12 O'Clock High

Quinn Martin & Irwin Allen were 2 of the mainstays of 1960's ABC TV. It amazes me that this show did not last longer. It is very well done. Between this, the Fugitive, & The FBI, Martin pulled a big load for ABC.

This series presented the story of the bombing crews in World War 2, specifically the B series bombers with the machine gunners in the turrets & the bombing runs over Europe. While the movie is well done, this series is also excellently done.

The surprise is this lasted only 3 seasons. I often wondered when a quality series like this one got canceled if the ratings were rigged back then. They would cancel quality series like this & Star Trek in 3 seasons. Yet some series that were real garbage in comparison would last longer.

The pretty much male cast in this show were all excellent actors who seemed to fit their roles very well. When this was made, the planes were still available to use to make things look realistic too. Overall, this was an excellent series. The stories were always the same & Martin did not get a chance to produce a finale for this one. Considering it went off about the same time as the Fugitive, it is hard to imagine him being able to finale this, though a re-creation of V-E day for these bomber crews would be exciting.

I recently had a chance to see this show again after many years. I thought that it was a great show before, and I feel the same way now (I refer to the Robert Lansing/season one show -- I agree completely with the comments that head this list).

Robert Lansing, and the writers, show how leadership happens, when the commander doesn't have the option of starting over with someone else. He knows that his unit is only as strong as the weakest member, and he uses his knowledge and his leadership ability to get his men to do their best, even when it may cost him personal popularity.

The combat scenes are well done, but so are the scenes when the airmen are back at the base, or off duty, in wartime England, socializing with the civilians before risking their lives on another day time bombing run deep into Germany.

It is truly fine to be among the fans and supporters of this fine old chestnut. I am also in my fifties, and I knew a lot of WWII vets when I was a kid. My father rebuilt the big airfield at Foggia in Italy and the pastor of the church I went to was a nose gunner in B-24's. I've known 17, 24, and 29 pilots. To them the series was right on the money.

I always liked Lansing's Savage better than Peck's, but none of you noticed that the first few episodes were written by the men who wrote the original novel. In most cases, that usually makes for high production values and attention to characterization. Lay and Bartlett had a good ear for the experience because they lived it.

I have used "The Men and the Boys" and "Golden Boy Had Nine Black Sheep" as teaching tools in my European history and American history classes. The kids generally take to them, once they get past them being in black and white.

When this comes out so I can put it alongside "Rawhide" on my shelves, I will truly be a happy man.

Bob Potter Wilmington, Delaware

I like military shows especially the ones with airplanes, so this program was just fine with me. I liked both Robert Lansing and Paul Burke but I liked Lansing better as he seemed more the kind of leader I would like to have. (I spend 4 years in the Air Force in the early 60's and Paul Burke's cousin was my roommate). I used to like the clashes between the commanders and TSGT Komansky. I wish this show would be brought back in reruns somewhere.

I had never heard of this series, yes I had seen the movie, it was terrific, now my husband and I are really enjoying this Series. No one could play the part of Frank Savage, like Robert Lansing does. He has all the Human Passion, that a man in his position requires. I am in awe at how he always gives a man the benifit of the Doubt, the men want to be what he wants them to be, and do what is expected of them.

A very well done Series as far as I have seen. It is one that I want on video, as it shows us how fear must have engulfed the men in the air force. Little do we know how their necks would have been raw from turning their heads constantly, searching for the enemy, a heartwarming series, that make us say "Thank You" to all the men and women in World War11, whether on the ground or in the air, or in the boats on the ocean.

Thanks to everyone of you, we have freedom, let us be Thankful.

A First Time Viewer Joy