Original subtitles

Bandits, level o'clock high!

Congratulations, Greg.

The transport you rescued was carrying Eleanor Roosevelt.

You and your men saved her life.

We'll be selling bonds all over the country.

Pull your gun!

Look, my brother was killed two days before his 21st birthday.

And I'm not gonna watch that happen again.

There are people back home, people hungry for good news.

Those people don't have to write letters to the families of dead pilots.

I do!

We are poor little lambs who have lost our way.

Baa baa baa.

Hotline troops in the South Pacific.

It's a rigorous schedule, but the first lady has committed herself

to visiting 21 different islands before returning home.

President Roosevelt himself authorized this

trip, but from Capitol Hill, members of Congress

expressed their concern about the First Lady being so close to enemy action.

However, Admiral Charles Taylor, long-time friend of President Roosevelt,

will personally oversee her safety.

A cloak of security surrounds Mrs. Roosevelt's journey,

and the President need not fear for her.

Her plane will be escorted at all times by the Navy's famed Flying Bronco Squadron.

Where are you, Flying Broncos?

Come in, Flying Bronco leader.

This is Silver Fox. Do you read me Flying Broncos?

What do you mean you lost contact with Silver Fox?

Sir, we ran into some weather, huh?

I don't care what you ran into. You find that plane, dammit.

Silver Fox to Flying Bronco leader. Silver Fox to Flying Bronco leader.

Sounds like somebody's having radio problems, Greg.

Here she is at five o'clock, Greg. Looks like a transport.

More than radio problems.

Casey, you stay upstairs. Everybody else, downstairs.

Silver Fox, this is Black Sheep One.

Any damage? I took a few hits, but everything seems to be okay.

Hey, Silver Fox, you don't want to be alone in this neck of the woods.

Ran into some weather, and I got separated from my escort.

Here they are now.

Silver Fox, this is Flying Bronco leader. Everything okay? It is now.

Thanks much, Black Sheep leader.

You're always glad to give the Navy a hand.

You guys are ever in La Cava. Stop by. We'll buy you a drink.

We'll do.

All right. We're 180 on me. Let's go home.

For two weeks, daily routine for us was a

pre-dawn take-off then bomber missions till noon.

The incident with the transport was a welcome relief.

Still, it was all in a day's work.

And there were a lot of hours left to kill.

Yes, sir. Just in case you ladies are getting bored.

Here we go. Put your home economics for you.

Hey, you got it!

Put this stuff in there.

You guys, be careful. Let's cure alcohol.

Right.

You gonna leave enough for the hospital?

Make a little proof, huh?

You gotta do the honors, Greg.

You're being a major and all.

Don't spill that on your clothes.

I think I'll stick to the scotch.

At least we don't have any more scotch traded to the last for some engine oil.

What do you mean we don't have any more scotch?

Nail run?

Not this time of the week.

Yeah. It's about over there.

Let's go.

Come on, Greg.

We didn't get much traffic on Bella LaCava.

By the time the R4-D was making his final,

I had it narrowed down to two things.

Either someone in Portland was paying us a visit,

or we were in some kind of trouble.

We must be in some kind of trouble.

Well, what did your college boy do wrong this time? Nothing.

Really? Nothing.

Okay, here.

Okay, set the camera up over here.

You fellas, come on. Get over here on this side.

Hey, what's going on with the, uh... We got some grass coming there.

The hell is going on here? Okay, here.

Take one of this.

Congratulations, Greg.

Thank you. For what, sir?

He really doesn't know.

The transport you rescued.

He was carrying a little Roosevelt.

You and your men saved your life.

President's wife? Yeah.

Jim. Admiral Taylor.

Major point.

I told you, we didn't do anything.

Well, if we didn't do anything wrong,

then we must have done something right.

What do you mean we, Pinhead?

I don't see nobody taking your picture.

Pinhead calling Pinhead.

You.

Uh, Captain Casey, bring the rest of the squadron over here.

We want to get some pictures of you.

Hey, Harry, I'm just gonna do anything wrong.

See ya.

Okay, uh, excuse me, Admiral,

if we could get you over here.

General, and Major, if you'd get in the middle there, please.

Colonel, would you get up here right now?

Hey, what's going on? I don't know.

One of the photographers just told me they

saved Eleanor Roosevelt's life this morning.

Maybe he was joking.

I don't think so.

Larry?

Mine and Larry did that.

Keep it going.

Lieutenant, you're also listening.

Hey, excuse me, gentlemen,

can I get just one more picture of Adam Wheeler

making you going up here, making you so clear? Thank you.

Okay, now, um, how about a big smile? Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Admiral, if the Navy was responsible for the First Lady's security,

why was her plane rescued by the Marine Corps?

Well, uh, actually, uh,

the Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy.

We have a long history of cooperation.

What would be your comments to that major? Oh, absolutely.

Admiral's right. It's been a long history of cooperation.

To the Navy, Admiral.

As the President wired his congratulations.

You mean they're fresh and exciting.

What's the matter? Don't you hear good?

What I said was they're a bunch of dumb college boys still wet behind the ears.

I see. Thank you.

Thank you, Sergeant.

You know, I got to be perfectly honest with you.

I didn't know that the President's wife wasn't on the plane, and I, uh...

Well, I didn't do it.

I mean, around here, we're a team.

We were just doing our job.

You ought to talk to one of the... Talk to my exec officer. Talk to Captain Casey.

What's your name again? Ned Wallace.

Life Magazine.

With Life Magazine.

Life Magazine. Yes.

Captain, what was your first reaction when you learned

you'd saved the First Lady's life? Uh, well, uh.

..

I was just very glad that everything turned out okay.

There must have been a tremendous sense of pride.

It must have brought the war into a more personal perspective for you.

Yes, yes, it did that too.

I'm so proud of you, Larry.

But, Captain, what's your life like when you're not up there flying?

Oh, uh, it's nothing special, really.

It's just kind of boring, you know.

Kind of one day to the next.

I could tell you all about that.

Oh? Have you talked to Boyle?

Boyle has a real great kangaroo right over there.

Oh, thank you.

You grow a vegetable garden? Yeah.

What for? For food.

Something to eat.

Hey, fresh vegetables are like gold around here, pal.

What got you interested in this kangaroo, Lieutenant?

He's got a terrific left tok. He's going to be a contender.

Act natural, Rock.

Hey, you take many pictures, Boyle.

I can't believe all this is happening.

I can't. I've watched it happen before.

We took a lot of pictures that day.

But the next morning, it was business as usual.

We were headed up the slot to look for enemy aircraft.

Or at least we thought we were.

Now let's make the heading 340.

Black sheep leader, this is Espritos Marcos.

Do you read me? Over.

This is black sheep leader. Go ahead, Colonel.

We've got to change your orders for you, Greg.

You and the squadron are to report to Espritos Marcos.

Now?

Now.

Colonel Lark's not in there.

Oh, where is he?

He and General Moore went to a meeting over at Fleet.

At Fleet?

Then we'd be back.

Well, not for a few hours, I'd say. Just like five minutes ago.

He what?

Well, why would he send for me if he wasn't going to be here?

Well, he didn't, Major. Boy, did I do.

Maurice Parker, Marine Corps Public Information.

Oh, how do you do, Colonel? What's this all about?

Why don't you come to the office? We'll talk about it.

To the Corps.

To the Corps.

Hey.

Congratulations. This is good scotch.

Good, good. Is that fresh milk?

I have it flown in three times a week.

I couldn't live without it.

Greg, you and your men have started something

here that we can really sink our teeth into.

In fact, I've got myself assigned here permanently.

Yes, sir, but you still haven't told me why I sent for me.

Oh, Sergeant Powell, will you bring that schedule in here?

Greg, you're in the limelight now,

and it's my business and publicity

to make sure that you stay there. Thank you, Sergeant.

Let's see. There's a photo session before lunch,

and right afterwards, there's a radio hook-up for an interview through Pearl,

and then two reporters from the Associated Press.

That's just the beginning, just the beginning.

Let me ask you that, sir.

Surely. Thank you.

Photo session, press conference, statements for...

Is that United Press International? Right.

I look, Colonel.

Oh, call me Maurice, please.

Maurice.

I don't want to do any of this, and I'm sure.

that no one on my squadron does either.

Oh, you'll get used to it a couple of weeks.

You'll be an old pro.

Hey, this is gonna be good for you guys. Good.

Colonel, let's not kid each other.

There's a war going on, and the only reason

that we're here is because we're combat pilots.

Well, excuse me, Major, but I think you're wrong.

You see, right now, this is the most important job you can do for the Marine Corps.

Major, traditionally, the Army and the Navy cut up the pie,

and the Marine Corps is left with the crowns.

That's because appropriations are based

on how the public feels about the Marine Corps.

Well, right now, we've got an opportunity to do something about it.

You had that opportunity, sir.

I'm sure you can get someone else.

Now, thank you.

Oh, Major.

Good scotch. Good luck.

Major, uh, may... He doesn't seem too cooperative, sir.

No, he doesn't, Sergeant. Thank you.

Oh, we'll do it.

We'll do it.

With or without Major Boyington.

Hey, how'd you get this news real so quick?

Curry a pie owes me a favor,

but, uh, we only got it for about an hour.

Come on. Okay, okay.

Uh, cut the lights, will you, Jason?

Eleanor Roosevelt, in her second week touring the South Pacific,

pays tribute to Major Gregory Boyington of the Marine Corps.

Major Boyington, who is one of the Pacific's

leading aces and his squadron, made a daring rescue

when the First Lady's plane was attacked by Japanese heroes.

Major Boyington's squadron, affectionately known as the Black Sheep,

is based on the tiny tropical island of Bela La Cava.

Their excellence in the air is the result of disciplined strategy sessions

where tactics are gone over thoroughly before each mission.

Let's meet the Black Sheep.

Lieutenant Jerry Bragg from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Jerry never goes on a mission without his diary.

Plans on writing a book on Native customs after the war.

As wingmen, Lieutenant Bob Boyle, whose keen interest in animals,

prompted him to take care of this young kangaroo,

left homeless when its mother died at birth.

Lieutenant Donald French of Riverside, California,

continues an agricultural study he started at Texas A&M.

Each week, he donates the vegetables he grows to the natives on neighboring islands.

One of the hottest mallets in the squadron is so shy,

he won't even give reporters his name.

Part of their success can be attributed to the... He can't even fly.

I think he's cute.

Their flight mechanic.

If a pilot thinks an engine sounds a little rough,

Sergeant Micklin will stay up all night

and take the entire engine apart until he finds the problem.

To help offset the pressures of their duty,

the squadron often gets together to enjoy some lime punch,

made from limes that grow wild on the island.

But when duty calls, these men are quick to respond.

As executive officer... There's my Larry.

...formally a crop duster from Oklahoma,

and the wide-earth of the outfit sees it,

danger is something you just learn to live with.

The Fighting Black Sheep Squadron,

pride of the Marine Corps, and terrors of the Pacific.

Good to see you.

Danger is something you learn to live with.

Want my autograph, sweetheart?

All right, now, guys, listen up.

I don't want this going to your heads.

The first guy that shows up wearing a silk scarf

is going to end up on his ear.

We're going to need that book on ear problems.

Yeah, come on, let's go.

That was a good jump.

It's going to show the people back home what more it's really like.

Oh, you got it.

Hey, sir.

What do you got there?

This just came in.

What is that?

It's for everyone.

What is it?

Scott and our brand.

Whoa!

Hold on, hold on.

Best wishes, Colonel Maurice Parker.

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

Okay, they're over.

Okay.

Let me get this other point.

Give me one of those.

Good night, guys.

My prayers are answered.

Let me see one of those.

You're on.

Hey, Sam, where you going?

How long does this go on, Greg?

Well, they're grown men.

What do you expect me to do, confine them to their quarters?

Does that include Jeb too?

Listen, these men put their life on the line every day.

Now they're finally getting some recognition for it, and you know something?

They've earned it, including Jeb.

What does it take?

Are you gonna wait till they all think they're

invincible and then one of them gets hurt or killed?

You know, they are combat pilots.

Greg, Zeke's 11 o'clock.

All right, fellas, here's where we pay for the scotch.

This was supposed to be a routine mission,

but suddenly the odds were against us.

Something's coming up on your tail.

Looks like an R4D, Pappy.

This is Black Sheep Leader.

What the hell is going on?

Black Sheep Leader, this is Captain Harper,

headquarters photographic wing.

We're getting it all on film.

You'll get that gooty bird out of here! Greg, race.

Just pretend we're not here.

Parker, you get that plane out of here or I'll blow it out of here.

Greg, I think we got enough of what we need.

Keep up the good work. See you below.

All plugged. Gaskets, connector rod, carburetor.

Looks like we might keep them planes in there a little longer, Colonel.

Maurice, I want to talk to you.

Oh, listen, Greg, I'm sorry about pulling that camera plane on you.

It was a last-minute thing.

Last minute, huh?

Hey, Micklin, where'd you get this?

Confluence with Colonel Parker here.

Well, how'd you get these, Colonel?

Are you kidding? For you guys, it's a cinch.

Listen, you need anything else, you let me know.

You hear?

Greg, same for you. Anything, anything at all, just say the word, okay?

Let's call for a drink.

Hey, Andy.

Yeah? What do you think about all this hero business?

I think it's a lot of bull, but them parts ain't there for real.

Them college boys of yours might get themselves in a

jackpot being heroes, but flying around an airplane

is held together with beer cans and baling wire.

Ain't my idea of a good time.

To Eleanor Roosevelt.

Richards. Yes, Sergeant.

Start pulling the plug out of them airplanes.

Well, what do we...

Who? Hurry up.

What, who?

What are you, some kind of hootie hell or something?

Do what I tell you.

Right, Sarge.

Merry Christmas.

In fact, the Japanese aren't making any daylight runs or something, aren't they?

Yeah, up to a point, but they're regrouping,

and their next move is what we need to know.

Something wrong?

They may be moving sooner than we thought.

And we've been tracking the Tokyo Express for some time now.

Western Rabaul, one of their transports broke off, and we lost it.

It was heading south.

I bet it's a troop carrier.

Yeah, one of their big ones.

We estimate 1,100 troops plus heavy weapons.

Shaft.

Looks like they're making a round of Logan.

Well, so are we.

In three days, we're going to be putting 1,500 men on that beach.

I've got to know exactly where that transport is headed.

Well, sir, why don't you send in one of our destroyers to find it?

We'd never get by to Tokyo Express.

We could find it from the air, though.

We've never sent a squadron that far north.

They could get pounded.

Well, what about Boyington?

If his black sheep is so good, let them find that transport.

Boyington is the best, but it doesn't guarantee

he's going to be able to get in there.

You're asking an awful lot, Jim.

I'm well aware of that, Tom.

Okay, Larry, come ahead now.

I said cool.

Don't look at the camera.

Kind of a lonely look on your face.

Kind of lonely.

That's it, good.

We'll be selling bonds all over the country.

Good, Larry, good.

Turn around.

Pull your gun.

Good!

That was perfect.

Now, let's do it one more time.

I want you to pull your gun, check to see if

it's loaded, and then get into the plane, okay?

All right, all right.

Okay, get around.

We got a mission to fly.

Oh, Greg, I'm glad you're here.

I could use some pictures of you two.

Well, you can follow us in the camera ship.

Oh, thanks.

I'd just be in the way, wouldn't I? No, not really.

Not at all.

Hey, Greg, listen to this.

Maurice says he can get us a baseball diamond build out of here, huh?

Yeah, and he's flanked some studio people,

and he thinks he can get some stories about what it's really like.

They're for movies and records.

Terrific.

But now we got a mission to fly.

Cold?

I forgot to take it off.

Cold?

Get your hands off my scarf.

Bougainville was the largest of the Solomons.

It had the highest mountains, the wildest jungles,

and the best Japanese fighter pilots.

We flew over the island like we owned the place.

There it is, Greg.

All right, let's go to work.

Remember, one pass and out.

These air force.

They had us outnumbered three to one.

That meant we had to out-flight them and out-maneuver them.

And we did, until our fuel ran low.

We were almost as good as the newsreels said we were.

They smeared cream all over my face.

They snapped a picture, and the caption reads,

Say goodbye to the biting bird of old shaving methods.

Give your face a treat.

You shaved just for the pictures, right? Yeah.

He also gave me a hundred clamps.

I knew it.

What?

Well, Maurice says that we are in demand for that sort of thing.

Oh, kidding.

I'm gonna ask Maurice if he can get some endorsements for the Rock and I.

For what? Sleep powder?

Uh-huh, very funny.

Athletic equipment, you know, boxing gloves and trunks and that kind of stuff.

Well, he's too small for boxing gloves.

Don't worry about it. He'll grow.

Like you, huh, Will?

Yeah, sweetheart.

Hey, Papi, get them while they're hot.

Hey, where did he get these, man?

A hot three, something like that in San Diego.

All right.

Get them while they're hot.

You got us the R4D2, and we'll go on this pretty soon.

You coming?

Come rub shoulders with a brass from Fleet.

Some of us have work to do.

Yeah, well, I guess we'll have to see.

Let's hit it, then.

Possibly.

Let's go.

Wrap it up.

Start the boat.

Possibly.

Come on, honey.

Okay.

Here's the burrito.

You coming, Sam?

Yeah, I think I'll stage up.

Sam, these hot dogs are great.

You want one?

No.

Oh.

The last time I had a hot dog... I'm thinking about asking for transfer.

Transfer?

Uh, just like that.

I guess I just don't have what it takes to be front legs.

Oh, come on, Sam.

I know better than that.

Look, things just aren't working out for me here.

That's funny.

I thought you told me you were happy here.

I was before all this publicity started,

but it's never gonna end,

and neither are the dangerous missions.

Since when is an award dangerous, Sam?

I guess what it all boils down to

is the first thing they taught me in nursing school.

You can't do your job if you're emotionally involved.

You told me you were tired of being an army brat,

never being in one place long enough to start relationships,

and now you're running away.

Look, my brother was killed two days before his 21st birthday.

He was a good pilot, but he was also the general son.

His name was always in the paper,

and it was always on the top of the list for the most dangerous assignments.

It never ended,

and I'm not gonna watch that happen again.

Hey, come on, you guys. They're here. Come on.

Hey, brat, come back here.

What am I doing? Oh, uh...

Uh, hi.

A couple of hotshot admirals,

photos, that sort of thing.

Oh, I get off at four.

Four, huh?

Well, look, I'm gonna be pretty busy.

This may take a while. Oh, see you tonight?

Uh, tonight, tonight. Uh, maybe, maybe. Uh-huh. Bye-bye.

Okay.

Ellie, drop me off to the hospital.

Okay.

Thanks.

I was hoping that after a few days, things would die down.

I was wrong. There seemed to be no end

to the publicity Colonel Parker could generate.

Okay, come on up.

Hey! This is Marcia.

I like this.

This is Marcia.

Hello, Marcia.

Gladys, Isabelle.

What happened?

Last but not least, from the South Pacific.

What is wrong?

Get some pictures. Go, go.

Get them, get them. Get some pictures.

Come on, Jim. Get over here.

Get them. Get some pictures.

Hey, look at that.

All right, get it all you can.

Listen. Great.

Enough's our engagement.

Look at that.

Good. Down a little. Down a little.

Get right down in front. Right down front.

You put a bunch of mats.

Sir, we promised we'd have them back in an hour.

Oh, yeah, that's right.

Okay, okay, hold it. Okay, girls, that's it.

Good. Okay, back in there.

What's going on?

Come on, you just got here.

Great. Great. Thanks a lot.

Stay for a while.

Stay for a while.

Don't worry about it.

What can you do to a print?

Jennifer! Jennifer! Okay, thanks.

Thanks, girls.

What kind of... What?

Did you get them? Good job.

It's like a dream.

The guys weren't really bothered by the incident with the U.S.O. girls.

They forgot about it almost as soon as it happened.

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Take a look at that.

Hey, look at this.

Well, she's quadrant.

Let me see the aces of the recipient.

Hey!

Here, uh, the executive officer,

the debonair Captain Lawrence Casey.

What's it say about me and the rock?

Hope they didn't mention my name.

Hey! Hey, that's me!

That's me! Listen to this!

Perhaps the pilot the Japanese fear most is Lieutenant Don Eagle-eye French!

However, the nurses weren't about to forget it.

For them, it was the last straw.

So let's get together on this.

That means we stay away from the sheep's pen and pretend they don't exist.

Does that mean I can't see Larry? Of course.

He's just as bad as all the rest.

So then, are we agreed?

No.

Ellie? Okay.

Uh, the only thing on the board is, uh, two-man recon patrol up north.

Larry, whose assignment is that?

Uh, VMF-202, flying deuces.

Is that a McGrath? Uh-huh.

Now, that area's, uh, full of zigs.

Good. Now, that's the kind of mission to do you guys some good.

Get us a lot of publicity. We might even get a feature story out of it.

Uh, what about, uh, VMF-202?

Well, I'll smooth out the paperwork.

A case of Scott's to the right person will do wonders, right?

What do you say? Sure.

Do it.

Okay, Maurice, where are your boys? Good.

That settles it. I'll take care of everything.

And thank you, Larry.

Lakava out.

Ha-ha-ha!

Feature story, huh?

Yeah, I love it.

Rod, here I go.

And thank you, Sergeant.

Thank you.

Um...

I wanted to return these to you.

We're through, Larry.

Hey, I apologize about this afternoon. I'm sorry.

It's not just this afternoon.

It's the silk scarf and the six guns. Everything.

Come on. We can talk about it, can't we?

There's nothing to talk about until you change.

Bye, Larry.

Larry, what's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

Here's the island.

Well, how come it's so quiet?

How's that, batter? Hope they like fuzzy pictures.

Zarrows, one o'clock!

Want a lift?

Drop me off at the flight line, will you? Okay.

My transfer came through.

Yeah?

Yeah, I'm going to New Caledonia.

Well, why don't you go to San Diego or San Francisco?

I mean, if you got a call, why don't you go all the way?

Because they needed a trauma-trained nurse in New Caledonia.

And we don't need one here, huh, Sam?

I can't stay here, Greg.

You won't stay here.

What are you going to do if you don't like getting New Caledonia?

You going to ask for a transfer?

Are you through?

Yeah, I'm through. But just one more thing.

If you're going to run away, okay?

Just don't kid yourself.

Hey, Greg, we got jumped by a couple of Z's. We got them both.

Look! Look what you've done to my airplane college boy!

Well, big deal, Micklin. So it needs some work.

Who will fix it? You! Are the films.

Well, we didn't get much, Greg. I told you we got jumped by some Z's.

And I heard you, and I asked you how the films were.

We didn't get very much film.

It's because we got jumped by the Z's.

It needs a little work, huh?

Come here, Greg!

Just ordinary shoe Polish.

I, uh, use stuck brown myself, huh?

Cut down wind resistance. Gives me 10, 15 extra knots.

Does it make a big difference?

Well, naturally, that all depends on the pilot,

but that 10, 15 knots has been the deciding factor for me on several occasions.

Oh, man, you know Major Bontin here?

Yes, Major Captain Casey has just been giving me a lot of interesting...

A lot of pull. That's what he's been giving you.

Casey, I want to talk to you.

It's, uh, you and Greg, uh... What do you want? You got any photos today?

Uh, no, we were jumped by... Why not? You were jumped by Z's.

Yeah. You know what I think?

I think you didn't give a damn about that photo mission.

I think you were up there sharp shooting.

Because you like seeing your name in the newspaper.

You were lucky there were two and not 20.

But, of course, you know that.

From now on, you guys don't go up...

Unless you go up with me. Is that clear? Yes, sir.

I got in my burden. I headed for Regrido's Marcos.

I decided it was about time to have a talk with Colonel Parker.

Greg!

Good to see you. What have you been up to? The usual.

Little cough, little tennis.

I like that. As a matter of fact, I'll make a note of that.

Yeah, we could probably set that up.

Reporters are always looking for a new angle.

Why don't you put down that I tap dance, too? Sit down.

Sit down.

No, thanks. I heard you got two Z's today.

Now, that's what we need. Keep you black sheep right in the headlines.

How'd you hear about the Z's?

Oh, the fleet just called.

Sounds like real pay dirt up there.

You just keep bringing them up, and I'll keep you on the front pages.

That's supposed to be classified information.

Oh, it is. It is. But, uh, I'm piped right into the Pentagon.

That's the only way to get the really good missions.

Well, let me understand this.

Are you telling me that you arranged this mission?

Well, uh, I wouldn't say arranged. I'd say, uh, helped.

I mean, the brass needs the best pilots they can get,

and I need good copy, so they're willing to cooperate.

One hand sort of washes the other, you know.

And if one of my pilots dies, that's good copy, too, isn't it?

I mean, isn't it?

No, no, that's not my aim at all.

Oh, not currently. Don't give a damn about my pilot.

You want heroes. You want good copy.

You know, just hold it. Hold it.

Just spare me your righteousness, will you, Major?

I mean, I'm sure you think you're the only one

who's got a job to do in this war, but you're wrong.

There's probably no concern of yours,

but there are people back home who are frightened,

people hungry for good news, people who need heroes, young people who need examples.

Now, what I send them may not be important to you, but it is to them.

Those people don't have to write letters to the families of dead pilots.

I do!

Now, let me tell you some, Colonel, and you understand it.

If anything happens to one of my pilots,

I'm gonna come looking for you. You got that, Colonel?

Every time we get close, they hit us from the air.

Now, they've got to have an airstrip hidden in that jungle someplace.

Well, these reconnaissance photos don't show in airfield.

Well, reconnaissance photos be damned, Tom.

I'm telling you they got an airstrip in there.

Well, could be heavily camouflaged,

but it still doesn't solve our problem.

Anything we send in low enough to spot it, we get blown right out of the sky.

Give this mission to Boyington and his squadron.

They've done it before. They can do it again.

General, why don't I just land on the beach and ask the Japanese for directions?

Boyington, it's just one of those,

I don't like it any better than you do days.

Sir, when I get back,

I'd like to sit down with you and have a talk about Colonel Parker,

if you don't mind, sir.

Oh, we're not.

We headed for Bougainville.

In every war, certain missions should be volunteer,

but they aren't. This one was one of them.

We were dropping into the enemy's backyard in an effort to

help 1,500 Marines who were going to land on that island.

Here, you guys.

Let's try and keep our wings out of the trees.

It reminded me of a shooting gallery,

and we were the ducks.

We found the airfield,

but there weren't any fighters on the strip.

The one thing you have going for you on a mission like this is surprise.

We didn't even have that.

They were all waiting for us upstairs.

And it's 11 o'clock high.

You got one on your tail.

In case he's hit.

Get out of there, Larry.

You stay with them in Radio Dumbo.

Roger, Pappy.

Jerry, look out. One coming at you.

Come on.

Pappy, Bragg's smoking.

Hey, Jerry, are you okay? I'm okay.

She's running a bit rough.

Put it as lean as you can, Jerry.

Keep an eye on your own pressure.

Get ahead of me. I'm gonna follow you in.

Come on, Jerry. Keep the nose up.

Easy. Nice and easy.

Get him out of there before it blows.

Get me 15 units to hold blood.

I'm going with you to the hospital.

Easy.

Keep going in. It'll be okay.

I'll tell you something.

I'd better not have to write that letter we were talking about.

How are the headlines?

Where's Larry? He's okay.

He's okay. He's okay. Come on. Come on.

Where's Larry?

No.

Pappy, how's Jerry doing? I don't know.

He's still unconscious.

Keep trying.

I gotta get out of here.

Easy, Jerry. Easy. Everything's okay.

Everything's okay.

They pull Larry out?

Not yet, but they will.

I know they will.

Fix me up when they brought me in here? Mm-hmm.

Is it bad?

Well, if you're trying for a ticket home,

you're gonna have to try a lot harder than that.

I don't feel really like going home right now.

I know.

Come in. Over.

This is LaCarla. Go ahead, Dumbo.

Just found one of your lost sheep, Captain Casey.

He's in good shape. We'll get him back to you.

Roger. All right.

Yeah, okay.

See, you missed your plane.

I guess I never was drinking the schedules.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Bill, in two days, my planes have so many hulls,

and they're starting to look like Swiss cheese.

A little later, later.

I'm sorry, but I was just doing my job.

What are you gonna do about it now, Colonel?

Everybody's gonna take some heat once in a while.

You got us in the oven, Parker.

The mission they got for us tomorrow, it's a Lulu.

Yeah, I can try.

You better do more than try.

Okay, but your guys aren't gonna like it.

Yeah, they're my guys. You let me worry about my guys, okay?

After being in the Pacific only two weeks,

Lieutenant French was up for court martial the first time

for driving a truck into an operation shack,

completely demolishing it.

Murray, do you mind if we change that to

allegedly drove the truck through the operation shack?

Because it was never proven. I mean, the truck had bad brakes.

Could you shut up and let the man do his job, Don?

One month later, he spent time in the brig

for pushing a superior officer through a plate-glass window.

He fell.

Sure.

Casey, have you come up with anything yet?

I almost got kicked for a dirty footlocker once.

I got yours right here, Jerry.

In July of 1942, while being detained

by Naval security for drunk and disorderly conduct,

he escaped by stealing a Navy transport plane and later crash-landed it.

There was an old plane. They were gonna scrap it anyhow.

Uh, just one thing, Maurice.

This part where you say Lieutenant Robert Boyle

is currently being sought by authorities in Sydney, Australia

for stealing and smuggling a kangaroo out of the country,

that's not true at all.

Iraq's legit. I bought him off a guy in a bar.

I got the papers and everything to prove it.

You don't think I'd be here with a hot kangaroo, do you?

Pappy, this isn't funny at all.

You know, I go back to Sydney, I get pinched.

No one's gonna publish it.

The fleet reads this. I guarantee we'll be out of the news.

What do you got on Jim? Not much.

Only the fact that he's only 16 and entered the Marines illegally.

What? What? Hey, sit down.

Sit down.

Uh, that one, uh, that one, I think, will have to change.

Well, that takes care of everybody, uh, except cases.

Come on. No! Wait! Hold! No!

I got, uh, uh, boot camp, boot camp.

I went AWOL once for boot camp.

Uh, without a pass, right underneath the fence.

Then what happened?

All right, okay, man.

You were absolutely... Yeah! No kidding.

It didn't happen overnight.

The Colonel Parker's plan worked,

and things quieted down.

It was too quiet for Colonel Parker.

He got himself assigned to a hot armor outfit,

and we went back to doing our job.

And occasionally, we got lucky.

Like the time French got that ammo dump over New Georgia.

I did it! I did it!

You can hold your eyes now, French.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Did you really have your eyes open?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Let's see the answer to that.

I was trying to put the glass down safely.

Who's that with Colonel Art?

Colonel Farris, I'd like you to meet Major Boynton.

How do you do, Colonel?

Colonel Farris is our new public relations officer.

I'm looking forward to working very closely with you, Major.

I think we can do big things.

And I hear that you and your men knocked out an ammo dump this morning.

Ammo dump?

No.

Ammo dump over New Georgia.

Now, this is a story I think deserves some attention.

This is Captain Casey. He's my exec officer.

Did we get an ammo dump over New Georgia?

New Georgia? No, no.

We weren't anywhere near New Georgia.

It was VMF 125.

Could have been the flying deuces.

I bet it was those pilots from New Zealand. They're great at ammo dumps.

No, Colonel, we didn't hit any ammo dump over New Georgia.

Major, are you putting me on?

Colonel, would I put you on?

You guys put on the whole world.