Ditching in water was a fact of life for stricken aircraft in World War 2, from the frozen white tops of the North Sea to the Shark infested waters of the South Pacific. Lt. Reynolds, played by veteran actor Arthur Kennedy (Lawrence of Arabia), is copilot on a B-17 that ditches at sea. He's survives by pure luck, but the rest of the crew is lost due to a lack of preparation. When he gets his own ship, Reynolds vows his crew is thoroughly trained in B-17 ditching. He gives them the straight dope, step by step.
You'll see training on land and in the water on everything from crew preparation, responsibilities, crash positioning, exiting the plane, emergency supplies, launching & operating dinghies to using an emergency radio, navigating, rations, first aid & a lot more. And after sinking a Japanese cruiser, (as you might expect) Reynolds & his crew are shot down and have to put everything they learned into practice in stormy seas. Excellent picture quality, a dramatic storyline & realistic acting, with lots of great interior shots of the Flying Fortress. A must have for every B-17 fan!
