All language subtitles for The.Tuskegee.Airmen.1995.BluRay.x264-[YTS.AG].en

THIS FILM IS BASED
ON A TRUE STORY.

Hey!

Hey!

Hey! Wait for me!

"Franklin Delano Roosevelt
will address the nation.

The President, speaking from
the Diplomatic Reception Room...

in the White House residence...

will be delivering one
of his familiar fireside chats...

and is expected to talk
to the American people...

on the year-old war which began
with the sneak attack...

by the Japanese in Hawaii
on December 7th of last year.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the President of the United States."

"My fellow Americans,
this war is a new kind of war.

It is different from
all other wars of the past...

not only in its methods
and weapons...

but also in its geography.

It is warfare in terms
of every continent...

every island, every sea,
every air-lane in the world."

Hannibal, the neighbors
are waiting to say good-bye.

"The United States president,
Delano Roosevelt.

The President, sitting in his
favorite rocking chair...

in front of a cozy fire
on this chilly day...

Thanks, Dad.

Hello, nice of you to come.

Hi, how are you?

Hi. I brought these cookies for you.
Good bye.

Good to see you.

Come on, son,
you're going to miss the train.

Thanks. I'm going to miss you.

Thank you.

- Make it back.
- I promise I will.

Bye. Don't forget to write. Bye-bye.

God bless you.

- Bye.
- Bye-bye.

Chicago!

Next stop, Chicago!
Keep your tickets to reboard.

Next stop, Chicago.

You see any lipstick on me?

- Lipstick? No.
- No? Frances sure did.

Boy, that girl's got eagle eyes...

when it comes
to spotting lipstick on me.

If I ain't got nothing on me,
she probably slapped it off.

- Is that seat taken?
- Have a sit-down.

Tickets, please.

Stick and Rudder? You a pilot?

No?

- Have your tickets ready, everyone.
- Me neither.

But I will be as soon as Uncle Sam
finishes kicking my ass...

- and pinning them wings on me.
- You fellas on your way to Tuskegee?

- That's right.
- Yeah.

- You too?
- Finally.

Yes. I am.

Excuse me?

A licensed pilot.

Damn. I bet he didn't even
have to take the test.

Billy Roberts.
On the block, they call me Train...

as in "A-Train"?

You know, quickest way
to Harlem, you know.

- Block?
- Lenox and 125th.

- What block you from?
- I'm from a small town in Iowa.

- Ottumwa.
- Iowa?

I didn't know they had
colored folk in Iowa.

Now I guess I got living proof
sitting here right next to me.

What'd you get
on that exam there, Iowa?

- Ninety-eight.
- All aboard!

- Ninety-eight. That's very good.
- So you did take that test?

That is very good, you know?

But it ain't as good as mine,
which is 1-0-0.

But congratulations
on being second best.

Here we go!

Come on, get up. Come on.

- What?
- Move it. That's what.

- Hey.
- Get your stuff, move it up front.

Now. Let's go.

- Move it, boy.
- All right!

I ain't going to ask you
to do it again, damn it.

Well, excuse me, please.

- Where are we?
- I don't know.

- Why are we getting off the train?
- Hey.

See that?

The car you were on
is now for white folks only.

- That's why you're getting off.
- Keep in line now.

One behind the other.

Keep it tight.

- German prisoners.
- Make way.

Well, I'll be damned.

Hey.

- Jim Crow car's in the front, boys.
- Shit.

We're going to give up our seats
for German prisoners of war?

The train's leaving, boy.
Either get on or back off.

All aboard!

Hold up.

Where you going?

That's me. Just like a raven.

Get down! Let's go! Come on!

- Let's go.
- Drill sergeants...

give me two lines of six.

Get the lead out.
You got to start moving!

- Put your bag behind you.
- Behind you!

- Turn to your right.
- Your military right.

Pick your bag up
with your right hand.

Follow me. Go left.

Left, right, left, right,
left, right, left.

Cadets, march.

Left, left, left, two.

Halt! Turn to your left.

Push your hand on your left
to your left.

Push him on. Come on.
Move over.

Put your bag down on your right.

Post.

Gentlemen, welcome
to Tuskegee Army Air Field.

I'm Colonel Noel Rogers,
the commanding officer.

This is Major Sherman Joy,
director of training...

and Lieutenant Glenn,
liaison officer.

It is the task of myself,
Major Joy, Lieutenant Glenn...

and others at this training facility
to train and evaluate you men...

as potential combat pilots.

There have been many obstacles
on the road to getting you here.

Now that you are here...

the only obstacle you will encounter
will be how quick you learn...

how well you obey orders
and how expert you fly.

If I am the first to tell you that
your being here is an experiment...

take time to understand
just what that means.

There are people in very high places
wondering if this will succeed.

If I and my staff have anything
to say about it, it will.

However, we will cut no corners.

We will allow no favors.

Our business is killing
our enemies from the air...

as efficiently and expeditiously
as we know how.

Now, assuming you make it
through this training...

that task will be your honor.

Lieutenant. Major.

Why did you join the Air Corps?

- Cadet?
- Sir.

I don't like repeating myself, Cadet.

To serve my country, sir.

Your country?

- Boy, are you stupid?
- No, sir.

You people.

Well, don't you know
how bad we treat you people?

Serving your country.
This ain't your country.

Your country's full
of apes and gorillas...

malaria, missionaries.

Ain't no gorillas in Harlem.

Why did you join the Air Corps, boy?

This country has enemies, sir,
and there are people...

who need protecting
from those enemies.

- What people, nigger?
- All people, sir.

To my knowledge, the Germans
aren't sparing the coloreds.

To my knowledge, the colored
aren't up to fighting the Germans...

let alone beating them.

Max Schmeling
found out differently, sir.

Well, you know what?

My job is to see
if you Joe Louises can fly.

Now, in case the colonel
gave you the wrong impression...

let me clear it up.

You are nothing

Special.

You just heard
two very different speeches...

from two very different officers.

I hope you were paying attention.

It is my job as liaison officer...

to ease your transition
to military life.

Reveille's at 0600.

PT's at 0630,
and breakfast is at 0730.

At the top of the military
command structure...

is President Roosevelt
as commander in chief.

At the bottom is you, the cadet.

Everything you need
can and will be found on this base.

Everything you need to know has
the words "U.S. Army Air Corps"...

written on the cover.

If it doesn't, you don't need it.

We got weekends.

I kind of figured that would happen.

Yeah?

Yeah, I guess.
Here he comes.

- Hey, Iowa.
- Yeah?

You ready for all of this?

I mean, we in the Army now, boy.

Well, it's not Ottumwa, but I've been
ready for this for a long time.

- Hey, what about you, Walter?
- What, Stick?

Stick was born ready.

He probably popped out his mama
with a full bomb load.

Come graduation...

none of you all's names
will be in front of mine.

- Oh, is that right?
- Guaranteed.

Well, what might that name be there,
Reverend Bookworm?

Stick or Rudder?

Peoples.

Walter Derrick III.

Aeronautical engineer.

Hannibal Lee, Jr.
Pre-med.

Lewis Johns.
English Literature.

William "A-Train" Roberts.
Political Science.

Leroy Jonas Cappy.
Art History.

Andrew Turner.
Sociology.

Charles Tate.
Halfback, all-American.

William Pitts.
Economics.

Class. Attention!

Take your seats.

Take one and pass them back.

This isn't right. What is this?

- Permission to speak, sir.
- What is it, Cadet?

Sir, I believe we've already taken
this test before.

- Yes.
- And I believe you'll take it again.

May the cadet ask why, sir?

You don't have time
for an explanation, Cadet.

You have one hour for this exam.

Begin and end on my mark.

Name an element.

- Cadet Lee.
- Water, sir.

Any others? Cadet Johns?

- Earth, sir.
- Cadet Peoples?

Air, sir.

- Cappy.
- Fire, sir.

Water, air, earth and fire.

Of these elements, I direct
your attention to air and fire.

Although it is your privilege
to live in the air...

it is your destiny to die by fire.

Many of you will wash out before
you ever set foot in an airplane.

Others will die during
primary flight training...

still others in advanced.

When you die, we will cross off
your name, close ranks and carry on.

Now, any of you ever been up
in an airplane before?

Yes, sir. When I was in college, sir.

I have a pilot's license, sir.

- Is that right?
- Yes, sir.

Well, follow me, Mr. Lindbergh.

All right, Peoples,
let's see what you're made of.

- He's trying to wear Stick out.
- Doing it on purpose, too.

Yell when you've had enough, flyboy.

How you doing back there?

What about a loop?

I want you to read your flight manual
cover to cover...

and know it like the Holy Bible.

- Yes, sir.
- That goes for all of you.

- Is that clear?
- Yes, sir!

Hey, you, Cadet Peoples.
Why did you join the Air Corps, boy?

I ain't thinking about Major Joy.
He's just another door in the way.

- Another cracker in the box.
- Another pecker in the woods.

I'z just want to serve
my country, sir.

What country?
You don't have a country.

Goddamn uppity nigger son of a bitch.

I'z real sorry, sir. Your country.

Uppity niggers turn into
strange fruit where I come from.

Strange what?

"Nigger hanging from a tree"

"Just swinging
from a hangman's vine is he"

"Talk Back Joe
was his name, all three"

"Massa shut his mouth
Then turned to me"

"Lord, Massa shut his mouth"

"Then he turned to me"

Did you learn that
in English Lit, Johns?

No. My great-granddaddy told me that
sitting on his knee.

It's a hell of a bedtime story.

As director of training,
I assumed I had the authority...

to conduct any testing
I thought necessary, sir.

That assumption was incorrect, Major.

These men have all
previously been tested.

What possible reason could you have
testing them again?

The previous test scores
themselves, sir.

Nineteess, 100s.

I've long had my suspicions
about the accuracy of those scores.

You think they cheated to get here?

A lot of people dream
to be pilots, Colonel.

Many will stop at nothing
to become one.

Eliminating dishonest,
un-trainable cadets...

will save my staff
time and aggravation.

I see.

Here are the answers to your retest.

I had the results sent over
as soon as they were compiled.

I, too, have curiosity, Major...

though I suspect my motives
are somewhat different.

Cadet Lewis Johns, 98.

Cadet Billy Roberts, 100.

Cadet Walter Peoples, 100.
Cadet Hannibal Lee, 100.

I could go on.

No one scored less than 95.

Sir, these people are taking up
training slots...

that would be better filled
by real pilots.

- Damn it, sir, there's a war on.
- Yes, Major, there is...

and I'd prefer that war
was not on this base.

That'll be all, Major.

PT-17!

Fuel capacity and engine.
Cadet Johns.

Fuel, 46 gallons.

Engine, 220 horsepower,
continental, sir!

Left spin recovery technique?
Cadet Peoples.

Right rudder, stop rotation...

sharp forward stick,
pull out from dive, sir.

All right. Let's go up.

Pay attention, Cadet.

- Nose down! Down!
- Yes, sir!

Let's do it now! Down!

- Recover, Cadet!
- I'm trying!

Nose up. Nose down.
Watch your air speed.

Pick up, damn it! Pick up!

Let go of the stick!
Let go, I got it!

- Step on the ball.
- I'd like to step on his balls.

Let go! Give me the stick!

Lewis!

Cadet Lewis Johns
just taught you men...

the most important lesson
you'll learn here at Tuskegee.

If you don't believe in God...

you'd better find
a damned good substitute.

As you were.

Hey, you missed chow.

I wasn't hungry.

- Can I give you a hand?
- I don't need a hand!

What the hell is eating you, Cappy?

Three more washed out today.
Bradley, Wade and Patterson.

Wade just broke down
and walked off the base.

And Lewis?
I can't get him out of my head.

You're going to get
your chance to solo, Leroy.

You're going to make it.
We're all going to make it.

That's bullshit, Hannibal!
And you know it.

We're not all going to make it.

When we first got here,
this barracks was filled.

Look at it now.

One-third of our guys are gone...

and we're only halfway
through this program.

So what? Big deal.

I know I'm going to make it, Leroy.
That's all that matters.

What about you?
You going to make it?

- I don't know.
- What do you mean, you don't know?

- Look, I said, I don't know, okay?
- No.

It's not okay.
It's the wrong damn answer.

Now, the question is,
are you going to make it?

Because if you don't think
you will, you won't.

And then you will have failed.

You will have failed your family,
you will have failed your friends...

and most importantly,
you will have failed yourself.

- Can you live with that?
- No.

Are you going to make it?

- Yeah. I'm going to make it.
- You say it like you mean it, Cadet.

I'm going to make it.

"Fight, fight, fight, fight
fighting Ninety-Ninth"

"Down in flames they go"

"Fighting men of the Ninety-Ninth
send them down below"

"For we are heroes of the night
to hell with the axer's might"

"Fight, fight, fight, fight
fighting Ninety-Ninth"

"Drink up raise those cups"

"To those gallant men"

"Fighting cross of flame,
Oh, God"

"Red, white, blue..."

- It's all yours!
- Yes, sir!

Nice turn.

Begging the major's pardon, sir,
but why are we stopping?

Did the cadet
do something wrong, sir?

I'm giving you the opportunity
of killing yourself...

without taking me with you.

- Sir?
- You're soloing, cadet.

Give me three circuits around
the pattern, each to a full stop.

Yes, sir.

Damn.

Any questions on the film
you just saw?

No questions?

Timidness is a characteristic...

that gets fighter pilots
killed, gentlemen.

Sir, where's Major Joy?

I always assumed that he was
teaching air combat techniques.

And why is that...

cadet?

Because he's white and I'm colored?

Come on, spit it out, man.

No disrespect.

It's just a matter
of experience, sir.

Another assumption.

Well...

I'm going to give you
the facts, cadet.

Out of 150 US army officers
on this base...

you are looking at the only one
with actual air combat experience.

I have three 109 kills...

and I've had a Spitfire
and a Hurricane...

shot out from under me.

Both times behind enemy lines,
and both times I escaped.

But the Air Corps
didn't allow colored fliers.

- How did you do that?
- He went North.

Royal Canadian Air Force.
Right, Lieutenant?

Forty-eight missions.

Now, if you don't think
I have anything to teach you...

you are free to walk out
of that door.

My job...

is to teach you
basic air combat tactics.

Your next training machine, the AT-6.

Bank without a turn.

If you learn nothing else,
learn this one.

It will save your life.
It starts with a hard bank.

Hey, Peoples, you're supposed
to be trying to get away.

Yeah?
Well, you're looking at the man...

who put the "dog" in "dogfight".

I've got your ass now, Walter.

Come on, Walter, you didn't
expect me to fall for that.

Fall for this.

- Hey, where the hell are you?
- Look behind your ass, Iowa.

Bang. You are dead.

Damn. Where did you learn that?

Just made it up, man.
Just made it up.

Come on, Peoples.
You don't expect me to believe...

you just made that up.

- Where did you learn it?
- The same place I learned this.

Hey, you're too low.

We can't buzz the field. Walter!

What's a little victory roll
between friends?

I don't see that we have
much choice, Colonel.

I've already lost one instructor...

when that boy Johns
crashed and burned.

This last stunt could have cost us
another plane and pilot.

Besides, I've had my doubts
about Cadet Peoples for some time.

He and that boy Hannibal
are showboats...

with attitudes that get men killed.

And what do you think, Lieutenant?

It was a damn fool thing to do, sir.

But I've seen the Air Corps
overlook worse.

Would you trust that pilot
on your wing in combat?

He's one of the few
that I would trust.

Well, maybe there's
a reason for that...

apart from his flying abilities.

I've flown with white pilots
in actual combat...

who don't have his skills, sir.

When these men arrived...

I told them no corners
would be cut for them.

They're going to have to be held...

to the highest standards
of the service.

But is it fair for that standard...

to be higher
than any other group of men?

It was simple
youthful exuberance, Colonel.

I'm doing a difficult job
as well as I can, Lieutenant.

That'll be all, gentlemen.

High test scores don't mean
everything, do they, Colonel?

I said that will be all, Major.

Cadets, attention.

I'm sorry.

- Lieutenant...
- I wish there was something...

I could do.

Walter?

Dismissed!

Walter!

There's little margin for error here.

I don't see any margin at all, sir.

Permission to speak, sir.

- What is it?
- I made a mistake, sir.

- It won't happen again.
- That's right, Peoples, it won't.

You're out.

Colonel, I did something
really stupid.

I'll take any punishment you give...

but please don't put me
out of the program, not now.

Son, my hands are tied.

- I can't go home like this.
- Home?

If it was up to me, boy,
you'd be going into the infantry.

- Major!
- I got a right to fight...

for what I believe in
like anybody else.

I'm the best pilot
in this damn place.

- Get a grip!
- Peoples!

- Peoples!
- Walter!

Peoples!

- Peoples, get back here! Peoples!
- Don't do it, Walter!

Walter!

"Come graduation day"...

"no name called
will be higher than mine."

"Guaranteed."

Peoples, you get your ass
down here right now.

That's an order!

Peoples!

Peoples!

Pull up, Walter.

Crazy nigger.

Hey, you all right?

Look at that, huh?

- Took it right after his solo.
- Yeah.

They're going to send it home
to his folks.

Give it a rest, Train.

Let them pack up his things.

- Billy, it's not our job.
- No!

- Back off, okay?
- No!

They'll take care of it, I told you!

No! They killed him.

Hannibal, they killed him.
Major Joy set out to break him...

and he did.

Just as clean as if he put
a carbine to his head.

He was my friend, too.

- Get off me.
- You know he's right, Hannibal.

You know, this shit
doesn't make any sense.

Why they even bothering?

I mean, they might as well
just forget it and send us home.

You want to go home, Cappy?
Shove off!

You too, Train, go on.

Tuck your tail between your legs
and run back to Harlem.

Make Major Joy happy.
Me too, for that matter.

I'd sooner be here by my lonesome
than to play with a pair of jokers...

who can't figure out the game.

Don't you see that's
what he wants us to do?

He wants us to quit.
He wants us all to wash out.

I'm not going to give him
the satisfaction.

I came here for one reason.
To do one thing.

To learn how to fly.
I'm going to do that.

And I ain't going to let you stop me.

- I didn't say that.
- Not you, not Major Joy...

not the goddamn
commander in chief himself.

- You reading me, Train?
- Cadets, attention.

- What's going on?
- Nothing, sir.

Just a little discussion, sir.

Well, while you're cleaning up,
add this to your discussion.

You lost a friend today,
and I understand how you feel.

But you better get over it. Quick!

Friends die in our business,
and for a lot of reasons...

and the only protection you have
against losing one...

is not to have any.

As you were.

- What's wrong, Cappy?
- I'm losing manifold pressure.

- Roberts, break formation.
- Yes, sir.

Lieutenant Glenn, it's pretty bad.

I got to put her down.

We passed a country road
about a mile back.

- Stay with him, Lee.
- Yes, sir.

Coming around on your other wing.

Hang on, Cappy.

Keep working up that hill!

It's our boys.

Get off the road!

Give them room!
I said move it, damn it!

Just a little engine trouble.

Son of a bitch. They're niggers.

They's colored fliers.

- Lieutenant Roberts.
- Congratulations.

Lieutenant Thompson, sir.

Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Cappy.

- Congratulations, Lieutenant.
- Thank you, sir.

Lieutenant Lee.

- Congratulations, Lieutenant.
- Thank you, Colonel.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

What you men have accomplished,
given the odds against it...

your friends back home
could only dream about...

and your families watching today
never imagined.

You are among a select few
who will ever know the honor...

of serving their country
in the realm of flight.

You are now United States
Army Air Corps aviators.

For that achievement,
I congratulate you.

"Down in flight they go"

"Gallant men of the Ninety-Ninth
send them down below"

"For we are heroes of the night
to hell with the axer's might"

"Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight"

"We Americans will contribute"...

"unified acceptance
of sacrifice and of effort."

"That means a national unity
that can know no limitations"...

"of race or creed
or selfish politics."

"The American people expect
that much from themselves."

Gentlemen, this meeting is adjourned.

I understand your position, Beach...

but it's a very sticky subject,
particularly in the negro press.

And I've said this committee
should not be concerned...

with the negro press.

However, I know a dead horse
when I beat one...

So I think this might
inject a little courage...

into the more timid
of our colleagues.

- What's that?
- It's a scientific study...

that I commissioned
by the anthropology department...

of one of our most
prestigious universities.

The credentials of its authors
are as unimpeachable...

as its conclusions.
Look at this.

"The intellectual capacity
of the negro...

in respect to the operation
of complicated machinery...

i.e. A frontline war plane,
is questionable."

And down here.
"Smaller blood vessels...

in the negro translates
to restricted blood supply...

and problems in severe maneuvers."

There are documented reports...

of mysterious training crashes
at Tuskegee.

Blacking out and losing control
might very well explain them.

Might very well.

When does the full committee
get the report?

In due time.

Right now it's under lock and key.

I got a few more ducks to line up
before I make my move...

and see that this Tuskegee nonsense
is finally brought to an end.

As God is my witness,
those boys will never see combat.

You better get that part looked at
before you're ready for solo.

Yes, sir!

General Stevenson...

I wish I had more time
to prepare for this visit, sir.

So in the hell do I, Colonel.

Mrs. Roosevelt.

Colonel Rogers
is the commanding officer...

here at Tuskegee.
As I mentioned on the phone...

the First Lady is here to take a look
at the operations, Colonel.

Well, maybe a little background
might be in order, ma'am...

before we start with a tour
of the facilities.

The field sits on 1,600 acres...

and is one of the largest
in the country.

How would you gauge the progress
of your colored fliers, Colonel?

I'd say their progress
is commensurate...

with the standards
of the training command, ma'am.

Plain English, Colonel.

Does that mean you are
or aren't satisfied?

- I am very satisfied, ma'am.
- Good.

Then I want a ride
in one of your airplanes.

Major, take the first lady up
in that Stearman over there.

- Take a couple of loops around...
- No.

I want to ride with him.

Is that a problem, gentlemen?

I thought you said
these men were trained.

Surely the addition of an old lady
in the rear seat...

won't unravel that confidence.

- No, ma'am.
- Good.

And when I'm finished,
you can also tell me...

why these pilots are still here...

and not overseas fighting for their
country like the rest of our boys.

Mrs. Roosevelt, Lieutenant Lee.

- Good afternoon, young man.
- Good afternoon, ma'am.

It's turned into a beautiful day
for an airplane ride.

Yes, ma'am.

That isn't who I think it is, is it?

Lieutenant Lee's about to make
all your dreams come true.

What do you mean?

Take a good look
around you, gentlemen.

I suspect Alabama
will soon become a fond memory.

Hold it, please.

Smile.

Don't tell me I spelled
your name wrong, sir.

I mean, how can you screw up "Lee"?

No, you spelled it right.

I just never had my own plane before.

Well, it's not yours, Lieutenant.
It's mine.

I put your name on it
so you'd think it's yours.

Sergeant Toby Wills, sir.

- Your crew chief. Call me Tank.
- Nice to meet you, Tank.

I'm Hannibal.
Don't you worry...

I'll take care of your plane
just like it was my own.

I want to welcome you men
to North Africa.

For those of you
who don't know me...

I am Lieutenant Colonel
Benjamin O. Davis...

commander of the 99th
Pursuit Squadron.

Tomorrow morning
you'll get an opportunity...

to meet the entire
33rd Fighter Group.

Despite the long and hard road
you've traveled...

and the many obstacles that
have been thrown in your path...

you have arrived.

Yes, we have.

I want you to know I'm proud of you.

- Welcome to the war, gentlemen.
- Thank you.

Yeah, that's a long day, man.
I'll be glad to get some sleep.

Now, there's a class act.

- You said it, brother.
- B.O. Davis.

You know, he's a lot shorter
than what I pictured.

Yeah, well, West Point
will do that to a colored man.

- What do you mean?
- It means that he was silenced...

the entire time
that he was at West Point.

Nobody talked to him.
But he never gave up.

- That's right.
- Just kept on in.

It's like Walter said,
just a matter of focus.

Hey, Train, we're starting up!

Poker calls, gents.
Got to take the pot.

Good luck, Billy.

You know, it's so beautiful out here.
I should have brought my watercolors.

Yeah.

Never know there was a war going on.

- You guys stay closer in formation.
- Yes, sir.

- Well, time to pay the dancers.
- You got that right.

- How you doing?
- Ready, Cap. What you got?

- Just keep your head up.
- A little nervous.

Lift-off time is 0700. Lieutenant?
You...

- What have we got here?
- It's the buffalo soldiers.

A day late and a dollar short.

- Take a seat, Lieutenant.
- Yes, sir.

I guess we can begin our briefing.

Why wasn't I informed
that the briefing had been pushed up?

You and your men are expected
to read the board...

just like everybody else.

- The board said "0600."
- I'd look again, Colonel.

They changed it.

Same old, same old.
Might as well be back in Alabama.

- Lee, Roberts, Cappy.
- Sir.

We're flying, and you're up.

Follow me and I'll brief you
on the way.

Yes, sir.

We've got a rail yard near Setif
that has to be taken out.

German target divisions
have been kicking...

the shit out of our ground forces...

but are now low
on fuel and munitions.

G2 thinks this yard
is the supply depot.

Our job is to make
those supplies disappear.

Target's coming up just ahead,
over that ridge.

We got to knock out
the German supply trains in Setif.

Five miles to target.

Okay, let's show them
what we're made of.

Go get them, Hannibal!

Easy, Hannibal, easy.
Ready, and fire!

Yeah!

Yeah, buddy, let's hit them again.

Beautiful. Beautiful! Look at that!

Yeah. Come on, you son of a bitch!
I got your mama!

That's it.

Yeah.

Very nice.

All right.

For your first mission,
you guys did damn good.

I see Lieutenant Glenn
trained you well. I like that.

Thank you, sir.

Nine months of practice
didn't hurt, sir.

I'd check that attitude, Lieutenant.

Go get your sleep.
We have a briefing tomorrow at 0530.

Remember to check your fuel.

This one will stretch our range.
Don't suck your tanks dry.

Or it's a long camel ride back home.

You fellows stay in tight formation.
There's safety in numbers.

Safety from what, sir?
A circling buzzard?

I haven't seen a Jerry
since we've been here.

That doesn't mean
they're not out there.

Two targets this morning...

the German airfield,
then the power station.

- Turn out the lights.
- Excuse me, Colonel Davis.

- Yes?
- When do you think...

we'll be seeing some air combat, sir?

You in a hurry to die,
Lieutenant Lee?

No, sir, but we've been doing
nothing but ground runs.

The white units have already
rotated out to France.

Why haven't we?

If you're not in a hurry to die,
you must have something to prove.

With all due respect to the colonel
as a West Point graduate...

your father being the first negro
appointed general...

in the United States military, sir...

I think we all have
something to prove.

Don't you dream of jeopardizing
this mission with your glory-seeking.

Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

Going after the first target.

- We caught them on the ground.
- Clip his wings, Cappy.

Ready or not, I'm rolling in.

I have a little something
from Uncle Sam for you, Jerry.

Take that, you Nazi bastard!

I'm going after the power station!

I got it!

All right, let's head for home.

Hey!

Hey, fellas!

- Colonel wants to see us.
- Us?

Us. Yeah, you guys, me.

Lieutenants Lee, Cappy and Roberts
reporting as ordered, General.

Gentlemen, relax, have a seat.

I'm General Stevenson.
This is Senator Conyers.

General, I believe we've met before.

It was back at Tuskegee
with Mrs. Roosevelt.

- You're the one who took her up?
- Yes, sir.

She could barrel roll
with the best of us.

And just what would that mean?

It's a maneuver, sir.

Gentlemen, we all have things to do,
so let's move on.

The senator and I are on a final
swing of a fact-finding tour...

through the war zone.

Wanting to see
how you boys are settling in.

We've been getting reports
which require some clarification.

We have critics back in the States,
Lieutenant.

I wasn't aware of any criticism, sir.

Well, let me make you aware.

"Inability to locate targets.
Failure to press home attacks...

or find secondary targets
when the first is obscured.

Attitude problems
with fellow officers.

Poor formation discipline,
cowardice."

- Excuse me?
- Lieutenant.

- Senator, I can...
- I'm here to talk with the pilots.

I'm not interested
in practiced excuses.

I thought I made that clear.

So where do you guys think
they'll reassign Colonel Davis?

We don't know
hat he's been reassigned.

Well, I don't see him
out here anywhere.

They're probably going to punish him
by sticking him behind a desk.

Lord knows it's the worst thing
you could do to a pilot.

Boy, it would sure
as shooting kill me.

Shit. Bandits, 2 o'clock.

109s!

Finally, some action.
Let's get them, boys.

Leroy.

Cappy, get back in formation now!

They're probably just recon.

They won't attack us
if we stick together.

Here's our chance for some kills.
Come on!

They're going to isolate him.
They're going to cut him off.

Damn. Come on, Train, let's go.

Cappy, there's one on your tail.

Get him off me, Hannibal.
I got this one.

Hannibal, help me.

- I'm hit.
- Hang on, Cappy.

Come on, Jerry, you want to fight?

Fight me.
I'll give you a fight.

I got you dead in my sights,
you son of a bitch.

- The Jerries are running home!
- Cappy? Cappy, talk to me.

Oh, shit! I'm burning!
Hannibal, help me!

Leroy, don't panic.
Don't panic, Leroy.

Cappy, jump, jump!

Bail, Leroy, bail!

Cappy!

In terms of character,
the negro has been observed...

to be both childish and impulsive.

Now, gentlemen, you must agree...

that this report
is highly inflammatory...

I have on my desk
a war department memo...

on a colored pilot recently
shot down in North Africa...

after breaking formation.

As a description, "impulsive" quite
appears the appropriate terminology.

Maybe, but this report smacks
of a singular point of view.

Well, all points of view
are singular...

if they're not
to your liking, Senator.

Meanwhile, I've got constituents
who wonder why...

when they're suffering from
war rationing and over-taxation...

why we're spending
their tax dollars...

on a bunch of
college-educated niggers...

who have convinced the pres that
they can fly expensive war planes.

Gentlemen.

This experiment certainly
had noble beginnings...

but the failures
are evident and glaring.

Perhaps the thing to do is abandon
this project until after the war...

when calmer conditions will allow
for a more thoughtful approach.

Where are you going?

To give a representative
of the accused...

an opportunity to defend himself.

We don't need to turn this
into some kind of...

General Stevenson you know.

This is Lieutenant Colonel
Benjamin O. Davis...

the commanding officer
of the squadron in question.

Be seated.

Colonel, you are aware
of the accusations...

such as malaise and fatigue
in the face of little enemy contact?

We've been in continuous combat
for months with no replacements, sir.

My men are tired.

Other units get
four fresh bodies a month...

but something always seems
to go wrong...

with our paperwork
or movement orders.

How many missions
have your men flown, Colonel?

Most have flown well over 50...

which is the standard cut-off point
in which white pilots are sent home.

And your men are still flying?

They don't know
what else to do with us, sir.

White pilots rotate back
to the States as instructors...

but since the Army
won't allow colored pilots...

to train white cadets...

Nine months of training,
countless missions in Africa...

and not one air-to-air kill,
isn't that right?

We can't fight what we don't see.

We've been stationed so far
from frontline action...

we rarely encounter an enemy plane...

let alone the opportunity
to engage one.

You recently lost a pilot
who cut and ran from...

what, an imaginary Messerschmitt?

Those men understand
Lieutenant Cappy's action...

was a mistake.

Mistakes are all we see, young man.

Late for mission briefings...

piss-poor discipline and leadership
and nothing but excuses.

What I see is a unit that's
an embarrassment to the Air Corps...

to the American people
and to themselves.

Might I remind you, gentlemen,
that this war is by no means won...

and this sad experiment is a drain
and a hindrance to that effort.

My vote is that we abandon
the project and move the agenda.

All we asked for was a chance
to prove ourselves...

a fair and impartial opportunity.
We thought we had that chance.

But you invite us to a poker game,
hand us a fixed deck...

and then wonder why we can't win?

- Young man, we really don't...
- Let him finish, sir.

Every colored pilot in the 99th...

went through his own private hell
to wear those wings.

Every one of those men carry...

not only the burden of their dreams
of becoming American...

military aviators, but the hopes
of an entire people as well.

Am I the only one in this room...

that understands
just what that means?

I was brought up to believe
that beneath it all...

Americans are a decent people...

with an abiding sense
of integrity and fair play.

The cheers I heard
across this country...

when Joe Louis and Jesse Owens
humiliated Hitler's master race...

didn't just come
from proud colored folks.

They came from everyone.

How are we to interpret that?

As a United States Army officer...

who gladly puts his life
on the line every day...

there's no greater conflict
within me.

How do I feel about my country...

and how does my country...

feel about me?

Are we only to be Americans
when the mood suits you?

A fair and impartial opportunity
is all we ask.

Nothing that you yourselves
wouldn't demand.

All right, Vance, we got another one
coming in high over here!

Jonsey, he's on your side,
pick him off!

I got two of them breaking left!
Son of a bitch!

I lost him.

I got one at 9 o'clock.
Oh, my God, no!

Number three's losing MP.

Damn it! I'm feathering.

Look out, there's another one.

Oh, man, he's hit bad!

Kansas, there's all kind of hits
back at the wing.

Kansas!

I got two Jerries coming in hot!

- Shit, I'm going back.
- No, no, I need you up here.

Damn it.

- Where the hell is our escort?
- I never saw them!

Son of a bitch!

Hold on! Hold on back there!

Shit!

Vance, let's get this thing home.

Okay. We're going home.

Master switch off.

Shit. God.

Wally.

Kansas?

If it's any consolation,
the word's in.

It was a good strike.

I lost half my crew
up there, Colonel.

In my book, that's the shit
end of the stick.

Our fighter escort never even
made the rendezvous point.

Said they ran into
some trouble enroute...

took some pretty heavy
casualties of their own.

Damn!

They always got some sort of excuse.

Me, I got parts of four kids
all over that Italian countryside...

because of their limp-dick excuses.

Captain, you're forgetting yourself.

Attention!

- Take your seats, gentlemen.
- Son of a bitch...

the colonel's gone full bird.

I have good news,
and I have not-so-good news.

The good news...

we've been reassigned
to the European theater.

We're going to Italy.

Finally, we're going
to see some action, huh?

- Yes.
- However, there'll be some changes.

Once in Italy, the 99th
Pursuit Squadron...

will be joined by three
new squadrons from Tuskegee.

The 100th, 301st
and 302nd Fighter Squadrons...

will now comprise
the 332nd Fighter Group.

They're all colored units.
We're going to be segregated again.

In addition, our mission has changed
from dive-bombing to bomber escort.

Why has our mission changed, sir?

I mean, why all of a sudden
are we chaperones?

The Flying Fortresses
are taking heavy losses...

and need effective cover.

Sir, with all due respect, why don't
they let the white pilots cover them?

I don't have time
to lay it all out for you.

I will say this.

This entire unit came within...

a hillbilly's heartbeat
of going home.

And if certain people had their way,
coming back carrying rifles...

if we came back at all.

Say, you fellows with the 99th?

- Yeah.
- Reggie Miller, 332nd.

Hannibal Lee, nice to meet you.
This is Billy Roberts.

- Call me Train.
- Hey, Train.

Well, fellows, welcome to Ramitelli.
Hey, right this way.

You mean, Rami-damn-telli.

It's about time you showed up,
Lieutenant.

I thought I shook you
in North Africa.

Not a chance, sir.

- Damn, it's good to see you, Tank.
- Good to see you, sir.

Remind me, I have something
I want to show you later.

All right. See you out
on the frontline.

Take care, sir.

- Lieutenant Lee.
- Sir.

I'm depending upon you
and the others in the 99th...

to show some guidance and leadership.

These kids are straight out
of Tuskegee...

and still saying
their prayers at night.

So do us all a favor
and give them some help.

Roger, sir.

By the way, Colonel, I still do.

- Still do what, Lieutenant?
- Still say my prayers at night, sir.

- You got to be kidding me.
- No, sir.

- Brand new Mustangs?
- Yes, sir.

P-51 D, 275 gallons with drop tanks.

You can ride these ponies
1,000 miles and back.

Six.50 calibers on her wings,
and she can haul two 1,000-pounders.

You don't bring me back
some swastikas with all this...

just keep flying right on back
to Octopus, Iowa.

Ottumwa.

- What's this?
- New signature from the group.

Do you like it?

It ain't loud enough.

Paint the whole
goddamn tail red, Tank.

Yes, sir, Lieutenant.

We are less than 90 minutes
from the German border...

and they know we're here.

Those of you wondering about
seeing action, you got your wish.

The 33rd and 324th
regularly tangle with the Jerries.

Colonel, they're flying
bomber escort.

Occasionally, Lieutenant, yes.

They're doing it occasionally...

we have the honor
of doing it full-time.

That's right, Lieutenant.
Consider it an honor.

Bomber losses to enemy action
are unacceptably high.

Yesterday's run into Germany
cost them 65 of 200 bombers.

That's one in three, gentlemen.

Six hundred men killed or missing.

You want to make your mark,
here's your chance.

How do you like this, girls?
All dressed up and no dates.

Yeah, I think we've been stood up.
Not a B-17 in sight.

This is the rendezvous point.

They must have been grounded
by bad weather.

He's coming back around!

Hey, Iowa. Turn to channel 8.

All right, Medina, come on,
let's get him! Pick him off!

- Sounds like one of ours.
- Must be stragglers.

- Let's go give them a hand.
- Roger that.

Hey, he's coming up on top!

He's coming in again!

Hang on.

He's above us.

Here we go, fellows. Here we go.

Hang on, Hannibal, I got him!

The Train is always on time.

That's one.
Let's clean them up now.

Let's clean them up.

- What the hell? Did you see that?
- Yeah! Who is that?

- Get the other one, Hannibal.
- Hold on a second.

- We got another one coming in high.
- Come on, Medina, come on!

Keep your shirt on.
I got him.

Moment of truth, Jerry.

We live in the air.

We die by fire.

Yes!

Say good-bye, Mr. Kraut.
Give my regards to the Fuhrer.

Going back home.
Red tail Mustang, starboard side.

Come on, Vance. Who are they?

I don't know.

Red tail 51, this is Fortress 320.
Come in. Over.

Nothing.
I can't raise them.

They must be on a separate
frequency or something.

- You get any kind of ID?
- Nothing I recognize.

I tell you, we need to find out
who those boys are.

- Red tails, huh?
- Yeah.

No fighter group I know
carries those markings.

Well, I got to find them.

I got a bottle of whiskey
for both of them...

for saving our asses.

Hey, you might try Ramitelli.
We're getting new escort assignments.

- They might be one of them.
- All right, I'll check it out.

Poor slob did everything
but pull the trigger for me.

On that last kill...

I took that son of a bitch out
from 1,000 yards.

Hey, sir, what did you use
to get them off?

- Use Split-S, climbing turns?
- No, Walter Peoples' special.

You make it up as you go along.

Hey, how you guys doing?

Listen, we're a B-17 bomb group
based at Foggia...

and we're looking for the pilots
who were up at Pleven yesterday.

We want to say thanks.

A couple of those guys
saved our asses.

- Don't mention it.
- So, where are they?

- Where's who?
- The pilots, boy.

- We came up here to see the pilots.
- You're looking at them.

- Lieutenant Lee. Lieutenant Roberts.
- How are you?

- We appreciate your thanks.
- This whole base is colored?

Colored, yes. Lock, stock and pilot.

Let's get out of here, Lieutenant.

- What?
- This isn't right...

- let's get out of here.
- What's not right? He just said...

I don't give a shit what he said.
Them pilots was niggers.

Niggers weren't flying
them planes today.

- Let's move it out.
- Yes, sir.

You saved their asses...

and they got the nerve
to be insulted?

Makes you want to hurt somebody.

- What are you writing?
- My folks.

This boy mails a letter
to his folks every night.

I'm not mailing this one, Train,
you are.

Oh, no. I am not mailing that letter.
If you die, you mail it yourself.

You'll mail it
just like I'll mail yours.

Well, you won't have to worry
about me asking.

Writing them one of those letters
is like expecting to die.

No one expects to die.

My father had a friend,
he fought in the First World War.

He was one of the first
colored soldiers in France.

This man had so many medals...

he came home decorated
like a Christmas tree.

He disappeared one night.

They found him in Georgia,
lynched in his uniform.

Why would you want to fly
for a country...

that thanks you by lynching you?

I like the feeling of respect
that we get...

especially from colored folks.

Like me and Cappy came upon them
fellows in the chain gang...

back at training in Tuskegee.

I even got some satisfaction
out of the look...

on those white fellows' faces today
when they found out...

it was us that saved their tails.

You're not getting a full 360,
understand?

Captain,
that colored outfit, the 332nd...

HQ confirmed they were the boys
that helped us at Pleven...

and we weren't even their assignment.

Lieutenant, let me give you
a little sociology lesson.

I think, being from California
and all...

you might be a little bit confused.

Now, I'm a Texas boy.

I grew up with niggers.
I was around them every day.

Hell, in Lubbock, you can't throw
a rock without hitting one.

Now, I know how they think,
and I know how they live...

and I can tell you
with complete certainty...

what they are and are not capable of.

And you don't think
they can fly them planes, sir?

Vance, if they was flying them planes
and that is one hell of a big "if"...

then what happened up there
was a fluke. So forget about it.

You know, Train, I'm getting tired
of these long missions...

where we get stuck
out here by our lonesome.

I'm low on fuel.
I say we should head back.

Wait a second. What is that?

- Where?
- Down below.

Looks like a German destroyer.

Ain't one of ours.

Train, you thinking
what I'm thinking?

Always.

Straighten up.

Fly right.

All right. Here we go.

Geronimo!

Cool down, papa.
Don't you blow your top.

That a boy...

Yeah!

Yeah! All right!

Yeah!

Hey. Iowa.

You're in the spotlight
in there, man.

You sunk a damn destroyer.

People get medals
for doing that shit.

You're going to stand there
and tell me...

you think they're going
to give you or me...

or anybody else on this base a medal
for doing anything right?

Okay, all right,
so you won't get a medal.

The bottom line is,
we know what you did.

And we know it was a lucky shot.

But it's still one destroyer down.

You see our escort?

Sure do. And they're right on time.

They know we're here.

They're going to give us
their best shot...

but we got to get
these guys to Brenner Pass.

Brenner Pass and back.

Heads up.
Seven ME-109s at 1 o'clock.

- I'll take the leader.
- Roger that. Straighten up.

Fly right.

Starboard wing gunner,
got them in my sights.

Keep your mind on the game.
All weapons off safe.

- All stations, check in.
- Tail gunner, come up!

Come on, baby. Make it easy for me.
Bring it around. That's it.

Go get them, Train.
You shake that buzzard down, boy.

Roger that.

- I got him now. I got him.
- Bomb door's open!

Target up.

Got another one
trying to sneak over the top, Iowa.

Ground him.

Come on, baby. Come on!

That's it, I got you!

That's two, Iowa.

Two miles to target.

On your 6, Train. On your 6.

Bombs away.

- Hang on, Train.
- Get this guy off me, Iowa!

Get him off me!

I'm coming!

Billy!

No, Billy, no!

I'm here, Train.
I'm right behind him, buddy.

You go straight to hell,
you son of a bitch.

Good hit!

Train, can you hear me?
Can you hear me, Train?

- I got two more, Iowa.
- I saw. You did good, Train.

Now, come on. We got to go back.
The bombers are back.

- Come on.
- You climb. No.

You got to climb to them, Iowa!
You got to climb to them!

Straighten up and fly right, boy!
You can make it!

Billy.

Train.

"We're heroes of the night
To hell with the axer's might"

"Fight, fight, fight
Fighting Ninety-Nine"

"Down in flames they go"

"Fighting men of Ninety-Nine
send them..."

"Send them down below"

"We're heroes of the night
To hell with the axer's might"

"Fight..."

We're going after his vapor trails.

We were going in and out
of those clouds all the time.

Then I finally got...

Billy Roberts.
On the block, they call me Train...

as in "A-Train"?

You know, quickest way
to Harlem, you know.

- I'll take some smokes.
- All right.

Peoples. Walter Derrick III.

Aeronautical engineer.

Lewis Johns.
English Literature.

Leroy Jonas Cappy.
Art History.

Colonel, just how bad
will the 88s be?

You'll be attacking Berlin, son.
The very heart of Germany.

Every antiaircraft gun in the region
will be trying to stop you.

And then there'll be the fighters.

Now, gentlemen, on this one...

we need every load
placed on the target.

We may not have a second chance.

- Sir?
- Yes.

Who's flying cover?

The 51st will escort
your wing, Lieutenant.

Now, any more questions?

If not, good luck.

Sir.

Why the change?

How come our escort was changed
from the 332nd to the 51st?

Logistics, Captain.
Is that a problem?

- No, sir. No problem.
- Good. Have a good mission.

Sir.

You got a point to make, Captain?
I suggest you get on with it.

Speak up, Captain.
We got a mission to run here.

Yes, sir. Well, I...

I got men whose live are
my responsibility up there, sir...

and I want the 332nd as our escort.

The colored boys?

That's right, sir.

I looked into it and since
they've been escorting bombers...

they haven't lost one
to enemy action, sir.

Not a single ship.
And if it's all the same to you...

I want the 332nd
to take me to Berlin and back.

All right, Captain.
I'll take it under advisement.

At ease.

- You're up awfully early today.
- I haven't gotten much sleep, sir.

We're all going
to miss him, Hannibal.

The really sad thing
is he's going to miss this.

Distinguished Flying Cross,
for taking out the destroyer.

General Crowell
will be here next week...

to officially present it to you.

There's something else.

- Sir...
- Congratulations.

Captain Lee.

The word's in about our next mission.

Berlin.

And we weren't assigned.

We were requested.