BEYOND THE LINE OF DUTY

[Music] the wild the of if you live be a great wonder the the flying men guarding the will be [Music] there St the Army aort One More Story that I heard only this morning this is a story of one of our army flying fortresses operating in the Western Pacific the pilot of this plane is a modest young man proud of his crew Captain huitt T Wheelis was singled out by President Rosevelt in his speech tonight for his epic flight in the Pacific when wheelus and his crew in a flying fortress distinguished themselves beyond the line of duty the president further acclaimed young Wheelis when he awarded him the distinguished service cross Wheelis well how do you like that honey was in my class the University of Texas say Jim weren't you shardy Way's instructor in basic yeah he was one of my boys well I bet you proud of him H whe well I declare I had a date with him once you're date really sure enough well dog gone he's talking about shorty wheelers a pal of mine he used to work right here on this Ranch remember yes they remember all right right there on that ranch deep in the Heart of Texas way back in 1938 just an average Young American guy working at the ranch between College semesters there's a heap of things to be done in one day around a ranch from early morning to way past Sundown and there isn't much excitement in the evenings pretty simple life hey Rocky put that guitar away and look here what I got from a mail loader house one of them Fang Dango radios portable well turn it on let's hear what it says well that's what I'm doing attention young men of America the Army Air Force announced today that there is now an opening for 500 new cadets at Randolph field how about you the World of Tomorrow is the world of plains in the sky Uncle Sam's Air Force is expanding and if you're healthy between 18 and 26 you can become a first lieutenant wearing the Silver Wings that Proclaim you a vital part of our great Air Forces you know something that's not a bad idea always sort of had it in the back of my head you mean flying I don't mean punching cows thank I'll give it a try get up from there you little runt you're just pint size you got to be big a regular Longhorn to get in that Randol Feld I'll make you a bet that you can't get in there I'll bet you a new Paris saddle grain leather boots that you came that's a b all right well on July 1st 1938 Cal lost that bet hu whis entered Randolph field to begin his primary training feeling just as strange as unsure of himself as any of those other [Music] boys think you can learn to do that cowboy I hope so you might I could put a saddle on it well good luck shorty thank you sir [Applause] up believe it or not there's whis and his fellow Cadets a few days make a lot of difference and that uniform works miracles for a new cadet's confidence oh but just in case we forgot to mention it it takes plenty of work to be worthy of those uniforms and in primary training a staff of the finest instructors men with high Aviation and Scholastic ability Army and special civilian instructors take over the arduous task of equipping our Flyers with a keen knowledge of their art and in the 6 weeks to follow a new world is open to the cadet a world illumined by the skill patience and tireless effort of the instructors this course called a theory of flight will give you a concise picture from a scientific standpoint of why an airplane flies Mr Wheelis what kind of clouds would you prefer if you're carrying out a bombing Mission over enemy territory stratop form sir why Mr quas because they offer the best concealment against enemy Pursuit flying in such clouds would be comparatively smooth and any icing you encounter would be of the least dangerous type that's correct Mr whe now on this type of engine you must keep the cylinder head temperature below 260° or you'll encounter detonation and loss of power it may also cause puffs of black smoke from the exhaust overheating is usually caused by incorrect fuel mixture or high manifold pressure now to correct this first reduce manifold pressure with the throttle all right man read that backe on 15 now that you've learned to read these sectional aeronautical charts The Next Step will be to plan a few Cross Country flights well looks like they're on their way now probably a little nervous but more than a little thrilled yes they're going to fly going upstairs with their first flying instructor all right Mr wheelers take it easy and stay relaxed we should always remember that keep your head and eyes moving look around all right p on the stick you've got it let's go then came that day a momentous day one he'll never forget shall I cut the motor sir no don't you feel like you're capable of taking it around by yourself well I want you to go on around traffic come in with a three-point Landing if there's any question about your approach your traffic don't be proud give it the gun and go going around you'll be on your own keep your head and eyes moving all right good luck Mr wheelus thank you sir be on your own keep your head and eyes moving be on your own keep your head and eyes moving the cadetes in the planes have now had 60 hours in the air alone and those patient hardworking instructors are now beginning to see results yes those bird men Aloft are ready to leave the scene for another school to begin their basic training congratulations kid I'm glad you made it did you have a tough time well you know all that stuff you teach us in ground school really works in the air well you remember that you'll be flying one of these pretty soon now in basic training the Flyers begin to take things over they begin to master the more elaborate [Music] Maneuvers all right he's back on the stick lose air speed producing a spin now you're spinning to the left you recover from the spin give it forward stick opposite Rudder and opposite aerod Center the needle Center the ball check the air speed air speed 160 needle and ball in the center okay raise the hood please all right WHAS let's try it again Center the the needle Center the ball and check the air speed okay Sergeant just before the student is ready for high altitude flying he must undergo the oxygen pressure tank test first a last minute physical checkup and then he will enter this pressure tank which simulates exact air conditions all the way up to 30,000 ft Mr well is the main thing here is to see that this band is not too tight you don't want the mask uncomfortable on your face however you want it tight enough too so that your oxygen doesn't Le through on your nose here to appear comfortable to you they're all set now and when this door is sealed and the pressure starts mounting their reactions to high altitudes will be carefully studied 10,000 ft 20,000 ft the last lap the home stretch that's what Advanced Training means those shining wings are just about within reach now but not until the Birdman successfully passed their advanced classes in navigation radio and Mr wheelers what type ship is this Japanese battleship Sir Mr Potter what class is it the sheriff class sir can anyone tell us why well the identifying characteristic is the pakota like format that's right is that one of your students uh major yes that's wheelus making another one of his kangaroo Landings looks like he's breaking a horse yeah not so good wheelus you had your nose much too low gave you a bad bounce eh yes sir I don't know what's the matter I just can't seem to get these short field Landings well now you're not going to be able to pick your fields in combat and remember what I told you if you do have a force Landing the first third of the field nose high and full flaps got it okay then now get up there and give me a good show well he didn't forget and it looks from here as though Major General HK Harmon is about to present him with wings and it is my privilege be the first to welcome you into the greatest Fraternity in the world the Brotherhood of Airmen you proceed now to Greater responsibilities greater achievements many of you will be assigned at once to combat units others among you will be retained here as flying instructors your mission is no less vital than that of the combat pilot our training program is the backbone of our whole air effort the individual flying instructor is the essence of training you must be brother Godfather pal and pedig we know that you will not fail that here on the home front paralleling the great work of your comrade in combat you will maintain the Army Air Forces as America's first line of offense you harell Wheelis here's he got them all right bright and Shining new the proud symbol of the United States Army Air Force congratulations Mr FIS thank you sir March field January 1941 and doo WHAS uh now Lieutenant WHAS takes his newly assembled combat crew up for a practice flight in the boing b7d eight men now a perfectly functioning team an All-American team from every quarter of America pilot Lieutenant whis co-pilot Lieutenant Tabor n Ator Lieutenant Mina Bombadier Sergeant shalati engineer Gunner Sergeant guti Armament Gunner Sergeant Brown Gunner Corporal Williams and radio operator private killer you better remember this crew you'll be hearing from [Music] them well looks like we're on our way uh excuse us Togo while we go into a little practice Action Gun to practice on the tow Target just get a bead on these boys it's shooting like this that'll knock them on their axis a little bombarder in allaha cart follow it the bombarder okay we'll take the Target on the left the one with a pyramid in it yes sir I see it clover leaf pattern drop one bomb on each run [Music] and finally one day it was late in the year Lieutenant Wheelis yes sir keep your crew on the alert we leave for foreign service at any time bo i' be glad to hear that sir [Music] where's theor he's up in front sir well boys I got some good news for you we're on 6 hours notice to take off a Foreign Service Sergeant you see everybody get their stuff loaded and stand by yes sir that's a [Music] dope go yes this is the moment they were hoping for this is the moment they'd been training for Foreign Service and before the day was out they were off to Honolulu and before the week was out the Philippines that was on maybe you remember the date December M 7 and just 2 weeks later one memorable morning when well President Roosevelt can describe that heroic Mission better than I can the bomber departed from its base as part of a flight of five bombers to attack Japanese transports that were Landing troops against us in the [Music] Philippines when they had gone about about halfway to their destination one of the motors of this bomber went out of commission the young pilot lost contact with the other bombers the crew however got the motor working and the plane proceeded on its Mission Alone by the time it arrived at its Target the other four flying fortresses had dropped their bombs and had stir up The Hornet's Nest of Japanese zero planes 18 of these zero Fighters attacked our one Flying Fortress despite this Mass Attack our plane proceeded on its Mission I want you to take it easy stay relaxed always remember that keep your head and eyes moving look around I see them six of them line up 10° to the right okay line up on them we're going in for the Run altitude 11,500 air speed 165 Bombay doors open PDI on [Music] bombs [Music] away as it turned back on its Homeward Journey a running fight between the bomber and the 18 Japanese Pursuit planes continued for 75 miles for Pursuit planes of the Japs attacked simultaneously at each side four were shot down with the side [Music] guns during this fight the bombers radio operator was killed the engineer's right hand was shot off and one Gunner was crippled leaving only one man available to operate both side guns [Music] although wounded in one hand this Gunner alternately manned both side guns bringing down three more Japanese zero planes Pursuit plane on tail R to right R to right remember what your instructor taught you Gunner for head-on shooting center your bead within small inner ring Target exactly on bead while this was going on one engine on the American bomber was shot out out of 11 control cables all but four were shot away the rear Landing wheel was blown off entirely and the two front wheels were both shot flat follow at the gun crew stand by to change ammunition we're going into a cloud set of the needle Center the ball check the air speed Center the needle Center the ball check the air speed the fight continued until the remaining Japanese Pursuit ships exhausted their ammunition and turned back with two engines gone and the plane practically out of control the American bomber returned to its base after dark call it the crew prepare for christ landing [Music] if you do have a force Landing the first third of the field nose high and full flaps fls [Music] the mission had been accomplished the name of that pilot is Captain h t quis he has been awarded the distinguished service cross and I hope that he's listening yes Mr President Captain whis was listening and so was his wife in fact the impact of the surprise was so strong that they hardly heard the clamor of the town's people at the door home Captain thank you say it was mighty nice you folks to drop by Captain would you please sign your name in my defend stamp book sure General see you have quite a few stamps here my daddy gives them to me every week for being a good boy well that's fine these stamps and bonds you folks buy don't think they don't add up because they do these stamps and bonds are paying for the planes we fly over there say when do you think it'd be going back Captain Willis oh very soon probably but first I have a couple of messages to deliver for the boys over here would you sign this for me please captain and the first message was to the men and women who work at the giant Boeing plant in Seattle I just want to say that if it weren't for the air plane you gave us those troops and zeros would still be around but I'm afraid I wouldn't be any plane that can dish out the damage and take the hammering our Fortress took well that's a real plane the men in my crew and the men in ever crew are grateful to you and to all the workers of America for turning out the finest aircraft in the world with these planes we can out fight them all we ask is that you continue to out bail them get behind our great president and keep them rolling we'll keep them flying and when we start heading over Berlin in Tokyo it's really going to be a picnic tell me something shorty what were you thinking about during that scrap of the zeros well for one thing I was thinking about my instructors I mean what they taught me yeah I guess a lot of the fellas do you remember Jim connley Cil Coles and T got to see those fellas now they're really kicking the Japs around that sure sounds like music to me makes me feel a lot better well I guess I'm do upstairs so long bill so long Captain see you later so long good luck so long Captain uh uh say uh what are you Bound for shanger lot hey knock over a couple of Jabs for me will you and knock over two for me [Music] enter the needle Center the ball keep your head and eyes moving look around nose high and full flaps voices of the past hovering over American Flyers like a vast Guardian Angel those training instructors although they remained behind are always up there in the sky guiding those boys who are smashing their way to Victory beyond the line of duty