world war ii,fighter pilot,u.s. air force,marine corps,pacific,okinawa,pacific island

Flying Leathernecks (1951)

Poster for Flying Leathernecks

From Guadalcanal to Okinawa...the Marine air-devils blazed a trail of glory...while the women they left behind fought battles of their own!

Major Daniel Kirby takes command of a squadron of Marine fliers just before they are about to go into combat. While the men are well meaning, he finds them undisciplined and prone to always finding excuses to do what is easy rather than what is necessary. The root of the problem is the second in command, Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin. Griff is the best flier in the group but Kirby finds him a poor commander who is not prepared to make the difficult decision that all commanders have to make - to put men in harm's way knowing that they may be killed.

Cast & Crew

Director
Nicholas Ray
  • Profile picture of John Wayne
    Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby John Wayne
  • Profile picture of Robert Ryan
    Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin Robert Ryan
  • Profile picture of Don Taylor
    Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe Don Taylor
  • Profile picture of Janis Carter
    Joan Kirby Janis Carter
  • Profile picture of Jay C. Flippen
    MSgt. Clancy, Line Chief Jay C. Flippen
  • Profile picture of William Harrigan
    Dr. Lt.Cdr. Joe Curran William Harrigan
  • Profile picture of James Bell
    Colonel James Bell
  • Profile picture of Barry Kelley
    Brigadier General Barry Kelley

Recommendations

  • Poster for Hatari!
  • Poster for The Horse Soldiers
  • Poster for Dark Blue World
  • Poster for Back to Bataan
  • Poster for Breakthrough
  • Poster for The Flying Fleet
  • Poster for The Kings of Summer
  • Poster for The Founder

Keywords

  • world war ii
  • fighter pilot
  • u.s. air force
  • marine corps
  • pacific
  • okinawa
  • pacific island