

[Men cheering and whistling]

Man: Got a sister, Mary?

Hey, sweetie, I'm not doing
anything on the fourth of July.

You didn't tell me about Mary.

I told you about that mouse
in San Diego.

Cigarette girl?

You know the one I mean.

This one sounds serious.

How did she look?

I didn't know your memory
was affected, too.

Pretty, isn't she?

Mm-hmm.

She's the real reason I'm
going to get married someday.

Anything I can get you, Ken?

No, nothing. Thanks.

I'll see you later.

Howie?

What is it?

I forgot to thank you.

Thank me for what?

Well, you know.

You would have done
the same thing for me.

But I said I was going to look
after myself and nobody else.

I said it, Howie.

It's not what you say, Ken.
It's what you do.

That's about it.

Schechter has regained partial
vision in that left eye.

Not much chance of his ever
seeing in the right one.

He's going to Stanford
to study economics.

Quite a kid. I had a letter
from him the other day,

and he signed off, "the only retired
ensign in the United States Navy."

Ha ha ha!

I guess every man's life is a search
for himself... his true self.

And a ship is as good
a place as any to look.

It was for Schechter.

Yes.

♪ Through the glory
of the Navy ♪

♪ Our wings of gold
will have their share ♪

♪ From the blue of the sea
to the blue of the sky ♪

♪ Our planes will fill the air ♪

♪ Fill the air ♪

♪ Aloft we'll go
to strike the foe ♪

♪ In battles yet untold ♪

♪ When we return,
the world will learn ♪

♪ Of our glorious
wings of gold ♪