Black Sheep Squadron (1976–1978): Season 2, Episode 3 - The Hawk Flies on Sunday - full transcript
The Black Sheep squadron are in direct competition with an army squadron. The winner of the contest will get the opportunity to fly an extremely dangerous and important mission.
You're going after the hawk.
How do you think a girl who's
half Japanese survives out here?
Now, you just stay away from
her until you hear otherwise.
Isn't that one of those black sheep?
What'll they be flying?
Probably a Betty with
an escort of six zeros.
Maybe we can outthink'em.
My boys will get him, General.
Out fly'em, Out navigate'em.
He's a Japanese officer.
He's my uncle.
That's gangrene.
You're lying!
Do you think that I would leave a Japanese
major here if I thought he'd survive?
After 27 days of
bitter fighting,
the 7th Marines have captured
the island of San Remo.
This latest victory places nearly half
the Solomon chain into Allied hands,
and seriously challenges the Japanese
for control of the strategic Solomon slot.
Stung by these recent
advances,
the Japanese are said to have
called their chief military strategist,
Admiral Isukuro Yamamoto, to
plan a major counteroffensive.
Ironically, Yamamoto, who
planned the attack on Pearl Harbor,
learned much of his military
strategy in Washington,
where he served as a naval
attache in the early '30s.
Known to American commanders as the Hawk,
Yamamoto is believed to be directing enemy
operations from a secret
base somewhere in Rabaul.
And so tonight, throughout
the Solomons, Marines
are on the alert, awaiting
the inevitable attack.
[snoring].
[snoring]
[radio chatter]
"Keeping an eye on Sears at
first, he goes in with a motion."
"Curveball swung out of his strike one."
"Brown gets the ball back from the
catcher, studies him for a moment."
"Now he gets the signal."
"Brown goes into his windup."
"The bench foul away, strike two."
"Weatherly, the calm eye of the storm."
"Swings the bat a couple of times."
"He's back in the box, ready to go."
"Brown's 0-2 delivery is deep to left field."
"Could it be?"
"It-- it-- it is home run!"
"Unbelievable!"
- "Boy, Weatherly is--"
- [screaming]
"--the man on."
"The Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-3."
- I love them Yankees.
Woo-hoo!
About now, we'd have welcomed
Yamamoto's counteroffensive.
Anything to put an end to the nightly
raids by washing machine Charlie.
Charlie rarely ever hurt you.
He only dropped a few bombs,
and they were usually way off target.
But those out-of-sync
engines of his drove you crazy.
Charlie knew it.
So he'd circle the island a couple
of times before dropping his eggs.
It was a little like a
dentist gunning the drill in
front of you for 10 minutes
before going to work.
Yamamoto might have been number
one in the South Pacific hit parade.
But on Vella La Cava, it
was washing machine Charlie.
Give me a break, will you?
Isn't it bad enough I got
to sleep with a buzz bomb?
What's-- what's going on?
A war!
[engine rumbling]
[gunshots]
Get them engines in sync!
[explosion]
[gunshots]
Gentlemen, I'd give anything
for a good night's sleep.
With whom?
Anyone just so I could get eight
hours without hearing "Ehh, ehh, ehh, ehh, ehh."
Larry, did you ever get that
ball game from the States?
Oh, yeah, I finally tuned it in.
Yankees won in the bottom of
the ninth, four to three on a homer.
We're going to get even with
those CPs for watering our scotch.
Well, how are we going to do that?
Jerry, I stayed up last night and
pulled the broadcast in from New York.
Now, Espritos will get the
delayed broadcast tonight.
But we already know the score.
Yankees, four; Red Sox, three.
[laughing]
It'll be all right, Jerry.
All you need is a good night's sleep.
Message from Colonel Lahrt's office, Major.
Hi, Stan.
All right, you guys, the mission's off.
We're flying to Espritos instead.
You know, sometimes I
think he does it on purpose.
What did you say, Boyle?
I didn't say anything, Pappy.
Boyington is on his way.
And the PBY is standing
by to take you to fleet.
What about the Air Corps squadron?
Well, they're certainly
sending us their best, late in '70.
They should be here within the hour.
They wouldn't make this
a joint service, Fletcher.
But what am I supposed to tell
Boyington when he gets here?
There's nothing to tell. Just keep
them from wrecking the place, that's all.
General, what is going on?
When I'll know. You'll know.
Yes, sir.
Hey, Pappy, you got any idea why
they're ordering us to the rear area?
I don't think it could be
leave, do you, Pappy?
I mean, we do have a
leave coming, don't we?
I don't think it's leave.
I mean, if it was leave....
It's Zeke's! Zeke's, 3 o'clock high!
Looks like we're gonna have
to fight our way to the rear area.
Good morning, Tommy.
Did you bring your life wrap?
Not going swimming today, Boyington.
Maybe you.
It was bad enough running
into Arachi, but running
into Arachi when he
had altitude could be fatal.
Full power, dive!
I was banking on enough speed
in the dive to turn the tables.
Now stay tight and follow me.
Hey, Boyington! Where are you running?
Got to go home, Boyington.
Low on fuel. I'll get you next time.
Sure, Riceball.
Any excuse is better than none.
Next time, Boyington. Next time.
When we arrived at Expridos,
I called Lard's office,
but for any number of reasons,
he couldn't come to the phone.
When I didn't hear anything by
mid-morning, I decided to pay him a visit.
Oh, uh, good morning, Boyington.
Sir, you said report,
but you didn't say why.
Well, uh, just consider
it a breather, will you?
A breather?
Yes, I, uh, I have a meeting to go to
now, Boyington. I can't discuss it now.
Oh, uh, there is one thing.
Stay out of trouble, will you?
And,uh, have a good time.
(Music)
-The air's a lot better here, anyhow.
-Nice and cold.
I just wish it was when we were
gonna get started or something.
Hey, how you doing, Captain?
Fine, Major.
Hey, Peppy, look how tall that
nurse is, and Boyle's dancing with her.
Yeah, what about it?
Well, what do you think about it?
I don't think about it.
Let me buy you guys a drink, huh?
Bartender, three scotches.
That sounds wonderful.
What do you say, guys?
Hey, let's make that four scotches.
Oh, no offense, but I can drink
with you guys any time, huh?
Catch you later.
Woo-hoo!
Where's that genie, genie,
genie? I haven't seen you
since, wait, don't tell me,
MGM Christmas Party, 1941.
You and Gable just finished that picture.
You must have me mistaken
for somebody else, Lieutenant.
Oh, are you telling me I don't know Genie
Collins, the prettiest starlet in MGM Lock?
No, I'm telling you that I'm not her.
Sorry.
Sorry? Oh, please don't be sorry about it.
Okay.
Oh, my God. Excuse me, my mistake, sir.
He knows Clark Gable.
Bee, Bee, I haven't seen
you since that party at Clark's.
Clark's?
Gable's, the fishing lodge, Washington,
you and Gable just finished that picture.
Jimmy, you know I don't know Clark Gable.
Who's Jimmy?
Well, you are Jimmy Stewart, aren't you?
[Laughing]
What are you doing down there?
I'm putting milk out for the cat.
Oh, that's nice, but what's your cat
doing underneath the officers' club?
Oh, it's not my cat.
Oh, yeah.
It looks kind of heavy. Can I help you?
Oh, I can manage.
Oh, no, this is no trouble at all.
It looks kind of heavy.
In fact, I can give you
a lift in my Jeep here.
That's your Jeep, Lieutenant?
Oh, yeah, sure.
What do you say?
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
My name's TJ. What's yours?
Yvonne.
That's a real pretty name.
Thank you.
Oh, here we go.
Ring for a Jeep, sorry.
Get in there.
This is embarrassing.
I wasn't the only squadron leader on the
island cooling his heels waiting for Lard.
There was an Air Corps major.
[♪♪♪]
[applause]
Whoa, whoa.
Have no fear.
The United States Army is here.
Hey, watch it.
Drinks for everybody.
Hey, hey, hey.
Drinks for everybody?
Step right up.
You guys are the Gooney Birds.
Hey, listen, I really
envy you guys, you know,
flying back and forth
to Australia all the time.
How about hats off to
the cargo pilots, huh?
You guys are doing a hell of a job.
These guys.
He's kidding.
You better be kidding.
My, my, my.
What a waste of talent, huh?
All right.
You'd think he'd pick on
somebody his own size.
Let's not spend the evening incarcerated...
- Watch it!
- ...in the brig.
Hey, you stay right here, Bragg.
Buy this man a drink.
I'll handle it, all right?
Sure.
Thank you.
Are you the CO?
Well, I'm Greg Boyington, VMF-214.
Major Layden.
Pleasure, Major.
Look, I don't want to ruin
anybody's fun, but it looks
like things are starting to
get off on the wrong foot.
You know how it is with
combat fighter pilots?
Now, how is it with fighter pilots?
I'm buying.
Have any care.
Why don't you turn that radio up?
Yes.
"As we go into the bottom half of the ninth
inning, it's the Red Sox 3, the Yankees 2."
"Joe Gordon will be
leading off with the Yankees,"
"then Chitting in
the pitcher's spot."
Red Sox have a great team this year.
You think so, huh?
Yeah, we ought to know.
We're both from Boston.
Kind of like those old Yankees myself.
Oh, yeah?
Hey, you like them old Yankees
enough to put down a little cash on them?
Oh, I didn't say I liked them that much.
Yeah, that's the trouble with Jyrenes.
All mouth.
Well, hey, hey, what do you expect?
It's the last of the ninth and
Red Sox are winning 3 to 2.
What do you want?
We'll give you odds.
Odds?
Yeah, yeah, you know, odds.
3 to 1, let the Red Sox win it.
Wait a minute, Don.
It's the last of the ninth,
Red Sox winning, 3 to 2?
3 to 1.
Hit if you got enough
to make it interesting.
Uh, gentlemen?
I'm in for a hundred.
Can I get in?
Sure.
Maybe you ought to talk to your men.
My guys are doing this all the time.
I hate to see your boys lose their money.
Really?
Well, I appreciate your concern, Major.
Thank you.
I'm out. That's too steep for me.
See, we can scare up about $300.
Does that make it interesting
enough for you, gentlemen?
Uh... Uh, come here, guys.
Bring it in, bring it in, please.
Yeah, yeah, we're okay.
Yeah, yeah, pal.
-You're right.
-Yeah, you're covered.
"There may be no joy in Mudville tonight."
"Yankees have only
two outs left in the series."
"Brown finds up."
"First base, brown ball, deep to the hole."
"Lake is there, backhands the ball."
"Long throw to first."
"He's out. Two down."
"And he sears and stepping
up to the batter's box."
"Fans are very down now."
"Sears at bat."
"Brown goes into his windup."
"The first pitch, swung on
and drilled into center field."
"And the potential winning run comes up to
the plate in the person of Roy Weatherly."
"He goes into his motion."
"Curveball swung on and a strike one."
"Brown goes into his windup."
"The pitch fouled away. Strike two."
-Shall we take the money now, gentlemen?
Let me just wait till the last pitch.
"Brown's 0-2 delivery
is hit deep to left field."
"Could it be?"
"It is!"
"Homerun!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Roy Weatherly has just hummered in a ninth."
Ah, gentlemen.
"The Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-3."
Thank you.
We now know the Japanese counteroffensive
will take place for another eight days.
How do we know that?
We cracked the Japanese code.
Not only did we crack it, gentlemen, but in
the past 24 hours, we got the brass ring,
the itinerary of Admiral Isokuro Yamamoto.
2200 hours Sunday, he will be
approaching the island of Beale.
And so are you.
You're going after the Hawk.
You men are here because you've
got the best records in the South Pacific.
Combat records, that is, Boyington.
At 1800 Sunday, Yamamoto will take off
from Rabaul and arrive at Beale at 2200.
Now, it's our guess he's going
to meet some of his top honchos
and personally supervise
the counteroffensive.
Sir, that's 600 miles
through enemy territory.
What about the Coast Watchers and radar?
What that means is you'll have
to fly on the deck to avoid them.
Colonel, you know that flying on the deck
is going to increase our
fuel consumption by 50%.
Until now, I didn't know why,
but your Corsairs are being
fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks.
Layton's Mustangs already have them.
That still gives us a range of 1500 miles.
Now, we're going to use up
half of that, sir, getting there.
What if Yamamoto's late?
I knew Yamamoto when he was
a naval attache in Washington.
And he was never late for
a meeting or a poker party.
What will he be flying?
G-2 says it'll be a light bomber, probably
a Betty, with an escort of six zeros.
Only six zeros?
That shouldn't prove
to be much of a problem.
Layton, the six zeros may
not be much of a problem,
but we're liable to encounter
60 just getting out of the slot.
Now, how are we going to engage
them weighted down with fuel tanks?
Well, that's why we got two squadrons.
You get bounced, one squadron drops her
tanks and fights while the other goes on.
My boys will get him, General.
I didn't say that your squadron
will lead the assault, Major.
There'll be a practice
mission at 0800 tomorrow.
The squadron that reaches the
objective first will lead the assault.
Now, for security reasons,
I don't want you to give your men any of
the details of this until the last minute.
I don't want them
wandering around the island.
There are some Japanese
stragglers on the hills,
and G-2 tells me that they
may have a transmitter.
Now, the last thing we need is
for the enemy to get wind of this.
So keep your men on ice.
- Pappy, it's not fair.
- What's not fair?
Our restriction.
We're supposed to be on leave.
When did you ever hear of a leave
wearing the clothes on your back?
We're restricted because
of those Army creeps, right?
No, that's wrong.
Well, I sure would like a
shot at those Army creeps.
You're going to get a shot at those
Army guys. You understand that?
Tomorrow, General Moore
has set up a practice mission.
Us against them.
What kind of a practice mission?
A rendezvous with the
destroyer at open water.
There's a war going on,
and we're playing games.
It's not a game, dammit.
It's a practice mission to
see who gets there first.
Pappy, how are we going
to outrun their Mustangs?
Captain, we all know that
we can't outrun their Mustangs.
Maybe we can outthink them,
outfly them, out-- outnavigate them.
- Morning, guys.
- Hi, T.J.
Where the hell have you been?
I was, um...
I was out.
What's going on?
We're restricted.
For what?
I can't be restricted.
[arguing]
Knock it off!
How long do you meatheads
have to be in the Marine Corps
before you realize
that restricted means...
Don't get caught.
- Oh, good!
- Hey!
- Wait a minute, we all can't--
- Hey, wait a minute!
Who's got that field of--
Hey, why do you think
they got us restricted?
Beats me.
Hey, isn't that one of those black sheep?
Wow. If they can get girls
like that, I just might join them.
Nah, nah, that'd be a mistake.
I know that Eurasian chick.
She's nothing but trouble.
She told me she loved me.
Yeah, yeah.
All she wanted was my gear.
Sold it on the black market.
You sure it was her?
Yeah, I never forget a body.
Yeah, yeah. Why aren't they restricted?
They are. Evidently, they're a bit
more creative about it than you are.
See you boys later.
Now all we gotta do is get by that MP.
Yeah, yeah, okay. Leave this stuff to me.
Come on.
Hospital nurses, here we come.
You go ahead.
What is there?
We're restricted, sir.
Batio?
That sounds familiar.
Hey, where you from, Batio?
Pittsburgh, sir.
Pittsburgh? I'm from Pittsburgh myself.
Hey, and a matter of fact,
I'm going there in a few days.
Want me to say hello to anybody?
Well, my mom, sir. She lives in Swickly.
Great, Swickly.
Listen, you give me her
address, and I'll look her up.
285 Beaver Avenue.
All right, 285. This is great.
I'll tell her what a
great job you're doing.
It's darn nice of you, sir.
All right.
Sorry, sir, this area is restricted.
Well, yeah, we have to visit a sick friend.
General Moore's order, sir. Sorry.
Well, maybe you could
say you didn't see us.
Just no way, sir.
Huh.
Gateway!
- We're seeing this guy.
-It's Ok, get inside.
Hold on there.
Hurry him up.
This man needs some intensive care.
-Yes, sir
-If you could just step in here, sweetheart.
I ain't gonna let him get away with this.
Relax, relax, relax.
Our time will come.
Hey, what are you trying
to do, steal my Jeep?
How can you steal what's already stolen?
This Jeep's stolen?
Uh-huh.
In that case, maybe I, uh,
search it for some goodies, huh?
All right.
Well, well, well, what have I here?
T.J., you're incredible!
Naturally.
How did you get all this? Wine? Cheese?
You won't believe it. I swapped for it.
It only cost me a case of scotch.
A case?
You better see me next time.
I could get you a better deal.
Better deal?
What do you know about trading?
How do you think a girl who's half
Japanese without parents survives out here?
I don't know. I never thought about it.
You Americans never do.
What's this thing you got against America?
The war.
We didn't start it, you know.
I know you didn't
start it, but you enjoy it.
I mean, it's one complete drunken party
with native girls and moonlit islands.
Hey, wait a minute. That's not true.
I'm sorry.
It's just that I've lost my parents
and a brother and my home in it.
It's not a joke to me.
Nobody thinks it's a joke.
Did you ever wonder why we do what we do?
You're Americans.
We're scared.
You don't act scared.
Who has to act?
Maybe some of the guys out
here aren't scared. I don't know.
I just know I've been terrified
since I ever came out here.
And I don't think I'm alone.
So yeah, sure, we all
drink a lot, raise a lot of hell,
chase after every
pretty girl we see.
Why not?
We're just trying to survive.
I'm sorry.
I didn't realize that.
Yeah.
You Eurasians never do.
[Sighs].
Take good look, gentlemen.
This bird's gonna run
rings around you tomorrow.
Yeah, well, a plane is
only as good as its pilot.
Well, then that means you
guys are in twice as much trouble.
Ah, it's cheap. You guys ready to
put your money where your mouth is?
Yeah, well, now you're talking sense, pal.
Kick it up, fellas.
Yeah, don't worry about it.
Hey, cover me, boy, will you?
All right, you're covered.
I spent all my money last night.
I'm sorry about it.
Great.
500. Can you handle the action?
Uh, no problem. You're covered, pal.
Who's gonna hold this?
She is. She's got an honest
face, among other things.
I spent most of the day and
evening going over the charts.
We were to fly two different
routes to the rendezvous.
After takeoff, both squadrons
would form up south of
Espiritos and simultaneously
race for the Destroyer.
Layton's boys would fly a
triangular route to the southwest,
and we would do the
same to the southeast.
The Mustangs had about
20 knots on our Corsairs,
but I figured we could win
if Layton's navigation was
just off a hair and mine wasn't.
All things being equal,
it would be a fair test,
and the best squadron would have
the green light to get Yamamoto.
You flew me over here to do what?
Why don't you say it a little louder?
Nobody might've heard you.
Sergeant, what it boils down to is
upholding the honor of the Corps.
What's my messing with their compass
have to do with the Marine Corps honor?
See, Sarge, we're having
a little race tomorrow.
No combat, just practice, and we
bet the Army that we could beat 'em.
Then you were stupid.
A Mustang's faster than a Corsair.
We know that.
We only made the bet after
their line chief said that, uh...
Well, we'd be lucky if we could
get our cruddy wrecks off the ground.
Cruddy wrecks? Where's that line chief?
Sergeant, Sergeant, uh... No, we
don't want to be beating anybody up.
We just want to win the money, and we can.
If you'll just fix the
compass so it's just a little off.
So, you know, kind of make things fair.
What do you say?
Wrecks, huh?
Cruddy wrecks.
Coming up on the second quadrant.
Ready to change our heading.
Ten degrees.
We on course?
We're right on course.
Pappy, are you sure?
Yeah, I'm sure you're sure.
How are we doing, Skipper?
Right on course.
Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Hey, Pappy, I just saw a shark.
Bragg, you better
watch where you're flying.
You're going to end up
being eaten by a shark.
We should be near the rendezvous.
Climb to Angel's Ten and
start looking for that destroyer.
I don't see a thing down there, Skipper.
I don't see none either.
Destroyer, ten o'clock.
Hey, I don't see those
Army hot shots anywhere.
Hee-hee! We aced them out!
Bullseye.
This is Black Sheep
Leader reporting on station.
1,300 hours.
Roger, Black Sheep Leader. So long.
Congratulations, Major Boyington.
You're first on the scene.
You haven't heard from Major Layton?
No, sir. But I might answer
that you have made about
half the men on this
destroyer mighty happy, sir.
What about the other half?
Well, sir, they, uh...
-They've been on the Army.
-[Laughing]
Well, it looks like you'll
lead the assault, Greg.
What happened up there today, Layton?
We did our best. Major Boyington
just got there before we did, sir.
I'm to it, Fleet.
I want both of you to
work up a flight plan on this.
I'll give you my input from Fleet
tomorrow, and we'll put it all together.
All right, those papers
are ready, I might add.
I'm buying.
So, uh, one of your men is
going around with a Japanese girl?
Half Japanese.
Then you know.
Major, how about this?
You take care of your squadron,
and I'll take care of
mine. Fair enough?
No, it's not.
One of my men knew her.
She took him for a lot of goodies
she sold on the black market.
Oh, come on, Major. Everybody deals.
Yeah, well, the rumor is she deals
with people friendly to the Japanese.
I have a responsibility to eight men.
Now, maybe this girl's
trouble, and maybe she's not.
But I'm not about to risk
any of their lives on a maybe.
If you are, you've got no
business wearing that leaf.
One more thing.
Give this to whoever put it
behind my compass last night.
I didn't like admitting
it, but Layton was right.
Still, it wasn't going to
make it any easier telling T.J.
[knocking].
Come on in.
Hey, Pappy, how you doing?
Good, T.J. I sit down.
You want to see me about something?
Yeah. You want a drink?
Sure.
No ice.
No problem.
T.J., I know there's a lot
going on right now around here,
and you're going
with a half Japanese girl.
Makes a lot of people off the jumpy.
Jumpy about what? I don't understand.
Security.
You've got to be kidding.
Believe me, I wish I were, T.J.
Hey, Greg, just because
she's half Japanese
doesn't make her into
an enemy spy, you know?
No, no, I know that.
More to it than that, T.J.
Well, what then?
Well, you know, she was seeing one of
Layton's pilots, and he kind of feels that--
Hey, come on, Greg. If
you've got something to say,
just come out
and say it, all right?
Well, T.J., for you and me,
this war is basically pretty simple.
We go up on those birds, we
either come back or we don't.
The war's not quite that
simple for this woman.
Come on, Greg.
What the hell are we talking about here?
Well, she's evidently trying to get
through this war the best way she can.
Now, some people, some people.
Her methods are questionable.
Why don't you just come on out and say it?
You think she's a prostitute, don't you?
No, T.J., I-- I didn't say that.
- But you're thinking--
- Damn it T.J., I don't have to put up with this.
Now, you just stay away from
her until you hear otherwise.
You're telling me that as my
friend or as my commanding officer?
You take it any way you
want, T.J., but I am telling you.
Thank you, sir.
Will there be anything else?
[Sighs]
Hey, aren't you the guy
that's seen Yvonne?
Yeah, what about it?
Hey, listen, pal, this is
just a friendly warning.
All that girl wants is your gear.
She sells it on the black market.
Hey, pal, I ought to know.
Hey, Yvonne!
-T.J., I thought you were going to the--
-Hey, listen, why bother with the middleman?
Why don't you just start
taking the cash straight out?
T.J.!
Oh, I'm sorry. Did I offend you?
I mean, after all, I'm different, right?
I'm different than all the rest.
Now, you're in love with me, aren't you?
Please don't be like the others.
How many others?
I thought you understood.
Understand what?
The Japanese have treated me
like trash because I'm half French,
and the Americans have treated me
like trash because I'm half Japanese.
All I have to do is survive here,
and I thought you understood that.
I don't understand it.
I want you to explain it to me.
I don't owe you anything.
I'm telling you, you owe me an explanation.
I don't owe you anything.
I owe you an explanation,
not an explanation.
Yvonne!
[shouting]
Hi, Greg.
Who put this magnet
behind Layton's compass?
I suppose it got there by itself.
No, sir. Uh, we all did it.
Yeah, we had a bet with him.
All right. How come I didn't know about it?
-Well, we thought--
-You thought wrong.
That flight was preparation
for a very important mission.
Well, we didn't know anything about that.
-You in command now, French?
-No!
Sir.
Where's the money? Where's the money?
-Where's T.J.?
-Haven't seen him.
You guys gotta find him.
Right now.
Boyington! I want to talk to you!
You know what those are, Boyington?
One is a report on a stolen Jeep.
Another is a report on a stolen motorcycle.
And the third is a report
that one of your men
has been seen with a
Japanese girl on this island.
Now, what is going on?
You know as much about that, sir, as I do.
Did you know that Lieutenant
Wiley was seeing this girl?
He has orders not to see her anymore, sir.
Then you did know about it! Boyington!
Do you have any idea how--.
Do you have any idea how important
the security of this mission is?
Yes, sir!
I want to see you and Lieutenant
Wiley in my office in ten minutes!
I am due in General Moore's office,
sir, in five minutes for a flight briefing.
So am I. Get in this Jeep, Boyington!
We're not through with this. We're gonna
talk right after that. Get in the Jeep!
When we get out of the slot, we'll fly
due west, just south of the Russells.
-How far out to sea will that take you?
-Fifty miles, sir.
They'll never spot us out there.
What speed? Two hundred knots, sir.
Then I'm gonna turn north to avoid any
spotting boats that might be in the area.
So when you make your final approach,
you'll be coming in from the west?
Yes, sir.
What time do you figure to be on target?
Fourteen fifty, sir.
G-2 says they figure that
it'll be traveling under
ten thousand feet to be
comfortable and to stay off oxygen.
-Where do you plan on jumping him?
-Forty miles off the coast.
I figure we'll hit
him just as his pilot's
preparing to land.
You've got to get them
on that first pass.
You can't let them get too
close to shore, Greg.
They've got over a hundred
zeroes based on that field.
Yes, sir.
All right, even with the
auxiliary tanks, what about fuel?
We can't make any mistakes.
I figure we've got enough fuel
for ten minutes in the target area.
[Chuckles]
Let's hope that's all we'll need.
Any questions?
See you on the flight line.
Yes, sir.
[Birds chirping]
Are you just in time to help us?
I can't right now. I've got to find T.J.
You're the second one that's
been looking for him today.
-Who else was here?
-An M.P. just a little while ago.
Look, if you see T.J., tell
him Greg wants him right now.
And go easy with that water.
Well, I talked to the nurses.
Nobody's seen him.
He just disappeared. Now,
fellas... Oh, he looked everywhere.
The beach, the beach.
Been there a dozen times.
Some of the Army guys said she spends a lot
of time on the north side of the island.
But he wouldn't go there.
Oh, yeah, he would. If she would, he would.
North side of the island, huh?
Uh-huh.
Anyone know how to get there?
There's only one road that
leads to that side of the island.
Boyle, give me that jeep.
You got it.
Hey, you want one of us to go with you?
No, no, thanks, fellas.
I want you guys to think up an
excuse... if I'm not back by 1700 hours.
Gotcha, boss.
Okay, 1700 hours.
Gotcha, boss.
Hey, late.
Wait a minute.
I got something that belongs to your men.
(tires screeching).
Take it easy with that thing.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
Okay?
What did you have to follow me for?
Why do you think I followed you?
Who's that?
What's going on in here?
He's a Japanese officer.
He's my uncle.
Your uncle?
(speaking Japanese).
I'm gonna have to get him
some medical attention, and fast.
He won't let you take him prisoner.
He'll commit subuko first.
You can't just leave
him out here like this.
Why?
He's been here for months.
He's getting better.
No one will find us here.
Yvonne, I can't do that.
He's an enemy officer.
But he's my uncle.
He's not going to hurt anyone.
The war's over for him.
T.J., it could be over for all of us.
Do you know what you're asking me to do?
What's it gonna be, T.J.?
What are you doing?
I'm not gonna let you take him prisoner.
He's not here to take anybody prisoner.
He's here for me.
Then you better go with him.
What are you talking about?
You just said you wanted
me to sit this war out with you.
But that was before he came.
Yvonne, you're not making any sense.
You're the one that's not
making any sense, T.J.,
over a woman that would use you,
me, or anyone to keep that man alive.
That's a lie. It's not true.
Damn it, it is true.
You tell him.
He's right.
My duty to my family comes first.
Duty to your family?
What about me and you?
What about us?
I might have deserted for you.
See?
There are times when love is not enough.
Come on, T.J.
You got a mission to fly.
Better get that man to the
hospital because he's dying.
But you haven't even looked at his wound.
I don't have to look at his wound, lady.
I can smell it. That's gangrene.
You're lying.
Do you think that I would leave a Japanese
major here if I thought he'd survive?
Well, he is late, isn't he?
Yes, sir.
Well, that's it.
What are you going to do, sir?
I'm turning it over to Layton.
Major Layton?
Where's Layton?
Major Boyington and the lost sheep.
Another five minutes
and I'm left without you.
Another five minutes and I
wouldn't have blamed you.
Thanks a lot, Layton.
Where the devil have you two been?
I'm sorry, sir.
At the tower, sir.
Last minute weather en route.
Last minute weather en route.
All right.
I've asked your squadron leaders not
to give you the details on this mission.
But I can tell you now
that in ten minutes...
we're going to take off over 650
miles of open ocean for a rendezvous.
Not with a destroyer this time.
But with a Japanese Betty.
Carrying Admiral Isokuro Yamamoto.
We're going after the hawk!
We were almost out of the slot.
Another five minutes and it would
be unpatrolled open ocean all the way.
Zero to 11 o'clock. A block of them.
Hey, Boyington!
Is that you?
I got plenty fuel today.
Black Sheep Leader to Eagle Leader. Do
not drop tanks. Repeat, do not drop tanks.
This guy is an old friend.
I think I'd better say hello.
Good luck.
Black Sheep, drop your tanks and follow me.
Hey, Boington!
What's with your army friends?
Looks like they're running away.
You know the army.
Never stick around when you need 'em.
That's okay, Boington. I want you!
I want you too, Rice Ball.
True to form, Yamato is exactly on time.
So was the Air Corps.
Let's go get 'em.
When we returned to Espritos,
TJ went looking for Yvonne.
He found her uncle at the hospital.
A prisoner, but alive.
TJ never did say if he saw Yvonne again.
And I didn't ask.
We stayed up all night celebrating
with Leighton and his boys.
And typically, they ordered us
home the next day without any sleep.
But we didn't care.
We got Yamamoto.
Or at least we had a hand in it.
And that was all that mattered.
Until that night.
If I ever get my hands on that
Japanese college boy, I'll kill him!
(Mumbling).
-What's going on?
-A war?
How do you think a girl who's
half Japanese survives out here?
Now, you just stay away from
her until you hear otherwise.
Isn't that one of those black sheep?
What'll they be flying?
Probably a Betty with
an escort of six zeros.
Maybe we can outthink'em.
My boys will get him, General.
Out fly'em, Out navigate'em.
He's a Japanese officer.
He's my uncle.
That's gangrene.
You're lying!
Do you think that I would leave a Japanese
major here if I thought he'd survive?
After 27 days of
bitter fighting,
the 7th Marines have captured
the island of San Remo.
This latest victory places nearly half
the Solomon chain into Allied hands,
and seriously challenges the Japanese
for control of the strategic Solomon slot.
Stung by these recent
advances,
the Japanese are said to have
called their chief military strategist,
Admiral Isukuro Yamamoto, to
plan a major counteroffensive.
Ironically, Yamamoto, who
planned the attack on Pearl Harbor,
learned much of his military
strategy in Washington,
where he served as a naval
attache in the early '30s.
Known to American commanders as the Hawk,
Yamamoto is believed to be directing enemy
operations from a secret
base somewhere in Rabaul.
And so tonight, throughout
the Solomons, Marines
are on the alert, awaiting
the inevitable attack.
[snoring].
[snoring]
[radio chatter]
"Keeping an eye on Sears at
first, he goes in with a motion."
"Curveball swung out of his strike one."
"Brown gets the ball back from the
catcher, studies him for a moment."
"Now he gets the signal."
"Brown goes into his windup."
"The bench foul away, strike two."
"Weatherly, the calm eye of the storm."
"Swings the bat a couple of times."
"He's back in the box, ready to go."
"Brown's 0-2 delivery is deep to left field."
"Could it be?"
"It-- it-- it is home run!"
"Unbelievable!"
- "Boy, Weatherly is--"
- [screaming]
"--the man on."
"The Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-3."
- I love them Yankees.
Woo-hoo!
About now, we'd have welcomed
Yamamoto's counteroffensive.
Anything to put an end to the nightly
raids by washing machine Charlie.
Charlie rarely ever hurt you.
He only dropped a few bombs,
and they were usually way off target.
But those out-of-sync
engines of his drove you crazy.
Charlie knew it.
So he'd circle the island a couple
of times before dropping his eggs.
It was a little like a
dentist gunning the drill in
front of you for 10 minutes
before going to work.
Yamamoto might have been number
one in the South Pacific hit parade.
But on Vella La Cava, it
was washing machine Charlie.
Give me a break, will you?
Isn't it bad enough I got
to sleep with a buzz bomb?
What's-- what's going on?
A war!
[engine rumbling]
[gunshots]
Get them engines in sync!
[explosion]
[gunshots]
Gentlemen, I'd give anything
for a good night's sleep.
With whom?
Anyone just so I could get eight
hours without hearing "Ehh, ehh, ehh, ehh, ehh."
Larry, did you ever get that
ball game from the States?
Oh, yeah, I finally tuned it in.
Yankees won in the bottom of
the ninth, four to three on a homer.
We're going to get even with
those CPs for watering our scotch.
Well, how are we going to do that?
Jerry, I stayed up last night and
pulled the broadcast in from New York.
Now, Espritos will get the
delayed broadcast tonight.
But we already know the score.
Yankees, four; Red Sox, three.
[laughing]
It'll be all right, Jerry.
All you need is a good night's sleep.
Message from Colonel Lahrt's office, Major.
Hi, Stan.
All right, you guys, the mission's off.
We're flying to Espritos instead.
You know, sometimes I
think he does it on purpose.
What did you say, Boyle?
I didn't say anything, Pappy.
Boyington is on his way.
And the PBY is standing
by to take you to fleet.
What about the Air Corps squadron?
Well, they're certainly
sending us their best, late in '70.
They should be here within the hour.
They wouldn't make this
a joint service, Fletcher.
But what am I supposed to tell
Boyington when he gets here?
There's nothing to tell. Just keep
them from wrecking the place, that's all.
General, what is going on?
When I'll know. You'll know.
Yes, sir.
Hey, Pappy, you got any idea why
they're ordering us to the rear area?
I don't think it could be
leave, do you, Pappy?
I mean, we do have a
leave coming, don't we?
I don't think it's leave.
I mean, if it was leave....
It's Zeke's! Zeke's, 3 o'clock high!
Looks like we're gonna have
to fight our way to the rear area.
Good morning, Tommy.
Did you bring your life wrap?
Not going swimming today, Boyington.
Maybe you.
It was bad enough running
into Arachi, but running
into Arachi when he
had altitude could be fatal.
Full power, dive!
I was banking on enough speed
in the dive to turn the tables.
Now stay tight and follow me.
Hey, Boyington! Where are you running?
Got to go home, Boyington.
Low on fuel. I'll get you next time.
Sure, Riceball.
Any excuse is better than none.
Next time, Boyington. Next time.
When we arrived at Expridos,
I called Lard's office,
but for any number of reasons,
he couldn't come to the phone.
When I didn't hear anything by
mid-morning, I decided to pay him a visit.
Oh, uh, good morning, Boyington.
Sir, you said report,
but you didn't say why.
Well, uh, just consider
it a breather, will you?
A breather?
Yes, I, uh, I have a meeting to go to
now, Boyington. I can't discuss it now.
Oh, uh, there is one thing.
Stay out of trouble, will you?
And,uh, have a good time.
(Music)
-The air's a lot better here, anyhow.
-Nice and cold.
I just wish it was when we were
gonna get started or something.
Hey, how you doing, Captain?
Fine, Major.
Hey, Peppy, look how tall that
nurse is, and Boyle's dancing with her.
Yeah, what about it?
Well, what do you think about it?
I don't think about it.
Let me buy you guys a drink, huh?
Bartender, three scotches.
That sounds wonderful.
What do you say, guys?
Hey, let's make that four scotches.
Oh, no offense, but I can drink
with you guys any time, huh?
Catch you later.
Woo-hoo!
Where's that genie, genie,
genie? I haven't seen you
since, wait, don't tell me,
MGM Christmas Party, 1941.
You and Gable just finished that picture.
You must have me mistaken
for somebody else, Lieutenant.
Oh, are you telling me I don't know Genie
Collins, the prettiest starlet in MGM Lock?
No, I'm telling you that I'm not her.
Sorry.
Sorry? Oh, please don't be sorry about it.
Okay.
Oh, my God. Excuse me, my mistake, sir.
He knows Clark Gable.
Bee, Bee, I haven't seen
you since that party at Clark's.
Clark's?
Gable's, the fishing lodge, Washington,
you and Gable just finished that picture.
Jimmy, you know I don't know Clark Gable.
Who's Jimmy?
Well, you are Jimmy Stewart, aren't you?
[Laughing]
What are you doing down there?
I'm putting milk out for the cat.
Oh, that's nice, but what's your cat
doing underneath the officers' club?
Oh, it's not my cat.
Oh, yeah.
It looks kind of heavy. Can I help you?
Oh, I can manage.
Oh, no, this is no trouble at all.
It looks kind of heavy.
In fact, I can give you
a lift in my Jeep here.
That's your Jeep, Lieutenant?
Oh, yeah, sure.
What do you say?
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
My name's TJ. What's yours?
Yvonne.
That's a real pretty name.
Thank you.
Oh, here we go.
Ring for a Jeep, sorry.
Get in there.
This is embarrassing.
I wasn't the only squadron leader on the
island cooling his heels waiting for Lard.
There was an Air Corps major.
[♪♪♪]
[applause]
Whoa, whoa.
Have no fear.
The United States Army is here.
Hey, watch it.
Drinks for everybody.
Hey, hey, hey.
Drinks for everybody?
Step right up.
You guys are the Gooney Birds.
Hey, listen, I really
envy you guys, you know,
flying back and forth
to Australia all the time.
How about hats off to
the cargo pilots, huh?
You guys are doing a hell of a job.
These guys.
He's kidding.
You better be kidding.
My, my, my.
What a waste of talent, huh?
All right.
You'd think he'd pick on
somebody his own size.
Let's not spend the evening incarcerated...
- Watch it!
- ...in the brig.
Hey, you stay right here, Bragg.
Buy this man a drink.
I'll handle it, all right?
Sure.
Thank you.
Are you the CO?
Well, I'm Greg Boyington, VMF-214.
Major Layden.
Pleasure, Major.
Look, I don't want to ruin
anybody's fun, but it looks
like things are starting to
get off on the wrong foot.
You know how it is with
combat fighter pilots?
Now, how is it with fighter pilots?
I'm buying.
Have any care.
Why don't you turn that radio up?
Yes.
"As we go into the bottom half of the ninth
inning, it's the Red Sox 3, the Yankees 2."
"Joe Gordon will be
leading off with the Yankees,"
"then Chitting in
the pitcher's spot."
Red Sox have a great team this year.
You think so, huh?
Yeah, we ought to know.
We're both from Boston.
Kind of like those old Yankees myself.
Oh, yeah?
Hey, you like them old Yankees
enough to put down a little cash on them?
Oh, I didn't say I liked them that much.
Yeah, that's the trouble with Jyrenes.
All mouth.
Well, hey, hey, what do you expect?
It's the last of the ninth and
Red Sox are winning 3 to 2.
What do you want?
We'll give you odds.
Odds?
Yeah, yeah, you know, odds.
3 to 1, let the Red Sox win it.
Wait a minute, Don.
It's the last of the ninth,
Red Sox winning, 3 to 2?
3 to 1.
Hit if you got enough
to make it interesting.
Uh, gentlemen?
I'm in for a hundred.
Can I get in?
Sure.
Maybe you ought to talk to your men.
My guys are doing this all the time.
I hate to see your boys lose their money.
Really?
Well, I appreciate your concern, Major.
Thank you.
I'm out. That's too steep for me.
See, we can scare up about $300.
Does that make it interesting
enough for you, gentlemen?
Uh... Uh, come here, guys.
Bring it in, bring it in, please.
Yeah, yeah, we're okay.
Yeah, yeah, pal.
-You're right.
-Yeah, you're covered.
"There may be no joy in Mudville tonight."
"Yankees have only
two outs left in the series."
"Brown finds up."
"First base, brown ball, deep to the hole."
"Lake is there, backhands the ball."
"Long throw to first."
"He's out. Two down."
"And he sears and stepping
up to the batter's box."
"Fans are very down now."
"Sears at bat."
"Brown goes into his windup."
"The first pitch, swung on
and drilled into center field."
"And the potential winning run comes up to
the plate in the person of Roy Weatherly."
"He goes into his motion."
"Curveball swung on and a strike one."
"Brown goes into his windup."
"The pitch fouled away. Strike two."
-Shall we take the money now, gentlemen?
Let me just wait till the last pitch.
"Brown's 0-2 delivery
is hit deep to left field."
"Could it be?"
"It is!"
"Homerun!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Roy Weatherly has just hummered in a ninth."
Ah, gentlemen.
"The Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-3."
Thank you.
We now know the Japanese counteroffensive
will take place for another eight days.
How do we know that?
We cracked the Japanese code.
Not only did we crack it, gentlemen, but in
the past 24 hours, we got the brass ring,
the itinerary of Admiral Isokuro Yamamoto.
2200 hours Sunday, he will be
approaching the island of Beale.
And so are you.
You're going after the Hawk.
You men are here because you've
got the best records in the South Pacific.
Combat records, that is, Boyington.
At 1800 Sunday, Yamamoto will take off
from Rabaul and arrive at Beale at 2200.
Now, it's our guess he's going
to meet some of his top honchos
and personally supervise
the counteroffensive.
Sir, that's 600 miles
through enemy territory.
What about the Coast Watchers and radar?
What that means is you'll have
to fly on the deck to avoid them.
Colonel, you know that flying on the deck
is going to increase our
fuel consumption by 50%.
Until now, I didn't know why,
but your Corsairs are being
fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks.
Layton's Mustangs already have them.
That still gives us a range of 1500 miles.
Now, we're going to use up
half of that, sir, getting there.
What if Yamamoto's late?
I knew Yamamoto when he was
a naval attache in Washington.
And he was never late for
a meeting or a poker party.
What will he be flying?
G-2 says it'll be a light bomber, probably
a Betty, with an escort of six zeros.
Only six zeros?
That shouldn't prove
to be much of a problem.
Layton, the six zeros may
not be much of a problem,
but we're liable to encounter
60 just getting out of the slot.
Now, how are we going to engage
them weighted down with fuel tanks?
Well, that's why we got two squadrons.
You get bounced, one squadron drops her
tanks and fights while the other goes on.
My boys will get him, General.
I didn't say that your squadron
will lead the assault, Major.
There'll be a practice
mission at 0800 tomorrow.
The squadron that reaches the
objective first will lead the assault.
Now, for security reasons,
I don't want you to give your men any of
the details of this until the last minute.
I don't want them
wandering around the island.
There are some Japanese
stragglers on the hills,
and G-2 tells me that they
may have a transmitter.
Now, the last thing we need is
for the enemy to get wind of this.
So keep your men on ice.
- Pappy, it's not fair.
- What's not fair?
Our restriction.
We're supposed to be on leave.
When did you ever hear of a leave
wearing the clothes on your back?
We're restricted because
of those Army creeps, right?
No, that's wrong.
Well, I sure would like a
shot at those Army creeps.
You're going to get a shot at those
Army guys. You understand that?
Tomorrow, General Moore
has set up a practice mission.
Us against them.
What kind of a practice mission?
A rendezvous with the
destroyer at open water.
There's a war going on,
and we're playing games.
It's not a game, dammit.
It's a practice mission to
see who gets there first.
Pappy, how are we going
to outrun their Mustangs?
Captain, we all know that
we can't outrun their Mustangs.
Maybe we can outthink them,
outfly them, out-- outnavigate them.
- Morning, guys.
- Hi, T.J.
Where the hell have you been?
I was, um...
I was out.
What's going on?
We're restricted.
For what?
I can't be restricted.
[arguing]
Knock it off!
How long do you meatheads
have to be in the Marine Corps
before you realize
that restricted means...
Don't get caught.
- Oh, good!
- Hey!
- Wait a minute, we all can't--
- Hey, wait a minute!
Who's got that field of--
Hey, why do you think
they got us restricted?
Beats me.
Hey, isn't that one of those black sheep?
Wow. If they can get girls
like that, I just might join them.
Nah, nah, that'd be a mistake.
I know that Eurasian chick.
She's nothing but trouble.
She told me she loved me.
Yeah, yeah.
All she wanted was my gear.
Sold it on the black market.
You sure it was her?
Yeah, I never forget a body.
Yeah, yeah. Why aren't they restricted?
They are. Evidently, they're a bit
more creative about it than you are.
See you boys later.
Now all we gotta do is get by that MP.
Yeah, yeah, okay. Leave this stuff to me.
Come on.
Hospital nurses, here we come.
You go ahead.
What is there?
We're restricted, sir.
Batio?
That sounds familiar.
Hey, where you from, Batio?
Pittsburgh, sir.
Pittsburgh? I'm from Pittsburgh myself.
Hey, and a matter of fact,
I'm going there in a few days.
Want me to say hello to anybody?
Well, my mom, sir. She lives in Swickly.
Great, Swickly.
Listen, you give me her
address, and I'll look her up.
285 Beaver Avenue.
All right, 285. This is great.
I'll tell her what a
great job you're doing.
It's darn nice of you, sir.
All right.
Sorry, sir, this area is restricted.
Well, yeah, we have to visit a sick friend.
General Moore's order, sir. Sorry.
Well, maybe you could
say you didn't see us.
Just no way, sir.
Huh.
Gateway!
- We're seeing this guy.
-It's Ok, get inside.
Hold on there.
Hurry him up.
This man needs some intensive care.
-Yes, sir
-If you could just step in here, sweetheart.
I ain't gonna let him get away with this.
Relax, relax, relax.
Our time will come.
Hey, what are you trying
to do, steal my Jeep?
How can you steal what's already stolen?
This Jeep's stolen?
Uh-huh.
In that case, maybe I, uh,
search it for some goodies, huh?
All right.
Well, well, well, what have I here?
T.J., you're incredible!
Naturally.
How did you get all this? Wine? Cheese?
You won't believe it. I swapped for it.
It only cost me a case of scotch.
A case?
You better see me next time.
I could get you a better deal.
Better deal?
What do you know about trading?
How do you think a girl who's half
Japanese without parents survives out here?
I don't know. I never thought about it.
You Americans never do.
What's this thing you got against America?
The war.
We didn't start it, you know.
I know you didn't
start it, but you enjoy it.
I mean, it's one complete drunken party
with native girls and moonlit islands.
Hey, wait a minute. That's not true.
I'm sorry.
It's just that I've lost my parents
and a brother and my home in it.
It's not a joke to me.
Nobody thinks it's a joke.
Did you ever wonder why we do what we do?
You're Americans.
We're scared.
You don't act scared.
Who has to act?
Maybe some of the guys out
here aren't scared. I don't know.
I just know I've been terrified
since I ever came out here.
And I don't think I'm alone.
So yeah, sure, we all
drink a lot, raise a lot of hell,
chase after every
pretty girl we see.
Why not?
We're just trying to survive.
I'm sorry.
I didn't realize that.
Yeah.
You Eurasians never do.
[Sighs].
Take good look, gentlemen.
This bird's gonna run
rings around you tomorrow.
Yeah, well, a plane is
only as good as its pilot.
Well, then that means you
guys are in twice as much trouble.
Ah, it's cheap. You guys ready to
put your money where your mouth is?
Yeah, well, now you're talking sense, pal.
Kick it up, fellas.
Yeah, don't worry about it.
Hey, cover me, boy, will you?
All right, you're covered.
I spent all my money last night.
I'm sorry about it.
Great.
500. Can you handle the action?
Uh, no problem. You're covered, pal.
Who's gonna hold this?
She is. She's got an honest
face, among other things.
I spent most of the day and
evening going over the charts.
We were to fly two different
routes to the rendezvous.
After takeoff, both squadrons
would form up south of
Espiritos and simultaneously
race for the Destroyer.
Layton's boys would fly a
triangular route to the southwest,
and we would do the
same to the southeast.
The Mustangs had about
20 knots on our Corsairs,
but I figured we could win
if Layton's navigation was
just off a hair and mine wasn't.
All things being equal,
it would be a fair test,
and the best squadron would have
the green light to get Yamamoto.
You flew me over here to do what?
Why don't you say it a little louder?
Nobody might've heard you.
Sergeant, what it boils down to is
upholding the honor of the Corps.
What's my messing with their compass
have to do with the Marine Corps honor?
See, Sarge, we're having
a little race tomorrow.
No combat, just practice, and we
bet the Army that we could beat 'em.
Then you were stupid.
A Mustang's faster than a Corsair.
We know that.
We only made the bet after
their line chief said that, uh...
Well, we'd be lucky if we could
get our cruddy wrecks off the ground.
Cruddy wrecks? Where's that line chief?
Sergeant, Sergeant, uh... No, we
don't want to be beating anybody up.
We just want to win the money, and we can.
If you'll just fix the
compass so it's just a little off.
So, you know, kind of make things fair.
What do you say?
Wrecks, huh?
Cruddy wrecks.
Coming up on the second quadrant.
Ready to change our heading.
Ten degrees.
We on course?
We're right on course.
Pappy, are you sure?
Yeah, I'm sure you're sure.
How are we doing, Skipper?
Right on course.
Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Hey, Pappy, I just saw a shark.
Bragg, you better
watch where you're flying.
You're going to end up
being eaten by a shark.
We should be near the rendezvous.
Climb to Angel's Ten and
start looking for that destroyer.
I don't see a thing down there, Skipper.
I don't see none either.
Destroyer, ten o'clock.
Hey, I don't see those
Army hot shots anywhere.
Hee-hee! We aced them out!
Bullseye.
This is Black Sheep
Leader reporting on station.
1,300 hours.
Roger, Black Sheep Leader. So long.
Congratulations, Major Boyington.
You're first on the scene.
You haven't heard from Major Layton?
No, sir. But I might answer
that you have made about
half the men on this
destroyer mighty happy, sir.
What about the other half?
Well, sir, they, uh...
-They've been on the Army.
-[Laughing]
Well, it looks like you'll
lead the assault, Greg.
What happened up there today, Layton?
We did our best. Major Boyington
just got there before we did, sir.
I'm to it, Fleet.
I want both of you to
work up a flight plan on this.
I'll give you my input from Fleet
tomorrow, and we'll put it all together.
All right, those papers
are ready, I might add.
I'm buying.
So, uh, one of your men is
going around with a Japanese girl?
Half Japanese.
Then you know.
Major, how about this?
You take care of your squadron,
and I'll take care of
mine. Fair enough?
No, it's not.
One of my men knew her.
She took him for a lot of goodies
she sold on the black market.
Oh, come on, Major. Everybody deals.
Yeah, well, the rumor is she deals
with people friendly to the Japanese.
I have a responsibility to eight men.
Now, maybe this girl's
trouble, and maybe she's not.
But I'm not about to risk
any of their lives on a maybe.
If you are, you've got no
business wearing that leaf.
One more thing.
Give this to whoever put it
behind my compass last night.
I didn't like admitting
it, but Layton was right.
Still, it wasn't going to
make it any easier telling T.J.
[knocking].
Come on in.
Hey, Pappy, how you doing?
Good, T.J. I sit down.
You want to see me about something?
Yeah. You want a drink?
Sure.
No ice.
No problem.
T.J., I know there's a lot
going on right now around here,
and you're going
with a half Japanese girl.
Makes a lot of people off the jumpy.
Jumpy about what? I don't understand.
Security.
You've got to be kidding.
Believe me, I wish I were, T.J.
Hey, Greg, just because
she's half Japanese
doesn't make her into
an enemy spy, you know?
No, no, I know that.
More to it than that, T.J.
Well, what then?
Well, you know, she was seeing one of
Layton's pilots, and he kind of feels that--
Hey, come on, Greg. If
you've got something to say,
just come out
and say it, all right?
Well, T.J., for you and me,
this war is basically pretty simple.
We go up on those birds, we
either come back or we don't.
The war's not quite that
simple for this woman.
Come on, Greg.
What the hell are we talking about here?
Well, she's evidently trying to get
through this war the best way she can.
Now, some people, some people.
Her methods are questionable.
Why don't you just come on out and say it?
You think she's a prostitute, don't you?
No, T.J., I-- I didn't say that.
- But you're thinking--
- Damn it T.J., I don't have to put up with this.
Now, you just stay away from
her until you hear otherwise.
You're telling me that as my
friend or as my commanding officer?
You take it any way you
want, T.J., but I am telling you.
Thank you, sir.
Will there be anything else?
[Sighs]
Hey, aren't you the guy
that's seen Yvonne?
Yeah, what about it?
Hey, listen, pal, this is
just a friendly warning.
All that girl wants is your gear.
She sells it on the black market.
Hey, pal, I ought to know.
Hey, Yvonne!
-T.J., I thought you were going to the--
-Hey, listen, why bother with the middleman?
Why don't you just start
taking the cash straight out?
T.J.!
Oh, I'm sorry. Did I offend you?
I mean, after all, I'm different, right?
I'm different than all the rest.
Now, you're in love with me, aren't you?
Please don't be like the others.
How many others?
I thought you understood.
Understand what?
The Japanese have treated me
like trash because I'm half French,
and the Americans have treated me
like trash because I'm half Japanese.
All I have to do is survive here,
and I thought you understood that.
I don't understand it.
I want you to explain it to me.
I don't owe you anything.
I'm telling you, you owe me an explanation.
I don't owe you anything.
I owe you an explanation,
not an explanation.
Yvonne!
[shouting]
Hi, Greg.
Who put this magnet
behind Layton's compass?
I suppose it got there by itself.
No, sir. Uh, we all did it.
Yeah, we had a bet with him.
All right. How come I didn't know about it?
-Well, we thought--
-You thought wrong.
That flight was preparation
for a very important mission.
Well, we didn't know anything about that.
-You in command now, French?
-No!
Sir.
Where's the money? Where's the money?
-Where's T.J.?
-Haven't seen him.
You guys gotta find him.
Right now.
Boyington! I want to talk to you!
You know what those are, Boyington?
One is a report on a stolen Jeep.
Another is a report on a stolen motorcycle.
And the third is a report
that one of your men
has been seen with a
Japanese girl on this island.
Now, what is going on?
You know as much about that, sir, as I do.
Did you know that Lieutenant
Wiley was seeing this girl?
He has orders not to see her anymore, sir.
Then you did know about it! Boyington!
Do you have any idea how--.
Do you have any idea how important
the security of this mission is?
Yes, sir!
I want to see you and Lieutenant
Wiley in my office in ten minutes!
I am due in General Moore's office,
sir, in five minutes for a flight briefing.
So am I. Get in this Jeep, Boyington!
We're not through with this. We're gonna
talk right after that. Get in the Jeep!
When we get out of the slot, we'll fly
due west, just south of the Russells.
-How far out to sea will that take you?
-Fifty miles, sir.
They'll never spot us out there.
What speed? Two hundred knots, sir.
Then I'm gonna turn north to avoid any
spotting boats that might be in the area.
So when you make your final approach,
you'll be coming in from the west?
Yes, sir.
What time do you figure to be on target?
Fourteen fifty, sir.
G-2 says they figure that
it'll be traveling under
ten thousand feet to be
comfortable and to stay off oxygen.
-Where do you plan on jumping him?
-Forty miles off the coast.
I figure we'll hit
him just as his pilot's
preparing to land.
You've got to get them
on that first pass.
You can't let them get too
close to shore, Greg.
They've got over a hundred
zeroes based on that field.
Yes, sir.
All right, even with the
auxiliary tanks, what about fuel?
We can't make any mistakes.
I figure we've got enough fuel
for ten minutes in the target area.
[Chuckles]
Let's hope that's all we'll need.
Any questions?
See you on the flight line.
Yes, sir.
[Birds chirping]
Are you just in time to help us?
I can't right now. I've got to find T.J.
You're the second one that's
been looking for him today.
-Who else was here?
-An M.P. just a little while ago.
Look, if you see T.J., tell
him Greg wants him right now.
And go easy with that water.
Well, I talked to the nurses.
Nobody's seen him.
He just disappeared. Now,
fellas... Oh, he looked everywhere.
The beach, the beach.
Been there a dozen times.
Some of the Army guys said she spends a lot
of time on the north side of the island.
But he wouldn't go there.
Oh, yeah, he would. If she would, he would.
North side of the island, huh?
Uh-huh.
Anyone know how to get there?
There's only one road that
leads to that side of the island.
Boyle, give me that jeep.
You got it.
Hey, you want one of us to go with you?
No, no, thanks, fellas.
I want you guys to think up an
excuse... if I'm not back by 1700 hours.
Gotcha, boss.
Okay, 1700 hours.
Gotcha, boss.
Hey, late.
Wait a minute.
I got something that belongs to your men.
(tires screeching).
Take it easy with that thing.
I'm not gonna hurt you.
Okay?
What did you have to follow me for?
Why do you think I followed you?
Who's that?
What's going on in here?
He's a Japanese officer.
He's my uncle.
Your uncle?
(speaking Japanese).
I'm gonna have to get him
some medical attention, and fast.
He won't let you take him prisoner.
He'll commit subuko first.
You can't just leave
him out here like this.
Why?
He's been here for months.
He's getting better.
No one will find us here.
Yvonne, I can't do that.
He's an enemy officer.
But he's my uncle.
He's not going to hurt anyone.
The war's over for him.
T.J., it could be over for all of us.
Do you know what you're asking me to do?
What's it gonna be, T.J.?
What are you doing?
I'm not gonna let you take him prisoner.
He's not here to take anybody prisoner.
He's here for me.
Then you better go with him.
What are you talking about?
You just said you wanted
me to sit this war out with you.
But that was before he came.
Yvonne, you're not making any sense.
You're the one that's not
making any sense, T.J.,
over a woman that would use you,
me, or anyone to keep that man alive.
That's a lie. It's not true.
Damn it, it is true.
You tell him.
He's right.
My duty to my family comes first.
Duty to your family?
What about me and you?
What about us?
I might have deserted for you.
See?
There are times when love is not enough.
Come on, T.J.
You got a mission to fly.
Better get that man to the
hospital because he's dying.
But you haven't even looked at his wound.
I don't have to look at his wound, lady.
I can smell it. That's gangrene.
You're lying.
Do you think that I would leave a Japanese
major here if I thought he'd survive?
Well, he is late, isn't he?
Yes, sir.
Well, that's it.
What are you going to do, sir?
I'm turning it over to Layton.
Major Layton?
Where's Layton?
Major Boyington and the lost sheep.
Another five minutes
and I'm left without you.
Another five minutes and I
wouldn't have blamed you.
Thanks a lot, Layton.
Where the devil have you two been?
I'm sorry, sir.
At the tower, sir.
Last minute weather en route.
Last minute weather en route.
All right.
I've asked your squadron leaders not
to give you the details on this mission.
But I can tell you now
that in ten minutes...
we're going to take off over 650
miles of open ocean for a rendezvous.
Not with a destroyer this time.
But with a Japanese Betty.
Carrying Admiral Isokuro Yamamoto.
We're going after the hawk!
We were almost out of the slot.
Another five minutes and it would
be unpatrolled open ocean all the way.
Zero to 11 o'clock. A block of them.
Hey, Boyington!
Is that you?
I got plenty fuel today.
Black Sheep Leader to Eagle Leader. Do
not drop tanks. Repeat, do not drop tanks.
This guy is an old friend.
I think I'd better say hello.
Good luck.
Black Sheep, drop your tanks and follow me.
Hey, Boington!
What's with your army friends?
Looks like they're running away.
You know the army.
Never stick around when you need 'em.
That's okay, Boington. I want you!
I want you too, Rice Ball.
True to form, Yamato is exactly on time.
So was the Air Corps.
Let's go get 'em.
When we returned to Espritos,
TJ went looking for Yvonne.
He found her uncle at the hospital.
A prisoner, but alive.
TJ never did say if he saw Yvonne again.
And I didn't ask.
We stayed up all night celebrating
with Leighton and his boys.
And typically, they ordered us
home the next day without any sleep.
But we didn't care.
We got Yamamoto.
Or at least we had a hand in it.
And that was all that mattered.
Until that night.
If I ever get my hands on that
Japanese college boy, I'll kill him!
(Mumbling).
-What's going on?
-A war?