Flying Fortress (film)

Plot[edit]

Pilot William "Sky" Kelly (Donald Stewart) is held responsible for an aircraft crash in which a passenger is killed; however, his friend, wealthy playboy James "Jim" Spence (Richard Greene), was actually piloting the aircraft. Kelly's sister Sydney (Carla Lehmann), a newspaper reporter, vows to clear her brother and identify Spence as the actual culprit. Spence and Sydney later meet amicably, but when a scandal photographer reveals Sydney's profession, Spence suspects her motives and ends their budding relationship.


Spence reads an appeal from the RAF Ferry Command for experienced pilots to fly US Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers to England. Wanting a new adventure, he flies to Canada and volunteers. After a RCAF officer berates him for his irresponsible flying, Spence changes his mind. Just before leaving, however, he learns that "Sky" Kelly is training the ferry pilots. Determined to prove himself to be as good a pilot as Kelly, Spence volunteers.


Spence makes his first flight to London with Kelly, who reveals his sister is now working there. During the long Atlantic flight the two pilots reconcile their past. After they land, Kelly and Spence hitch a ride into Blitz-ravaged London with the beautiful Lady DeBorah "Debbie" Ottershaw (Betty Stockfeld), and Kelly makes a dinner date with her. Kelly suggests that Spence come along and bring Sydney as his date; when the reluctant Spence arrives at Sydney's office, she refuses him.


DeBorah invites Kelly to her palatial home, where Kelly meets her brother, Lord "Squeakum" Ottershaw (Sidney King). The two men immediately dislike each other; Kelly assumes that Ottershaw is a malingering fop, and Ottershaw thinks Kelly is a brash, uncouth American. That evening while Sydney, Kelly, and Lady DeBorah have dinner in London, Spence sits at a nearby table until he successfully apologizes to Sydney. A German air raid abruptly spoils the rest of their evening.


Impressed by the courage of British resolve, upon returning to Canada for another B-17 ferry assignment, Spence and Kelly decide to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following their return flight to London, both men reunite with Sydney and Lady DeBorah. After reporting for duty, they discover Lord Ottershaw is their RAF Wing Commander. Kelly's opinion of him changes when Ottershaw announces he will be leading the Wing's bombing missions; the new commander requests both Spence and Kelly join the aircrew of his Flying Fortress.


German night fighters attack a flight of B-17s after they bomb a Berlin power station. Lord Ottershaw's bomber is hit, but an emergency repair keeps it airborne. Another fighter attack badly wounds Ottershaw and sets an engine ablaze. Making light of his injury, Ottershaw keeps the B-17 flying level while Spence, with Kelly's help, crawls out onto the wing and extinguishes the engine fire. When Kelly returns to his co-pilot station, Ottershaw collapses from his wound. The battered Flying Fortress and her surviving crew return safely to base to fight another day for England and the Allied cause.