Marine fighter squadron VMF 247 is in the thick of it on Guadalcanal. The airstrip they hold is hammered by offshore batteries. Malaria and combat fatigue grip the men. Fuel is low and replacement parts are few. The only things not in short supply are the enemy...and Major Don Kirby's determination to keep fighting with whatever he has. John Wayne is in the cockpit and in command as Kirby, a leader at odds with his executive officer (Robert Ryan) and at the forefront of tacticians eager to coordinate ground combat with low-flying aerial sorties. Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) directs, skillfully incorporating actual battlefield and dogfight footage. Flying Leathernecks has the flight stuff!

Actors: John Wayne; Robert Ryan; Don Taylor; Janis Carter; Jay C. Flippen; William Harrigan; James Bell; Barry Kelley; Maurice Jara; Adam Williams; James Dobson; Carleton Young; Michael St. Angel; Brett King; Gordon Gebert; Milburn Stone; Lynn Stalmaster
Writer: James Edward Grant; Kenneth Gamet
Producer: Edmund Grainger

Run Time: 102 min
Genre: War; Action; Adventure; Drama
Aspect Ratio: 4 X 3 FULL FRAME, ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO - 1.37:1
Audio: MONO - English, DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English
Color: COLOR