Flying Leathernecks poster
Director Nicholas Ray
Screenplay Beirne Lay Jr., James Edward Grant, Edmund Grainger

Flying Leathernecks

Tagline: From Guadalcanal to Okinawa...the Marine air-devils blazed a trail of glory...while the women they left behind fought battles of their own!

Release Date: 1951-08-28

Duration: 102 minutes

Synopsis

Major Daniel Kirby takes command of a squadron of Marine fliers just before they are about to go into combat. While the men are well meaning, he finds them undisciplined and prone to always finding excuses to do what is easy rather than what is necessary. The root of the problem is the second in command, Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin. Griff is the best flier in the group but Kirby finds him a poor commander who is not prepared to make the difficult decision that all commanders have to make - to put men in harm's way knowing that they may be killed.

Casting

  • John Wayne
    Maj. Daniel Xavier Kirby
  • Milburn Stone
    Fleet CIC Radio Operator (uncredited)
  • Don Taylor
    Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe
  • Robert Ryan
    Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin
  • Chuck Courtney
    3rd Pilot Replacement (uncredited)
  • Douglas Henderson
    Lt. Foster (uncredited)
  • Carleton Young
    Col. Riley
  • Keith Larsen
  • Maurice Jara
    Shorty Vegay
  • Janis Carter
    Joan Kirby