Black Sheep Squadron (1976–1978): Season 2, Episode 1 - Divine Wind - full transcript
A padre fresh from Guadalcanal arrives to visit the Black Sheep squadron. Rather than man of courage and faith, they see a man in the middle of a crisis of faith. Meanwhile local Japanese bombers seem to be taking a lot interest i...
He's meditating.
He's not gonna do him any good.
I find their philosophy fascinating.
Something happens to you
that you have no control over.
We dove our planes into the target.
Suicide.
To assure victory.
You're not God.
Or are you the one who
promised him he wouldn't die?
I sure am.
You don't have that kind of
control over my life, over my Karma.
You are the divine wind.
It's mistakes that get pilots killed.
If you go up thinking
you're going to die, you will.
- Twice wounded during
the bloody battle for
Guadalcanal, Father John
O'Reilly, known to the Marines
simply as Padre John,
refused to be evacuated
and continued to lift
the spirits of battle-weary
Marines with his
presence and prayers.
Armed only with faith, Padre
John could always be found
where the fighting was
the thickest, joking with
the men or holding services
from the back of a Jeep.
General Jason A.
Maxwell, who commanded the Marine invasion,
said of this Irish-born American,
"There were many brave
men on the canal, "but
none braver than Padre John."
Wherever you are, whatever dangers you
face, the prayers of America are with you.
God bless you, Padre John.
- 80 pounds, 80 pounds, Sarge.
- I told you 110.
- It's not possible, Sarge.
It's just not possible.
- You know, you ain't gonna be worth beans
if you don't put some weight on them bones.
- I've been eating bananas
like you said, Sarge.
I just can't gain any weight.
- I ain't never had that problem.
- I know, Sarge.
- You trying to tell me something, boy?
- Oh, no, Sarge.
No, I don't, Sarge.
- Excuse me, Sergeant.
Could you tell me where I might
be able to find Major Boyington?
- He's on the spot
getting that plane shot to.
- I think I got the idea, Sergeant.
- Don't you talk to me like that.
- Watch it, they got tap cover.
- I've got them.
- More Zigs coming in at three o'clock.
- Forget the Zigs.
We're after the bombers.
- Somebody tell it to the one on the tail.
- Thanks, Pappy.
- Pappy?
- It had been the same mission,
chapter and verse for a week.
Australian Coast
Watchers would spot enemy
bombers coming down
the slot, and we'd scramble.
G2 said they were trying
to hit Espritos Marcos.
Since Vela La Cava was in their flight
path, we were the first line of defense.
If they broke through us, flying
deuces on Expridos would take them on.
So far, we hadn't needed the help.
- Bombers are turning back. Cover them.
- They're running.
- We'll let 'em go.
They've had it for a day.
- It seemed pretty stupid
to waste all those bombers
and crews just to shake
up our rear area brass.
But then maybe the Japanese
knew something about Expridos.
We didn't.
We were lucky to know what
was happening on our own island.
Take the new hospital the Seabees
were building on the north side of La Cava.
If Dottie Dixon hadn't told us
about it, we'd still be in the dark.
As it was, there were
some unanswered questions.
- Maybe I need at least 50 new
nurses for that hospital, huh?
- 50?
- More like 500.
- You're fantasizing again, Robert.
- If you guys don't start
concentrating on approach,
you're gonna be fantasizing
from a hospital bed.
Now concentrate.
- Power lines!
High!
Everybody go high!
There's power lines on final.
There's power lines on final.
- Hey, you okay?
- I don't know.
- How do I look?
- Like an army electrician.
(sighs)
- Hey, Micklin!
What meathead put these power
lines on the end of the runway?
- Huh?
- Some idiot strung a
power line on our approach.
- Well, them Seabees were
down there after you took off.
- Seabees, huh?
Casey!
- Let's go.
We're gonna pay a little visit to those
Seabees on the north side of the island.
- Yes, sir!
- Power lines in the runway.
- Not anymore, there ain't.
- Are you all right?
- Yeah.
Sarge, I think I blew all
my electrical gear out.
- That's all right, Lieutenant.
I'll have my boys get right on it.
The main thing is, you're okay.
- That's too much for a man.
- My bombers are operating
at the limit of their range.
There is not enough
fuel for evasive action.
When the American fighters break through
our cover, we have no choice but to return.
- The Imperial staff has
no interest in excuses.
Anything less than total destruction
of these objectives is unacceptable.
- Perhaps if we had additional bombers.
- We do not have additional bombers.
- It was a foolish request, sir.
- Sir, if I may.
If we were to load our Zeros with
bombs instead of the auxiliary fuel tanks,
I believe we could successfully fight
through the American planes to the target.
- With all due respect, Lieutenant,
it's unlikely you would
have enough fuel to return.
And even if you did,
your Zeros do not carry
enough bombs to set
up successful patterns.
- One plane would be
enough if it made a direct hit.
- Such a hit would require a miracle.
- Not if we dove our
planes into the target.
- That would be suicide.
- No, sir. It would be a necessary
action to assure victory.
It would be doing our duty.
- Go on, Mereguchi.
I'm interested.
- First, I suggest the virginary bomber
attacks on the American base at Arabella.
- Sorry, sir, the area is restricted.
- Do I look like the enemy, son?
- No, sir.
- What does that say?
- Major Boyington, United
States Marine Corps, sir.
- Good.
Now remove the barrier and let us in.
- I'm sorry, sir.
But I can't do that unless you have written
authorization from fleet headquarters.
- Major, if you want, I'll try and get
Commander Billings on the field phone.
- I want.
- What is it?
- A Major Boyington for you, sir.
He's in charge of those flyboys
on the south side of the island.
- Commander Billings,
what can I do for you, Major?
- For me, nothing.
But you can save yourself a trip to
the dentist, which you're gonna need
the next time you string
wire across my runway.
- Those power lines were constructed
within military approach limits?
- Well, that may be so, but I
didn't know they were there.
- Well, that was an oversight, Major.
You should have been informed.
- I haven't been informed of a damn
thing since you've been on my island.
- With all due respect, Major,
this isn't exactly your island.
Now if you'll excuse me,
I have some work to do.
- You said it wasn't my island.
- Yes, sir.
No, sir.
- Nothing like a cold
soda after a hot mission.
- Well, how'd you get the name Black Sheep?
- They were gonna call us Blank and Spint.
Illegitimate kids.
- See, the war department didn't think
they'd look very good on the dispatches.
- That's when Pappy came up
with the name, the Black Sheep.
- Which means the same thing.
- Right.
- I wanna see what you just told me.
- Oh, Pappy, he said this wasn't my island.
- Well, it may not be my
island, but it sure as hell isn't his.
All right, where's Betty?
Where are all the girls?
- I introduced you to
Chaplain John O'Reilly.
- Major?
- Greg, welcome aboard, Padre.
Black Sheep been treating you all right?
- Oh, they're more than generous.
- Well, this doesn't exactly
quench an Irishman's thirst.
- Well, would you like a beer, some wine?
We got some scotch.
- Oh, beer, thank you.
- Yeah, that's one of my ways.
- Hey, TJ, make that two beers, will you?
- Sure.
- You know, the boys, they're kinda young.
They're just used to
soda pops, isn't that right?
- That's right, Pappy.
- Soda pops.
- But at least you could let
them put their pinups back.
I came here to raise morale, not lower it.
- Hey, hey, yeah, yeah.
- Boyle, put up the pinups.
- Hey, Pappy, Espirito's just radioed in,
they're sending over a
new replacement pilot.
- A replacement pilot?
- According to headquarters,
one of us got killed in action.
- Who?
- Anderson.
(laughing)
- Hey, hey, hey, stop it!
I didn't feel to be dead.
- Go, go, go, go.
- Sir, we don't need a replacement
because Anderson isn't dead.
- According to the War Department, he is.
- What do you want me to do, sir?
You want me to shoot him
to keep the record straight?
- All right, Boynton, apparently
there's some mistake.
If you say he's alive, he's alive.
- Well, thank you, Colonel.
There's one more thing.
- Do you know how much longer the Seabees
are going to take to finish the hospital
because they're starting
to get into our hair?
- Well, how do I know?
I don't run the Seabees.
Did it ever occur to you to
take a drive down there and ask?
- No, sir, I never thought of that.
- Well, you might give it a try.
Oh, by the way, General
Moore asked me to tell you
you're doing a hell of a job
keeping the bombers back
and all of us here on
Espirito's appreciate it.
- Well, sir, we know how important
happy hour is at the Officer's Club.
We wouldn't want anything to spoil it.
- Thank you, Boynton.
- Is this yours, Don?
- Oh, yeah.
My mom sent me these seeds a while back.
- Looks like you have a green thumb.
- Oh, no, that's a fungus infection.
I gotta get Donnie to look at that.
(laughing)
You know, actually, this is nothing
compared to the one I got back home.
Now, there is a garden.
- Well, I'm impressed with this one.
I noticed from your
record you're a Catholic.
- I was baptized.
- Ah, you're a sprinkling Catholic.
Sprinkled at baptism, weddings.
- And death, Padre.
- Yes, and death.
Well, is there anything
you'd like to tell me?
Any problems?
- Well, you know, Padre, I
don't mind fighting them up there.
- Yes?
- But when their bugs start eating
my vegetable garden, I get steamed.
How do you get rid of these
Japanese beetles, you know, Padre?
- I don't know where the place.
- Padre John!
It's from Espritos, Padre.
The mud marines are taking
a real pasting on Munda.
They wanna know how soon you can be there.
- Well, tell them I'll
take the first available transport
as soon as
I finish my work here.
- Yes, sir.
What work?
- He burn all that out?
- Shorted out everything with his eyeball.
- Wow.
I was wondering why his formation
flying was getting so sloppy.
- He'll have plenty of time to catch
up on his reading on the ground.
Ain't no way I can get that
mess fixed in less than a week.
- A week, huh?
That's too bad.
- Here, Sarge.
- At ease, gentlemen.
- And you never seen a lady officer before?
- Oh, yes, Sarge.
- Well, get this thing out of here.
- You forgot.
- Yep, I forgot.
- Well, your boys didn't.
- They already took my
nurses down to the beach
and I don't think we should
leave them there unchaperoned.
- Why not?
- Because boys will be boys.
- Dottie, you know my boys.
My boys are like cub scouts.
- Sure, with lethal sex drives.
- Dottie, I think there's
someone you should meet.
Padre John, this is Lieutenant
Commander Dottie Dixon.
Pleasure, Dottie.
- Padre.
- Come on, John, let's go to the beach.
(engine rumbling)
- How long you gonna be with us, Padre?
- Oh, long as I'm needed.
The beer holds out.
- Well, La Cava must be pretty
tame after Guadalcanal, huh?
- Well, I'm sure boys die here, too.
- Not if I can help it.
- Well, you can't stop death.
- Yes, I can.
- Hey, listen, you two.
We're supposed to be on a picnic here.
- Yeah, you're right.
Where'd you say you were from, Dottie?
- Milwaukee.
- Oh, well, I used to bark for La Jolla.
That's where I broke my nose.
Broke it more than once, matter of fact.
(waves crashing)
- Keep going!
Keep on going, Greg!
- Come on, throw it!
- What do you say we run up
to the other end of the beach?
The view is much nicer up there.
- Uh, T.J., why is the
view better over there?
- Uh, the water's bluer.
The coral's pinker, the sand's whiter.
Besides, there's nobody else
up on the other end of the beach.
- Just you and me?
- Just you and me.
- Let's go.
- All right.
- Oh.
I think I'd rather stay here, T.J.
- That's right.
Oh, boy.
- What are we gonna do?
- Uh, the Hindus have
done it for hundreds of years.
Simply a matter of purification
of your mind and your body.
And then just lower your conscious
level until you're impervious to pain.
- Oh, fool, some kind of a trick.
- The ignorant mind, that which it
does not understand, it calls chicanery.
- Yeah, well, this ignorant mind,
it's got 50 bucks, it says
you can't walk across
those coals without
charcoal in your little tootsies.
(laughing)
- $50.
- $50.
- You have a wager, my friend.
Bob, those coals are hot.
- No, they're not, Lawrence.
They're ice cubes.
Cool, soothing ice cubes.
- You are nuts.
- Boy, he's crazy, but I got
10 bucks, says he can do it.
- You got it.
- What's he doing now?
- He's breathing.
- Shut up, he's meditating.
- It's not gonna do him any good.
(groaning)
- Brilliant, Robert.
- What nitwit challenged him to do that?
- Well, I guess my conscious
level wasn't quite low enough.
- I'd like to render you unconscious.
- How is he?
- Just singed, but I better put
some burn ointment on it in case.
- Okay, Swami, you're grounded.
Boyle, take his plane.
- Here's the coordinates, Major.
It looks like they're headed for Arabella.
- How many?
- 10 bombers, no escort.
- No escort?
- That's what they said, Major.
- Okay, climb to Angels Eight.
The heading should be zero two niner.
No escort.
- That was beautiful
- Oh
-I don't think I've ever heard anything quite like it.
- Well, thank you.
- Thank you.
- I found a sheet musical
when we took over the island.
It was a little difficult
transposing it to clarinet.
I think probably it was originally
meant for a koto or even a samisen.
- After the canal, I find it
hard to imagine a Japanese
soldier playing anything
quite so delicate and beautiful.
- Are you at all familiar with the
Japanese religion or their philosophy?
- I have a feeling I'm not as
familiar with them as you are.
- Oh, well, I've learned to speak
a little Japanese and read some.
I've collected all the
books they left around here.
I find their philosophy fascinating.
For instance, their belief in Karma.
If you think about it, it
makes pretty good sense.
If something happens to you that you have
no control over, it's simply your Karma.
Now, if you accept that
you cannot change it,
and just flow with it, you're
at peace with yourself.
It's a rather beautiful thought.
- You're trying to convert me, Bob.
- No, not you.
Maybe me.
- They all make it?
They all made it.
- Well, Robert, glad to see you
preserved the integrity of my aeroplane.
- Yeah, well, I'll never complain
about being five foot eight again.
Look at this.
You're lucky you weren't here, Bobby boy.
You'd be wearing that 20
millimeter right between your ears.
- Run that by me again.
- He was doing what?
- Fasting.
After I salved his feet,
I checked him over.
- Greg, he's lost 15 pounds.
- Did he say why?
- To purify his body and soul.
I gave him some APC and
forced some fresh juice down him,
but until he starts eating solid
food, that's it, he's grounded.
- Maybe that's what he wants.
Thanks, Dottie.
- Pilots of the Asai squadron,
listen carefully to what I have to say.
We have flown repeatedly
against the enemy without success.
The next time, we shall
not fail, nor shall we return.
We shall dive our fighters into the
enemy target, assuring victory for Japan.
Such a mission cannot be ordered.
I need volunteers.
You do your country great honor.
We have two days to prepare
our bodies and our minds.
Namu Amida Butsu.
- How are the feet?
- They're fine.
- What did I get?
- It's a Guinea hen.
French found it in his garden.
- Dottie told you.
- Yeah.
- It won't work.
- What, this?
This is the first fresh meat
that's been around here in months.
You don't eat this, you're crazy.
- Greg, I want you to
know that I'm not doing this.
I mean, fasting and everything,
just to get out of flying.
- Whatever the reason, that's the result.
- I'm going to die.
(laughing)
No, I am, I am.
- We're all gonna die eventually.
- No, Pappy, the signs are everywhere.
Look, first I get listed as killed in
action, and then ball goes up in my corsair.
Now, if I'd have been in that cockpit,
that 20 millimeter shell would
have bisected my cranium.
- This 20 millimeter
fist is gonna bisect
your lip if you keep
talking like that, Pop.
- Yes, you can do that, but when I
come to, nothing will have changed.
Can you understand that?
- No, I don't understand
how people can sit around
and talk about dying,
even if they're 110 years old.
You're not gonna die.
Not while you're a black sheep.
- You can't make that
kind of promise to me.
- Yes, I can.
- No, how can you?
You don't have that kind of
control over my life, over my Karma.
- Oh, yes, I do.
- You do?
- I do.
Last chance, otherwise
I'm gonna eat it all by myself.
What could I just?
- Eat it all?
Yeah, well, go ahead.
- Just a leg.
- Karma huh?
Do you want a beer to go with it?
- Well, just to wash it down.
- Yeah, okay.
- At ease, Kira.
Ah, it will be a beautiful sunset.
May I share it with you?
- It would be my honor, sir.
- You are troubled by the mission.
- Sir, I know you think
I don't wanna fight.
- I saw it in your eyes.
It is understandable you are young
and the thought of dying and never
seeing your loved ones, it is difficult.
- I will do my duty.
- I know.
We are samurai.
- Hai
- Kira, this war will
not go well for Japan.
- Sir, Japan is fighting.
- We are winning now.
But America is industrially
stronger than we.
Six months, a year at the most,
Japan will be fighting for her life.
The Americans will amass naval
armada to strangle our homeland
and we shall not have enough
ships or planes to stop her.
Unless... Do you know
the legend of Issei?
- The wind god who destroyed
the invading Mongolian fleet in 1281.
- Only another such
divine wind can save our
country and we shall
be the ones who create it.
The example we set on
this mission will be repeated.
I'm convinced of that.
It is our Karma.
A thousand years from now, they will
sing of us as the gods who saved Japan.
Think of it, Kira.
We shall be gods.
We shall be the divine wind.
- They're up to something, General.
I can feel it.
- What you feel is hangover.
- Hangovers go away, sir.
I've felt this ever since they started
sending bombers down the slot.
- Trying to hit us here?
- No, sir.
No, I don't think so.
I think they're up to something else.
- Well, what?
Guadalcanal is out of their range.
The new ammo dump on Bella
La Bella is out of their range.
The carriers, they're at Pearl refueling.
The only thing worth hitting with
so many bombers is the Espritos.
These are good.
You want the other half?
- No, thank you, sir.
Then why'd they give up?
- Well, you pushed them
back five times in a row.
- I never stopped them before.
And another thing, General.
Every time they hit Arabella, it's
small and without fighter cover.
And when we intercept, they run.
- No, sir, they're not after Arabella.
And they're not after the Espritos.
They're after something else. That's only a diversion.
- What the hell are they after?
- I wish I knew, sir.
- Just come on, Bob.
- Really?
- Get on up there.
- Hey, Padre, I hope you're not collecting.
- No, I'm just helping.
Of course, if you do
want to make a donation, to the Navy Relief
Fund, the tin's right there.
- There you go.
- Get on up there.
- French.
- Hey, what are you doing?
- For my little wager
the other day, my friend.
- You got burnt, my friend.
- But I did traverse the
coals, did I not, Dotty?
- Unfortunately.
- There you go. - Come on.
- If you can reach it, you can have it.
- See you at the poker, guy.
- C'est de mon, mon ami, c'est de mon.
- Bragg.
- Money, money, money.
- Give me my money.
- There you go.
- Thank you.
- Good afternoon, Lawrence.
I believe you're holding some funds for me.
- Uh-huh, Anderson.
- Name's not there.
- I'm sorry, there's a poker game waiting.
- Bob can't pay unless
your name's on the list.
- Now, Lawrence, why
wouldn't my name be on the list?
- Well, the funds have
been sent on to your mother
because you're still
listed as killed in action.
- I thought they had
that all straightened out.
- Well, as Mark Twain said, the report of
my death has been greatly exaggerated.
Or at least premature.
- All right, Dixon, that's a D for Dottie.
Here's your money, honey.
(somber music)
- I think I liked what you were
playing the other day much better.
- Music is an expression of mood.
- Well, that piece would
have done an Irishman proud.
It's as dark as a Dublin dirge.
- Well, I didn't write it.
- Oh, you played it.
- I want to ask you something.
Can a man promise that he won't die?
And I mean believe it so strongly that
he could actually change your Karma?
- Well, I don't know about Karma.
I do know that only God
can determine when or where
you die, provided you
don't take your own life.
- Yes, but if a man had a premonition
of death, it could be part of God's will.
- Look, Bob, I don't know what to tell you.
But it's something that neither of
us has ever been through before.
I do know that God is
trying, but it's man's will.
- God is trying?
Come on, trying?
- I don't have any answers.
I don't even know the
reasons for some of this.
- So a man could have a premonition
of death, and that man could die.
- Well, only God can determine.
- That's not what you said a moment ago.
You said God was trying.
- I'm trying.
(sighs)
But, Bob, I'm tired.
I've seen too much.
I don't know the answers.
I used to, but I don't anymore.
They want me back on Monday.
And what am I to say to boys 18
and 20 who are being blown to bits?
What--
- When is your time?
- Nothing can change that.
- Well, I'm sorry.
I guess I've not been much help.
- Yes, you have.
If you'll excuse me, I
have to write a letter.
- Bob.
(somber music)
- La Cava, this is Black Sheep One.
I'm 10 miles out.
- Roger, Black Sheep
One, you're cleared to land.
Wind five knots out of the northeast.
Altimeter setting two niner niner five.
- Roger, La Cava.
The back of my neck was still
itching as I let down for the field.
I had a feeling the answer
was right under my nose.
I just couldn't seem to grasp it.
It was under my nose, literally.
La Cava Tower, Black Sheep One.
I am going around.
If the Seabees wouldn't let me in the
front door, I'd come down the chimney.
I had seen my share of
foul-ups, but nothing like this.
Instead of a hospital,
the Seabees were putting
the main ammo dump for the
entire South Pacific
on the north side of our island, within
striking range of the Japanese.
It gave me chills thinking what would
happen if the Japanese got through.
And then I broke into a cold sweat,
realizing it was only a matter of time.
- There must be a big storm over Espritos.
I can't get anything.
- Well keep trying.
That storm was coming in when I left.
- Espritos, come in please.
La Cava calling, over.
- Go ahead, La Cava.
We read you.
- See what happens when you keep trying.
- Major Boynton calling
Colonel Lard or General Moore.
Priority A1, over.
- Stand by, La Cava.
- Roger.
- Where's the CO of this hot shot outfit?
- I am, who are you?
- Billings.
I'm in charge of the Seabees
on the north end of the island.
One of your hot shots just dragged
through the middle of my camp.
- Greg, I'm glad you're back.
I'd like to talk with you.
- La Cava, this is Colonel Lard, what's up?
- Excuse me for a moment, Padre.
I figured out what the Japanese are after.
- I want that pilot on report.
- I can't hear you, Boynton.
- I said I figured out what
the Japanese are after.
They put the ammo dump on the wrong island.
- What the hell is he talking about?
- I don't know.
- They put what where?
The Navy.
They put the ammo dump on La Cava.
- A hospital is going up on La Cava.
- No, that's going up on La Vella.
- No, sir, the hospital
is going up on La Vella.
They put the ammo dump up on La Cava.
- But La Cava's
practically the front lines.
What idiot would do that?
- Sir, there must be some foul up.
- Who the hell are you?
- I'm sorry, Padre, what is it?
- Well, it's Anderson.
I think he believes he's going to die.
- Should have punched that
boy instead of talking to him.
- Are you the one who
promised him he wouldn't die?
- Sure am.
- Well, Craig, you can't do that.
- Why not?
- You're not God.
- I mean, what if he did die up there?
- Then he dies.
But he doesn't go up looking for it.
- A man's got to be prepared for death.
- Not up there.
In a foxhole, maybe.
It might be a question of being in
the wrong place at the wrong time.
But not in the air.
It's mistakes that get pilots killed.
Now, if you go up thinking
you're going to die, you will.
And going into combat with that
attitude is like committing suicide.
- Major.
- I knew it.
I knew when we got here, this
island is too close to the action.
But the order's read La Cava.
I should have trusted my gut.
Those yo-yos back at fleet headquarters
don't know what they're typing.
Can you believe it?
We could all be killed
because of a stinking typo.
- Yeah, I can believe it.
- It'll take at least 48 hours
to get rid of the ammo we got.
What are the chances of the
Japanese getting through before we do?
- Don't ask.
- See you, Major.
- Padre.
- Padre, I heard on Espritos
that the mud marines at Munda
have been trying to get
you there for two days.
- Well, I felt I was needed here.
- I think you're tired of seeing men die.
And you know that won't happen here
because you don't have to
go up in the cockpits with them.
- I think if I do see another
boy die, it will break my faith.
- That'd be tough, John.
'Cause if you lose your faith out
here, you could kill some boys with this.
(somber music)
- Pilots of the Asai squadron, today
your minds must be on one word.
Attack.
Until you reach the target, you will refuse
to accept battle with the enemy planes.
No obstacle must deter
you from your mission.
We go forth to fulfill our destiny.
On behalf of your 100 million countrymen,
I thank you for the
sacrifice of your lives.
From this moment, you are gods.
You are the divine wind.
(somber music)
(speaking in foreign language).
(speaking in foreign language)
(speaking in foreign language).
(somber music)
- It's Karma.
It's Karma.
- Check out the radios?
- Yeah, I checked out the radios.
- And the instrument panel?
- Yeah, I checked out the instrument panel.
- Uh-huh.
- What about the landing lights?
- You don't get off my back, college boy.
I'm gonna screw you in the landing lights
and use you for a Christmas-- - Sarge!
- You're gonna fly Casey's
wing, Anderson's gonna fly mine.
- Did I do something wrong?
- Yeah, I don't want my wingtip chewed up
because you got your
nose in some girly magazine.
- Greg.
I'll be going out on the next transport.
And I would like a few
words with Bob before I go.
- Sure.
(footsteps clomping)
- L.C. Coast Watcher reports 10 bombers
with fighter escort headed towards Arabella.
- With fighters?
- With fighters, that's what the man said.
- Okay, Casey, you take 'em up.
- Me?
- Well, that's what I just said, didn't I?
- Yes, sir.
- Not you, you're staying
down with me, Anderson.
- Whatever.
(engine rumbling)
- I still had that itch
on the back of my neck.
I'd expected the raid on Arabella and planned
to send half the squadron to intercept,
but the Japanese upset all
that with their fighter escort.
Whatever they planned for La
Cava, I hoped Anderson was up to it.
Hell, I hoped I was up to it.
- I know you're not a Catholic, Bob,
but will you wear it to humor an Irishman?
- It won't change anything.
- It can't hurt.
- Can't help.
I am going to die today.
And there's nothing that you or Pappy
or even Saint Christopher
can do to alter that fact.
It is my Karma.
But if it'll make you feel better.
- It would.
- Bob, there is one other
thing I can do to help.
- Yes, Padre.
- Our Karma said it was time
someone knocked you on your butt.
Now you're not going to die unless you
want to go and commit suicide up there.
And if you haven't the
guts to survive, you say so
instead of hiding behind
some philosophical word.
(door slams)
- Now that you're talking
with the Padres, it's over.
We got Zeke's coming up the slot.
Come on, Anderson!
- Believe it or not, when I
spotted the Zeros, I felt better.
They had bombs instead of fuel tanks,
which meant they couldn't mix
it up for long and make it home.
After one pass, I got worried again.
It didn't look like they
intended to ever go home.
- Hey, Pappy, they're not fighting.
- They're trying to reach the island.
- What are you doing here?
They're going to blow
this whole area, Gonzalo!
Come on!
- I had heard of Japanese bonsai charges,
and I guess this was an aerial version.
Though Zeke's never varied, just bored
straight for the north side of the island.
Knocking him down was easy, too easy.
- Pappy, there's two left over the island.
- I see 'em!
- What happened next was hard to believe.
- Yeah.
If I miss, I know you will do your duty.
But if I hit the target, make for
home, and report we were successful.
(bombs exploding).
- Oh, my God.
(speaking in foreign language)
- The other one's running.
- In their attempt to offload
all that ammo, the Seabees
must have had it sprung out
from the bunkers to the beach.
From the air, it was like watching
a string of firecrackers go off.
I didn't want to think what it
must be like on the ground.
- Padre, come back!
- Looks like you'll be
getting a free ticket home.
(bombs exploding)
- It is totally destroyed?
- Aye.
Lieutenant Miraguchi dove his
aircraft directly into the main bunker.
- Thank you, Ensign.
You did the right
thing to report his order.
- The deeds of the Asahi squadron
shall be reported directly to the throne.
- Thank you, sir.
If I may.
- Yes, Kira?
- I would like to humbly suggest that we
rename the squadron in the dispatches.
- What name do you suggest?
- Divine Wind.
Kamikaze!
- A lot of men pass through the islands.
Replacement pilots, mechanics.
And every now and then we see a padre.
In war, I guess it's inevitable that
some of these men end up under a flag.
There are not supposed to
be any atheists in the foxholes.
And I suppose there's some truth to that.
We're all scared to death.
And sometimes it's hard
to keep things straight.
Like Padre John.
A man who'd seen too much and been too far.
But in the end, he kept his faith.
What do you call it?
I don't know.
Maybe an Irishman's prayer?
He's not gonna do him any good.
I find their philosophy fascinating.
Something happens to you
that you have no control over.
We dove our planes into the target.
Suicide.
To assure victory.
You're not God.
Or are you the one who
promised him he wouldn't die?
I sure am.
You don't have that kind of
control over my life, over my Karma.
You are the divine wind.
It's mistakes that get pilots killed.
If you go up thinking
you're going to die, you will.
- Twice wounded during
the bloody battle for
Guadalcanal, Father John
O'Reilly, known to the Marines
simply as Padre John,
refused to be evacuated
and continued to lift
the spirits of battle-weary
Marines with his
presence and prayers.
Armed only with faith, Padre
John could always be found
where the fighting was
the thickest, joking with
the men or holding services
from the back of a Jeep.
General Jason A.
Maxwell, who commanded the Marine invasion,
said of this Irish-born American,
"There were many brave
men on the canal, "but
none braver than Padre John."
Wherever you are, whatever dangers you
face, the prayers of America are with you.
God bless you, Padre John.
- 80 pounds, 80 pounds, Sarge.
- I told you 110.
- It's not possible, Sarge.
It's just not possible.
- You know, you ain't gonna be worth beans
if you don't put some weight on them bones.
- I've been eating bananas
like you said, Sarge.
I just can't gain any weight.
- I ain't never had that problem.
- I know, Sarge.
- You trying to tell me something, boy?
- Oh, no, Sarge.
No, I don't, Sarge.
- Excuse me, Sergeant.
Could you tell me where I might
be able to find Major Boyington?
- He's on the spot
getting that plane shot to.
- I think I got the idea, Sergeant.
- Don't you talk to me like that.
- Watch it, they got tap cover.
- I've got them.
- More Zigs coming in at three o'clock.
- Forget the Zigs.
We're after the bombers.
- Somebody tell it to the one on the tail.
- Thanks, Pappy.
- Pappy?
- It had been the same mission,
chapter and verse for a week.
Australian Coast
Watchers would spot enemy
bombers coming down
the slot, and we'd scramble.
G2 said they were trying
to hit Espritos Marcos.
Since Vela La Cava was in their flight
path, we were the first line of defense.
If they broke through us, flying
deuces on Expridos would take them on.
So far, we hadn't needed the help.
- Bombers are turning back. Cover them.
- They're running.
- We'll let 'em go.
They've had it for a day.
- It seemed pretty stupid
to waste all those bombers
and crews just to shake
up our rear area brass.
But then maybe the Japanese
knew something about Expridos.
We didn't.
We were lucky to know what
was happening on our own island.
Take the new hospital the Seabees
were building on the north side of La Cava.
If Dottie Dixon hadn't told us
about it, we'd still be in the dark.
As it was, there were
some unanswered questions.
- Maybe I need at least 50 new
nurses for that hospital, huh?
- 50?
- More like 500.
- You're fantasizing again, Robert.
- If you guys don't start
concentrating on approach,
you're gonna be fantasizing
from a hospital bed.
Now concentrate.
- Power lines!
High!
Everybody go high!
There's power lines on final.
There's power lines on final.
- Hey, you okay?
- I don't know.
- How do I look?
- Like an army electrician.
(sighs)
- Hey, Micklin!
What meathead put these power
lines on the end of the runway?
- Huh?
- Some idiot strung a
power line on our approach.
- Well, them Seabees were
down there after you took off.
- Seabees, huh?
Casey!
- Let's go.
We're gonna pay a little visit to those
Seabees on the north side of the island.
- Yes, sir!
- Power lines in the runway.
- Not anymore, there ain't.
- Are you all right?
- Yeah.
Sarge, I think I blew all
my electrical gear out.
- That's all right, Lieutenant.
I'll have my boys get right on it.
The main thing is, you're okay.
- That's too much for a man.
- My bombers are operating
at the limit of their range.
There is not enough
fuel for evasive action.
When the American fighters break through
our cover, we have no choice but to return.
- The Imperial staff has
no interest in excuses.
Anything less than total destruction
of these objectives is unacceptable.
- Perhaps if we had additional bombers.
- We do not have additional bombers.
- It was a foolish request, sir.
- Sir, if I may.
If we were to load our Zeros with
bombs instead of the auxiliary fuel tanks,
I believe we could successfully fight
through the American planes to the target.
- With all due respect, Lieutenant,
it's unlikely you would
have enough fuel to return.
And even if you did,
your Zeros do not carry
enough bombs to set
up successful patterns.
- One plane would be
enough if it made a direct hit.
- Such a hit would require a miracle.
- Not if we dove our
planes into the target.
- That would be suicide.
- No, sir. It would be a necessary
action to assure victory.
It would be doing our duty.
- Go on, Mereguchi.
I'm interested.
- First, I suggest the virginary bomber
attacks on the American base at Arabella.
- Sorry, sir, the area is restricted.
- Do I look like the enemy, son?
- No, sir.
- What does that say?
- Major Boyington, United
States Marine Corps, sir.
- Good.
Now remove the barrier and let us in.
- I'm sorry, sir.
But I can't do that unless you have written
authorization from fleet headquarters.
- Major, if you want, I'll try and get
Commander Billings on the field phone.
- I want.
- What is it?
- A Major Boyington for you, sir.
He's in charge of those flyboys
on the south side of the island.
- Commander Billings,
what can I do for you, Major?
- For me, nothing.
But you can save yourself a trip to
the dentist, which you're gonna need
the next time you string
wire across my runway.
- Those power lines were constructed
within military approach limits?
- Well, that may be so, but I
didn't know they were there.
- Well, that was an oversight, Major.
You should have been informed.
- I haven't been informed of a damn
thing since you've been on my island.
- With all due respect, Major,
this isn't exactly your island.
Now if you'll excuse me,
I have some work to do.
- You said it wasn't my island.
- Yes, sir.
No, sir.
- Nothing like a cold
soda after a hot mission.
- Well, how'd you get the name Black Sheep?
- They were gonna call us Blank and Spint.
Illegitimate kids.
- See, the war department didn't think
they'd look very good on the dispatches.
- That's when Pappy came up
with the name, the Black Sheep.
- Which means the same thing.
- Right.
- I wanna see what you just told me.
- Oh, Pappy, he said this wasn't my island.
- Well, it may not be my
island, but it sure as hell isn't his.
All right, where's Betty?
Where are all the girls?
- I introduced you to
Chaplain John O'Reilly.
- Major?
- Greg, welcome aboard, Padre.
Black Sheep been treating you all right?
- Oh, they're more than generous.
- Well, this doesn't exactly
quench an Irishman's thirst.
- Well, would you like a beer, some wine?
We got some scotch.
- Oh, beer, thank you.
- Yeah, that's one of my ways.
- Hey, TJ, make that two beers, will you?
- Sure.
- You know, the boys, they're kinda young.
They're just used to
soda pops, isn't that right?
- That's right, Pappy.
- Soda pops.
- But at least you could let
them put their pinups back.
I came here to raise morale, not lower it.
- Hey, hey, yeah, yeah.
- Boyle, put up the pinups.
- Hey, Pappy, Espirito's just radioed in,
they're sending over a
new replacement pilot.
- A replacement pilot?
- According to headquarters,
one of us got killed in action.
- Who?
- Anderson.
(laughing)
- Hey, hey, hey, stop it!
I didn't feel to be dead.
- Go, go, go, go.
- Sir, we don't need a replacement
because Anderson isn't dead.
- According to the War Department, he is.
- What do you want me to do, sir?
You want me to shoot him
to keep the record straight?
- All right, Boynton, apparently
there's some mistake.
If you say he's alive, he's alive.
- Well, thank you, Colonel.
There's one more thing.
- Do you know how much longer the Seabees
are going to take to finish the hospital
because they're starting
to get into our hair?
- Well, how do I know?
I don't run the Seabees.
Did it ever occur to you to
take a drive down there and ask?
- No, sir, I never thought of that.
- Well, you might give it a try.
Oh, by the way, General
Moore asked me to tell you
you're doing a hell of a job
keeping the bombers back
and all of us here on
Espirito's appreciate it.
- Well, sir, we know how important
happy hour is at the Officer's Club.
We wouldn't want anything to spoil it.
- Thank you, Boynton.
- Is this yours, Don?
- Oh, yeah.
My mom sent me these seeds a while back.
- Looks like you have a green thumb.
- Oh, no, that's a fungus infection.
I gotta get Donnie to look at that.
(laughing)
You know, actually, this is nothing
compared to the one I got back home.
Now, there is a garden.
- Well, I'm impressed with this one.
I noticed from your
record you're a Catholic.
- I was baptized.
- Ah, you're a sprinkling Catholic.
Sprinkled at baptism, weddings.
- And death, Padre.
- Yes, and death.
Well, is there anything
you'd like to tell me?
Any problems?
- Well, you know, Padre, I
don't mind fighting them up there.
- Yes?
- But when their bugs start eating
my vegetable garden, I get steamed.
How do you get rid of these
Japanese beetles, you know, Padre?
- I don't know where the place.
- Padre John!
It's from Espritos, Padre.
The mud marines are taking
a real pasting on Munda.
They wanna know how soon you can be there.
- Well, tell them I'll
take the first available transport
as soon as
I finish my work here.
- Yes, sir.
What work?
- He burn all that out?
- Shorted out everything with his eyeball.
- Wow.
I was wondering why his formation
flying was getting so sloppy.
- He'll have plenty of time to catch
up on his reading on the ground.
Ain't no way I can get that
mess fixed in less than a week.
- A week, huh?
That's too bad.
- Here, Sarge.
- At ease, gentlemen.
- And you never seen a lady officer before?
- Oh, yes, Sarge.
- Well, get this thing out of here.
- You forgot.
- Yep, I forgot.
- Well, your boys didn't.
- They already took my
nurses down to the beach
and I don't think we should
leave them there unchaperoned.
- Why not?
- Because boys will be boys.
- Dottie, you know my boys.
My boys are like cub scouts.
- Sure, with lethal sex drives.
- Dottie, I think there's
someone you should meet.
Padre John, this is Lieutenant
Commander Dottie Dixon.
Pleasure, Dottie.
- Padre.
- Come on, John, let's go to the beach.
(engine rumbling)
- How long you gonna be with us, Padre?
- Oh, long as I'm needed.
The beer holds out.
- Well, La Cava must be pretty
tame after Guadalcanal, huh?
- Well, I'm sure boys die here, too.
- Not if I can help it.
- Well, you can't stop death.
- Yes, I can.
- Hey, listen, you two.
We're supposed to be on a picnic here.
- Yeah, you're right.
Where'd you say you were from, Dottie?
- Milwaukee.
- Oh, well, I used to bark for La Jolla.
That's where I broke my nose.
Broke it more than once, matter of fact.
(waves crashing)
- Keep going!
Keep on going, Greg!
- Come on, throw it!
- What do you say we run up
to the other end of the beach?
The view is much nicer up there.
- Uh, T.J., why is the
view better over there?
- Uh, the water's bluer.
The coral's pinker, the sand's whiter.
Besides, there's nobody else
up on the other end of the beach.
- Just you and me?
- Just you and me.
- Let's go.
- All right.
- Oh.
I think I'd rather stay here, T.J.
- That's right.
Oh, boy.
- What are we gonna do?
- Uh, the Hindus have
done it for hundreds of years.
Simply a matter of purification
of your mind and your body.
And then just lower your conscious
level until you're impervious to pain.
- Oh, fool, some kind of a trick.
- The ignorant mind, that which it
does not understand, it calls chicanery.
- Yeah, well, this ignorant mind,
it's got 50 bucks, it says
you can't walk across
those coals without
charcoal in your little tootsies.
(laughing)
- $50.
- $50.
- You have a wager, my friend.
Bob, those coals are hot.
- No, they're not, Lawrence.
They're ice cubes.
Cool, soothing ice cubes.
- You are nuts.
- Boy, he's crazy, but I got
10 bucks, says he can do it.
- You got it.
- What's he doing now?
- He's breathing.
- Shut up, he's meditating.
- It's not gonna do him any good.
(groaning)
- Brilliant, Robert.
- What nitwit challenged him to do that?
- Well, I guess my conscious
level wasn't quite low enough.
- I'd like to render you unconscious.
- How is he?
- Just singed, but I better put
some burn ointment on it in case.
- Okay, Swami, you're grounded.
Boyle, take his plane.
- Here's the coordinates, Major.
It looks like they're headed for Arabella.
- How many?
- 10 bombers, no escort.
- No escort?
- That's what they said, Major.
- Okay, climb to Angels Eight.
The heading should be zero two niner.
No escort.
- That was beautiful
- Oh
-I don't think I've ever heard anything quite like it.
- Well, thank you.
- Thank you.
- I found a sheet musical
when we took over the island.
It was a little difficult
transposing it to clarinet.
I think probably it was originally
meant for a koto or even a samisen.
- After the canal, I find it
hard to imagine a Japanese
soldier playing anything
quite so delicate and beautiful.
- Are you at all familiar with the
Japanese religion or their philosophy?
- I have a feeling I'm not as
familiar with them as you are.
- Oh, well, I've learned to speak
a little Japanese and read some.
I've collected all the
books they left around here.
I find their philosophy fascinating.
For instance, their belief in Karma.
If you think about it, it
makes pretty good sense.
If something happens to you that you have
no control over, it's simply your Karma.
Now, if you accept that
you cannot change it,
and just flow with it, you're
at peace with yourself.
It's a rather beautiful thought.
- You're trying to convert me, Bob.
- No, not you.
Maybe me.
- They all make it?
They all made it.
- Well, Robert, glad to see you
preserved the integrity of my aeroplane.
- Yeah, well, I'll never complain
about being five foot eight again.
Look at this.
You're lucky you weren't here, Bobby boy.
You'd be wearing that 20
millimeter right between your ears.
- Run that by me again.
- He was doing what?
- Fasting.
After I salved his feet,
I checked him over.
- Greg, he's lost 15 pounds.
- Did he say why?
- To purify his body and soul.
I gave him some APC and
forced some fresh juice down him,
but until he starts eating solid
food, that's it, he's grounded.
- Maybe that's what he wants.
Thanks, Dottie.
- Pilots of the Asai squadron,
listen carefully to what I have to say.
We have flown repeatedly
against the enemy without success.
The next time, we shall
not fail, nor shall we return.
We shall dive our fighters into the
enemy target, assuring victory for Japan.
Such a mission cannot be ordered.
I need volunteers.
You do your country great honor.
We have two days to prepare
our bodies and our minds.
Namu Amida Butsu.
- How are the feet?
- They're fine.
- What did I get?
- It's a Guinea hen.
French found it in his garden.
- Dottie told you.
- Yeah.
- It won't work.
- What, this?
This is the first fresh meat
that's been around here in months.
You don't eat this, you're crazy.
- Greg, I want you to
know that I'm not doing this.
I mean, fasting and everything,
just to get out of flying.
- Whatever the reason, that's the result.
- I'm going to die.
(laughing)
No, I am, I am.
- We're all gonna die eventually.
- No, Pappy, the signs are everywhere.
Look, first I get listed as killed in
action, and then ball goes up in my corsair.
Now, if I'd have been in that cockpit,
that 20 millimeter shell would
have bisected my cranium.
- This 20 millimeter
fist is gonna bisect
your lip if you keep
talking like that, Pop.
- Yes, you can do that, but when I
come to, nothing will have changed.
Can you understand that?
- No, I don't understand
how people can sit around
and talk about dying,
even if they're 110 years old.
You're not gonna die.
Not while you're a black sheep.
- You can't make that
kind of promise to me.
- Yes, I can.
- No, how can you?
You don't have that kind of
control over my life, over my Karma.
- Oh, yes, I do.
- You do?
- I do.
Last chance, otherwise
I'm gonna eat it all by myself.
What could I just?
- Eat it all?
Yeah, well, go ahead.
- Just a leg.
- Karma huh?
Do you want a beer to go with it?
- Well, just to wash it down.
- Yeah, okay.
- At ease, Kira.
Ah, it will be a beautiful sunset.
May I share it with you?
- It would be my honor, sir.
- You are troubled by the mission.
- Sir, I know you think
I don't wanna fight.
- I saw it in your eyes.
It is understandable you are young
and the thought of dying and never
seeing your loved ones, it is difficult.
- I will do my duty.
- I know.
We are samurai.
- Hai
- Kira, this war will
not go well for Japan.
- Sir, Japan is fighting.
- We are winning now.
But America is industrially
stronger than we.
Six months, a year at the most,
Japan will be fighting for her life.
The Americans will amass naval
armada to strangle our homeland
and we shall not have enough
ships or planes to stop her.
Unless... Do you know
the legend of Issei?
- The wind god who destroyed
the invading Mongolian fleet in 1281.
- Only another such
divine wind can save our
country and we shall
be the ones who create it.
The example we set on
this mission will be repeated.
I'm convinced of that.
It is our Karma.
A thousand years from now, they will
sing of us as the gods who saved Japan.
Think of it, Kira.
We shall be gods.
We shall be the divine wind.
- They're up to something, General.
I can feel it.
- What you feel is hangover.
- Hangovers go away, sir.
I've felt this ever since they started
sending bombers down the slot.
- Trying to hit us here?
- No, sir.
No, I don't think so.
I think they're up to something else.
- Well, what?
Guadalcanal is out of their range.
The new ammo dump on Bella
La Bella is out of their range.
The carriers, they're at Pearl refueling.
The only thing worth hitting with
so many bombers is the Espritos.
These are good.
You want the other half?
- No, thank you, sir.
Then why'd they give up?
- Well, you pushed them
back five times in a row.
- I never stopped them before.
And another thing, General.
Every time they hit Arabella, it's
small and without fighter cover.
And when we intercept, they run.
- No, sir, they're not after Arabella.
And they're not after the Espritos.
They're after something else. That's only a diversion.
- What the hell are they after?
- I wish I knew, sir.
- Just come on, Bob.
- Really?
- Get on up there.
- Hey, Padre, I hope you're not collecting.
- No, I'm just helping.
Of course, if you do
want to make a donation, to the Navy Relief
Fund, the tin's right there.
- There you go.
- Get on up there.
- French.
- Hey, what are you doing?
- For my little wager
the other day, my friend.
- You got burnt, my friend.
- But I did traverse the
coals, did I not, Dotty?
- Unfortunately.
- There you go. - Come on.
- If you can reach it, you can have it.
- See you at the poker, guy.
- C'est de mon, mon ami, c'est de mon.
- Bragg.
- Money, money, money.
- Give me my money.
- There you go.
- Thank you.
- Good afternoon, Lawrence.
I believe you're holding some funds for me.
- Uh-huh, Anderson.
- Name's not there.
- I'm sorry, there's a poker game waiting.
- Bob can't pay unless
your name's on the list.
- Now, Lawrence, why
wouldn't my name be on the list?
- Well, the funds have
been sent on to your mother
because you're still
listed as killed in action.
- I thought they had
that all straightened out.
- Well, as Mark Twain said, the report of
my death has been greatly exaggerated.
Or at least premature.
- All right, Dixon, that's a D for Dottie.
Here's your money, honey.
(somber music)
- I think I liked what you were
playing the other day much better.
- Music is an expression of mood.
- Well, that piece would
have done an Irishman proud.
It's as dark as a Dublin dirge.
- Well, I didn't write it.
- Oh, you played it.
- I want to ask you something.
Can a man promise that he won't die?
And I mean believe it so strongly that
he could actually change your Karma?
- Well, I don't know about Karma.
I do know that only God
can determine when or where
you die, provided you
don't take your own life.
- Yes, but if a man had a premonition
of death, it could be part of God's will.
- Look, Bob, I don't know what to tell you.
But it's something that neither of
us has ever been through before.
I do know that God is
trying, but it's man's will.
- God is trying?
Come on, trying?
- I don't have any answers.
I don't even know the
reasons for some of this.
- So a man could have a premonition
of death, and that man could die.
- Well, only God can determine.
- That's not what you said a moment ago.
You said God was trying.
- I'm trying.
(sighs)
But, Bob, I'm tired.
I've seen too much.
I don't know the answers.
I used to, but I don't anymore.
They want me back on Monday.
And what am I to say to boys 18
and 20 who are being blown to bits?
What--
- When is your time?
- Nothing can change that.
- Well, I'm sorry.
I guess I've not been much help.
- Yes, you have.
If you'll excuse me, I
have to write a letter.
- Bob.
(somber music)
- La Cava, this is Black Sheep One.
I'm 10 miles out.
- Roger, Black Sheep
One, you're cleared to land.
Wind five knots out of the northeast.
Altimeter setting two niner niner five.
- Roger, La Cava.
The back of my neck was still
itching as I let down for the field.
I had a feeling the answer
was right under my nose.
I just couldn't seem to grasp it.
It was under my nose, literally.
La Cava Tower, Black Sheep One.
I am going around.
If the Seabees wouldn't let me in the
front door, I'd come down the chimney.
I had seen my share of
foul-ups, but nothing like this.
Instead of a hospital,
the Seabees were putting
the main ammo dump for the
entire South Pacific
on the north side of our island, within
striking range of the Japanese.
It gave me chills thinking what would
happen if the Japanese got through.
And then I broke into a cold sweat,
realizing it was only a matter of time.
- There must be a big storm over Espritos.
I can't get anything.
- Well keep trying.
That storm was coming in when I left.
- Espritos, come in please.
La Cava calling, over.
- Go ahead, La Cava.
We read you.
- See what happens when you keep trying.
- Major Boynton calling
Colonel Lard or General Moore.
Priority A1, over.
- Stand by, La Cava.
- Roger.
- Where's the CO of this hot shot outfit?
- I am, who are you?
- Billings.
I'm in charge of the Seabees
on the north end of the island.
One of your hot shots just dragged
through the middle of my camp.
- Greg, I'm glad you're back.
I'd like to talk with you.
- La Cava, this is Colonel Lard, what's up?
- Excuse me for a moment, Padre.
I figured out what the Japanese are after.
- I want that pilot on report.
- I can't hear you, Boynton.
- I said I figured out what
the Japanese are after.
They put the ammo dump on the wrong island.
- What the hell is he talking about?
- I don't know.
- They put what where?
The Navy.
They put the ammo dump on La Cava.
- A hospital is going up on La Cava.
- No, that's going up on La Vella.
- No, sir, the hospital
is going up on La Vella.
They put the ammo dump up on La Cava.
- But La Cava's
practically the front lines.
What idiot would do that?
- Sir, there must be some foul up.
- Who the hell are you?
- I'm sorry, Padre, what is it?
- Well, it's Anderson.
I think he believes he's going to die.
- Should have punched that
boy instead of talking to him.
- Are you the one who
promised him he wouldn't die?
- Sure am.
- Well, Craig, you can't do that.
- Why not?
- You're not God.
- I mean, what if he did die up there?
- Then he dies.
But he doesn't go up looking for it.
- A man's got to be prepared for death.
- Not up there.
In a foxhole, maybe.
It might be a question of being in
the wrong place at the wrong time.
But not in the air.
It's mistakes that get pilots killed.
Now, if you go up thinking
you're going to die, you will.
And going into combat with that
attitude is like committing suicide.
- Major.
- I knew it.
I knew when we got here, this
island is too close to the action.
But the order's read La Cava.
I should have trusted my gut.
Those yo-yos back at fleet headquarters
don't know what they're typing.
Can you believe it?
We could all be killed
because of a stinking typo.
- Yeah, I can believe it.
- It'll take at least 48 hours
to get rid of the ammo we got.
What are the chances of the
Japanese getting through before we do?
- Don't ask.
- See you, Major.
- Padre.
- Padre, I heard on Espritos
that the mud marines at Munda
have been trying to get
you there for two days.
- Well, I felt I was needed here.
- I think you're tired of seeing men die.
And you know that won't happen here
because you don't have to
go up in the cockpits with them.
- I think if I do see another
boy die, it will break my faith.
- That'd be tough, John.
'Cause if you lose your faith out
here, you could kill some boys with this.
(somber music)
- Pilots of the Asai squadron, today
your minds must be on one word.
Attack.
Until you reach the target, you will refuse
to accept battle with the enemy planes.
No obstacle must deter
you from your mission.
We go forth to fulfill our destiny.
On behalf of your 100 million countrymen,
I thank you for the
sacrifice of your lives.
From this moment, you are gods.
You are the divine wind.
(somber music)
(speaking in foreign language).
(speaking in foreign language)
(speaking in foreign language).
(somber music)
- It's Karma.
It's Karma.
- Check out the radios?
- Yeah, I checked out the radios.
- And the instrument panel?
- Yeah, I checked out the instrument panel.
- Uh-huh.
- What about the landing lights?
- You don't get off my back, college boy.
I'm gonna screw you in the landing lights
and use you for a Christmas-- - Sarge!
- You're gonna fly Casey's
wing, Anderson's gonna fly mine.
- Did I do something wrong?
- Yeah, I don't want my wingtip chewed up
because you got your
nose in some girly magazine.
- Greg.
I'll be going out on the next transport.
And I would like a few
words with Bob before I go.
- Sure.
(footsteps clomping)
- L.C. Coast Watcher reports 10 bombers
with fighter escort headed towards Arabella.
- With fighters?
- With fighters, that's what the man said.
- Okay, Casey, you take 'em up.
- Me?
- Well, that's what I just said, didn't I?
- Yes, sir.
- Not you, you're staying
down with me, Anderson.
- Whatever.
(engine rumbling)
- I still had that itch
on the back of my neck.
I'd expected the raid on Arabella and planned
to send half the squadron to intercept,
but the Japanese upset all
that with their fighter escort.
Whatever they planned for La
Cava, I hoped Anderson was up to it.
Hell, I hoped I was up to it.
- I know you're not a Catholic, Bob,
but will you wear it to humor an Irishman?
- It won't change anything.
- It can't hurt.
- Can't help.
I am going to die today.
And there's nothing that you or Pappy
or even Saint Christopher
can do to alter that fact.
It is my Karma.
But if it'll make you feel better.
- It would.
- Bob, there is one other
thing I can do to help.
- Yes, Padre.
- Our Karma said it was time
someone knocked you on your butt.
Now you're not going to die unless you
want to go and commit suicide up there.
And if you haven't the
guts to survive, you say so
instead of hiding behind
some philosophical word.
(door slams)
- Now that you're talking
with the Padres, it's over.
We got Zeke's coming up the slot.
Come on, Anderson!
- Believe it or not, when I
spotted the Zeros, I felt better.
They had bombs instead of fuel tanks,
which meant they couldn't mix
it up for long and make it home.
After one pass, I got worried again.
It didn't look like they
intended to ever go home.
- Hey, Pappy, they're not fighting.
- They're trying to reach the island.
- What are you doing here?
They're going to blow
this whole area, Gonzalo!
Come on!
- I had heard of Japanese bonsai charges,
and I guess this was an aerial version.
Though Zeke's never varied, just bored
straight for the north side of the island.
Knocking him down was easy, too easy.
- Pappy, there's two left over the island.
- I see 'em!
- What happened next was hard to believe.
- Yeah.
If I miss, I know you will do your duty.
But if I hit the target, make for
home, and report we were successful.
(bombs exploding).
- Oh, my God.
(speaking in foreign language)
- The other one's running.
- In their attempt to offload
all that ammo, the Seabees
must have had it sprung out
from the bunkers to the beach.
From the air, it was like watching
a string of firecrackers go off.
I didn't want to think what it
must be like on the ground.
- Padre, come back!
- Looks like you'll be
getting a free ticket home.
(bombs exploding)
- It is totally destroyed?
- Aye.
Lieutenant Miraguchi dove his
aircraft directly into the main bunker.
- Thank you, Ensign.
You did the right
thing to report his order.
- The deeds of the Asahi squadron
shall be reported directly to the throne.
- Thank you, sir.
If I may.
- Yes, Kira?
- I would like to humbly suggest that we
rename the squadron in the dispatches.
- What name do you suggest?
- Divine Wind.
Kamikaze!
- A lot of men pass through the islands.
Replacement pilots, mechanics.
And every now and then we see a padre.
In war, I guess it's inevitable that
some of these men end up under a flag.
There are not supposed to
be any atheists in the foxholes.
And I suppose there's some truth to that.
We're all scared to death.
And sometimes it's hard
to keep things straight.
Like Padre John.
A man who'd seen too much and been too far.
But in the end, he kept his faith.
What do you call it?
I don't know.
Maybe an Irishman's prayer?