Like a huge amount of other propaganda films produced during the second world war, Wings Up doesn't really have much in the way of a storyline and is instead more geared towards getting americans to enlist. Although he doesn't appear physically until the final seconds, the film is narrated by Clark Gable, who was actually in the military during the war and achieved the rank of major. Wings Up is focused mostly on the US Army Air Forces OCS, or officer candidate school. Because the US Air Force wasn't an independent service until after the war, the USAAF was technically a detachment of the regular US Army and operated planes. The film starts by showing a Boeing b-17 heavy bomber returning from a mission, and the person responsible for navigating the plane has made a serious navigational error. Because the navigator couldn't do his job correctly, the entire aircraft and everyone on it are now in trouble. To prevent situations like this from happening, the government established an educational institution in Miami, Florida which specializes in training future officers for the US military. An officer, in military terms, is distinct from an ordinary soldier because officers operate in positions of authority. Junior ones (lieutenants and captains) are typically in harm's way more often and in the thick of the fighting wherever the troops they lead are located. Senior officers (majors, colonels and generals) are usually located far away from the battlefield and act as commanders for much larger formations, which can range from between 300 to 150k men. Obviously, everybody likes being promoted, but the higher the rank, the higher the amount of responsibility. The OCS in Florida was founded so that future officers can have a chance at leading their fellow men successfully, thereby allowing the soldiers to survive the war and allowing the officers to gain a solid understanding of good commanding abilities. OCS is not an easy school to participate in. Out of every 1000 recruits, 977 are turned down due to not being serious, strong, or level-headed enough. OCS is definitely not for people who cannot handle stress, as the ability to command successfully while under pressure is the hallmark of truly great officers. For those strong enough to persevere, they will find that attending OCS is its own reward. The film shows how ordinary people from all across america enlist for instruction, and even some ww1 veterans are there, despite being around 50 by this point. Strangely, OCS is structured much like a typical college, and future officers attend classes such as physics and botany, but other classes are focused on military subjects. The recruits also undergo a huge amount of discipline, so much so that it seems horrible to even think about. In one instance, they're shown standing outside on a boiling hot day to watch a military parade. All the men must stand at attention with perfect posture for an entire 30 minutes. You're allowed to move your eyeballs, but that is it. The men in the front (already graduated officers) have to stand for 3 times as long. One of the men passes out from the extreme heat and even though they're curious, nobody around him dares to step out of line. It sounds like a nightmare. Not only this, but Gable says how soldiers who fall asleep on guard duty outside the school are executed, which is surprisingly harsh for the United States. In a way though, it makes sense because falling asleep while guarding an important government building doesn't sound like the best idea. Eventually, General Henry Arnold pays a visit to the men who are about to graduate and be commissioned as second lieutenants (first officer rank) in the US armed forces. Arnold, who was taught to fly by the Wright Brothers, commanded the USAAF during the war and is the only american general ever to hold a 5 star rank in two different branches of the military. After his speech, the 3 month long stay at OCS is over, and the men are no longer recruits. While this film is pretty average, and there are hundreds of ww2 things just like it, I thought it was cool because it shows how difficult it is to become an officer in the armed forces. Because you get to boss other people around, the government has to be very careful that they choose the right men for this job. Only people with extremely solid resumes and experience make it to general. This film shows how nothing in life is really easy, but you can accomplish almost anything you set your mind to. Completing OCS training is well worth the practice it takes.
Review of Wings Up
