Major Daniel Kirby takes command of a squadron of Marine fliers just before they are about to go into combat. While the men are well meaning, he finds them undisciplined and prone to always finding excuses to do what is easy rather than what is necessary. The root of the problem is the second in command, Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin. Griff is the best flier in the group but Kirby finds him a poor commander who is not prepared to make the difficult decision that all commanders have to make - to put men in harm's way knowing that they may be killed.
Cast
John Wayne
Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby
Robert Ryan
Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin
Don Taylor
Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe
Janis Carter
Joan Kirby
Jay C. Flippen
MSgt. Clancy, Line Chief
William Harrigan
Dr. Lt.Cdr. Joe Curran
James Bell
Colonel
Barry Kelley
Brigadier General
Maurice Jara
Shorty Vegay
Adam Williams
Lt. Bert Malotke
James Dobson
Lt. Pudge McCabe
Carleton Young
Col. Riley
Michael St. Angel
Capt. Harold Jorgensen, Ops. Officer
Brett King
1st Lt. Ernie Stark
Gordon Gebert
Tommy Kirby
Hal Bokar
Unknown
Barry Brooks
Unknown
Charles Brunner
Unknown
Richard Condon
Unknown
James Craven
Unknown
Victor Cutler
Unknown
Gail Davis
Virginia Blithe (uncredited)
Sam Edwards
Unknown
Fred Graham
MP Sergeant (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton
Unknown
Douglas Henderson
Lt. Foster (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee
Indian Affairs Clerk (uncredited)
Mona Knox
Unknown
Keith Larsen
Unknown
Harry Lauter
Unknown
Paul McGuire
Unknown
Eda Reiss Merin
Unknown
John Mitchum
Unknown
Patricia Prest
Unknown
Noel Reyburn
Unknown
Hugh Sanders
Unknown
Lynn Stalmaster
Unknown
Milburn Stone
Fleet CIC Radio Operator (uncredited)
Harlan Warde
Unknown
Dick Wessel
Mess Sergeant (uncredited)
Mack Williams
Unknown
Peter Ortiz
Unknown
Chuck Courtney
3rd Pilot Replacement (uncredited)
Crew
Nicholas Ray
Director
Beirne Lay Jr.
Screenplay
Edmund Grainger
Screenplay, Producer
James Edward Grant
Screenplay
Kenneth Gamet
Story
Sherman Todd
Editor
William E. Snyder
Director of Photography
Sam Ruman
Assistant Director
Cliff P. Broughton
Production Supervisor
Michael Woulfe
Costume Design
Larry Germain
Hairstylist
Mel Berns
Makeup Artist
Frank McWhorter
Sound
Clem Portman
Sound
C. Bakaleinikoff
Music Director
Roy Webb
Music
John Sturtevant
Set Decoration
Darrell Silvera
Set Decoration
Howard Hughes
Presenter
Albert S. D'Agostino
Art Direction
James W. Sullivan
Art Direction
