Original subtitles

Any laundry, Joe?

Sami, honey, you can have the shirt right off my back.

You've been hitting it pretty hard, Al.

Leave me alone, kid.

We ain't going any place, anyway.

Yeah, let him alone, kid.

He hits it any heavier, we'll all get high on the fumes.

Why don't you tell your buddies where you got it, Trask?

I make it myself, out of lotus blossoms.

Smells like cut-rate gas.

You underestimate me, punk.

This is real high octane.

I'll take that for you, Jockey.

That's all right. I can handle it.

Give the kid the laundry!

Relax. Be my guest.

Anybody else?

Look, do you have to keep diddling on that kazoo?

You got somethin' better to do?

After six weeks in this mud hole, are you kiddin'?

Then don't knock it.

Sami!

Where have you been?

It's been five days.

I thought you never were coming.

We must work to live, Cota and I.

I'll see to that.

I told you I'd take care of you.

Yes, I suppose you could, for a while.

And then you would be gone.

Sami, listen.

You know how it is with us.

Yes, I know how it is with us.

Let us not change it.

But we could have more.

We could be seeing each other all the time,

and you wouldn't have to be doing this.

No, Buddy.

We cannot make too much of something that is just for now.

Sami.

Hey, Paul, how many letters do you figure

you've written in the past three weeks?

I don't know. Why?

What do you write about?

We ain't been out of this tent in a month.

I haven't really even thought of it.

Maybe it's my boy. He's eight years old.

That's an age when I should be around, and I'm not.

I always seem to have plenty to say to him.

Paul Jenkins, model father, model co-pilot.

Keeper of the American ideal.

Get off my back, Merrill.

What's the matter, chum?

You nervous in the service?

We all have to live.

And I have my own peculiar way of doing it.

Take it easy.

You might live long enough to die in combat.

Sounds like my girl. Your girl?

How could you even try with a girl like that?

It's easy.

Besides, I'm just protecting her.

Protecting her? From what?

From you. And a lot of other wolves just like you.

Big-hearted Merrill.

You know, someday your heart's gonna

swell up to the size of a pea and burst.

Careful, chum. Your ideals are showing.

Just what's your code, hotshot?

Money, love, and Jack Merrill,

but not necessarily in that order.

Lewis, why don't you run down to Operations,

see if they've got anything posted for us?

They won't have anything going for anybody, Captain.

Not in this weather.

Well, why don't you run down anyway,

just to make sure?

Haven't you got anything to say to me?

Hello, Captain.

Is that all?

You came to me.

What is it you want?

Let's get off this main boulevard.

What's doing, Prez?

It isn't much, but it's Wrigley's best. Don't swallow it.

I don't dig you.

Play.

How about that one of yours, Al?

Yeah, okay.

Come on.

What's the matter? Am I bringing you down?

Smile.

Doesn't move you, huh?

Well, try this one, Prez.

I'll stuff that horn... Take it easy, take it easy.

What if he was a drummer?

All right. Play.

You got no culture, Maddox. Kid makes good music.

Yeah, and that's all he makes.

Without that horn, he's stuck for an answer when you say hello.

Come on, come on, discard, will you?

All right, wait a minute.

Now I know how you got in the Air Force, you're a born pigeon.

Well, somebody must look after jerks like you.

You want to get your TS card punched, take it to the Chaplain.

Ha, funny boy.

Hey, man.

What's the matter, kid? Did she send you back to get a man?

Or maybe a certain captain can do more for her than a little old sergeant.

Rank has its privileges.

Hey, you'll break up my gin game.

Attention!

At ease.

What's the problem here?

No problems here, sir.

The war's in Korea, men.

Nah, that's enough, that's enough. Come on.

Let's take a look at that burn.

Come on.

Well, hurts, I suppose, but it's not too bad.

Better sit down, take a rest, kid.

I can't.

Merrill just sent me on an errand to Operations.

Ops? Nothing's happened there in a month.

He just wanted to get me out of the way.

We won't be posted for anything and he knows it.

I wouldn't worry about the girl, kid.

None of them are very permanent.

Better get something on that burn.

Hey, Buddy, long as you're going out,

stop at the mail shack and see if they got anything for us, huh?

You expecting a letter from your wife, Trask?

Or from the neighbors again?

Like, maybe with all the latest news.

Man, you're a real sad drag.

Does that make you happy, Merrill?

What's the matter, Sami? You in love with someone?

Don't worry, Captain.

It is not with you.

You act like I set fire to my mother.

I'm only trying to help you.

Are you?

Sure. I'm only thinking of you.

Who is he, Sami? Buddy Lewis?

Does it matter?

I want to know.

He's a sweet boy, and I am...

I like him very much.

Do not punish him for that.

The kid's got taste.

But that's all he is, just a kid.

What can he do for you?

What does he know about...

No.

Give it back, Merrill.

It was my father's.

I'll give it back to you later.

I just want to keep it for a while, for luck.

Well, Lewis?

I thought you'd be interested to know, Captain,

Operations has us posted for a mission.

Lewis!

Buddy!

What exactly did they say at Operations?

Nothing.

They wouldn't answer questions.

I just saw us posted on the board.

Anyone else posted?

I didn't see any other numbers, sir. I don't think so.

Well, you better be sure, Sergeant.

Anything's possible.

Next, they'll be sending us up in balloons.

Ah, it's a great honor, men. I'm deeply moved.

Heh, it sure is funny.

All of us sitting around here,

doing nothing but shooting craps and collecting our pay.

Now you fellas goin' out and earn that money for the whole squad.

Very, very funny.

That's all, Sergeant.

A solo mission. That's a fine piece of dessert.

Yeah, must be something big. Real fat.

Be a hero on your own time, Merrill.

I got plans for the next few years.

Yeah, knit yourself another sweater.

Alone? Are you crazy?

They can't do anything like that.

Yeah, they can't do that to us.

You know, somehow I figure they can.

But it's a lousy deal. It's lousy.

So true, Father.

You know, if we're gonna fly in weather like this,

they ought to give us water wings.

I'm just telling you what the man said.

Sure, kid, sure.

Plug that damn thing up!

Captain Merrill?

Yeah?

Lieutenant Chapman, sir.

You and your crew are to depart immediately to the briefing room.

Right. Go tell the others.

Yes, sir.

Five years from now, I'll be telling the neighbors

how we won the war single-handed.

Come all the way up forward, gentlemen, up to the front.

Sit down, please.

Gentlemen, you've been selected to fly

a very difficult and dangerous mission,

one which, if successful, can materially aid our cause.

As you know, practically all of Korea

and the surrounding area has been weathered in for close to a month.

Under the cover of this weather,

the enemy has been moving tremendous amounts of men and material.

This is the Yalu River, you all know it.

The boundary between North Korea and Manchuria.

The bridges across the Yalu

are the enemy's most important lines of communication,

and they're his best protected.

We have received permission to bomb the Yalu River bridges

and that is your mission.

You will bomb the main bridge across the Yalu at this point.

You will carry a full bomb load.

The trip will take 10 hours, slightly more than usual.

Gentlemen, there is one important qualification.

You will make your bomb run in line with the river

and bomb at a 90-degree angle,

but you will not and must not, under any circumstances,

cross the boundary into Manchuria.

Sir, is it true we're making this mission alone?

Exactly correct, Captain. For good reason.

This is a precision job.

A mass formation would pattern bomb.

Some of the pattern might land in Manchuria.

Our State Department would frown on this.

Sir, what about fighter cover?

The weather will be your cover.

The enemy fighters are grounded as well as our own.

This is a radar job. We'll be bombing through clouds,

and our radar man's in the hospital.

Yes, I know.

Captain Morgan from the States has been assigned to your crew.

He's been specially trained for a mission such as this.

Gentlemen, if there are no further questions,

Major Naylor of Intelligence will brief you further. Major?

Gentlemen, I don't have much to add.

Your target is the bridge at Sinuiju.

Flak will be heavy, but probably inaccurate.

Gunner placements are on both sides of the river,

along this entire stretch.

As you know, friendly islands are here, here and here.

Now there are three MiG squadrons within a 20-mile radius,

but they'll be grounded by weather.

This business about the MiGs being grounded by weather,

somebody give 'em the word?

We hope so, Lieutenant.

According to our best information,

the bad weather will continue for several days.

Now, you'll be flying at 20,000 feet.

Clouds will cover the entire mission.

But one word of caution.

There are areas of severe turbulence en route.

Avoid cumulus formation.

These storms are not wide in area,

but they are extremely severe.

If we run out of clouds, then what?

Gentlemen, this is important.

Now listen. If you should lose your cloud cover

at any point over enemy ground, you are to turn back.

We do not make suicide missions in this Air Force.

It's now 2100.

Breakfast at 0300 and back here at 0400 for final briefing.

Take off at 0530. Now get some rest.

Don't let it eat you, kid.

Cover for me, I'll be back for the briefing.

Where you going?

To the village.

Little half-cast?

Yeah.

You're posted for a mission, kid.

You know what they'll do to you if they catch you.

You sure it's that important?

Yes, I think so.

To you, yeah. How does she feel about it?

I don't know.

Gotta be important to both of you, kid.

It's no good if it's not.

No good at all.

Just cover for me.

It's strange, Murph.

Nothing's strange anymore.

Why did they pick us out of the whole squadron?

Why us?

You heard the man. We're great, that's why.

And we got a great captain, smiling Jack Merrill.

We're not that good, and you know it.

Well, we've been lucky, and where I come from, that makes you good.

We could be great with you running the show. The crew likes you.

They like me, but they follow Merrill.

I fight a better war as a second man.

Who says so? What's stopping you?

No drive, I guess. At least, that's what my wife always says.

But it's always been that way. Just a blocking back.

Well, how did you get into this thing? You didn't have to.

Oh, for all the corny reasons.

Got an eight-year-old boy that's growing up in this sick world.

And if it takes this kind of surgery to cure it, then I want to help.

Well, that's one way, I guess.

Me, I just lie there at night

and wonder what I'm doing back in the war again

while I keep those draft-aged punks safe in school.

Come on.

What now? Dreaming dreams of glory?

Laugh it up, but we're gonna pull this off.

Ha! Our peerless leader hears opportunity knocking.

Yeah, opportunity for parachute practice.

Big joke. But you guys are coming out of this with nothing but experience.

You'll go back and pick up where you left off

and all this'll be a lot of lost time, but not for me,

I got this thing figured a different way.

Really gonna make a big thing of it, huh?

Seems to me there's supposed to be a lot more to it than that.

Well, I'll be a Boy Scout along with the rest of you guys,

but I'm gonna make my merit badges work for me.

This ladder of success, what's it made of? Dead crews?

Hi, Skipper.

Fine-looking body of men.

Something to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies.

Mail call, Trask.

What's in the letter, Al?

Is it from your wife or one of the neighbors?

I'm just being sympathetic, Al. You know that.

That ain't gonna change things back home, Trask.

Sami, it's me, Buddy.

Open the door, Sami, open up.

Buddy!

Please, you're hurting me.

I've treated you like a lady, haven't I?

Like a girl from home?

But a good guy is just another jerk to a girl like you.

No, Buddy, it is not true.

Maybe a guy like Merrill is better for you.

A big hero who can't keep his hands

off any girl that comes near him.

You must not say these things.

Merrill, he means nothing to me.

Yeah, you two looked real unfriendly out there today.

You will not understand.

Merrill is nothing to me, nothing.

It is you I care for. Only you.

I didn't ask you for that.

All I want is the same courtesy

you give your other friends.

Get out of here, Buddy.

Get out.

Sami, listen.

Sami, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it.

Sami, I said I was sorry.

Are you, Buddy?

Look, we've caught a long mission.

When we get back, I'll speak to the Colonel.

Speak to the Colonel?

About us.

About getting married.

Married.

Oh, Buddy, be sure.

I want it with all my heart, but be sure.

I am sure.

And it'll be good, I know it will.

Oh, Buddy, Buddy.

I love you so much that I hurt inside.

I've wanted you so...

But I didn't think it could ever be.

It will not be easy for you.

Sami, I love you.

Captain Morgan?

Yeah.

Glad to have you with us. Welcome to our school.

I wasn't sure I had the right tent.

If you're looking for a Purple Heart, this is the place.

Don't mind these jokers. I'm Paul Jenkins, co-pilot.

This is Ed Houseman, Flight Engineer,

and Murph, Navigator Bombardier.

Hi. How's everything in the States?

Everybody getting rich?

Oh, same as always, I guess.

People never seem to pay much attention to anybody else's troubles.

Um, when do we take off?

Pretty quick now.

You ever flown a mission before?

Just practice missions back in Utah.

See, I wasn't even supposed to come overseas.

They told me I was gonna be held back as an instructor.

Oh, you'll love combat, Captain.

Well, I don't know.

I'm one of those people that's never heard a gun fired in anger.

I guess I'll get used to it.

Glad to hear somebody can.

It's time. Let's go.

Nervous? Well, a little, I guess.

Don't let it get to you.

Everybody is the first time. And every time after that.

Huh.

Ready, boys? Ready, sir.

Where's Lewis?

Uh, medical tent, sir. He wasn't feeling so good. He wanted to check.

Anyone for tennis?

Captain Merrill! Captain Merrill.

One of your men was missing at briefing this morning, Captain.

Where is he? He's one of the gunners, sir.

He went to the medical tent for a last-minute check-up.

He'll be here in time for take-off.

Let go! Let go of me, I'm not going any place.

That's right, 'cause I'm gonna keep a hold of you.

This man belong to you, sir?

Get your flight gear.

Wait a minute. Where have you been, son?

In the village, sir.

Was she that important?

Yes, sir, she was.

Carry on, Sergeant. Yes, sir.

Get your flight gear and get aboard.

I'll be on the flight line to see you off, Captain.

Thank you, sir.

All right, everybody, inspection.

Better survey this first aid kit next time around, Ed.

Yes, sir.

5:30 a.m.

I want to talk to the President's airline

about the schedule.

Well, pleasant journey. Good luck.

I hope you left your bottle behind.

You tend to your job, I'll tend to mine.

Gee, Dad, it's a convertible.

How does she look? Like an airplane.

Airplanes are like people.

They all have their gadgets in the same place.

Pilot to crew, report in.

Navigator all set, Skipper.

Flight Engineer ready, sir.

Radio okay, sir.

CFC ready, sir.

Left scanner ready, sir.

Right scanner ready, sir.

Tail gunner, where are you?

All set, Skipper. MERRILL: You all right?

Yes, sir, but it's sure gonna be lonely without them other planes.

All set? Not yet.

No report from radar.

Radar operator okay, sir.

Ed, you ready to start engines?

Roger, Skipper.

Okay.

Tower from 078. Rolling.

078 from Tower.

Pilot to crew,

station check in one minute.

Station check. One okay.

Two okay. Three okay.

Four okay.

CFC ready, sir.

Left scanner ready, sir.

Right scanner ready, sir.

Radar operator okay, sir.

Tail gunner fair and cold, Skipper.

We'll get ice?

Probably pick up some around 16,000.

We'll lose it when we break out.

Radioman to Navigator.

Pilot to Navigator.

Murph? Yes, Skipper?

What's our schedule?

Murph, you reading me?

Yes, 5 by 5. Just figuring.

I figure we should hit IP by 1100,

target four minutes later.

It'll give us a tailwind for the return trip.

Should get us home by 1630.

Wing's icing.

We'll lose it.

Ed, how's the soup?

Coming up in a minute, Skipper.

Murph, we're getting close. Give me a reading.

Right.

Skipper?

Yeah, I'm still here.

Steady as she goes should get us to the IP in 27 minutes.

Target, four minutes later.

According to my figuring, we're running a little behind.

Better get a check from Radar.

We're saving gas. Figure us for late all the way.

Ed, you all right?

Morgan, give me a position.

Ed, how we doing on gas?

You're okay, Skipper.

Morgan, how about that position?

You're doing fine so far.

Initial point in 20 minutes.

The way the weather's holding,

we probably won't run into any fighter opposition,

but let's be ready just in case.

They're shooting blind.

Pilot to crew, combat stations.

360 guns, and it only takes one.

What are you doing? MERRILL: Taking her down to 10,000.

A near miss is no good on this mission.

Skipper, the clouds are gone.

Hey, man, we're wide open.

Hey, we're all alone.

Get off the line.

Okay, Captain? What?

You all right? Yeah, yeah.

What does it mean? Will we turn back?

It's up to Merrill.

But he can't go on. You heard what the Colonel said.

Up here, Merrill's the boss.

Well?

Well, what? Let's go back.

Baer said if we run out of cover...

I'm not going to abort a mission after flying 1,000 miles.

What kind of a bet are you making? Ten lives against a medal?

If you won't take it back, I will.

Go ahead.

It's more than a medal, chum. It's a job.

Pilot to Radar. Morgan, come in.

Yeah, yeah, I'm here.

We're four minutes from IP.

If the weather closes in again, it's all yours.

Check me on altitude, speed and course.

Morgan, are you getting me?

We're supposed to go back.

Easy, Captain. Easy.

Murphy. Come in for a visual run.

I got it, Skipper.

All right, Morgan. You can relax.

Next month's liquor rations

to the guy that spots the first fighter.

Bomber to crew, turning on bomb run.

Right on the nose so far.

Think I'll play with the garbage disposal.

Bombs away!

Right on the old button, guys. Right on the button.

Just dropped my knitting, Skipper. She's all yours.

Hey, man, wasn't that gorgeous?

Look out, Pete, here they come. MiGs.

Where? Where? I don't see 'em.

Six o'clock. You'll get your chance.

Naylor said three squadrons. This is the whole air force.

You've got her up to the firewall.

She'll bust if you give her any more.

Let her bust. We're dead anyhow

if we don't get to those clouds.

Sure hate to get it now.

I hate to get it any time.

I see 'em, I see 'em. Here they come.

I see a bunch at 4 o'clock low, Buddy.

Catch 'em on the pass.

Look out, Buddy. Pick 'em up, 2 o'clock low.

I'll take him, I'll take him.

I got one in my tracers, I saw him.

Clipped his wing.

Wow, that was too close.

I got one! I got one!

Four straight down, 6 o'clock low.

I can't track 'em. Take 'em up front.

Another 12 coming right at us.

This ain't no picnic. Get 'em first.

Here we go again. Look out, Jockey.

Jockey!

8 o'clock high.

Pete, Pete, coming your way.

There's a couple at 9 o'clock high, Skipper.

Slip around and give me a chance. A regular killer, I am.

Bogie, somebody, 11 o'clock high.

Another one coming right at us.

Making another pass, 5 o'clock even.

You guys shoot as much as you talk,

you'll knock 'em all down.

They're in the sun. I lost 'em in the sun.

Trask, somebody, look out for this one.

We're taking some hits back here, Skipper.

Bunch of Sunday drivers.

Let's get out of here. I'm getting eye strain.

He's bailing out.

Hope he gets a run in his suit.

Trask, somebody, look out for this one.

You okay? Yes, but we caught something.

Ed, you all right?

Go take a look at him.

We'll be out of this in a minute.

Take a last look, fellas. Here's where we lose our company.

Company's gone.

How is he?

Uh, he'll be all right, but he'll be out of action.

Trask, come on forward and take over as Flight Engineer.

Scanners, give me a damage report.

We've taken a couple of bad ones back here.

And we lost Jockey.

Jockey's bought it.

Feeling all right, Captain?

I let you down. I let you all down.

First mission shakes.

It's happened before to a lot of good men.

Don't let it worry you.

Thanks.

Gonna be a rough ride home, chum.

You've got a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Let's see you do some distinguished flying.

How you feeling, Ed?

Like a million, pal.

May I come in?

Have a seat.

If you insist.

Where are we? Good question.

Murph, this is Merrill.

Yes, Skipper?

Give me a position.

Can't give it to you, Jack. Not in this storm.

Maddox!

Maddox, see if you can get us a radio fix.

It's bad, Skipper. Can't even get clear static.

Try again.

Gonna try to make it home?

Got someplace else you'd like to go?

Trask, Trask!

Yes, Skipper?

How much gas is this bucket inhaling?

Trask, come on, how about it?

Skipper, I...

Yeah, yeah, what is it?

Fuel's okay, Skipper. It's okay.

Stay awake.

Well? Just static, sir, nothing else.

Well, that's something.

If they were in trouble, we'd have mayday by now.

If they're still flying, that is.

With a little luck, we might ride this out.

Maddox, what are you getting?

Radio's weathered out, sir. I can't get a thing.

Then go to the key.

Send mayday. Keep sending.

Maybe they'll be able to get a fix on us.

We're going down. The way we've been bouncing around,

we're liable to wind up in Siberia.

Are you crazy? We're still over the ocean.

We could go right in without ever hitting the bottom of this storm.

Nothing like finding out.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Don't let down yet. Let me take a look first.

Take it easy, Morgan. Everything's gonna be all right.

No, I mean it. Maybe I can pick up something on the scope.

At least I can tell what's below us, whether it's land or water.

All right, go ahead.

Got anything, Morgan?

I'm drawing a blank so far.

We must be over water.

Just pick up some land. Any land.

Wait a minute.

Looks like an island, a group of them.

One of them is shaped like a pear.

Pear-shaped island.

That must be Chejudo.

Chejudo? That's two hours from home.

We're not far off our course. Tell 'em.

Murph! Get out your knitting.

We're rounding third base.

I always said we were a lucky crew.

Yeah, I'd rather be lucky than good.

Murph, give me a heading.

I'm working on it, Skipper.

Lucky piece? Yeah.

Sami.

Sami gave it to me for luck.

Did Buddy get one too?

This is my good-luck piece.

Guess I'm just a born bachelor.

There's no such thing as a born bachelor.

It's just a word for someone who never grew up.

Feather number 4.

Pilot to crew, we're feathering number 4.

How we doing on gas?

Skipper, Skipper?

Trask.

I made a mistake, Skipper.

What do you mean, a mistake?

Murph, get up and see what's wrong with Trask and check on the gas.

Skipper?

Yeah, Murph?

I don't think we should have

gone by that last gas station.

How much time we got?

Maybe an hour. Maybe more. Maybe.

Why didn't Trask tell me?

It's not his fault, Skipper.

What are you gonna do? Go on home.

We'll never make it. Head back to Chejudo.

Murphy, how far do you make it home?

All the way?

Start saying your prayers, Skipper.

We can crash land at Chejudo.

Pilot to crew.

Dump everything that isn't nailed down.

And that means everything.

What about the 'chutes, Captain?

I said everything.

Bye.

Wait till the taxpayers hear about that.

Ed, what's happening?

We're on emergency rations, Jack.

Pilot to Right Scanner.

Have you dumped everything back there?

Yes, sir, everything.

Feather number 1.

Give me full high RPM.

Hey, you guys, got anything else to dump?

No. Yeah, me.

Say, Al. Hey, Al. Al! Al!

Sir, Trask jumped.

What? He... He just jumped.

Skipper, did you hear me?

I heard.

Anything? Yeah, mayday.

Still coming?

Yeah, we've got Air-Sea Rescue alerted,

but they can't see very much in this weather.

Trouble comes in a bunch.

We're gonna make it.

Gear down.

Pilot to Right Scanner. Something's wrong with the landing gear. Check it.

Right gear is stuck, Skipper. It's stuck halfway down.

Pilot to crew, assume crash landing positions.

Choose partners, we're going through the tunnel.

It's them. It's gotta be them.

All right, it's them. Let's get going.

Driver!

Come on, they'll fry in there.

Murph, get out of here, we're burning! Come on.

Come on, get out of there, get out of there.

Six, seven, eight.

Hey, Skipper!

You all right?

Yes, sir. We lost a couple of men.

We'll get that report later.

Take care of yourself first.

Oh, Lewis?

I think this belongs to you.

Any plans?

No, I'll have to speak to the Colonel, sir.

Ah, you do that.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Cigarette?