Twelve O'Clock High

A demanding general takes command of a demoralized American bomber group in England, pushing his airmen hard to restore discipline and effectiveness. As losses mount during dangerous daylight raids over Germany, the strain of command eventually breaks even him.

The film reflects the real psychological toll of the Eighth Air Force's daylight precision bombing campaign, which suffered devastating casualty rates before fighter escorts extended range in 1944. It is considered one of the earliest and most respected studies of combat leadership and stress.

The unit and characters are fictional, though drawn from composite experiences of real bomb groups and commanders.

Directed by Henry King

Cast: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, Dean Jagger

Positioned at 1942–1943 within the Strategic bombing of Germany phase of the war, as part of the Eighth Air Force daylight bombing campaign. This is entry 72 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Eighth Air Force
• leadership
• bomber command
• classic film
• psychological toll

• 

  The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

  1942–October 1944

• 

  The Big Red One

  1942–1945

• 

  Masters of the Air

  1943–1945

• 

  Stalag 17

  Winter 1943–44

• 

  Ike: Countdown to D-Day

  February–June 1944

• 

  Anthropoid

  May 27 – June 18, 1942