Bombers B 52

Bombers B52 is a 1957 Warner Bros. CinemaScope film starring Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Marsha Hunt and Efrem Zimbalist Jr., and directed by Gordon Douglas, It was adapted from a Sam Rolfe story by screenwriter Irving Wallace. Leonard Rosenman composed the film score. Bombers B52 concerns the introduction of the Boeing B52 Stratofortress bomber into the Strategic Air Command SAC and the dilemma of a respected and experienced mechanic having to choose between the importance of life in the U.S. Air Force or making a large amount of money in civilian life.

Brennan, Herlihy and others try to solve all the technical problems that plague the introduction of the B52. On one topsecret test flight to Africa, after being refueled midair, a control panel shortcircuits, causing a fire. Herlihy orders everyone to bail out and ejects Brennan when he refuses. After safely landing the burning bomber at Castle AFB, Herlihy sends out search parties who recover all of the crew successfully except for Brennan. Following a hunch, Herlihy eventually finds the mechanic who is severely injured, and airlifts him from remote back country by helicopter to a hospital. Realizing that he was wrong about Herlihy who risked his life to bring him home, Brennan accepts that his daughter and his commanding officer should reunite. Eventually Brennan also has to choose between a highpaying civilian job and when told that his discharge papers are ready, he decides to continue his career in the USAF that he loves.Bombers B52 was filmed with full cooperation of the USAF at Castle and March Air Force Bases in California, where examples of Boeing B47 Stratojet bombers, North American F86 Sabre fighters and B52s were stationed. During production, Natalie Wood was named Sweetheart of Castle Air Force Base. ........

Source: Wikipedia