Original subtitles

♪ Bombers high riding the air

♪ Every man doing his share

♪ Men of war better beware

♪ When the Air Force takes command

♪ Bombers high ready we stand

♪ Minutemen guarding the land

♪ Thunder rides here in our hand

♪ When the Air Force takes command

♪ Our legions are legend

♪ Our wings own the blue

♪ With jets winding free

♪ And men flying true

♪ Ride the wind follow a star

♪ Find the foe strike where they are

♪ Round the world isn't too far

♪ When the Air Force takes command ♪

Well, here we are.

An elderly parson shouldn't yield to temptation this way.

Oh, nonsense, dad.

The sun will do you good.

Good morning.

Hi, darling!

Hey, that boy's good.

Who is he?

He's a rookie named Brewster, just up from Columbus.

Hi, Joe.

How am I doing, coach?

Well, you are coming along.

Coming along, huh?

This daughter of yours is kind of hard to please, you know?

Say, about that Brewster kid?

Doesn't he look sharp?

No, they ought to play him at third.

He doesn't move well to the right.

Oh.

Uh-huh, you want him to take my job.

In three or four years, perhaps.

He's young, but he can wait.

Yeah, true.

What's going on now, Robert?

Inter-squad game, reds against the blues.

I'm captain of the blues, see you later.

Oh, that reminds me.

I forgot to give Dutch a message.

Some old air force friend of his named Rusty Castle

phoned, said he was coming over.

Oh, well, Dutch won't care much one way or the other.

How do you know he won't?

Well, I just know.

He's an old war buddy of his.

A flyer or something.

And I know Dutch, the last thing he wants

is to hash over old times.

You seem to know your husband very well

considering the short time you've been married.

Oh, I do.

I know him like a book.

Is that so surprising?

Yeah, rather.

Why?

I've known your mother for 30 years.

What I don't know about her

would fill a very large book.

Now, I'm just going to show you.

Brewster is coming to bat, and Dutch likes him.

And the kid always hits to the left.

But you just watch Dutch,

if he connects, he's going to try

to make it look like a hit.

See what I mean?

Anymore questions, Dr. Thorne?

Well, I guess we better go, Dad.

Well, good morning, reverend.

Sally.

Hi, Tom.

Well, our boy looks pretty good.

Yes, he's coming along.

Can't you stay awhile?

No, thank you.

Dad has to work on his sermon.

And I have to go home and get ready

for the house warming.

You just stay here and watch your livestock at work.

And pretty expensive livestock.

Especially your husband.

Yes, well feeding him is no cinch either, you know?

I'll see you later, Tom, bye bye.

Mrs. Holland?

Yes?

I'm Rusty Castle.

Oh, yes of course.

This is my father, Dr. Thorne.

And Mr. Doyle.

Hello, Mr. Doyle.

Well, I'm glad to meet you, general.

General?

Rusty!

Rusty, how are you?

Oh, Dutch.

Well boy am I glad to see you.

Hey, you're looking great.

How you hitting?

Ah, I'm getting in shape.

Well, you meet all these people?

Yes.

Well why didn't you tell us

you were coming into town?

Well see I was over at a staff meeting

at MacDill...

Oh, but General Castle did phone.

But I hadn't had a chance to tell you.

Oh, well that's alright.

Well you just got here at the right time.

We're having a house warming tonight.

How about staying over, huh?

Well, I?

Oh please do.

Come on, come on.

I'd be glad to.

Good!

Well I've got to run, sweetheart.

And I'll see you later.

I'm awfully glad you can stay, General.

Bye, dear.

Bye.

Bye, Reverend.

What's new, Rusty?

Well come on, give me the low down.

That's just what I came to do, Dutch.

I think it'd better wait until later.

Oh?

Why, is something cooking?

Yeah, in a way.

Is that so?

Hey Dutch, you're up.

Oh, I'll see you later.

Dutch is pretty valuable to the Cardinals.

Isn't he, Mr. Doyle?

Valuable?

He drove in a 152 runs last year.

Just signed a $70,000 a year contract.

You don't pay salaries like that for fun, General.

Yes, I can understand that.

Dutch was the best B-29 commander I had.

Not many men with his judgement and coordination.

And whatever else it takes to come through in the pinches.

Why did you ask me that, General?

Why?

I was thinking, he'd be just as valuable to SAC.

SAC?

What's SAC?

Strategic Air Command.

We're the Air Force's global bombing outfit.

Oh, you're the boys that dropped the A-bomb.

Well, I hope not.

Our job is to be ready and able to strike back

any where in the world if this country's ever attacked.

Quite a job you've got there, General.

Yes, it's a big job alright.

Our greatest problem's personnel, Mr. Doyle.

We need mature, experienced leaders in SAC.

Men like Dutch.

Are you trying to tell me they want Dutch

back in the Air Force?

That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you, Mr. Doyle.

Well this is the craziest thing I've ever heard of.

What do you want with a guy my age?

I haven't flown an airplane in six years.

I've never even been close to a jet.

Look, Dutch, we don't need young kids in SAC.

We need old hands, like you, experienced.

Well where's the fire?

I just don't see the necessity.

You would if you were in my seat.

Look, do you realize that we're

the only thing that's keeping the peace?

By staying combat ready we can prevent a war.

Dutch, if I didn't believe that,

if my commanders and crews didn't believe that,

I couldn't get a single airplane off the ground.

Well I've done my share!

Gonnit, why do you have to recall me?

I'm not recalling you, Dutch.

This wasn't my decision.

Believe me, I feel worse about it than you do.

I asked you to take that reserve commission

just as a gesture.

For old time's sake.

I never thought the time would...

Alright, who's decision was it?

General Hawkes.

I even tried to talk him out of it.

But they're calling up everyone

in your reserve classification.

The general was adamant.

No exceptions.

Alright, isn't there somebody above him

I could talk to?

Sure, sure, but he's boss of SAC.

There are people who can fire him.

But I'll guarantee there's no one

who can ever make him change his decision.

Well, this is it then, huh?

I report a week from Tuesday.

That's right.

Your orders are on their way now.

21 months of active duty.

21 months.

You realize what this does to me?

I'm no youngster anymore.

I've got a few more good years of baseball left

and now you take me away at...

Look, Dutch,

there's just no point in arguing with me.

No, I guess not.

Your orders read, report to my headquarters at Carswell.

Yes, sir.

Well, I...

I guess I better be running along, Dutch.

See you soon, huh?

Yes, General, I suppose you will.

Leaving, General?

Oh yes, I'm afraid I have to, Mr. Doyle.

Will you please give my apologies to Mrs. Holland?

Well?

Well, that's it.

21 months.

I have to report to Carswell a week from Tuesday.

Isn't there anyone we can go to?

Castle says it's no use.

Of course, you know how I feel, Dutch.

Oh yeah, yeah.

What worries me most is Sally though.

Sally?

Well I wouldn't worry too much about her.

No, but I do.

This is going to be an awful wallop to her.

She's been fixing up the house,

she's getting a big kick out of the ball club,

and now something like this happens.

What am I gonna tell her?

Maybe it won't be as hard as you think.

Just don't say anything to her about it, will yah?

You know she's worked so hard on this house warming

and everything.

I just want her to have this evening, huh?

I won't say a word.

I'll figure out some way to break it to her later

when everybody's left.

Come on.

It's a lovely party, Sally.

Thank you, mom.

And you look just radiant.

Thank you.

It's wonderful to see a young couple so gay and happy,

isn't it?

It certainly is, Mrs. Thorne.

Good night, Tom.

You betcha.

Good night, Sally.

Good night, Tom.

We'll see you.

Well, that was just a wonderful party, Sally.

Thank you, sweetheart.

You know, we're going to remember this for a long time.

First house warming.

It's the kind of thing you don't forget, you know.

No, that's why I wanted it to be just perfect.

It was.

Your mother seemed to have a good time, didn't she?

Yes, she always does.

She's beginning to sound more

like a baseball fan everyday.

I see your dad had a drink to celebrate the occasion.

I know, I saw him.

Sally, would you, uh...

Let me have this a minute.

Come over here and sit down.

Sally... - Dutch.

What?

There's something I have to tell you.

Well, what is it?

You're going back into the Air Force.

Oh.

Tom told me this afternoon.

Well, that's what I've been trying...

Well, what do you think?

What do I think?

Well what do you think?

Oh.

I don't care about this house, mother can take care of that.

We can sublet, that's no problem.

I certainly don't mind missing the season

and losing all that money.

What?

I'm no child.

Well honey, I know you're not a child.

And you go, then we both go on active duty.

Besides, what's wrong with being an Air Force wife

and living in a barracks or whatever you call them?

It might be fun.

Anything you do is fine with me.

Just so long as you don't leave me behind.

You mean that?

Of course I do.

I'm married to you, Dutch, not a house...

I'm Lieutenant Colonel Holland,

I'm reporting in for duty.

May I see your identification, Colonel?

I don't have an ID card, they never sent me one.

I'm sorry, sir.

I can't admit a civilian without identification.

I'm not a civilian!

I wish I was a civilian.

Here, my orders.

Security officer.

Captain, I've got a man here at the gate

with no identification card.

His orders say he's on active duty,

but he's not in uniform.

Very well, sir.

You'll have to wait sir until a security officer gets here.

Sergeant if you just call General Castle...

Hey!

Well pull over, pull over there then.

General Castle, please.

May I speak to the General?

Well this is Dutch Holland,

eh, Colonel Holland.

Well as soon as you reach him, will you

tell him I'm having a little trouble at the main gate?

That's right, I can't get in.

May I see your orders?

Well this whole things ridiculous.

And your driver's license.

There you are.

Hmm, license expired.

Eh?

Are you Dutch Holland, the ball player?

I was.

I've been reading about you,

you don't look much like your pictures.

Oh?

Well you don't look much like your picture either, Captain.

We had a phony one time.

Fella got on the base with a pass

that showed a picture of an orangutan.

They had us all on the carpet for that one.

No orangutans allowed.

I'm glad to see your men are on the job, Captain.

That'll be all.

Hello, Dutch, how are you?

I'm sorry you had so much trouble here,

but a uniform would help, you know?

Yeah, well, I left in such a hurry

and my old ones were the wrong color.

Yeah, well that'll be easy.

I'll drop you off at the post exchange.

First stop.

Okay.

Sally come with you?

No, she'll be here as soon as I get squared away.

Good.

I can get you a set of quarters here on the base.

Control tower calling General Castle.

Castle, go ahead.

Sir, I've got a commercial DC-3 coming

in for an emergency landing.

Why can't he land at municipal airport?

Says he can't make it, sir.

Alright, have the security officer

notified right away.

Affirmative, General.

Notify the security officer.

We're kind of particular these days, Dutch.

All SAC bases are restricted.

Alert the firetruck and meat wagon.

Fire station, we have an unidentified DC-3

in the pattern landing at the present time.

That is all the information we have.

This is Colonel Holland, I'll vouch for him.

Where does that fool think he's going?

Alright, stand back.

Major, search that airplane.

Yes, sir.

That won't be necessary.

What's the excuse, Rusty?

Well, frankly, sir,

I thought we handled this security test pretty well.

Better than I expected.

Of course, you just lost your life, Rusty.

Why didn't you block off that taxi strip, Major?

It never occurred to me, General Hawkes.

It should have.

Your men should of gotten here sooner.

My men should never of gotten out of that aircraft.

Yes sir.

I don't have enough experienced personnel, sir.

Don't tell me your little problems, son.

All I'm interested in is results.

I want ain'tight security, Rusty.

So it will be impossible for an unidentified

aircraft to barge right into your flight line.

What the devil is that civilian doing here?

I'm just carrying out your orders, General.

My orders?

Yes sir, he was with me, General.

Just reporting for duty.

Lt. Colonel Holland, this is General Hawkes.

You're Dutch Holland?

Yes.

We've been expecting you.

Yes sir, I know.

In a blue suit.

Eh, yes, General.

I realize...

Good to have you in SAC, Dutch.

Hope you will enjoy your tour.

You'll find there has been a few changes

since you were in last.

Yes sir, I've found a few already, General.

Come in.

Colonel Holland, sir.

Reporting for duty.

Glad to have you assigned to my wing, Dutch.

Got a real job waiting for you in operations.

Unless you have a preference.

Well, sir, as long as I'm here

I'd as soon fly as sit at a desk.

You'll fly alright.

All my staff officers are pilots first,

and desk jockeys second.

Samford.

Come in here, will you, Rocky?

Rocky Samford is my director of operations.

You'll be his assistant.

Sounds fine to me, Colonel.

Of course, I'm an old B-29 pilot.

I don't know the first thing about a B-36.

We'll check you out on the B-36

while you understudy Samford.

The idea is for you to replace him so

he can move into one of the new units.

I see.

SAC has something big coming up.

The B-47.

Colonel Samford, Colonel Holland.

How are you?

Great to meet you, Dutch.

Been a fan of yours for years.

I heard about you back on Guam

when you were with the 315th.

Well, Rocky, he's your baby.

You've got yourself an assistant.

Shouldn't take you long to take over my job, Dutch.

No sweat.

I've got 21 months, I'll do what I can.

Good luck on your physical.

Thank you, sir.

Want to take a look at our setup?

Fine.

P-E-Z

T-E-C-F-D

E-D-F

Captain Brown.

C-Z-P

Call for you, Colonel Holland.

Colonel Holland.

Sally!

Well how are you?

Where are you?

I'm at the airport.

What airport?

You're in Fort Worth?

What are you doing here?

Well what do you think I'm doing?

I came to be with you.

Oh I've missed you.

I'm your bride of five months, remember me?

Yes, dear, I know.

Well I just didn't see any sense in sitting around

and waiting, so here I am.

Don't you want me?

Well, honey, of course I want you.

But we don't have any quarters yet.

Now I have to get in touch with Rusty

and find out...

I'll tell you, you go to a hotel.

Go to the Blackstone Hotel.

And I'm taking a physical examination right now.

What's the matter, are you sick?

No no, everything's fine.

As soon as... I'll call you later.

Bye dear.

Bye.

Where was I?

Say, "aw."

Aww.

Captain Johnson.

It's for you, Colonel.

Colonel Holland.

You're at the main gate?

Yeah, I got ahold of Rusty and he's checking on it now.

But I...

Get somebody to take you over to the officer's club

I'll come over as soon as I'm finished.

Well I have no idea, dear.

They go over you from head to foot,

they're just down to my throat now.

What?

This one says I don't have any adenoids.

Adenoids!

Bye dear.

We're going to take you up to 45,000 feet.

Major Flemming.

Colonel Holland can't come to the phone right now.

Just a minute.

It's your wife, Colonel Holland.

She says it's urgent.

I'll uh...

Tell her I'll call her back.

He says he'll call you back.

He's up to 45,000 feet.

I don't see him.

No no, in a training tank Mrs. Holland.

Mrs. Holland's at your quarters.

She says to meet her there.

My quarters?

Where are they?

She says General Castle drove her

to your quarters, she has no idea where they are.

Do all Air Force officers live in such luxury?

Ah, no, this is just because

General Hawkes has taken such a shine to me.

Well he certainly has.

The old bat...

Now, shh, shh.

Sally, now we're on a SAC base.

Dutch?

Are you angry with me because I didn't wait

for you to send for me?

Well, I was kind of upset at first.

But now that I see you in that nightgown,

I kind of change my mind.

It's alright, all right dear.

Hi.

Hello, Mrs. Castle.

Wow, what's happening?

The Cards are ahead 6 to 2.

Do you know the Brewster just drove in another run?

Yeah, good for him.

Well, I guess I better get out there.

You wait for me, honey.

I won't be long.

Are you sure?

Rocky's going to show me one take off, one landing.

That's all.

Okay.

Bye.

Hi, Dutch.

Hi, Rocky.

About set?

Alright.

I'm going to ride co-pilot today,

check the crews proficiency.

You can ride behind the aircraft commander,

see how it's done.

Okay.

This is a select combat crew, incidentally.

All sharp tools.

Hey!

Colonel Holland.

Sergeant Bible, how are you?

Good.

Gee, it's good to see you.

I thought the Cardinals had you all signed up, skipper?

Yeah, I thought so too.

But General Hawkes had a prior claim

and he wouldn't give me a waiver.

Looks like we're taking up where we left off.

Well I hope not.

We had two engines shot out that last one over Tokyo.

Remember?

Boy, that was quite a night, wasn't it?

I thought you were gonna get out of the Air Force?

Ah, I'm still in.

Doing the same racket, flight engineer.

Got married awhile back.

Fine.

Any kids?

Sure have.

One on the ramp, one in the hanger.

Good for you.

Good for you.

Say, now what about this?

Don't tell me you've rigged up

this great big thing so it will fly?

Well if it doesn't, it'll be my neck.

Pre-flight completed, sir.

Okay.

I'll give you your safety procedures in a minute, sir.

Alright.

Checklist completed, ready to start engines, sir.

Roger.

Crew this is A.C., brakes are set,

fire guard are standing by, start engines.

Roger in aft compartment.

Uh, ground, this is panel.

This is ground.

Clear four, five, six, three, two, one for start.

Four is clear, sir.

Roger, starting four.

Roger.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Fuel pressure, oil pressure, and alternator on board.

Clear 5.

Number five clear.

Turning five.

Roger.

Start jets, one, two, three, and four.

Starting jets.

Entrance ladders.

Stowed.

Windows and hatches.

Closed.

All compartments.

Nose ready for takeoff.

Radio ready for takeoff.

Aft compartment ready for takeoff.

Engineers, take off configuration.

Standing by for propeller reverse

safety check and takeoff power.

Aircraft Commander to crew,

standby for takeoff.

Engineer, give me takeoff power.

Jets, 100%

Power stabilized.

Autopilot.

Off.

Nose steering.

On.

Propellers.

Safe, light's out.

Checklist complete.

Rolling.

Hey, aren't you fellas a little high

for a landing pattern?

We're right on flight plan, Dutch.

How high you going?

40,000 feet, Colonel.

40,000 feet?

Oh, I see.

One take off, one landing, huh?

Where's the landing going to be, Rocky?

Fairbanks, Alaska?

Right where we told you, back at Caswell.

Oh, I see.

Profile mission, huh?

Texas to Alaska and back huh?

You know, when I was a kid somebody

sold me the key to the pitcher's box.

Looks like I just bought it again.

Oh-oh, you know who's really going to appreciate this?

My wife, Sally.

I asked her to wait for me.

Don't worry, Dutch.

Espy's gonna tell her.

Colonel, you wanna see the rest of this big cigar?

Yeah, yeah.

Take over, onionhead.

This is Colonel Dutch Holland.

Captain Miller.

Sergeant Jones.

Mighty glad to meet you, Colonel.

Wait till my kids hear about this.

Yeah, we saw in the papers you were coming.

You and I are going in opposite directions you might say.

This is my last flight.

Oh, you getting out?

Yes sir, my hitch is up.

No more of this high pressure stuff for me.

Fella likes to get home once and awhile.

See his wife and kids.

Had a rough duty in SAC, huh?

Oh, no sir, I wouldn't say that.

Not if you like being away from home all the time.

Temporary duty in England, North Africa,

Japan, maintenance on weekends,

working all night.

No, great.

It's just not for me, that's all.

You wanna follow me, Colonel?

Where we going now?

We're going through the Holland Tunnel,

to the gunner's compartment.

Left gunner from radio, two men coming through.

Well, I'll be darned.

I'll see you later Sergeant.

Yes sir.

Alright, Colonel.

Okay.

That's quite a trip.

Yeah, it's about 80 feet.

I never have gotten used to that thing.

Fellas, this is Colonel Dutch Holland.

Sergeant Lassiter.

How are you?

Let see, Sergeant Dames.

Hello, Colonel.

Oh, hi.

Airman Lee.

Hello.

It's not quite ready,

we'll have a cup in a minute.

All the comforts of home?

Sure, sure.

This is Airman Davies.

Hi, Colonel, have a seat.

Fine.

Well, what do you think of her, sir?

She's a battleship.

Oh, what am I saying?

I guess it seems a lot different from our old B-29.

That's the same gunsight we had in the 29.

Isn't it?

Same type, different mount.

Of course, when you boil it all down,

it's still an aircraft and a crew working together

to get a bomb on a target.

But there isn't a war on.

Do many of the men feel like that radio operator?

Every day in SAC's a war, Colonel.

Pressure's on all the time.

And General Hawke's is breathing down your neck.

We never know when the other fellow

might start something.

So we've got to be combat ready 24 hours a day,

seven days a week.

How do you find the guys that will take it

at these pay scales?

Well, it's the competition, maybe.

You take a select crew like this,

they've all got spot promotions.

Our aircraft commander would be a major

instead of a light colonel if he wasn't on this crew.

If one man lets the crew down,

the whole crew gets demoted.

It keeps them in there pitchin'.

I can think of an easier way to make a buck.

Well, the coffee's free anyhow.

Colonel Holland, this is Major Mapes,

our radar observer.

How are you.

Fine, Colonel.

Major Ike Knowland, our navigator.

Hi, Major.

You sure have my sympathy, Dutch.

What do you mean?

I was yanked back in too.

Just when I'd got a nice TV business started.

Built a house for the wife and kids.

Well, you'll only be in for 21 months.

What do you mean, "only?"

You can't tell me they need radar navigators this bad.

Anyway, I did my share once.

We're not in a war.

I think I know what you mean.

Come on Dutch, we'll put you to work.

Okay, she's yours, course three three zero.

I've got it.

Where'd those jets come from, Rocky?

Our fighter escort, part of SAC.

I'll take over.

Okay.

That's it.

Let's go home.

Airspeed, 135.

Arm 'em.

Reverse.

I'm terribly sorry, honey.

I had no idea.

This thing...

Oh I know.

Now you climb in, Marco Polo,

before I sue you for desertion.

Did you ever go over Niagara Falls in a barrel?

Yes, that makes two of us.

Hi, Sally.

Hi.

Hey, Dutch, not so fast,

you're not through yet.

Now what?

Steam bath and massage in the

physical conditioning room.

Just a couple of hours more.

Honey, you better go on home.

This may take another couple of days.

See you later.

Sally?

Well, here you are.

The same night, too.

You angry with me?

No.

Darling, I'm just confused.

Well I don't know whether to fix you breakfast or dinner.

Well, let's see...

It's nearer breakfast.

You hungry?

Not very, I'm tired.

Where did you boys go on your little jaunt,

or is that a secret?

Well, this was a local mission.

Alaska.

Alright, you don't have to tell me.

Honey, I just did tell you.

We went to Alaska.

Alaska and back without landing or anything?

Yeah.

Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't know that

or I wouldn't have slept at all.

You don't look like you slept very much, either.

Well, I did fly the Airplane most of the night.

With a lot of help.

But that's not it.

It's just being out of the picture for so long.

Having so much to learn,

so much to catch up on.

Oh, sweetheart, you're just tired.

You wouldn't believe the mess of new gadgets

they have on that thing.

The aircraft commander was a real pro.

Even he says he's still learning things about the B-36.

Well, why are you worrying about all of this?

You said you had a desk job.

I'm supposed to be an operations officer.

You can't tell an aircraft commander what to do

unless you can do it yourself.

In this outfit, everybody flies.

From General Hawkes on down.

In other words, you're going to fly

a lot of missions like this one?

I don't know any other way to do it.

Well, that's a happy prospect.

Especially if I find out too late

I'm in over my head.

Maybe I better quit right now.

Quit?

Well it's better than crossing things up in an emergency.

Honey, you know, I used to think the old B-24

was a lot of airplane.

Do you realize that one B-36 with an A-bomb,

can do the job of 1,000 World War II bombers

and 10,000 crew members?

No, just think of the responsibility that places

on everybody that even goes near

one of these airplanes.

I've never heard you talk like that before.

I've never come up against anything like this before.

Well, neither have I, for that matter.

Being an Air Force wife certainly is not for me,

but it isn't that simple.

I could go in to Rusty tomorrow

and lay it all on the line.

Tell him I can't cut it.

Oh, don't talk like that.

Well, wouldn't you like that, Sally?

Well of course I would.

I'd like nothing better.

Especially under the circumstances.

What circumstances?

Oh, that's what makes me so mad.

What's the sense of talking about it

when you know you're not going to do any such thing,

and you know it.

How do you know I know it.

Because I know you.

You'd no more walk in there and tell

Rusty you're gonna quit then... -

Well, I was gonna say fly.

I guess maybe you're right.

You know me pretty well, don't you?

Do I?

Wish you'd put that in writing.

Why?

I'd like to send it to my father.

Honey, you were gonna say something back here.

No, I've said everything I have to say.

Dutch?

Yeah?

How do you want your eggs,

scrambled or fried?

Uh, scrambled.

No, fried.

Over.

Easy.

You know, I'm beginning to know you pretty well too,

young lady.

You are?

I learned a lot than night at the housewarming.

You remember when I had to break the news to you?

That was a lovely house.

It was a lovely party, too.

Sally?

Yes?

I've got something to tell you.

Now, it's pretty personal,

but I think it's gonna make you very happy.

What is it?

You're going to have a baby.

Well how do you know?

I met the stork at 40,000 feet.

Then I met Doc Baxter and he congratulated me,

so that was the other.

Well, what do you think?

What do I think?

I think it's wonderful.

I hope it's twins.

Oh, Dutch.

Well, all I can say is we're mighty lucky

it happened before you had to report for duty?

Why?

Well, judging from my short experience in the Air Force,

it couldn't very well of happened after that.

Will do, General.

Well, you got what you wanted, Dutch.

Your own airplane and crew, temporarily.

Now you're talking.

General Castle did the talking.

But don't forget, you're still flying a desk for me,

primary duty.

You sent for me, sir?

Colonel Espy has ordered me to reassign you, Knowland.

Your aircraft commander has asked that you be replaced.

Anything wrong with my qualifications

for a select crew, sir?

No, that's the unfortunate part of it.

You're as well qualified as any radar navigator

on this wing.

He says it's your attitude.

You haven't been putting out.

Well, what do they expect my attitude to be?

Gratitude for wrecking my business career?

What about my request to transfer, sir?

Or is the only way to get out of SAC to be carried out?

Don't hold your breath while you're waiting Knowland.

We'll let you know.

Meantime, you're not getting out of flying.

You're being assigned to a non-combat ready crew.

You lost your spot promotion a couple of days ago.

Hey, Ike.

Wait a minute.

Say, they're giving me a pick-up crew

to train with for awhile.

I'll need an experienced navigator.

Not particular, huh?

Well, maybe I am.

We're both in a particular sort of situation.

Yeah, same raw deal.

You might say the same deal.

How about it?

It's okay by me.

It's okay with me.

Until the first time you get me off course.

130.

125.

120.

115.

Arm the props.

Ike, you missed your ETA by 45 seconds.

You owe me a buck.

Okay, Dutch.

But it's the first time you've won it in 6 months.

Reverse.

No more fuel leaks so far.

Well, maybe the modification's all right, maybe not.

The next series of tests will give us the answer.

Has Dutch Holland been running these fuel tank tests?

Yes, sir.

I thought he had a staff job.

You made him an aircraft commander?

Well, I'd say he's doing both, sir.

But he sure likes to fly.

He does, eh?

Going, Dutch?

Now don't have the baby till I get back.

I want to be here to greet him.

I'll certainly try not to.

You know, I kinda have a feeling

the little fella's not going to report in

for about two weeks.

I'll be back in four days.

Well, I certainly hope it's a little fella,

for your sake.

But you know, it could be a girl.

A girl?

Sure.

I suppose it's a possibility.

Sweetheart, do you have to go on this trip, right now?

Well, Honey I've been running these

cold weather tests, I have to go through with them.

Couldn't it be postponed?

You know, just till after the baby gets here.

Well, Sally, we've got a job to do.

Now, if we start scheduling flights

to fit the birthrate,

do you realize there are 1,500 babies

born a month in SAC?

And do you realize you're getting

to sound like General Hawkes every day?

I am?

Yes.

I promise I won't smoke any big black cigars.

That will be very nice.

Where are you going?

Thule.

Thule?

Where's that?

Greenland.

Greenland?

In February?

With all that ice and snow?

Well, we're running cold weather tests.

You see, and in order to run a cold weather test...

You have to have cold weather.

Yeah.

What do you want me to bring you?

A polar bear, a penguin?

How about a husband?

You've got one.

No, I want a husband right here on the ground.

Not one that's 8 miles over Greenland,

or Alaska, or Timbuktu.

Whatever happened to that nice guy

who played third base for the Cardinals?

You mean Brewster?

No, I mean you.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's so hard to be a good sport at 5:00 AM.

Especially when you're nine months pregnant.

Now don't you worry.

The little fella's never gonna know the difference.

Before he's a year old, I'll be back at third.

I hope so.

Good bye, dear.

Take it a minute.

Aw, we're never gonna get under this stuff, Leo.

Call Thule approach control for GCA.

Roger.

Thule approach control from Air Force.

I've just been out on the left wing, sir.

We've got a bad leak in number 2 fuel tank,

gas sloshing around near the fire walls.

May have a fire any second.

All right, cut off every electrical system you can spare.

We're gonna be over the base in about 40 minutes.

Aircraft commander to crew,

we have a bad fuel leak in the left wing.

Gasoline fumes, no smoking.

Take stations for possible emergency bailout.

Take bailout stations!

Might be that sudden temperature change, Dutch.

42 below zero out there.

Rear scanner to aircraft commander,

we're on fire, Colonel.

Number one engine.

Feather one, two, and three.

Fuel switches off to one, two, and three.

Fire extinguishers on.

All right, start jets three and four.

100%

Full power four, five, and six.

A.C. To crew, standby for immediate bailout

when you hear the long ring.

A.C. To navigator,

call Thule tower, give em' our exact position.

Keep giving it to 'em.

Roger.

Radio, this is navigator,

our position is 68 degrees,

45 minutes west longitude.

76 degrees, 10 minutes north latitude.

I repeat,

I think we better belly land, Dutch.

We'll freeze to death down there.

I'm afraid we'll blow up first.

Fire spreading over the whole wing, Colonel.

A.C. To crew, bail out as close together as you can.

Try to join up as soon as you hit the ground.

Alright, here we go.

Go on, Leo.

Thule tower, this is 2-3-5-0,

I just broke out of the overcast.

I'm too low to bailout,

I'm gonna attempt a gear up crash landing.

Plane smashing on rocks)

Hey.

Who's that, Ike?

You alright?

Yeah.

I guess so.

Just my ankle.

Just wait a minute, don't move.

Wait till I close this hatch here.

Which leg is it?

Right leg, Dutch.

No moving, now.

Just lie still.

Here, put that blanket over you.

Wait till I get things closed off here.

We're darn near buried, Ike.

Storm coming up, too.

Oh, that's great.

All the air rescue boys need is a good blizzard.

Well, it's not use trying to find the crew out there now.

Not a chance, they bailed out miles from here.

Let me take a look at that leg.

Hold this.

Davenport's got the emergency radio, that's one thing.

Yeah?

Good thing the guys in back bailed out in time.

Yeah, they'd of had it.

This ankle's broken.

Here, can you reach that first aid container?

Why didn't you bail out?

Waited too long, I guess.

I was trying to give them a continuous voice fix.

You mean you kept talking till we hit?

Oh, just in case we were off course.

Well, I'd say you were right on course, lke.

Is this all of them, sir?

All but Dutch and Knowland.

No sign of the wreck, General.

Why couldn't they have had the same luck we had?

Why couldn't they have come down

with an Eskimo village in their lap?

Let's get back out there, Lieutenant.

I'm going with you.

Ouch.

How's the arm, Dutch?

Oh, it's pretty good, but it's still sore

up around the shoulder joint there.

I think I'll have another look.

Anything doing?

No, it's still pretty gusty.

Our smoke signal's burning fine.

Close the blister, will you, Dutch?

We don't need the ventilation.

All right.

You know with only four hours of daylight

might take quite awhile to find us.

I hope not.

I'd like to get out of this igloo.

I suppose they've notified our wives we're missing huh?

They'd have to after two days.

Sally's a wonderful sport about everything,

but after all when you're having

your first child this is rough!

When is it due?

When it's due?

Right now, maybe now!

How do I know?

Here I am out on a pile of snow.

Hey sit down Colonel, sit down.

We've got trouble enough without you pacing up and down

like a nervous father.

Don't suppose it does much good.

What do you want Dutch, a boy or a girl?

Oh, boy I guess,

but I just have a hunch it's a girl.

Never.

I'll bet ya on it.

Oh you wanna bet?

Bet you five bucks it's a girl.

You hear something?

No.

No, there.

Listen, that...

Hey Colonel what are you doing down there AWOL?

Say, I wanna get a message to my wife.

She's already been notified that you're okay sir.

Oh?

This came for you a couple days ago sir.

Baby girl.

Just happen to have these handy sir.

Oh, well have one.

Thank you sir.

Hey Rusty it's a baby girl.

Congratulations pappy.

Look it says right here a baby girl.

That's great Dutch.

What do ya know, a baby girl.

Amazing Colonel.

Six pounds five ounces it says.

It's a good thing we found you Colonel.

Six pounds, what do you know about,

well she wants to know about a name.

What about a, can you get a message to her right away?

Yes sir I'll take care of it.

Before you do anything else

why don't you go get washed up,

get some hot food and have that shoulder looked at?

We have about half an hour before General Hawkes gets here.

We got word a couple of hours ago

that he's landing here on his way back from England.

Oh yeah, well that figures.

Yeah, here.

Get that off right away will ya?

Yes sir.

And this one for the General.

How much time was there on number one engine?

341 hours sir.

Did you inspect the fuel tanks personally before takeoff?

Yes sir, Captain Symington, Sergeant Bible too.

Any fuel stains?

No sir.

How much time did you spend pre flighting the aircraft?

Over four hours and that's not including engine run up.

You consider your flight engineer fully qualified?

I consider him the best in the business General.

Well Rusty there's no use trying

to get the rest of this picture

until Holland meets the investigating board,

but accidents don't just happen Colonel Holland,

there's always a reason.

As aircraft commander you're completely responsible

even if a wing drops off.

Especially if a wing drops off.

Leaving for Caswell in an hour, would you like a lift?

Yes sir.

We'll continue this on my airplane.

Yes sir.

Flight surgeon seen that arm yet?

No sir but I've talked to him.

I'm okay I'll have it check soon as I get back.

It's just a bruise up my shoulder joint.

Make sure of that.

Yes sir.

I want the latest results of your last

performance and stability tests as soon as possible.

Yes sir.

That cigar sir, doesn't the General know

the aircraft might explode?

It wouldn't dare.

While we're gassing up I've got something to show you.

Yes sir.

Holy smokes.

So this is the B-47 huh?

Well she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen

in my life General!

Just look at her.

Look at her.

I sure would like to get my hands on one of these.

Maybe you will Dutch.

Maybe you will.

How are you sweety?

Oh how are you?

What are you doing home from the hospital so soon?

Well the birthrate in Caswell

must have jumped up or something.

Boy they were so crowded they sure

got rid of me in a hurry.

What?

You seem to be all in one piece.

Is it very bad?

No.

I sure piled up an airplane.

We're all mighty lucky.

The main thing was I just kept worrying about you.

I knew we were all right.

Oh so did I really.

I kept listening to the radio reports everyday.

I knew you were coming back.

You just had to.

Especially me being a father and everything.

Where's the baby?

Where are you hiding the baby?

She'll be here.

She's so pretty.

She is?

Yeah.

Dutch, are you terribly disappointed

because she's a little girl?

Disappointed?

I'm delighted!

I won five bucks from lke Knowland.

You did?

Oh wait I've got a present for you.

All the way from Thule.

My goodness it looks as big as the baby.

A penguin!

I couldn't get a polar bear.

Oh but I didn't ask for anything but a husband,

and I got him.

Here we are.

Dutch I want you to meet your daughter.

Well.

Well how do you do young lady.

Very glad to meet you.

She says she is too.

Would you like to hold her Colonel?

Hmm?

Would you like to hold her?

I'm not checked out on this ability.

She's not very big is she?

No.

She sure is cute, look.

What'd you name her?

Just what you said, Hope.

Hope?

Hope, I said Hope?

Well yes, that's what you said in your telegram.

"Can't think of any name but Hope.

"Everything fine."

No honey,

you see I said, "Can't think of any name,

"but hope everything fine."

Hope, that's a pretty nice name, isn't it?

What do you think of the name Hope?

She says she likes it fine.

All right, it's okay with me if it's okay with you.

Well I think it's very pretty.

Well Hope it is.

Well now you say goodbye to your father.

Goodbye Hope.

Guess I'll be seeing you around.

That was sort of a silly thing to say.

She's gonna like it in Florida.

Florida, oh I forgot to tell ya.

We're gonna move.

When?

Within about two weeks.

I've been transferred to MacDill.

We're going back to our old house.

Oh that's wonderful.

We'll be there just in time to watch the spring training.

Yeah.

How'd that happen?

They're setting up a new B-47 wing.

General Hawke's giving me a chance

to get in on the ground floor.

General Hawke?

Uh huh.

What's a B-47?

It's a new jet bomber and it's the most beautiful,

wonderful airplane you've ever seen in your whole life.

Sally this is the most wonderful thing you can ever imagine.

In the B-36 we've got a good long range heavy bomber,

but we've needed a medium bomber

to replace our World War II types.

The B-47 can fill that need and greatly increase

the overall capabilities of the strategic air command.

It's been under development for eight years.

It's the fastest operational jet bomber in the world.

Recently it was timed at a ground speed

of 794 miles per hour and it's ceiling is over 40,000 feet.

This wing is so clean the mechanics

have to wear soft soled shoes if they walk on it.

A scuff on this metal skin could slow it down

20 miles an hour.

With a new family of nuclear weapons,

one B-47 and a crew of three carries

the destructive power of the entire

B-29 force we used against Japan.

Up until now the B-47 has been in the hand of test pilots,

it looks good.

We don't know how good until it's been proved out

by our regular SAC crews.

That'll be General Castle's job

with the first new wing at MacDill.

I want to see a year of flying crammed into six months.

I'll tell you why I'm in a hurry.

When units of all three SAC air forces

are quipped with B-47s our overall ability will be doubled.

It all boils down to less danger of war.

With each B-47 delivered SACs capability

of quick retaliation is increased,

and an enemy would undoubtedly know it.

We'll be better able to realize SACs best hope.

To prevent a war from ever starting.

I've called you to Omaha for the special briefings

that will follow because each one of you

is gonna be a key man in the B-47 program.

Let's leave it this way.

The B-47 is on third base.

It'll be up to you to being it home.

Canopy coming closed.

You all squared away Ike?

Okay Dutch.

How about you Rocky?

Roger.

MacDill tower this is 5024,

we're ready to go.

5024 you're cleared for takeoff.

Roger, 5024.

Air Force 5024 this is eagle control say again.

You're just in time, the B-47's on a bomb run.

Eagle control this Air Force 5024.

Type of bomb run, radar observer Major Knowland IK,

altitude 43,000, 43,000 feet,

type of release automatic over.

Eagle control roger.

Give us a call when you depart the IP.

Eagle control this is 024 departing IP.

Roger.

Ike you all set?

Roger.

Okay, it's your airplane.

We are 25 miles out.

Roger.

Your tone is loud and clear.

Standing by for information.

Bomb away.

Dutch, that's a shock.

You mean this cities been wiped out theoretically

in the storm by a bomber we didn't even see or hear?

Sure.

With radar weather's no problem.

We've been bombing cities everyday and every night

all over the US, only people never know it.

Hi.

7th hour stretch.

Thanks lke.

Hey Rocket we've got about an hour and a half

more to go do you want to take it the rest of the way

to the landing?

Love to.

You have it.

That shoulder again huh?

Oh I'm stiff all over, who isn't?

Hit the chute.

Say you know that boy's got a lot on the ball.

He could be another Bobby Feller.

Ah he looks great.

He won 18 for Rochester last year.

Dutch will you stop looking at your watch?

You said you don't take off until midnight.

Well honey I'm not hopping a street car you know.

A mission like this takes six, seven hours

pre flight briefing.

And what about the four days between missions?

You've only had two.

I know, I know I'm filling in for Charley.

You can watch the rest of the inning anyway.

All right, all right.

Hey, I just noticed those eagles.

When did you make chicken colonel Dutch?

Couple weeks ago.

They figured we needed the raise on account of the baby.

She's not kidding.

How a sergeant with five kids makes it I don't know.

Well I'll say this much for General Hawkes,

he's certainly doing everything he can for them.

Struck them out, two in a row!

Honey, I've got to go, bye.

Well look this time I don't want any penguins.

I'll being you a pelican.

Bye Tom.

Bye Colonel.

What's the matter Sally?

Oh nothing, I was just wondering

where he's going this time.

Hello Sally, how are you?

Well hi Rusty, I'm fine, how are you?

Fine, fine.

May I present General Hawkes?

It's a real pleasure Mrs. Holland,

I've been looking forward to meeting you.

Same here.

Only I'm a little disappointed.

I thought you'd be breathing fire.

Well I usually do I just had a flame out.

Well if you're here recruiting please don't take Brewster.

Oh no I'm a great ball fan.

Oh good, why don't you tell that to Mister Doyle.

Mister Doyle, General Hawkes.

How do you do Mister Doyle?

Thank you for letting us in.

My pleasure.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

So you're the man that stole my third baseman?

I wish we could keep him too.

I'll bet you do.

So you're on Mister Doyle's side eh?

Yes I am.

We've got a job to do Mrs. Holland

and getting men like your husband isn't easy.

Well don't tell me your little problems General.

I'm only interested in results.

Touche.

Hello?

Oh, Mother it's you.

Nothing, nothing at all.

Oh it's just that every time Dutch goes

on one of these missions I just die.

No, of course he doesn't know.

No and he never will.

No, no but he should be here any minute.

Yes, yes it was a long flight.

Please don't ask me, I never know where he's going.

Look, Mother, we thought we'd take you all

to the Officer's Club you know for Dad's birthday?

If Dutch is here.

Well I haven't had a chance to ask him yet.

Oh here he is, I'll call you back.

Oh hi!

Gee whiz that's a real bear hug.

Oh I'm just so glad to see you.

Why?

I'm fine.

Was it rough?

No, no, everything went off fine.

Just like clockwork.

My shoulder bothered me the last couple of hours,

but outside that, how's the baby?

Oh she's fine, she's still asleep.

Listen, you know Tuesday's Dad's birthday,

and I thought we'd take them to the Officer's Club.

You'll still be here won't you?

Yeah.

Well I think so, it all depends on the operation schedule.

You won't be going on another mission that soon.

Honey I don't know.

All I know is we should be.

Should be?

You shouldn't be flying at all.

Dutch, why don't you go and see the doctor.

Every time you go on one of these trips

when you come back your shoulder is much worse.

You know how flight surgeons are,

now it's not that bad, I'm not taking any chances.

Now honey I know what I'm doing.

You're so tired you don't know what you're doing.

All right, all right, all right.

I'll fix you some breakfast,

then you should go to bed.

All right, all right.

So this'll be the first overseas movement

of an entire jet bomber wing.

While we're at it we've been ordered

to try something a little special.

A new record.

30 B-47s will make a routine refueling stop at Seattle,

but the other 15 airplanes will prepare to fly

from MacDill to Japan nonstop.

General Espy has some additional information.

The flight will be 7400 statute miles in almost 16 hours.

I will fly number one position of the non stop group.

Colonel Holland will fly number 15.

Lights.

Now here's the plan.

This operation will be carried out in three phases,

first we'll move the wing bag and baggage, everything.

Spare engines, fuel trucks and maintenance crews.

Tomorrow at 08:00 Globemaster Cargo Aircraft

will load the men and equipment.

The second phase starts the following morning at 06:00,

when our KC-97 tankers will take off

so as to be in place and here for in flight

refueling rendezvous with that B-47s

who will proceed to destination near Kota.

Lights.

And third, the B-47s will depart when ordered.

All B-47 combat crews will stand by.

A word of caution, there's a security blackout.

Let's do it first, then talk about it.

She's still asleep.

Does that child sleep all afternoon?

I have to get home.

Oh now she'll be awake soon, you just be patient.

Patient, I haven't seen her since yesterday.

Hello?

No Colonel Holland isn't here, this is Mrs. Holland.

It's long distance Mother, Tom Doyle!

Hi Tom, how are you?

Oh I'm fine.

She's just fine.

No, he's over at the base.

You can reach him at MacDill.

I see.

Yeah I see.

Oh I'm sure he can.

Oh yes, me?

You know I'm all for it.

Fine, fine I'll see you in a few days.

Bye Tom.

Hooray, hooray, hooray!

God bless Tom Doyle, Brewster

and everybody in Saint Louis.

What's come over you?

What are you talking about?

Oh the most wonderful thing just happened.

What?

Brewster broke his leg.

Oh wonderful?

The poor boy.

Oh I'm sorry about it of course,

but don't you see this puts Tom in a spot,

and he wants Dutch to come back and finish the season.

You know I'd almost forgotten Dutch was a baseball player?

Oh gosh so had he.

Oh but he'd never turn Tom down, he'd love this,

and you know this of course settles everything.

Well if you're going to Saint Louis

I'd say it unsettles everything.

Oh no Ma, no more long missions.

No more worrying.

Sally I hope it all works out for you.

Oh it will Mom, it really will.

Where are you going?

Well I have to find the sports page.

To catch up on a few things.

You know I don't even know the Cardinal lineup anymore.

Oh Sally.

Well this just came out of the blue.

You know I wanna do everything I possibly can to help.

Uh huh, yeah.

That's right.

Well let me call you in an hour huh Tom?

What's your number?

What is it?

4728, I'll call you in an hour.

All right.

Hi.

Hi.

Did Tom get you?

Yeah, yeah.

Talked to him twice.

Well you know he called here first

and he told me all about it.

I suppose you'll still have to make the flight anyway.

Oh well we've been standing by all day for weather

and word from SAC.

How soon can you get away?

Sally I had to turn Tom down.

I had to make a decision and I made it.

I'm not getting out at all.

I'm staying in the Air Force permanently.

Oh you...

I know it's rough on you, I know how you feel.

I took all that into consideration,

but when I got right down to rock bottom,

this was the only thing I could do.

But you served your 21 months.

Now there's no use arguing, it's all settled.

I've signed up.

You just went ahead

and made this decision all by yourself?

There are some decisions you have to make alone.

So this is going to be it.

The Air Force.

For the rest of your life and mine.

One station after another, one mission after another,

and you just walk in here and calmly tell me this.

There are times when you're given

certain responsibilities you can't ignore them.

Don't you have any responsibilities to Hope and me?

Is it always General Hawkes?

Now General Hawkes didn't have anything to do with it.

Oh he's been working on your for months.

Flattering you, promoting you.

Sally if there was a war on

you wouldn't question any of this.

Well that's just it, there isn't.

But there is a kind of war.

We've got to stay ready to fight without fighting.

That's even tougher.

That's why I made this decision.

You made it, we didn't.

All these months I kept telling myself,

it isn't how much you're together that counts,

it's that you are together,

and now suddenly we're not together at all!

Oh Dutch what's happened to ya?

I just don't even know ya anymore.

I'm still the same and here I am all alone with a stranger.

Colonel Holland.

Okay I'll be right over.

Word just came through from SAC, I have to go.

Sally I can't go this way.

What difference does it make?

We couldn't be any further apart.

Even if we're Tokyo.

Hey Dutch, let's go!

Comet yellow flying taxi runway 22

Wind is south 10 out.

Altimeter 3011.

Hello Sergeant this is Mrs. Holland.

Can you please tell me if Colonel Holland has left yet?

You what?

Where can I find General Castle?

The control tower.

No, never mind.

Where can I find General Castle?

Has Dutch left yet?

Oh I'm sorry Sally but Dutch took off

about five minutes ago.

Oh there's something I've got to tell him

I can't let him go this way.

I wish there was something we could do Mrs. Holland.

Well I'm afraid there isn't General

and I hope you're satisfied.

Wasn't one war enough for you without calling him back?

Just when he was beginning to live?

Are you just gonna let him go on and on?

How much more do you want?

Sally!

I'm sorry you feel that way Mrs. Holland,

but I want you to understand one thing,

this was Dutch's decision, not mine.

His decision because you maneuvered him into it.

Promoting him, putting him in important jobs!

Now let's get one thing straight.

You think I promoted him because he was Dutch Holland

you underestimate him.

He's an exceptional commander.

Dutch earned this, the hard way.

I just hope he can get through this mission.

There any reason he shouldn't be on this mission?

I think there's every reason,

and someday when he cracks it's gonna be

because you didn't give him any choice.

Mrs. Holland, I too have no choice.

45 aircraft now airborne Dutch.

Okay, navigator how we doing?

On course.

On time Dutch.

Roger.

In six minutes the formation will break up

and we'll proceed on our individual flight plan.

There's our fuel tanker, right on schedule.

Air Force 3411.

What'll you have, ethyl or regular?

Whatever you got, just fill her up.

Your slipway doors are open.

Receptacle clear.

Everything looks normal, tanker ready for contact.

Receiver ready for contact.

Forward two, standby for contact.

Roger.

Contact.

Contact.

Roger.

Up three.

Your position is good.

Fuel pressure 35 pounds.

Transfer completed.

Disconnect when ready.

Roger.

Just caught a sports broadcast Dutch,

you're front page news.

All about you passing up baseball for an Air Force career.

Call that news huh?

How about you Ike?

Made up your mind yet?

You staying in?

I guess I might as well.

Seems like quite a few of the boys are staying in.

You've started quite a fashion Dutch.

We've bumped into 120 knot headwind Dutch.

Jet stream.

40 knots faster than rate.

We've lost 13 minutes already.

We better do something about that Ike.

Leo what do you think?

Think we better try and get over it?

If we stay under it we'll use too much fuel,

that's for sure.

How much higher do you think we'll have to go lke?

Get out of the jet stream?

Well maybe, 2-3,000 feet.

Well altitude's kind of critical

for us at this weight.

I think maybe we better try it.

Here we go.

That's about as high as she'll go.

How much longer we got Ike?

Five hours, 11 minutes.

We're practically there.

I went crazy the first 10 hours.

My helmets killing me and I feel like I'm sitting

on a block of concrete.

I'll trade you that block of concrete

for this picket fence I'm sitting on.

You guys should've been navigators.

At least we can get off this seat once in awhile.

Air Force 3411, this is Yakotda tower.

Ceiling is still variable from one to 400 feet.

Fog, visibility varying from one quarter mile to two miles.

Occasionally zero.

How about other airplanes,

they all land okay Yakotda?

Affirmative.

The last one barely made it.

Conditions may improve in 30 minutes, can you hold?

Not if I have to go to an alternate.

What's the forecast?

3411, Okinawa is reporting broken and still VFR.

Your other alternates are still instrument

and below minimums.

Well if I go to Okinawa I have to leave right now.

My fuel reserve's low.

Standby Yakotda.

Roger.

Yakotda this is 3411.

Proceeding to Kadena Air Force Base Okinawa.

Roger, Yakotda tower out.

Air Force jet 3411, this is Kadena approach control.

You're now 68 miles out, weather getting worse.

Ceiling dropping rapidly.

You've got three miles and 500 feet.

Now you tell me.

That's a fine how do you do Kadena.

I've got 11 minutes fuel and nine more minutes to go.

It's gonna be a close one.

Air Force jet 3411, contact GCA on 118.2

and stand by for immediate jet penetration.

Affirmative, affirmative.

Air Force jet 3411, you are cleared

for immediate jet penetration.

Hey Leo.

Yeah Dutch?

There's something wrong.

Leo, I...

I can't move my right arm Leo.

Leo, you take ahold of the throttles.

Reduce your power 10%.

Roger.

Little more.

There ya are.

All right now, you'll handle the throttles.

I'll handle the controls, okay?

Roger.

Weather now reporting 100 feet.

Visibility one quarter of a mile.

Advise you hold east of the outer marker.

Negative.

Negative Kadena I can't hold.

I'm committed.

I don't have enough fuel to go around.

Go on now bring me on in.

Affirmative.

Continue your penetration.

Air Force jet 3411, this is your final controller.

You need not acknowledge any further transmissions.

You're six miles from the end of the runway.

40 feet above the glide path.

Increase your rate of descent.

You have now passed through the GCA minimums.

Now hold your rate of descent.

You're right at the center line.

Steer to a heading of 175 degrees.

All right, back another 5% Leo.

Roger.

Little more.

Now forward.

Little more.

All right back a little.

There you are hold on.

Your course is good.

Your rate of descent is good.

Now steer to 180 degrees.

You are on glide path, you are on course.

Your heading is 180 degrees.

You are on glide path, you are on course.

You're two miles form the end of the runway.

Your heading is 180 degrees.

Your rate of descent is good.

You are on course.

You're approaching the end of the runway.

You are now over the end of the runway.

Take over visually.

We're breaking out Dutch and I see the ground.

All right, back a little more.

I got the runway.

All the way back.

All the way back Leo.

All right.

All right pop your chute.

Thanks GCA.

Thanks for getting us down finally.

Surprised you can use that arm at all.

The inflammations gone down already sir,

in just three days.

I ordered you back to Omaha Colonel Holland

because of this medical report.

It indicates a chronic condition.

Might happen again anytime.

Especially on long high altitude flights.

I suppose that's true General.

You know I outta throw the book at you?

For not following existing instructions

about reporting to a flight surgeon after an accident.

For concealing a condition that could've grounded you.

Yes sir.

What you did could've resulted

in the loss of your aircraft and your crew.

Until this last mission sir

it was nothing more than annoying.

I wouldn't have taken such a risk.

I'm inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I suppose you know you're all through flying?

Yes sir.

You can't command an operational unit.

You can stay in of course at a ground job.

Would you like that?

No sir.

I didn't think you would.

I'm gonna let you go.

You're out of the Air Force as of now.

Is your wife here yet?

No sir, I haven't seen her since we left MacDill.

I don't suppose you can play much ball with that shoulder.

Well not this season anyway sir.

What are you going to do?

I'm sure Tom Doyle will have a spot picked out for me sir.

Well if he doesn't make a manager out of you he's crazy.

That's fine with me.

Well let's hope so.

Good luck to you.

Sorry it had to end this way sir.

So am I Holland, damn sorry.

I hate to lose you.

Thank you sir.

Dutch.

Dutch, I suppose that you know better than anybody else,

what an uphill battle it is to keep SAC going.

The job is big and the pay is small.

The things that I fought for,

better family housing, better rates for the combat crews

and the non coms, the things that help us

to get the best people and keep the best people,

and 80% of them are reserve officers

and citizen soldiers just like you.

Dutch, none of these things are easy to come by.

We need all the help we can get.

Yes sir.

I want you to know this.

The job you did while you were with us,

and the decision you made when you had an easy out,

gave us more help than you'll ever realize.

We're grateful to you.

I'm glad to hear that sir.

General Hawkes,

will you please tell Colonel Holland

that Mrs. Holland is here.

She's says to tell him she'll be waiting for him

in General Wheatley's office.

Ask her to come here.

Hello Sally.

Remember me?

I'm that stranger.

Oh sure, I'd know you anywhere.

You couldn't fool me.

I don't care what uniform you're wearing,

you're still my husband.

I'm very proud of you.

I'm ashamed of me.

We had a medical report on that arm Mrs. Holland.

I've got to let him go.

He's all yours.

Is that it?

That's it.

That's our new B-47 wing

flying it's first training mission.

We'll have four full new wings by the end of the year.

♪ Ride the wind follow a star

♪ Find the foe strike where they are

♪ Round the world isn't too far

♪ When the Air Force takes command ♪