World War II · Film · 1949
Twelve O'Clock High
A demanding general takes over a demoralised B-17 group in England and drives its crews to the limit to prove that daylight precision bombing can work, at a heavy cost to himself.
Where it happened
Follow the story across 1 places.
Stop 1: Archbury airfield (modelled on RAF Thurleigh)
Key location
General Savage arrives at the 'hard-luck' 918th, cracks down on its crews and leads them on ever deeper raids until the strain begins to show.
What really happened
In late 1942 the US Eighth Air Force was flying its first missions from England, and American commanders had to prove to sceptical British allies that unescorted daylight bombing could work. Losses were high and morale in some groups collapsed. The 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh was one of them, and Colonel Frank Armstrong was sent to restore discipline in early 1943.
Written by Beirne Lay Jr. and Sy Bartlett, who both served with the Eighth Air Force, the film turns Armstrong into General Frank Savage and Thurleigh into the fictional Archbury. It won Academy Awards for Dean Jagger and for sound, was added to the US National Film Registry in 1998 and has long been used in military leadership courses.
Where to watch
Checking streaming services…
Full details
- Original title
- Twelve O'Clock High
- Directed by
- Henry King
- Countries
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Released
- 1949
- Period
- –
- Theaters of war
- Western Europe
- Themes
- Air war
- Combat
