As with most short or documentary films, "Winning Your Wings" doesn't have a plot that might be divulged. But, these comments will provide some of the information from this short for those who may be interested but not able to find this film to watch. I also give some background information on Jimmy Stewart's military service, and on the pay amounts during World War II.
While he didn't do any Hollywood movies during the war, James Stewart did star in one short featurette. He made this recruiting film in May 1942. It was a joint project of the Army Air Forces and Warner Brothers. Stewart was a lieutenant in the Air Forces at the time. The Air Forces then badly needed more men to train as pilots and for other aviation positions. So, a group of Hollywood people serving on active duty was put together to make this recruiting film.
John Huston was a captain in the Army Signal Corps at the time, and was making films for the Army. He directed "Winning Your Wings." Stewart got the lead role. He plays himself as an Army Air Forces pilot. An opening scene shows planes flying, landing and then Stewart getting out of the cockpit of a plane. He narrates the rest of the film with various film clips. A number of actors appear in the film as civilians in high school, college, or at work. Only a few have a line or two. Those include Don DeFore, Charles Drake, Harry Lewis and Ray Montgomery.
The U.S. had only been in the war five months when this film was made. The Air Forces were in dire need of trained pilots and other aviation positions. Stewart gives some interesting figures. He said the U.S. was producing 65,000 fighter planes this year (1942) and 100,000 next year. That will require two million men to keep them flying. "It takes 38 men on the ground to keep a B-17 bomber in the air," Stewart says. The film touches on the ground support, but its main emphasis and appeal is for men to man the bombers.
Stewart says that the Army Air Forces need 15,000 captains, 40,000 lieutenants and 35,000 flying sergeants. He gives some pay figures, and says that a 2nd Lieutenant earns $245 per month. Most 2nd Lieutenants in the Army were then receiving $150 per month. The only ones at $245 were officers on flight status and airborne officers. The differences were flight pay and jump pay. So, again, that amount applied only to the officers who served as pilots, co-pilots, bombardiers and navigators. Stewart says that captains are paid $430 per month. Again, that's for officers on flight status. Most captains – those who were not flyers or paratroopers, were paid $350 per month.
Toward the end of the film, Stewart says, "By the time you finish your training, America will have overwhelming superiority in the air." This recruiting film was highly successful and apparently resulted in some 150,000 enlistments for flying positions. Some sources regard this film as propaganda (i.e., Wikipedia on 26 December 2016). The primary distinction of propaganda is its attempt to influence people's opinion (Cambridge dictionary). If this film is propaganda, then every public service or private or other project that tries to get people to pursue a medical field, educational career, or and other profession must also be propaganda. I think most people can clearly distinguish job, professional or career recruiting films from propaganda.
Jimmy Stewart is very good, as are all those with small parts. This featurette is well done and received an Academy Award nomination for best short in 1946.
Stewart's last movie before the start of World War II was "Ziegfeld Girl" that came out on April 25, 1941. His first movie after the war was "It's a Wonderful Life" that came out in December 1946. During those 5.5 years between, Stewart's Hollywood career was on hold while he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Stewart entered the Army in March 1941 as a private, although he had more than 400 hours of flying time before the war. He applied for aviation and was accepted as a 2nd Lieutenant. At the end of the war, he held the rank of Colonel. His rise from private to colonel in just four years is a record that no one is likely to repeat or beat. Because of his experience, Stewart's first assignments were in flight instruction. But, by 1943 he was assigned to American Air Force units in Europe. He flew 20 combat missions in Europe as a bomber pilot, and held various command positions. He stayed in the reserves after the war, and served an active stint during the Vietnam War. He retired in 1968 as a general. He has another record as the movie actor to reach the highest rank in military service.
