Winning Your Wings (1942)

Inspirational short film designed to encourage recruits for the American Army Air Forces.

Director:

John Huston

Stars:

James Stewart, Jean Ames, Leah Baird

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Stewart	...	Himself (as Lieutenant James Stewart)

Storyline

James Stewart, famous actor and now a Lieutenant in the US Army Air Forces, hosts and narrates this short film aimed at the recruitment of officer candidates. He states that there is a great mobilization, and that 90 thousand new flying officers are needed. Due to this heavy need, he discusses how the prerequisites have been altered to encourage recruitment. He also discusses the great rate of pay, benefits, training and other advantages enjoyed by flying officers. He describes the various officer positions required for the nine man crews of the B-17 Bombers, and also various ground support officer positions available.

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Plot Keywords:

recruitment | b 17 bomber | mobilization | bomber | gas station attendant | 

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Genres:

Short | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 May 1942 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

U.S. Army Air Forces, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

18 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

James Stewart: [Last lines] Young men of America, Your future's in the sky. Your wings are waiting!

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Connections

Featured in Warner at War (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Army Air Corps Song"
(1939) (uncredited)
Written by Captain Robert Crawford
Played during the opening credits and at the end

User Reviews

$245 a month for a 2nd LT!

Newly-minted LT Jimmy Stewart gives a folksy appeal to guys from 18 to 26 to join up and fight the axis!

Jimmy would go on to make an admirable career in the Air Force Reserve and become the recognizable face of the Strategic Air Command in the 1950's--- here you can get a first glimpse of this enthusiasm. Winning Your Wings is aimed at recruiting officers--- more specifically at what must have been hordes of guys with the qualities but not necessarily the educational credentials to make the cut. Don ("Hazel") Defore does a bit as a 26-year old married gas station jockey who's not sure he's qualified. There's a run down of what must have been virtually unknown commissioned positions (navigators, meteorologists) and a run down of the 9-man crew of a B-17, all framed within Stewart's likable homespun drawl. Look for a nearly unrecognizable Peter Graves in the Flying Fortress. And go for Captain, they knock down $450 a month!