Like the typical Bowery boy feature film, this "Junior G-Men of the Air" follow-up to "Junior G-Men" (1940) has the group playing similar characters, but with little continuity between appearances. For the final of three "Universal" serials, "The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys" leader Billy Halop (as Billy "Ace" Holden) and little brother Gene Reynolds (as Eddie) are aviation enthusiasts. Their truck is stolen by "The Black Dragon Society" of gangsters. These ruthless Japanese warriors, led by Lionel Atwill (as "The Baron"), want to take over the United States of America. The Holden truck is retrieved by US government agents, who want young Halop's help in identifying the culprits...
Bad boy Halop nixes helping the "coppers," so they employ "another boy" to play intermediary...
With previous "Junior G-Man" pal Kenneth Howell unavailable, Frank Albertson (as Jerry Markham) is called into action - however, the actor looks twice his character's age. Par for the course. The most clearly defined group are four (of six) original "Dead End Kids" Halop, Huntz Hall (as "Bolts" Larson), Gabriel Dell (as "Stick" Munsey) and Bernard Punsly (as "Greaseball" Plunkett). "Six courageous youth" are formed with brother Reynolds and "boy" Albertson. They form the team for this adventure, but those will peripheral Bowery vision will note David Gorcey and Frankie Darro as significant others. Future mainstay William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey) even makes an appearance, in Chapter 11.
**** Junior G-Men of the Air (1942) Ray Taylor, Lewis D. Collins ~ Billy Halop, Gene Reynolds, Frank Albertson, Huntz Hall
