Winning Your Wings

During World War 2, the US government was responsible for producing many films that would be categorized as propaganda in order to inspire people from all over America to answer the call of their homeland. While the term "propaganda" is typically used to describe rousing posters or films utilized by less reputable regimes (such as the Nazis), this film can't really be construed as anything but. It even has a few lies in it to make america look more powerful than it really was back then. The film starts with a trainer aircraft piloted by Jimmy Stewart landing at an airbase. He climbs out and starts explaining how the Army Air Forces (formerly the Army Air Corps) has been busy recruiting americans so that they can put this extremely destructive war to an end as fast as possible. He says how people in his time period are living through the greatest mobilization of people in the entire history of the world. Men and women from all occupations, from every corner of the US leave their old lives behind and sign up for a new one in the armed forces. Stewart says how even those currently in college are technically allowed to drop out and join the military, even if they don't have a degree yet. The military on the other hand actually wants students to earn degrees as various skills will come in handy depending on what your job in the army is going to be. Not just this, but people can also join the Air Force Reserve, allowing them to work towards their diplomas (and upon completing the term) enter the air force as the first rank of commissioned officer (Second Lieutenant). The film then goes on to say how in large planes such as the workhorse Boeing B-17, each person inside has a specific role, and they all need to work together in order to accomplish their objectives and make sure they're brought home safely. Obviously the pilot and copilot don't need an introduction for what they do, but the navigator, an often overlooked position, is just as critical. The navigator is responsible for plotting the course of the plane while it's in flight and making sure it doesn't get lost. The bombardier is essentially the sniper of the air, and is responsible for dropping high explosive ordinance from miles up onto targets with unerring precision. The plane also has engineers who are working tirelessly to ensure every mechanical device in the aircraft is not going out of order. The plane has men on the ground working to keep it airborne as well. Back at base, the plane's bomb load is supervised by a guy (who has most likely taken a class on engineering) called an armaments officer. His job is to make sure all the bombs are loaded into the plane correctly, as well as the belts of ammo for each one of its machine guns. The air force even has a need for meteorologists. The film ends with an inspiring monologue from Stewart, saying how america's factories are going into overdrive and building about 100 thousand planes a year so we can beat the Axis (which is just plain nonsense). Given that John Huston directed this, I'm tempted to give it a high rating since he was actually involved in ww2 (as was Stewart). However, like most other second world war shorts, this one feels done to death for me. It's decent for what it is, but if you're like me and have dozens of books on this particular conflict, you won't find much here that's unknown to you. I mostly watched this to acquaint myself with an important moment in film history, as Stewart got upwards of 150 thousand people to enlist because of this film.

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.

Newly-minted LT Jimmy Stewart gives a folksy appeal to guys from 18 to 26 to join up and fight the axis!

Jimmy would go on to make an admirable career in the Air Force Reserve and become the recognizable face of the Strategic Air Command in the 1950's--- here you can get a first glimpse of this enthusiasm. Winning Your Wings is aimed at recruiting officers--- more specifically at what must have been hordes of guys with the qualities but not necessarily the educational credentials to make the cut. Don ("Hazel") Defore does a bit as a 26-year old married gas station jockey who's not sure he's qualified. There's a run down of what must have been virtually unknown commissioned positions (navigators, meteorologists) and a run down of the 9-man crew of a B-17, all framed within Stewart's likable homespun drawl. Look for a nearly unrecognizable Peter Graves in the Flying Fortress. And go for Captain, they knock down $450 a month!

Jimmy Stewart appears in one of the many Warner Brothers' short subjects hyping the Army Air Corps. Stewart uses his casual charm and his stage training to hype the Force, and talks about training, and how women love a pilot. It's all done in good humor, and makes it seem like a lot of fun, with no risk mentioned and $400 a month, with room and board!

Stewart had been drafted into the Army as a private in 1940; since he was already a pilot, he was assigned to the Air Corps --after being rejected twice as underweight -- first as an instructor, then on combat missions in Europe. He left the War a Colonel, and as a Reserve officer, retired with the rank of Brigadier General.

Jimmy Stewart presents and narrates this recruitment film for the US Army Air Force and he does it quite charismatically, too! He was a lieutenant during the war, and with his boyish good looks and cheeky smile then who better to advocate to the young men of America that they join him? We've a sort of Q&A session with him answering questions about age, salary and eligibility before he sets off explaining the myriad of job opportunities available as tens of thousands of fliers and ground staff are required. With jobs from pilots to navigators, armament officers to meteorologists and photographers, he makes it quite clear that there is scope for anyone - regardless of their academic prowess - to sign up. It's also about teamwork and maturing as an individual as much as it about fighting and making the folks at home proud, and using archive of a variety of kit that will be used, it's designed to appeal to any patriotic young man keen to get involved. It does play the propaganda card, and of course everything they have or use is "the best in the world" but by using a star like this, John Huston creates a short feature that's less heavy on the flag waving and more on the chance to make a difference. Worth a watch.