Original subtitles

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 ♪