12 O'Clock High

The first season of 12 O'clock High was a credit to all involved. As a 10 year old watching in 1965 there was not enough action. However, the story lines were good and the acting and production seemed believable. You really felt an empathy for COL Savage as one of his planes and 10 men took a hit and went down in flames. Filming in Black & White added that "look" that was also the trade mark of that great TV series "Combat". It is a shame that Lansing did not get along with Quinn Martin (mentioned above) as the series went down hill when he left. I still recall the episode when he did'nt come back from a mission. Twelve O'clock High is a memorial to those Pilots and Aircrew of the US 8th/5th Air Force as the majority of the young men did not make it through to their 20 odd missions and return to the States. Imagine sitting in a B-17, cold and miserable, freezing to death for up to 8 hours or more then having to fly through the wall flak on that final run to the target. Being jumped by enemy fighters on the way in and out of the target with nowhere to hide. They were sitting ducks. The British gave up daylight Bombimg.

Regrads Pete H, Sydney, Australia

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 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

I watched this program with my dad, who was a WWII vet and former POW, when I was very little. Recently, I purchased the entire set and began to watch all over again. I, too, did not accept the death of General Savage and always thought they would find him somewhere and bring him back. The naiveté of the young....

I always felt Colonel Gallagher was a poor replacement until I began to really watch these episodes as an adult. I think people tend to compare the two and there is just not a comparison to be made. Frank Savage was a maverick and a very decisive character. You didn't see him delving out too much sympathy or being overly sentimental. Joe Gallagher had a lot of baggage to carry around with an overbearing General (Max Gallagher) for a father and issues with his self worth. Each character should be judged for their own merit. We knew a lot more about Joe than we did about Frank.

I don't think Robert Lansing should have been replaced and I do think the program would have fared very well had he been allowed to continue the role. However, since the powers that be decided to replace him, we should judge Paul Burke for the person he was portraying and not for his ability to play like he was Frank Savage.

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.