Fighter Squadron (1948)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Seton I. Miller (writer)
Martin Rackin (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Action | War

Tagline:

The Flying Fist of the Air Force!

Plot:

During World War II, an insubordinate fighter pilot finds the shoe on the other foot when he's promoted.

Plot Keywords:

Fighter Pilot | D Day | Sergeant | Aerial Combat | Airforce

Cast

Edmond O'Brien	...	Maj. Ed Hardin
Robert Stack	...	Capt. Stu Hamilton
John Rodney	...	Col. Bill Brickley
Tom D'Andrea	...	Sgt. Dolan
Henry Hull	...	Maj. Gen. Mike McCready
James Holden	...	Lt. Tennessee Atkins
Walter Reed	...	Capt. Duke Chappell
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Brig. Gen. M. Gilbert
Arthur Space	...	Maj. Sanford
Jack Larson	...	Lt. 'Shorty' Kirk
Bill McLean	...	Pvt. Wilbur
Mickey McCardle	...	Jacobs
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Adrian	...	German pilot (uncredited)
Joel Allen	...	Sentry (uncredited)
George Backus	...	Sentry (uncredited)
Truman Bradley	...	Narrator (uncredited)
William Cabanne	...	Control tower operator (uncredited)
Elliott Dare	...	English photographer (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick	...	Lady Woodbine (uncredited)
Jack Grant	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh	...	Cockney (uncredited)
Hallene Hill	...	Old lady (uncredited)
Rock Hudson	...	Second Lieutenant (pilot) (uncredited)
Guy Kingsford	...	English photographer (uncredited)
Charles Lind	...	Beagle operator (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Nailhead (crew chief) (uncredited)
John McGuire	...	Maj. Duncan (uncredited)
Harry McKim	...	Ball turret gunner (uncredited)
John Morgan	...	Gunner (uncredited)
Patricia Northrop	...	Blonde (uncredited)
George Offerman Jr.	...	Hamilton's crew chief (uncredited)
Dick Paxton	...	Turret gunner (uncredited)
Don Phillips	...	Lieutenant (uncredited)
Geza Remy	...	German pilot (uncredited)
Jeff Richards	...	Captain (uncredited)
John Royce	...	German radio operator (uncredited)
Robert Seiter	...	Bomber pilot (uncredited)
Gilchrist Stuart	...	English photographer (uncredited)
Willy Wickerhauser	...	German pilot (uncredited)
William Yetter Jr.	...	German radio operator (uncredited)

Directed by
Raoul Walsh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Seton I. Miller		writer
Martin Rackin		writer

Produced by
Seton I. Miller	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Wilfred M. Cline
Sidney Hickox		(as Sid Hickox)

Film Editing by
Christian Nyby

Art Direction by
Ted Smith

Set Decoration by
Lyle B. Reifsnider

Makeup Department
Norman Pringle	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Chuck Hansen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Saunders	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Leslie G. Hewitt	....	sound

Special Effects by
Roy Davidson	....	special effects
John Holden	....	special effects
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)

Camera and Electrical Department
Wesley Anderson	....	camera operator
Mac Julian	....	still photographer

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrations
Ray Heindorf	....	musical director

Other crew
Robert Brower	....	associate technicolor color director
Eugene Busch	....	dialogue director
Natalie Kalmus	....	technicolor color director
Joseph Perry	....	technical advisor (as Major Joseph Perry, USAF)
Irva Mae Ross	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1948) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

'Jack Larsen (I)''s first film.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the flying sequences, the "German ME-109" fighter planes are actually American P-51 Mustangs.

Soundtrack:

Gotta Be This or That

Fun viewing, great fighter footage, poor production

I enjoyed this movie as an AF veteran and a nephew of a fighter pilot who flew in an England based squadron. I am not sure if I would have enjoyed the movie as much without that personal investment. The production is not that impressive. The story of the maverick fighter pilot having to accept responsibility after being thrust into a leadership role was fairly predictable, in 2006. Maybe it was new and refreshing in 1948, but this is not a classic, must have, multifaceted war classic. However, it is a good viewing, once every few years, if you are a WWII buff. The inaccuracies and location problems are lost when I view the actual combat footage. The personal stories are consistent with reality, even though not told well.