12 O'Clock High (TV series)

American military drama TV series (1964–1967) April 2023 Paul Burke Twelve OClock High 1965.JPG Paul Burke as Joe Gallagher, 1965 Military drama Sy Bartlett Beirne Lay Jr. Robert Lansing Frank Overton Paul Burke Chris Robinson Barney Phillips Dominic Frontiere Dominic Frontiere Fred Steiner (one episode) United States English 3 78 Quinn Martin Frank Glicksman William D. Gordon William W. Spencer Frank V. Phillips Robert C. Moreno Kenneth Peach Paul C. Vogel Gene Polito Meredith Merle Nicholson George T. Clemens Carl E. Guthrie Richard H. Kline 20th Century-Fox Television QM Productions 51 minutes ABC 1964 09 18 1967 01 13 Twelve O'Clock High 12 O'Clock High is an American military drama television series set in World War II. It was originally broadcast on ABC-TV for three seasons from September 1964 through January 1967 and was based on the 1949 film of the same name. The series was a co-production of 20th Century Fox Television (Fox had also produced the movie) and QM Productions (one of their few non-law-enforcement series). This show is one of the two QM shows not to display a copyright notice at the beginning, but rather at the end (the other was A Man Called Sloane) and the only one not to display the standard "A QM Production" closing card on the closing credits. Overview The series follows the missions of the fictitious 918th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, stationed at Archbury Field, England (a fictitious air base). For the first season, many of the characters from the book and 1949 movie were retained, including Brigadier General Frank Savage, Major Harvey Stovall, Major Cobb, Doc Kaiser, and General Pritchard, albeit played by different actors from in the motion picture. In addition to these characters, several other infrequently reappearing characters were introduced, including Captain (later Colonel) Joseph "Joe" Gallagher, who appeared in two episodes (episodes 1 and 24) as well as being the central character for seasons two and three. At the end of the first season, the studio executives decided a younger-looking lead actor was needed.https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Documents/2011/January%202011/0111high.pdf The Real Twelve O'Clock High Correll John T. January 2011 Air & Space Forces Magazine 94 1 March 9, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20250113114140/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/Documents/2011/January%202011/0111high.pdf January 13, 2025 live 73 In the first episode of the second season, General Savage, played by Robert Lansing, was killed in action and replaced by Colonel Joe Gallagher, played by Paul Burke. (Burke, though considered more youthful-looking than Lansing, was actually two years older, which TV critics were quick to point out.) The decision to replace Lansing with Burke proved unpopular and the ratings began to drop quickly. The character Joe Gallagher's father was Lt. General Maxwell Gallagher, played by Barry Sullivan. Burke and Sullivan had previously worked together in the TV series Harbourmaster. In an interview given by Lansing on The Mike Douglas Show in 1965,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8kA4CU1bUs Robert Lansing on why he left 12 O'Clock High Youtube.com October 16, 2022 Lansing mentioned that had he known what a boost to his career 12 O'Clock High was, he never would have fired himself. Savage was killed off in a way so as not to require Lansing's participation. According to TV Guide, ABC moved the show from a 10:00 pm Friday time slot to a 7:30 pm Monday time slot for the second season to capture a younger audience.Jerry D. Lewis, TV Guide (May 15–21, 1965),The General Died At Dusk p. 24 It was hoped that TV viewers would identify more with a colonel rather than an Army Air Corps general. Lansing, had he remained, would have received limited air time with Burke's addition. For the second season, most of the supporting cast from the first season was replaced, with the exception of Major Stovall, Doc Kaiser, and an occasional appearance by General Pritchard. Other actors who did reappear after the first season played other characters. Edward Mulhare appeared twice – as different Luftwaffe officers. Bruce Dern appeared four times as three different characters. Tom Skerritt appeared five times, each time in a different role. thumb|left|Lansing (top) with Don Penny (left) in 1965 The first two seasons were filmed in black-and-white, as ABC did not mandate prime time shows to be in color until the 1966-1967 season, but it also allowed the inclusion of actual World War II combat footage supplied by the U.S. Air Force and the library of 20th Century Fox movies.Etter Jonathan Grauman, Walter Quinn Martin, Producer: A Behind-the-scenes History of QM Productions and Its Founder McFarland 2003 0-7864-1501-0 48 The inclusion of combat footage was often obvious, as it was often quite degraded. Limited usable combat footage often resulted in the same shot being reused in multiple episodes. For the third season, the TV series was filmed in color, but this season only ran for 17 episodes, with the series being canceled in midseason. Some of the combat footage used for the third season seemed to be in black-and-white footage tinted blue. Film footage from the 1940s was also used for take-offs and landings since the one B-17 to which the show had access could only taxi. To simulate different aircraft, it was frequently repainted. In later episodes, Gallagher flew as "mission control" in a North American P-51 Mustang. This plot scheme was added to cut production costs. The single-engine Mustang costs less to fly than the four-engined B-17, and requires only a single pilot rather than two pilots and several crewmen. A wartime precedent for this existed, however: Maj.-Gen. Earle E. Partridge, the G-3 (operations) commander of the 8th Air Force, used a P-51 modified for photo-reconnaissance work to take photographs of his bomber group formations for training and critiquing purposes.Roger Freeman, year?, Mustang at War, p. ? 12 O'Clock High was created in an episodic format, with no particular order for the episodes. A trio of episodes produced about a shuttle air raid to North Africa was in fact never aired in story order (episode 44 "We're Not Coming Back", episode 37 "Big Brother", and episode 38 "The Hotshot"). The stories were often based more on character drama than action, usually involving individuals who felt the need to redeem themselves in the eyes of others. Other story lines focused on actual war events, such as the development of bombing through cloud cover using radar, and the complexities of operating a large fleet of (often malfunctioning) B-17s. Much of the filming was carried out on the Chino Airport, just east of Los Angeles County, California, in San Bernardino County. Chino had been a USAAF training field for World War II, and its combination of long, heavy-duty runways and (at the time) wide-open farmland for miles in all directions was rapidly turning the field into a haven for World War II aviation enthusiasts and their restored aircraft. Former Army Air Forces P-51 Mustangs, Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, Lockheed P-38 Lightnings, B-26 Invaders, and former U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsairs and F6F Hellcats could be found, along with a vintage B-17http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_12553732%7D Chino home to retired 'actor' David Allen Inland Valley Daily Bulletin June 9, 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110928053906/http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_12553732%7D September 28, 2011 and the P-51 Mustang used in 12 O'Clock High. The B-17 belonged to Ed Maloney's Air Museum, B-17E, F, and G models of the Flying Fortress (the latter with the chin turret) were used interchangeably. The inclusion of actual combat and crash footage often resulted in the tail designations of the bombers changing between film shots. The segments in 1966 had the former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot Lynn Garrison coordinating the aerial footage. Garrison had been drawn to the project by his friend Robert Lansing. Garrison owned the P-51 used in the series. As of February 2020, the Heroes & Icons channel broadcasts the series as part of its Saturday-night lineup. All three seasons are on YouTube. Cast thumb|right|John van Dreelen, Robert Lansing and Alf Kjellin in 1965 Robert Lansing as Brigadier General Frank Savage (season 1) Frank Overton as Major Harvey Stovall Paul Burke as Colonel Joe Gallagher (seasons 2 and 3, two appearances in season 1) Chris Robinson as T/Sgt. Alexander "Sandy" Komansky (seasons 2 and 3) John Larkin as Major General Wiley Crowe (season 1) Barney Phillips as Major "Doc" Kaiser Andrew Duggan as Brigadier/Major General Ed Britt (seasons 2 and 3) Paul Newlan as Lieutenant General Bill Pritchard Lew Gallo as Major Joe Cobb (season 1) Robert Dornan as Lieutenant/Captain Fowler (seasons 2 and 3, in real life a former USAF fighter pilot) Episodes Season 1 (1964–65) All episodes in black-and-white #B10000 5 5 22 20 25 18 1 1 Golden Boy Had 9 Black Sheep Don Medford Al C. Ward 1964 09 18 General Savage believes that Captain Gallagher, a member of a military family, is too quick to abort missions at the first sign of engine trouble, and often complains. Savage rides Gallagher hard and chews him out, assigning him a crew of slackers and misfits and ordering Gallagher to paint the name "Leper Colony" on his plane. Gallagher must turn his crew into an efficient outfit and prove himself, but he despises Savage and wants to do anything to get a transfer. Guest Stars: Paul Burke as Capt. Joe Gallaher, Joby Baker as Lt. Blake, and Bruce Dern as Lt. Michaels. #B10000 2 2 Follow the Leader William Graham Beirne Lay, Jr. 1964 09 25 Wanting to try a new technique, Savage decides to have the whole bomb group drop on their best bombardier, Lt. Mellon. When Mellon releases his bombs prematurely on the next mission, the entire group accidentally destroy a Dutch school, leaving him devested. After Savage finds out the mess was due to flak hitting the salvo switch, causing the malfunction, he decides to try his new plan again, but can Mellon believe and overcome the guilt. Guest Stars: Andrew Prine as Lt. Bob Mellon. #B10000 3 3 The Men and the Boys William Graham Harold Jack Bloom 1964 10 02 Savage decides to court martial Capt. Wade Richie, who disobeyed orders and broke formation to provide air cover for a crew bailing out of a plane, including his best friend, Lt. Tom Lockridge, creating much anger. After being found guilty at his court martial, Richie is demoted and made Savage's co-pilot so Savage can keep an eye on him, as he can't trust him with a crew. When Richie's right waist gunner Sgt. Jonesy dies of wounds he sustained during Richie's stunt, Lockridge realizes that Richie had put his own crew in danger to save his, and realizes Richie killed him. When Savage is wounded on the next mission, leaving his plane crippled, Lockridge is forced to abandon Savage and Richie for the safety of the group, despite Richie yelling at him. Guest Stars: Glenn Corbett as Lt. Tom Lockridge, Lou Antonio as Capt. Wade Richie, Sally Kellerman as Lt. Libby MacAndrews, and Hazel Court as Liz Woodruff. #B10000 4 4 The Sound of Distant Thunder Don Medford Edward J. Lasko 1964 10 16 A new but goofy bombardier Lt. named Andy Lathrop is assigned to Savage's crew, but always hits his mark dead center, but later finds out the hard way, that real people are killed when bombs drop. Guest Stars: Peter Fonda as Lt. Andy Lathrop, and Jill Haworth as Mary Jean. #B10000 5 5 The Climate of Doubt Don Medford Harold Jack Bloom 1964 10 23 Gen. Crowe orders Savage to fly a dangerous mission in France to show support for the resistance, but he thinks it's because he's in love with a beautiful fighter there. When flying the mission, which requires two bomb targets, the 918th comes under heavy attack from flak and fighters, with a loss of 94 men killed or missing, leaving Savage angry and devastated, and putting Gen. Crowe on court martial for his orders. Guest Stars: Vivica Lindfors as Nicole Trouchard, and Bernard Fox as Col. Charles. #B10000 6 6 Pressure Point William Graham John T. Dugan 1964 10 30 Savage outfits some of his planes with bigger guns to try to reduce heavy losses, but if U.S senator Clayton Johnson (Who has a history with Savage, as Savage wanted to marry his daughter) remains unconvinced he could lose his command. On top of this, Savage has to deal with belly gunner Sgt. Eddie Pryor, who's made him out to be a villain by not putting in a request to marry his pregnant girlfriend April Barrett, due to his worry of marrying her and getting killed. Guest Stars: Larry Gates as Senator Clayton Johnson, Robert Doyle as Sgt. Eddie Pryor, and Elen Willard as April Barrett. #B10000 7 7 The Decision William Graham Clair Huffaker Clair Huffaker & Jack Turley 1964 11 06 While flying on a mission, Savage's close friend Maj. Jack Temple is shot down and captured, along with half his crew, and held as hostages in a combat area to prevent Savage from bombing valuable equipment. After some thinking, and looking at photos captured from a recon plane, Savage puts together an idea to save Temple and his crew, before the 918th bomb the whole area on Gen. Crowe's orders. Guest Stars: Tim O'Connor as Maj. Jack Temple, John van Dreelan as, Jack Betts as Lt. Kinner, and Buck Taylor as Cpl. Moody. #B10000 8 8 The Hours Before Dawn Don Medford Donald S. Sanford 1964 11 13 Savage takes cover in a British mansion during an air raid, but becomes trapped by a downed German colonel also taking cover there. The cynical and manipulative female owner is unsympathetic to both. Guest Stars: Glynis Johns as Jennifer Heath, and Fritz Weaver as Col. Peter Raff. #B10000 9 9 Appointment At Liege Don Medford John McGreevey Charles Larson 1964 11 20 Maj. Gus Denver, who was assigned elsewhere when his crew was killed in combat, suffers a guilt complex and becomes reckless with his missions and the lives of his subordinates. After his actions get men killed unnecessary and failing to check on safety equipment, Savage grounds him, and soon the man realizes his actions and cracks up. Guest Stars: Gary Lockwood as Maj. Gus Denver,Nancy Kovack as Lt. Cooper, and Hazel Court as Liz Woodruff. #B10000 10 10 Interlude William Graham Dean Riesner 1964 11 27 Suffering from fatigue, General Savage is ordered to take leave and decides to pay a visit to sunny Scotland. On his way, he repeatedly bumps into a female British officer, Ann Macrae, who is returning to her home - accidental encounters that become increasingly awkward. Naturally, their animosity slowly turns to grudging tolerance, and then to fondness on the way to true affection. Against his better judgment, Savage finds himself falling in love, and Macrae is caught in the same web. Unfortunately, she is hiding a secret that will cast a terrible shadow over their budding relationship. Guest Stars: Dana Wynter as Ann Macrae and Rhys Williams as Adam Macrae. #B10000 11 11 Here's to Courageous Cowards Don Medford Al C. Ward 1964 12 04 Savage has to handle a Major named Joe Morse, who's burning himself out after 35 missions, and a conscientious objector corporal named Ross Lawrence, who still joined the Air Force, and stowed away on a mission to see what war's like. Guest Stars: Brandon deWilde as Corporal Ross Lawrence, and Gerald O'Loughlin as Maj. Joe Morse. #B10000 12 12 Soldiers Sometimes Kill Sutton Roley Edmund H. North Edmund H. North & Charles Larson 1964 12 11 Savage is suspected by Scotland Yard of killing a pretty model in her flat and even he cannot remember all the events of that night. Guest Stars: John Williams as Inspector Throne, Murray Matheson as Nicholas Redgrave, and Victoria Shaw as Barbara Talbot. #B10000 13 13 The Suspected Don Medford Ken Pettus Jack Turley & Charles Larson 1964 12 18 A reporter on the airbase is bent on trying to prove that one of Gen. Savage's gunners, is an escaped convicted murderer. Guest Stars: Michael Callan as Sgt. Driscoll, Edward Binns as Cillford Moran, and Antoinette Bower as Meg Driscoll. #B10000 14 14 An Act of War William Graham Donald S. Sanford 1964 12 25 Savage is shot down on a vital recon mission in France, kills a Frenchman in self defense, and gets captured by French people who hate bomber crews for killing people, who plan to lynch him. Guest Stars: Norman Fell as Lt. Canello, John Kerr as Maj. Herrick, and Michael Davis as Paul Cadol. #B10000 15 15 Those Who Are About to Die Abner Biberman Harold Jack Bloom 1965 01 01 Savage's elite squadron is picked for a dangerous, top secret bomb run, but his men start to crack waiting for fog to lift over the English Channel, while they are confined to base. One of his best pilots, Lt. Lockridge, is recovering from hepatitis, waiting to complete his 25th mission, which will get him sent back to the U.S. Savage and nurse Lt. Libby MacAndrews, who loves Lockridge, debate: is Lockridge malingering, pretending to be A-OK, or is he too ill to fly on the mission in which 1/3 are expected not to come back from? Guest Stars: Glenn Corbett as Lt. Tom Lockridge, and Sally Kellerman as Lt. Libby MacAndrews. #B10000 16 16 In Search of My Enemy Don Medford Jean Holloway Stanford Whitmore 1965 01 08 Due to illness and injury, including his own bum knee, General Savage finds himself short of qualified pilots to lead bombing missions. Help arrives in the person of Major Peter Gray, a highly experienced man with just the right credentials, but also some lingering pains from his own earlier mishap. Complications arise when Savage discovers that Gray's wife, Ann, is his former fiancée and that he still has strong feelings for her. Stressed by the awkward situation, he assigns Gray to command a mission that is supposed to be a milk run, only to discover too late that the Luftwaffe is laying in wait. The mission turns into a slaughter, with eight planes lost, and though he survives to return, Gray is convinced Savage is trying to get him killed so he can have another chance with Ann. Guest Stars: Steve Forrest as Maj. Grey, Barbara Shelly as Ann Grey, and Hazel Court as Liz Woodruff. #B10000 17 17 The Albatross William Graham Richard Landau 1965 01 15 Lt. Joseph Kane, a handsome man with an upcoming movie career accepts one extra mission as a favor to Savage, but receives a bad facial burn, and recklessly sinks into depression over the loss of his good looks. Guest Stars: Robert Drivas as Lt. Joseph Kane, and Janine Grey as Angie. #B10000 18 18 The Lorelei Don Medford Albert Aley 1965 01 22 The Lorelei is a bomber that returns from a mission and lands intact, but with its entire crew dead. Gen. Savage assigns the plane to his new 2nd-in-command, Col. Royce, who he's supposed to evaluate for assignment as a group commander. Royce is a highly-experienced, decorated, and well-liked pilot with one apparent flaw; he's decidedly superstitious, and he's just been handed command of a Flying Dutchman that seems to have a mind of its own. Guest Stars: Rip Torn as Col. Royce, Diana van der Vlis as Carol Royce, and Bruce Dern as Lt. Danton. #B10000 19 19 Faith, Hope and Sergeant Aronson László Benedek Charles Larson 1965 01 29 Savage returns from a mission gravely wounded, requiring a delicate operation to remove shrapnel endangering his heart; an operation Dr. Kaiser doesn't feel confident to perform. While waiting for a specialist, Savage is placed in a ward next to Sgt. Aronson who has just lost his lifetime friend to battle wounds and is also quickly losing his faith in God. Savage tries to talk him out of his closing shell, but the Sergeant slips deeper into melancholy, that is until he meets someone who could use a little of his disappearing faith. Guest Stars: Sorrell Brooke as Sgt. Aronson, Phyliss Love as Nurse Jenkins, and Antoinette Bower as Ivy Wescott. Note: John Larkin died of a heart attack the day this episode aired, but he'd filmed his scenes for the following six episodes prior to his death. #B10000 20 20 To Heinie, With Love Ralph Senensky Ken Pettus Jack Turley & Charles Larson 1965 02 05 Savage keeps a skillful navigator who had a father that was a Nazi in the German American Bund, and becomes more doubtful of him when an error kills a crewman. Guest Stars: Kier Dullea as Lt. Kurt Muller, and Jill Haworth as Nora Burgess. #B10000 21 21 The Clash Josef Leytes Mike Adams Jack Turley & Mike Adams 1965 02 12 Savage and a Nazi colonel are the only survivors in a raft after shooting down each other's planes at sea, but the Nazi tries to force him to surrender at gunpoint. Guest Stars: Albert Paulsen as Col. Dieter. #B10000 22 22 The Ticket Josef Leytes Al C. Ward 1965 02 26 A uncaring Lt. named Paul Stiger wins the lottery after accepting a very dangerous mission, and realizes things in his life are worth living for, but he is not allowed to back out of the assignment. Guest Stars: Earl Holliman as Lt. Paul Stiger, Elen Willard as Myra Bentley, and Donald Herron as Lt. Crain. #B10000 23 23 The Trap Ralph Senensky Richard L. Newhafer 1965 03 05 A pilot's worst nightmare - buried underground with no guarantee of ever seeing the open sky again. Savage and a group of Londoners are trapped in a cellar during an air raid, while the only man who knows they are there is wounded and incoherent. Savage has to deal with an elderly widow facing true fear for the first time, a young coal miner with a phobia about being buried alive, a charlatan confronted by the lies behind his life, and a girl about to become an unwed mother. Oh, and there is one other occupant of this hell under earth - an unexploded, ticking time bomb. Guest Stars: Hermione Baddeley as Lady Constance Belden, and John Leyton as Bert Higgs. #B10000 24 24 End of the Line Sutton Roley Dean Riesner 1965 03 12 Maj. Gallagher feeling guilty over the death of a friend who replaced him, tries to help the man's fiancée, but she is a greedy, manipulative and deceitful person, and only Savage can save him from making a huge mistake. Guest Stars: Paul Burke as Maj. Joe Gallagher, Sarah Marshall as May Hudson, and Barbara Feldon as Lt. Clare Cummings. #B10000 25 25 The Threat Ralph Senensky Jack Turley 1965 03 19 Savage becomes the target of Nazi assassination attempts by a spy on the base, while propaganda broadcasts continue to taunt him. Guest Star: Lawrence Naismith as Gilly Bright. Note: Final appearance of Gen. Wiley Crowe. #B10000 26 26 Mutiny at Ten Thousand Feet Sutton Roley Harold Jack Bloom 1965 03 26 A Lt. Tony Kemp conspires to make Savage appear to be mentally unstable, so he can take over his plane and land in Switzerland where the crew can sit out the rest of the war. He even blackmails Sgt. Reese, his crew's radioman to go along, as Reese - whose real name is Chapman - is wanted for killing a kid back in the states to help him, even though Reese knows what could happen for munity. Guest Stars: Larry Blyden as Lt. Tony Kemp, Robert Brown as Sgt. Reese, John Kerr as Lt. Ray Thatcher, Stuart Margolin as Lt. Murray Epstein, and Hazel Court as Liz. #B10000 27 27 The Mission William Graham Samuel Roeca 1965 04 02 While preparing for a top priority mission, Gen. Savage replaces a sick crewman with a hotshot gunner, only to discover too late that the man has a bad reputation as well as a negative attitude. Joe Waller is a washed-out pilot trainee who takes out his resentment on his fellow crew members. The resulting friction threatens the integrity of the crew, even before Waller is forced to replace the fatally wounded bombardier, making him the most important man in the entire mission. Guest Stars: Burt Brinkerhoff as F/O Joe Waller, Chris Robinson as Lt. Gunther, Bruce Dern as Lt. Michaels. Note: Chris Robinson played a different character here before returning as T/Sgt. Komansky on the following season. #B10000 28 28 The Cry of Fallen Birds Walter Grauman Edward J. Lasko Edward J. Lasko & Charles Larson 1965 04 09 Savage is badly injured when his plane crashes near an ancestral mansion in the flight path of the base, and later fights with its beautiful female owner to have it legally demolished. Guest Stars: Dana Wynter as Lady Cathrine, Lloyd Bochner as Capt. Evans #B10000 29 29 V for Vendetta William Graham Al C. Ward 1965 04 16 Savage has been taking great loses by unsuccessfully trying to bomb factories making planes that wreak havoc on the 918th, and now he risks losing his command. Meanwhile, Maj. Gus Denver, having finally gotten over the mess he made, is given his old job back, and must help prove that Savage is good enough to remain in command of the 918th. Guest Stars: Gary Lockwood as Maj. Gus Denver, and Lin McCarthy as Gen. Hoagland. #B10000 2 30 31 30 31 P.O.W. Don Medford Al C. Ward 1965 04 23 1965 04 30 Savage becomes a POW with three other men, in a Nazi camp after being shot down, and the commander there, Col. Ritcher, wants to use him to break the other prisoner's will to escape. With the help of Group Captain Brail, he begins to mastermind an escape for him, his crew and two others, involving kidnapping the Col. Ritcher, and escaping towards the coast. Guest Stars: Alf Kjellin as Col. Ritcher, as Donald Herron as Group Captain Brail, John van Dreelan as Capt. Staufman, James Farentino as Moxie and Peter Haskell as Doc. #B10000 32 32 The Hero Ralph Senensky Albert Aley 1965 05 07 A WW1 ace-pilot colonel named Pappy Hartley and former instructor of Savage joins the 918th, but he may be too independent which costs lives. Guest Star: James Whitmore as Col. Pappy Hartley. #B10000 Season 2 (1965–66) All episodes in black-and-white #5C93FF 5 5 22 20 25 18 33 1 The Loneliest Place in the World Richard Donner Harold Jack Bloom 1965 09 13 Gen. Savage is killed when his plane is shot down by a captured B-17, killing all but Flight Engineer T/Sgt. Sandy Komansky, who returns to base and gets a chilling welcome. Later, Lt. Col Gallagher, acting head of the 918th, shoots down another suspicious B-17 killing 10 Americans, leaving him with guilt, and when flying another mission with Komansky, shoots down the captured B-17. At the end of the episode, Gen. Britt promotes Gallagher to full Col., putting him in premiant charge of the 918th, and then Gallagher makes Komansky his premiant flight engineer. Guest Stars: Robert Colbert as Lt. Col. Frank Bailey, and Claudine Longet as Suzanne Arnais. #5C93FF 34 2 R/X For a Sick Bird Richard Donner William C. Anderson & William D. Hamilton & Marc Huntley 1965 09 20 Gallagher must protect a lovely resistance leader named Iika Zranda, as spies on the airbase sabotage his planes and equipment, trying to kill her also. She and Komansky later escape a sabotaged plane and make it back, then before long, a man is murdered by the spies, leading Gallagher to tell both Komansky and Stovell the truth, in order to find the spies and deal with them. Guest Stars: Gia Scala as Iika Zranda, and J.D. Cannon as Gen. David Creighton. #5C93FF 35 3 Then Came the Mighty Hunter László Benedek Jack Paritz 1965 09 27 A very young corporal named Steve Corbett with a great gunnery training record is anxious to prove himself, but freezes up during actual combat. After shooting down a German plane, and seeing men die around him, he cracks up and admits he's only 15 years old, and runs away from the base after being teased. Komansky leaves to the base and brings Corbett back, but the next morning, he stows away on a plane to prove himself, despite the risk he puts the crew in. Guest Star: Beau Bridges as Cpl. Steve Corbett. #5C93FF 36 4 The Idolator László Benedek Gustave Field Gerald Sanford & Marc Huntly 1965 10 04 A Lt. friend of Gallagher's named Josh McGraw, who grew up feeling overshadowed by him, does everything from air stunts to disobeying orders to outshine him, to prove he's the better man. Guest Star: Gary Lockwood as Lt. Josh McGraw. #5C93FF 37 5 Big Brother Jerry Hopper Jack Turley 1965 10 11 Gallagher's older battle fatigued brother, Lt. Col. Preston Gallagher, in charge of a base in North Africa refuses to refuel his planes, and has plans to abandon the area. Guest Stars: Jack Lord as Lt. Col. Preston Gallagher, Julie Adams as Lt. Betty Russo, and Robert Colbert as Lt. Col. Frank Bailey. #5C93FF 38 6 The Hotshot Richard Donner Robert Lewin 1965 10 18 A Lt. Col. named Troper, is put in charge of a P-51 fighter group, and comes to harbor great anger toward Gallagher when his B-17 mistakenly shoots down one of his planes in battle. Things only get worse when the Lt. Col. has his men focus on shooting down German planes instead of protecting the B-17's, resulting in a feud between them. Guest Stars: Warren Oates as Lt. Col. Troper, Jill Haworth as Fay Vendry, and William Bryant as Maj. Marriott. #5C93FF 39 7 Show Me a Hero, I'll Show You a Bum Richard Donner Robert Hamner 1965 10 25 Komansky saves a wounded Gallagher and his crew by landing his plane, earning himself a medal, and a supposed field commission, but a British reporter named Susan Nesbit wants to exploit that to further her own career. Guest Stars: Lois Nettleton as Susan Nesbit, Lloyd Bochner as Kirby Wyatt, and Burt Reynolds as T/Sgt. Chapman. #5C93FF 40 8 Runway in the Dark Robert Douglas Robert Lewin 1965 11 01 Gallagher picks up a Norwegian resistance leader named Arn Borg who has vital target information, but he insist on taking his little boy alone which gets some of his men killed in the process. Gallagher soon starts to suspect a double-cross, he puts the Borg under arrest, until Borg can prove he's legitimate and had good reason for bringing his son with him. Guest Stars: Albert Paulson as Arn Borg, Jill Haworth as Lt. Fay Vendry, and Jack Weston as Capt. "Chub" Willis. #5C93FF 41 9 I Am the Enemy Robert Gist Anthony Spinner 1965 11 08 A pilot, a Major with a 918th named Kurt Brown, has a murderous hatred for all Germans, and having flown 42 missions, way more than required, and refusing any rest or leave. Gallagher soon finds out his hatred is due to him being born in Germany, and must a way to channel him or stop him. Guest Stars: William Shatner as Maj. Kurt Brown, and Elen Willard as Elizabeth Hoffman. #5C93FF 42 10 Grant Me No Favor Robert Douglas Anthony Spinner 1965 11 15 Gallagher's father, Lt. Gen. Max Gallagher, pushing a promotion for his son Joe, finds he is only interested in defending a Lt. Col. Bill Christy who aborted the target, under extreme fire, that no one has been able to reach before. Guest Stars: Barry Sullivan as Lt. Gen. Max Gallagher, and Frank Aletter as Lt. Col. Bill Christy. #5C93FF 43 11 Storm at Twilight Robert Gist James Doherty Anthony Spinner 1965 11 22 Stovall uses tricks and favors to get back on flying status after finding out his son becomes missing in action, against the protests of Gallagher that he is too old to fly, and that their next mission as right near a POW camp. #5C93FF 44 12 We're Not Coming Back Jerry Hopper Philip Saltzman & Dan Ullman 1965 11 29 Gallagher and his crew are forced to land in occupied Yugoslavia, where he must make a deal with a rebel leader to get help to repair his plane. Guest Stars: Ina Balin as Mara Yellich, George Voskovec as Nicholas Yellich, and Gunner Hellstrom as Col. Falkenstein. #5C93FF 45 13 The Jones Boys Robert Douglas William D. Gordon 1965 12 06 A Lt. named Jaydee Jones, terrified of combat, crashes at take-off killing his co-pilot, and thieving T/Sgt. Chapman agrees to cover it up, but later demands he desert with him to a neutral country. Meanwhile, Jaydee's older brother, T/Sgt. Frank Jones, a ground chief on the base, who's looked after Jaydee his whole life, becomes concerned and worried after spying on Jaydee and Chapman, suspecting something off. After boarding a plane, Jaydee begins to have second thoughts about leaving, forcing Chapman to hold him at gunpoint to fly a B-17 away from the base, with Frank still onboard and knocked out. Gallagher is forced to chase after them in a P-51, to force the plane back. Guest Stars: Andrew Prine as Lt. Jaydee Jones, Burt Reynolds as T/Sgt. Chapman, Bruce Dern as T/Sgt. Frank Jones, and Mark Richman as Col. Kendal Hunter. #5C93FF 46 14 Between the Lines Gerald Mayer Coles Trapnell Andy Lewis 1965 12 13 Gallagher's B-17 is forced down between German and Russian lines with a badly wounded general, his cowardly aid, and a secret document he must get to London. Guest Stars: Donald Herron as M/Sgt. Trask, Larry Gates as Maj. Gen. Stance, and Phil Bruns as Lt. Gargas. #5C93FF 47 15 Target 802 Robert Douglas Sherman Yellen Sherman Yellen & Marc Huntly 1965 12 27 Gallagher's damaged plane prematurely releases it bombs over a French town, killing the allied leader of the resistance there, who was hiding several airman. Most are soon arrested by the Germans, but the leader's daughter takes the remaining two and her son to England, and now plans to kill Gallagher in revenge. Guest Stars: Lisa Pera as Claudine Corbelle, Lou Antonio as Capt. Bane Pollard, Harry Townes as Brig. Gen. Marteen. #5C93FF 48 16 Falling Star László Benedek Andy Lewis 1966 01 03 On the way back from a mission, a mentor of Gallagher's, Col. Gus "Pappy" Wexler is flying as an observer. Gallagher asks Fowler to let Wexler fly in the co-pilot seat. They are attacked by ME-109's and Joe is wounded, Pappy takes over calling Gallagher "Bernie". At HQ General Pritchard asks Harvey Stovall's opinion of Wexler. General Britt is away in Washington and if he is not back, Pritchard will be looking for a new Wing Commander. He is thinking of Wexler or Gallagher. Gallagher is on the sick list so Wexler becomes acting Group Commander, and Gallagher the acting Wing Commander. Wexler wants things run by the book. On the next mission, he takes 3 planes and turns too early and aborts. He calls his Bob Fowler, his co-pilot "Bernie", and when Sandy questions him, Wexler orders him to stand down and report to the Flight Surgeon when he is back. Later in the Star & Bottle, the pilots celebrate with Wexler and he makes a good show of it. He arm wrestles Capt. Banazek and wins. Guest Stars: James Daly as Col. "Pappy" Wexler, Barbara Shelley as Mrs. Clyde-Bryce, and David Macklin as Lt. Booth. #5C93FF 49 17 The Slaughter Pen Robert Douglas Dave and Andy Lewis 1966 01 10 With Allied bombing operations stymied by mysteriously improved German radar capabilities, Gallagher becomes involved with a multi-national, multi-service commando mission aimed at knocking out the enemy facilities and stealing the technology for study. The undertaking is put at grave risk, however, by a combination of poor coordination between the different units involved, Nazi spies, and the reluctant participation of a key expert, Capt., Deel, who happens to be a problematic acquaintance of Gallagher's from his past. And now Deel is having a fling with the sister of an important British officer involved in the task who is not at all happy about it. Guest Stars: Harry Guardino as Capt. Barney Deel, Juliet Mills as Sydney Vivyan, John van Dreelan as Gen. Reger, and Michael Rennie as Gen. St. John Keighley. #5C93FF 50 18 Underground Robert Douglas James Doherty & Coles Trapnell Robert Lewin 1966 01 17 Gallagher bails out in Switzerland where the underground tries to help him, a woman, and a German soldier claiming to be a deserter, escape. Guest Stars: Robert Walker as Karl Weigand, Claudine Longet as Liane, and Whit Bissell as George Richardson. #5C93FF 51 19 Which Way the Wind Blows László Benedek James M. Miller 1966 01 24 Helping the 918th to use weather patterns to bomb, an attractive meteorologist captain becomes rebellious when her weather plane is shot down. Guest Star: Dina Merrill as Capt. Patricia Bates. #5C93FF 52 20 The Outsider Don Medford Ellis Marcus 1966 01 31 Lt. Wilson, a young, inexperienced fighter pilot, is so eager to get his first kill and fit in with his flying mates that he manages to shoot up Gallagher's plane while chasing an enemy fighter. Gallagher is willing to chalk it up to youthful exuberance and let the matter drop, but Sandy takes it personally and makes Wilson's life miserable. To make up for it, Wilson volunteers for a dangerous mission and ends up saving Gallagher's life at great peril to his own. This makes him an instant hero, especially in Sandy's eyes. It also leaves him craving even more attention, but at what risk. Guest Stars: James MacArthur as Lt. Harley Wilson, James Callahan as Maj. Temple, Sammy Jackson as Lt. Mikler, and Patrick Wayne as Lt. Gabriel. #5C93FF 53 21 Back to the Drawing Board Gerald Mayer Dave and Andy Lewis 1966 02 07 The 918th planes are equipped with a new radar that makes it very easy to bomb enemy targets through thick clouds, but the Germans soon learn it makes their enemies' planes that much easier to track, as well. Guest Stars: Burgess Meredith as Dr. Rink, Alf Kjellin as Col. Ehrland, and Robert Doyle as M/Sgt Zemler. #5C93FF 54 22 Twenty-Fifth Mission Lawrence Dobkin Carey Wilber 1966 02 14 Maj. Tom Parsons has apparently just completed his 25th mission, making him eligible to be rotated back to the States, out of the fighting, something he celebrates with great relish. However, Gallagher has formulated a plan to knock out an exceptionally difficult target, and it requires a pilot with qualifications that match Parson's to a tee. The Major is definitely not inclined to volunteer with a guaranteed return to safety in hand, especially since the assignment has the earmarks of a suicide mission. No amount of persuasion budges him, that is until Gen. Britt discovers a technicality that leaves him at 24 completed missions, instead of 25. Guest Stars: Bradford Dillman as Maj. Tom Parsons, Don Galloway as Capt. Bruce Cowley, and Antoinette Bower as Naomi Rockford. #5C93FF 55 23 The Survivor Alan Crosland, Jr. Philip Saltzman 1966 02 21 A strict, unfriendly pilot Capt. named Bradovich joins the 918th and creates hatred for him by the men, which worsens when he appears to be the only survivor after his plane is shot down. Guest Stars: Don Gordon as Capt. Bradovich, Jill Ireland as Sara Blodgett, and Don Quine as Lt. Tourneau. #5C93FF 56 24 Angel Babe Robert Douglas Preston Wood 1966 02 28 After 49 successful missions, Angel Babe is the Grande Damme of the 918th bomber fleet, and to some like her flight engineer, Sgt. Willets, she even seems to have a soul (and mind) of her own. Her endurance has earned her the label of good-luck charm to the men of the Group. Upon completion of her 50th mission, the Army has decided to retire her from active service and return her to the States for a life of leisure as a recruiting icon. But Angel Babe seems to have other ideas, as she suddenly develops a multitude of mechanical ailments that thwart that final-mission goal. Not only does this strange turn of events recast her as an albatross, it also casts a shadow of suspicion over Willets due to his insistence that she's not ready to withdraw from combat. Guest Stars: Roddy McDowall as T/Sgt. Willets, Frank Aletter as Sgt. Prinzi, and Lee Patterson as Maj. Budd. #5C93FF 57 25 Decoy Gerald Mayer Lou Shaw 1966 03 07 Gallagher is very suspicious when he and Capt. Powell are set free on an island they were marooned on after being captured by a Nazi U-boat commander. Guest Stars: Michael Callan as Capt. Powell, and Carl Schell as Capt. Wessel. #5C93FF 58 26 The Hollow Man Robert Douglas Gustave Field & Marc Huntly 1966 03 14 A Capt. called Wally Bolen, who was tortured for months by the Nazis, gets back on flying status, but suffers from flashbacks that endangers all the men working with him. Guest Stars: Robert Drivas as Capt. Wally Bolen, Paul Carr as Capt. Johnny Lewis, and Marion Thompson as Ruth Wagner. #5C93FF 59 27 Cross Hairs on Death Alan Crosland, Jr. Robert Lewin 1966 03 21 Everett Stone, a pilot who washed out of flight training and was subsequently dishonorably discharged from the service for insubordination after serving six months hard labor, finds his way to England as a civilian named Thomas Carpenter, and proceeds to infiltrate the 918th and masquerade as a captain, claiming his belongings and credentials were stolen in London. Desperate for replacements, Gallagher puts him to work as co-pilot on several missions to test his mettle while waiting for confirmation of Carpenter's status that will never come. However, he is recognized by Sgt. Stan Holcombe, who confronts the impostor but briefly holds his tongue. Holcombe is then seriously injured on a mission before he can reveal the truth and dies after surgery. Carpenter is eager to command his own bomber before his ruse is discovered, but his evaluator, Capt. Enright, declines to recommend him, alerted to something amiss, even if he cannot quite put his finger on it. As Stone/Carpenter's web of lies begins to become undone, he gets ever more desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his mysterious goal. Guest Stars: James Franciscus as Capt. Thomas Carpenter/Everett Stone, and Roger Perry as Capt. Vic Enright. #5C93FF 60 28 Day of Reckoning Alan Crosland, Jr. Halsted Welles 1966 03 28 An American chaplain called Archer loses faith when the woman he loves, and more than two dozen young soldiers, are killed when 918th base is bombed; three of the Germans responsible are captured but plot to complete their original sabotage mission. Guest Stars: Charles Aidman as Captain Archer, John van Dreelan as Maj. Schindler, and Hans Gudegast as Maj. Bentz. #5C93FF 61 29 Siren Voices Robert Douglas Ed Kelso Carey Wilber 1966 04 04 A propaganda broadcaster for the Nazis is really a British agent sending coded messages through her over the air piano playing, to help the allies. Guest Stars: Edward Mulhare as Kurt Halland, Victoria Shaw as Pati Conboy, and Juliet Mills as Helen #5C93FF Season 3 (1966–67) All episodes in color #2a4b8d 5 5 22 20 25 18 62 1 Gauntlet of Fire Joseph Pevney John T. Dugan 1966 09 09 Continuous stressful missions have made the men of 918th extremely fatigued, and put their planes in very bad shape. Happiness comes when Gen. Britt gives them a 10-day leave, only for Gen. Pritchard to revoke it for a combined all-out bomber offence, requiring all groups, despite the 918th being exhausted, and knowing they'll likely take heavy casualties. Guest Stars: William Windom as Lt. Col. Christy, Linden Chiles as Capt. Bluitt, and Tim McIntire as Lt. Wallach. #2a4b8d 63 2 Massacre Robert Douglas Carey Wilber 1966 09 16 A Russian Major named Baladin aboard a 918th bomber recklessly shoots down a friendly plane from his own country, which causes problems for Gallagher when his force lands at a Russian airbase. Guest Stars: Kevin McCarthy as Maj. Baladin, Kathleen Widows as Lt. Irina Zavanoff, and Michael Constantine as Gen. Vorodenko. #2a4b8d 64 3 Face of a Shadow Richard Benedict Dave and Andy Lewis 1966 09 23 Gallagher's men take charge of a newly liberated Italian airfield, but the colonel there is so lax, that loyalist could help the Germans retake the base. Guest Stars: Jack Lord as Col. Yates, Philip E. Pine as Maj. Shull, Alan Bergman as Maj. Holtzer, and Luciana Paluzzi as Carla. #2a4b8d 65 4 Fortress Wiesbaden Joseph Pevney Michael Lalor Brown Carey Wilber 1966 09 30 Gallagher agrees to take orders from a brutal British Major named Mallory leading his commandos to destroy an advanced radar facility, after his B-17 is shot down. Guest Stars: Christiane Schmidtmer as Frieda von Heurtzel, Lloyd Bochner as Maj. Mallory, and Bernard Fox as Sgt. Maj. Higgins. #2a4b8d 66 5 A Distant Cry Robert Douglas Jack Curtis 1966 10 07 A strict instructor captain gives low instrument rating grades to good combat pilot that could hurt his chances of promotion. Guest Stars: Roy Thinnes as Capt. P.J Pridie, Robert Blake as Lt. Johnny Eagle, and Wayne Rogers as Lt. Fredricks. #2a4b8d 67 6 Practice to Deceive Robert Douglas William D. Gordon 1966 10 14 Gallagher becomes a POW in Germany, when a German admiral - an old friend of his father's from before the war - helps to rescue him, then reveals plans to kill Hitler and negotiate total surrender to the allies. Guest Stars: Eduard Franz as Admiral von Kreuter, John van Dreelan as Col. von Datz, and Diana Hyland as Heidi Voss. #2a4b8d 68 7 The All-American Joseph Pevney Jack Hawn 1966 10 28 A pilot Lt. named Masters is being pressured by a long time mentor major to promote his great college sport image, when he's much more anxious to fly B-17s. Guest Stars: Mart Hulswit as Lt. Masters, Norman Fell as Maj. Praeger, Robert Doyle as Capt. King. #2a4b8d 69 8 The Pariah Josef Leytes Robert C. Dennis 1966 11 04 Gallagher has a German born navigator bomb a hidden factory, and when they're forced to land in a Nazi Camp his accent becomes a liability as the Russians advance. Guest Stars: Robert Walker as M/Sgt/ Hentz Reiniger/Herman Schutz, Albert Salmi as Maj. Brunner, and Kurt Kreuger as Col. Gerlach. #2a4b8d 70 9 The Fighter Pilot Robert Douglas E.B. Anderson 1966 11 11 Three top Pacific fighter pilots make it to the 918th without authorization, and are anxious to get back into air combat no matter what it takes. Also, three women arrive on a B-17, having been transferred to headquarters, but it turns out one of them has a special connection with one of the pilots. Guest Stars: Don Gordon as Lt. Dominic Dejohn, and Marlyn Mason as S/Sgt. Margo Demarest. #2a4b8d 71 10 To Seek and Destroy Donald McDougall Glen A. Larson 1966 11 18 A British fighter pilot named Anthony Carmichael is enlisted to recover parts of a German guided missile that crashed in Sweden intact. But he has become depressed, alcoholic, overbearing and, unfortunately, has an anti-Yank chip on his shoulder. Guest Stars: David Frankham as Group Capt. Anthony Carmichael, and Richard Anderson as Brig. Gen. Phil Doud. #2a4b8d 72 11 Burden of Guilt László Benedek Robert Longsdorf, Jr 1966 12 02 A Col. named Ray Hollenbeck tries to keep Gallagher grounded, to save his own reputation after failing many times to find and destroy U-boat bases. Guest Stars: James Broderick as Ray Hollenbeck, Richard Anderson as Brig. Gen. Phil Doud, and Wesley Addy as Maj. Gen. Fox. #2a4b8d 73 12 The Ace Robert Douglas Oscar Millard 1966 12 09 A top notch, but aging, bomber pilot is called in to surgically bomb a laboratory of German scientists working on atomic weapon plans adjacent to a building holding allied POWs. Guest Stars: James Whitmore as Col. Harry Connelly, Joe Maross as Brig. Gen. Chandler. #2a4b8d 74 13 Six Feet Under Murray Golden James Doherty 1966 12 16 Gallagher is on allied captured base in Belgium in danger of being overran, with a boy that refuses to help him translate a wealth of German documents. Guest Stars: Martin Milner as Maj. Tony Dimscek, Richard Anderson as Brig. Gen. Phil Doud, Rudy Solari as S/Sgt. Battalana. #2a4b8d 75 14 The Duel at Mont Sainte Marie Josef Leytes R. Wright Campbell 1966 12 23 Germans are using a hillside as an observation post near a monastery of nuns and children, hopeful the Americans won't bomb their position. Guest Stars: Lilia Skala as Sister Martha, Joseph Campanella as Father Roman, Richard Anderson as Brig. Gen. Phil Doud, and Edward Mulhare as Col. Schotten. #2a4b8d 76 15 Graveyard Robert Douglas William D. Gordon 1966 12 30 Two black U.S. soldiers guarding enemy POWs on an island help Gallagher and his wounded after they bail out, but the good medic in charge, may be hiding a secret. Guest Stars: Ossie Davis as Maj. Glenn Luke/Pvt. James R. Prince, Joe Maross as Brig. Gen. Chandler, and Jon Voight as Capt. Holtke. #2a4b8d 77 16 A Long Time Dead Gene Nelson James Doherty 1967 01 06 A pilot captain called Cal Dula is suspected of bailing out of a plane and leaving his crew to die in a previous mission, may have had a uncontrollable reason for doing so. He later becomes hated on the base for kicking Komansky out of a plane when Komansky is wounded on a mission, after he tried to court martial him following an earlier mission. Guest Stars: Peter Graves as Capt. Cal Dula, Anne Helm as WAAF Sgt. Jeanne Springer, and Tom Skerritt as T/Sgt. Nick Neely. #2a4b8d 78 17 The Hunters and the Killers Robert Douglas E.B. Anderson 1967 01 13 A bitter Commodore named Leon Crompton, given a sea command, who hates and blames Gallagher's father for a demotion, orders that the 918th fly without bombs and only spot German U-boats so that his ships can destroy them. Guest Stars: Ralph Bellamy as Commodore Leon Crompton, Michael Witney as Obie Sorenson, and Anna Capri as Cpl. Terri Cahill. #2a4b8d Awards and honors Year Award Result Category Recipient1965 Golden Globe Award Nominated Best TV Show - Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Cinematographer William W. Spencer 1967 American Cinema Editors Won Best Edited Television Program Jodie Copelan (For episode "The All American") Comic books Dell Comics produced a comic book based on the series that ran two issues in 1965.http://www.comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=12901 12 O'Clock High (1965) Comicbookdb.com October 19, 2008 Both had photocovers and artwork by Joe Sinnott. References External links 0057793 Twelve O'Clock High TwelveOClockHigh Twelve O'Clock High Category:1964 American television series debuts Category:1964 English-language television series debuts Category:1967 American television series endings Category:1967 English-language television series endings Category:1960s American drama television series Category:American military television series Category:American aviation television series Category:Black-and-white American television shows Category:Dell Comics titles Category:English-language American television shows Category:Television shows adapted into comics Category:Live action television shows based on films Category:Television series based on actual events Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Category:Television shows set in California Category:Drama television series about World War II Category:American Broadcasting Company television dramas