The "Wien Alaska Airlines" seen in the film was a real company, founded by bush pilot Noel Wien in 1927. Beginning with small bush planes lie the Cessna 170 used in the film, the company expanded over several decades to include scheduled jet service between Alaskan cities including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak, Juneau and Barrow. The Airline ceased operations in 1984.
Wayne Morris was a pilot in real life. He was a WW2 fighter ace with seven victories. He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy.
A January 1952 news item notes that parts of Arctic Flight (1952) were shot on Little Diomede Island in Alaska.
Shooting at an animal, from a moving airplane, with a shotgun is a impossible shot. Pellets at distance have no energy.
Plane FAA registration number N1470D was built in 1951 and eventually exported to Nicaragua.