
Plot<br/> ThemoviecentersonthreecrewmembersofaUSAFAirRescueServiceHU-16Albatrossandvariousexperiencesintheircollectivepasts,toldinflashback.Somehaveconsideredtheflashbacksastediousandboring,buttheaircraftsequencesaregenerallyconsideredquitegood,especiallyforfansoftheGrummanAlbatross.RichardWidmarkplaysColonelStevenson(thepilotincommand);YulBrynnerportraysMasterSergeantMikeTakashima(thePararescuespecialist)andGeorgeChakirisportraystheco-pilot,LieutenantGregg.<br/> MSgtMikeTakashima,ColGlennStevenson,and1stLtJohnGregg,allmembersoftheU.S.AirForceAirRescueServiceatAshiya,Japan,setouttorescuethesurvivorsofaJapaneseshipwreckedinastill-ragingstorm.Astheyflytothesiteofthewreck,eachmanrecallsapartofhispast:Greggrememberstheavalanchecausedwhenhishelicoptercametooclosetoamountain.Theavalanchesubsequentlyburiedalivethegroupofpeoplewhomhewasattemptingtorescue.Theaccidenthassincecausedhimtofearflyingsolo.Stevenson,deeplyprejudicedagainsttheJapanese,recallsthereasonforhishatred:asacivilianpilotinthePhilippinespriortoWorldWarII,hemetandmarriedCarolineGordon.SheandtheirinfantsonlaterdiedinaJapaneseprisoncampwhentheywererefusedmedicalsupplieswhichwerebeingsavedforJapanesesoldiers.Takashima,half-American,half-Japanese,reminiscesabouthistragicloveaffairwithLeila,anAlgeriangirl,duringWorldWarII.HewasunabletostoptheblowingupofabridgewhereLeilahadruntolookforhimafterlearningthathisunitwasbeingwithdrawnfromtown.Whenoneairrescueplanecrasheswhileattemptingtolandinthetreacherousseas,StevensonrefusestojeopardizehisplaneforJapaneselives.Atthelastminute,however,herecallsCaroline'sdyingpleanottohate;heovercomeshisprejudice.Takashimavolunteeredtoparachutetotheliferaftswithrescueequipment.StevensonandGreggthenlandtheplaneatseaandrescuethesurvivors,butwhenStevensonisinjuredinthelanding,GreggisforcedtoovercomehisfearandhandlethedangeroustakeoffandtheflightbacktoAshiya.




