| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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John Ridgely | ... |
Pilot
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| Gig Young | ... |
Co-Pilot
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| Arthur Kennedy | ... |
Bombardier
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| Charles Drake | ... |
Navigator
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| Harry Carey | ... |
Crew Chief Sgt. White
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| George Tobias | ... |
Asst. Crew Chief
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Ward Wood | ... |
Radio Operator
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| Ray Montgomery | ... |
Asst. Radio Operator
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| John Garfield | ... |
Aerial Gunner Joe Winocki
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| James Brown | ... |
Pursuit Pilot - Passenger
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| Stanley Ridges | ... |
Major Mallory
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| Willard Robertson | ... |
Colonel at Hickam Field
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| Moroni Olsen | ... |
Col. Blake
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| Edward Brophy | ... |
Marine Sgt. J.J. Callahan
(as Edward S. Brophy)
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| Richard Lane | ... |
Maj. W.G. Roberts
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On December 6, 1941 nine B-17 bomber set off on a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii. One of the bombers, the Mary Ann, is commanded by 'Irish' Quincannon. The bombardier, Tommy McMartin, has a sister living in Hawaii and the co-pilot, Bill Williams, is sweet on her. The men are all highly professional with the exception of aerial gunner Joe Winocki, a bitter man who has every intention of leaving the army air corps. They arrive at Hickam Field on the morning of December 7, just as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor and other military facilities. All of the men prepare to face the enemy, including Winocki whose attitude changes quickly. The bomber and its crew will participate in many missions but not all will survive. Written by garykmcd
I was stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base from November of 1966 till March of 1970. The movie starts off with a teletype message coming through ordering the B-17 group to proceed from Hamilton Field California to Hickam Field Hawaii for two weeks of annual training . I was stationed at the same base years later when it was a fighter plane base. I saw lots of old photos from the days when Flying Fortress B-17's flew off the same runway. Even though the special effects are not up to todays standards, I still enjoy watching this movie every time it is on TV . As a military photographer, I can only imagine what it must have been like to capture the chaos going on that Sunday morning in 1941. My first two years , I used a Speed Graphic just like those used back then so I have insight into how they worked .