Air Force (1943)

On December 6, 1941, nine B-17 bombers set off on a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii. One of the bombers, the "Mary Ann," is commanded by Captain Michael Aloysius "Irish" Quincannon. The crew includes bombardier Tommy McMartin, whose sister lives in Hawaii, and co-pilot Bill Williams, who is fond of her. All the men are seasoned professionals except for aerial gunner Joe Winocki, who plans to leave the Army Air Corps. The crew arrives at Hickam Field on the morning of December 7, just as the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and other military installations. Bracing themselves to confront the enemy, the men—including the once-reluctant Winocki—prepare for battle. The bomber, its crew, and their camaraderie are put to the test as they participate in numerous dangerous missions, with not all surviving the ordeal. Starring: - John Ridgely as Capt. Michael "Irish" Quincannon, Sr., Pilot - Gig Young as Lt. William Williams, Co-Pilot - Arthur Kennedy as Lt. Thomas C. McMartin, Bombardier - Charles Drake as Lt. Monk Hauser, Jr., Navigator - Harry Carey as Master Sgt. Robert "Robbie" White, Flight Engineer & Crew Chief - George Tobias as Corporal Weinberg, Assistant Crew Chief - Ward Wood as Corporal "Minnesota" Peterson, Radio Operator - Ray Montgomery as Private Chester, Assistant Radio Operator - John Garfield as Sergeant Joe Winocki, Aerial Gunner - Faye Emerson as Susan McMartin, Tommy's Sister Runtime: 124 minutes.