Basil Poledouris had originally been scheduled to score Balla coi lupi (1990), but reluctantly dropped out to score this film for his close friend John Milius, with extremely damaging results to his career when he found himself suddenly unemployable at any studio making a picture with Kevin Costner. To make matters worse, the film's release was delayed by nearly two years, so he could have easily had time to score both films.
Ed O'Neill was originally cast in this movie, but test audiences started laughing when his character first appeared onscreen as they still thought of him as Al Bundy in Sposati con figli (1987), so the part had to be re-cast with a different actor and the scenes were re-shot.
The prop-driven aircraft strafing and bombing Commander Frank "Dooke" Camparelli's crash area appear to be Douglas A-1 Skyraiders, produced just about too late for the end of World War II, but saw a lot of service in the Korean War, and in Vietnam.
While filming on the U.S.S. Independence CV-62 in November 1989, the crew kept the on-board fire party busy, with numerous small electrical fires they started with their lighting equipment.