Command Decision

Preceding today's American operations...

...heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force made a night attack...

...on the important marshaling yard at Hamm.

of all British operations...

...only 12 of our aircraft failed to return.

Any questions from the correspondents?

Major Davenport.

Ladies and gentlemen...

...I have only limited news on today's American air operations.

In the deepest penetration to date, strong formations of Flying Fortresses...

...were dispatched well beyond the range of friendly fighter cover...

...to attack key industrial objectives in Germany.

An early estimate indicates that upward of 200 German fighters were destroyed.

Forty-eight of our bombers are missing.

Forty-eight?

That's all at the present time, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's get out of here.

What do you expect us to write when we don't even know the name of the target?

Would it be tactless to inquire what kind of industrial objectives?

"Key industrial objectives. "

A fine comfort for a lot of new widows back home.

What do you suppose is there, Brockie?

Is there any one target in Germany worth 48 bombers?

Worth it to whom?

Casey Dennis?

What's 48 bombers?

- Hello, Brockie. - Hello.

- Hello, Carwood. - Hi.

Good evening, constable.

Maybe they're after something special.

If it's that, I'm willing to be shown. For my money, it's Dennis that's special.

- Taxi. - What's the answer, Brockie?

All guts and no brain?

No, that's putting it too simply.

Dennis is one of those boys whose brain is fascinated by guts.

He loves this lousy war.

Taxi.

The Savoy. Then King's Cross Station.

If Dennis throws you in the guardhouse, we'll bail you out.

It's been a long while since I've talked to the boys.

- Tell the boss I'll phone soon as I get there. - Right.

Another big one out today?

You ain't kidding. They're putting everything up that can fly.

Thought the boys might have drawn a stand - down after yesterday.

- Not with old iron butt driving the wagon. - Who?

Who do you think? Dennis.

That's the one we seen come in yesterday, sir.

I don't know who was flying it.

Pilot, dead. Copilot, wounded.

About five of them bailed out.

You better drive around the other side.

Yes, sir.

What do you think this is, a sheet-metal shop?

The old man wanted to have this as soon as I'd done it.

Do you think we're gonna get rest tomorrow?

I don't know. They ain't said yet. But he can't keep this up.

In that case, maybe this is the night I could get that date with Joan.

You know she don't like to date nobody but me.

Three pounds ten, and I'll stay home.

How long will you stay home?

You said 2.10 yesterday. The price has gone up.

So has the price of whiskey.

Fork over.

Do you usually take her something or do you just go by yourself?

Well, if I was you, I'd take her some peanuts.

Especially if I was you.

General Dennis' office.

What? He is? Thanks, Mike.

Beat it.

Hello, Harry.

The tower at the 32nd just called. The old man's coming in.

Better break it up, you guys, the old man's back.

Good afternoon, sir.

- Got the signal, Evans? - Not yet, sir.

The estimated time over target is 12:11.

- Yesterday's strike photo's been plotted? - Right there, sir.

Good.

Right on it. Good.

- I want a set of these for General Kane. - Yes, sir.

- Anything else? - Well, sir...

...in this batch of DFCs approved by General Kane...

...there's one for Captain Lucius Jenks. - Jenks?

Colonel Haley said you wanted to see his file, sir.

Call the 32nd and tell them I want Captain Jenks here.

Yes, sir.

And there was this correspondent, you know the one...

I have no time. Tell Public Relations to handle him.

Yes, sir.

- Flying control. That's right. - I'll call you as soon as I...

- Bring me all reports on enemy opposition. - Yes, sir.

That's it. Baker-one-Seven, High Hat, C-Charlie.

very likely there'll be more. Aircrew should hardly get their feet wet.

Yes. Thanks, chum.

- Strike signal? - Still sweating it out.

RAF Mosquitoes have reported a formation of U.S. Fortresses...

...under very heavy fighter attack 15 miles east of Braunschweig.

What's your report on morale, Haley?

After the last two days, they're too tired to bother about morale.

How many crews are making their last mission today?

Eleven, if they get back, sir.

Then we lose them anyway.

Ted should have his bomb-bay doors open right now.

Strike signal from 7th Combat Wing, sir.

Primary attacked. visibility, perfect. Results, excellent.

Well, that's two out of three.

That leaves just one to go.

- Check that with command. - Yes, sir.

Davis, any changes in your 1400 weather map?

Well, there's an interesting cold mass forming eccentrically over the Arctic Sea.

Never mind the genealogy. How will it affect us?

Weather along the coastal fringes in southern France should be...

I'm not interested in France.

What about central and northern Germany?

Right here.

Way in there again, sir? Three days running?

Major, I'm consulting you about the weather.

Sorry, sir.

It should be wide open all the way to Breslau.

Good at our bases all day.

Four-forty.

Five-fifty.

I want all leaves canceled until we know today's losses.

Yes, sir.

That's all, gentlemen. Thank you.

Well?

Then are we to understand, sir, we'll have...

...another maximum effort tomorrow? - That's right.

Keep bringing me that weather as you get it.

Well, what headaches have you got, Earnie?

Have you been getting any sleep, Casey?

You're not pretty enough for a nurse.

What have you got?

Well, there's a rather stiff protest here, sir, from a Robert Hintonbottom.

President of the Middle Counties Association of Farmers, Dairymen and Poulters.

It seems these early take-offs have been frightening the cows...

...around Colonel Foster's base and drying up the milk.

He also says it's been disturbing the chickens.

They're not laying like they used to.

Write him a polite letter, tell him we're trying to lay a few eggs of our own.

Yes, sir.

- What is it, Evans? - Message from General Kane, sir. Secret.

Read it.

"Members Military Affairs Committee arrived in England.

Your command will be visited. Imperative their impressions favorable.

Request your special efforts to maintain low loss average...

...during critical three days next. Signed, Malloway for Kane. "

All right. Wait a minute.

What else, Earnie?

There's this matter of Captain Donford and Miss Blundy in the village, sir.

- What about it? - She and her mother are pretty keen...

...that she should marry him.

What about the boy? Does he wanna marry her?

I don't know, sir, but he's got one wife already in the States.

Is he combat crew or base personnel?

Navigator. Got 10 missions left to go.

Thanks. Do we know the woman?

oh, I know her, sir.

I beg your pardon, sir.

I'm not surprised. Any suggestion?

Excuse me, sir. Would the general like to square...

...that is, have this matter attended to by negotiations, sir?

If it can be done.

I'd have to have an order for a couple of gallons of ice cream...

...and a few hours off, sir.

Get it and get going.

With the general's permission, sir.

These matters are better attended to in the evening.

All right.

Anything else?

You and Cliff Garnet were classmates, weren't you?

Yeah, why?

He's flying over here from Washington.

Due in at Prestwick this afternoon. Did you know that?

Cliff Garnet.

I've known Cliff ever since we were racing for a pair of corporal stripes at the Point.

I thought you'd always been sort of neck and neck.

What's he doing over here?

They haven't announced an assignment for him.

Maybe you're gonna have a new boss, Earnie.

- A relay from Colonel Martin, sir. - What's it say?

"Target plastered. Warm up here. Signed, Ted. "

I'll bet it's pretty warm in Schweinhafen too.

Get me London, Central 10,000.

Elmer Brockhurst, United News.

Yes, sir. Everything's under control, sir.

- What are you doing here, Mr. Brockhurst? - Hello?

Your connections are terrible.

Hello, Maggie. Give me Bigelow.

Hello, Jack. Brockhurst.

I'm talking from a seat right on the 50-yard line...

...but the game hasn't started yet.

Better get ready for the same run around as yesterday.

Sure, I'll try.

okay, I'll call you.

Are you the new commanding general?

No, just a poor reporter trying to do his job.

Poor reporter is right. I thought Dennis told you to keep out.

He did.

You guys always get what you want from Kane, don't you?

Public relations office is down the hall. The general doesn't wanna see you.