Command Decision Page #5

for identification.

There sat a town that looked more like

Schweinhafen than Schweinhafen does.

Checkpoints were identical.

We were both fooled

by that dummy camouflage...

...and threw our whole load

down the chimney.

The others salvoed into our smoke.

How do you know

it wasn't Schweinhafen?

After we turned north, on our way back,

we saw the real target.

There was Schweinhafen

without a scratch.

Generals Kane and Garnet had to go

to the phone. A call from Washington.

They'll meet you

and Colonel Martin at dinner.

Thank you.

I guess Evans should have snitched

another one of these.

Okay, Goldberg.

Keep checking if you

have to pull out every picture.

I'll be at the general's quarters.

He's still looking through

the target photos. No luck yet.

I'd like to know what we did hit

before Kane gets here.

Casey, you look tired.

If you don't take care of yourself,

someone else will be doing this work.

Maybe today'll give us both a rest.

What's it gonna do to Stitch?

Set us back one day.

We'll hit Schweinhafen tomorrow

and Fendelhorst Monday.

- The weather will hold.

- Will Kane?

- He'll have to.

- He had cold feet before we started.

Tell him about today's snafu

and he'll kill Stitch for good.

What do you suggest?

Don't let him know, tonight anyway.

I'll guarantee you Kane won't be able

to tell today's photos from Schweinhafen.

When are you going to learn

about the Army?

We're not stunt flyers at the state fair.

Oh, good evening.

We can be grateful

for one thing at least.

From what the boys tell me, this seems

to be the finest job of bombing ever done.

What a price though, 52 ships.

- Ted, how are you?

- Still kicking.

- Glad to see you.

- Thank you.

Sorry you had a rough day.

But when you're leading,

we never worry about the target.

Soon as they're through, you'll be glad

to know the family's still interested in you.

- How is she?

- Sir, I'd like to speak to you alone.

As soon as Cliff tells you

about our talk with Washington.

- Dinner is served, sir.

- Come on, Cliff.

Where's Brockie?

Stayed over to finish

his Schweinhafen stories.

I made him realize this wasn't the fiasco

he thought. He seemed rather impressed.

I think he'll give us a very good story.

It's important

that I have a minute with you.

Wait, Casey, I want Cliff to...

Cliff, tell him, will you?

Well, Casey...

...you may think I ratted on you...

...but I felt that our people ought to know

what's going on.

While on the phone with Washington,

I persuaded General Kane...

...to let me talk to the Air Board.

- What did they say?

Unfortunately, most of them are in Florida

at the proving grounds.

Testing a new typewriter?

Casey, I can't tolerate this attitude.

Our public relations policies

got us where we are today.

It sure has.

The chief wasn't there, but I had

a very constructive talk with Lester Blender.

And what did Lester "Yes, sir" say?

He was shocked at your losses,

but since you are two-thirds done...

...I think I sold him on letting you

finish Operation Stitch...

...after the Washington meetings

are over.

Sir, did you let

that little two-stars stooge forbid us...?

Casey, if you'll play ball now,

all will be fine after Tuesday.

Including the weather?

I found where it was, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

- You said when I found them...

- That's right. Come in, Goldberg.

General Kane, today's lead bombardier,

Lieutenant Goldberg.

Lieutenant, the chief will be proud

of your mission today.

Thank you, sir.

- Oh, colonel, here are the photos.

- Thanks, Gold...

Let's get these under

a stronger light, huh?

Wonderful.

That's what I call precision bombing.

Look, Cliff, look.

Here's the highway coming in here,

here's the river, and here's the factory.

You've got them upside down, sir.

Sir, if you and I

can excuse ourselves for a minute...

Be right with you, Casey.

Look at that destruction, Cliff.

These will go to Washington

by special plane.

Sir, I'd like to frame these

on a good white board...

...with a title,

"The Doom of Schweinhafen."

It isn't Schweinhafen, sir.

That's right, sir.

That's what I was trying to tell you.

It isn't Schweinhafen.

Not Schweinhafen? What is it then?

It's the Nautilus torpedo factory

at Gritzenheim, sir.

Torpedo factory?

General, this is very opportune.

Half the united chiefs are admirals.

If we can get these

to the allocation meeting...

I'll send my own plane.

You don't know what you've done for us.

Showing them that in the midst

of the greatest air campaign...

...we still think enough of the larger aspect

to knock out a torpedo factory too.

I'm sorry, sir. It wasn't "too."

It was "instead."

Instead?

You let me tell Washington

you destroyed Schweinhafen.

- Brockie's writing a story.

- It was a mistake.

We hit this Nautilus place.

- Whose mistake?

- Mine, sir. The briefing.

The briefing was perfect.

I lead the division, I loused it up.

These gentlemen

are covering for me, sir.

I was well-briefed,

and I was on the bombsight.

- I got mixed up in the fighting.

- Why'd you get mixed up?

- Were you scared?

- Yes, sir, I'm always scared.

What do you mean entrusting

a mission of this importance...

...to a man who admits...?

- I should like to explain.

Sir, General Kane doesn't understand.

Do you understand

what I'd be justified in doing?

You ought to shoot me for wasting

520 boys this afternoon.

I'd be grateful if you did.

Sir, Lieutenant Goldberg

is on the fourth mission...

...of a voluntary second tour of duty

over German targets only.

He isn't my group bombardier

by accident.

He knows there's a German order

waiting for him.

He knew it when he volunteered

for a second tour.

Today, he hit what we both thought

was the target perfectly.

I've just written him up for a cluster

on his Silver Star.

Send the citation to me personally.

Thank you, sir.

General Dennis.

Wait a minute.

My group commanders are standing by

for tomorrow's orders, sir.

I should like to give them their target.

Casey...

...yesterday, we lost 48.

Today, 52.

You must be crazy to think I'm going

to rush into a third day like this.

We've got to think this thing over

from every possible angle.

Tell them to wait.

You'll have to wait a bit longer.

I know it is,

but there's nothing we can do.

Tell all groups to stand by.

No.

No target yet, huh?

They're probably only

on their first brandy over there.

Well, brandy or no brandy...

General Dennis' quarters.

General Dennis.

Hold on a minute, George.

General, they're still sweating out

tomorrow's order.

Tell them you'll call back.

May I at least order an alert

for a possible maximum effort, sir?

If you're willing to put the strain

on your people, probably for nothing.

Tell all groups to be ready

for a maximum effort tomorrow.

Cut the tape for phase two,

Operation Stitch.

That's right. Phase two, Schweinhafen.

And hold it. Don't send it out

until you get further orders.

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