God Is My Co-Pilot (1945)

God Is My Co-Pilot - 1945

Our next film comes in the form of 1945's "God Is My Co-Pilot", starring Dennis Morgan.  It's a fictionalized version of the autobiography of Col. Robert Lee Scott, a fighter pilot in China, who after leaning on his own strength and abilities, comes to realize he's not alone in the skies.

The film's excellent supporting cast includes Dane Clark, Raymond Massey, Alan Hale, Andrea King, John Ridgely, Stanley Ridges, Minor Watson, Richard Loo, and Philip Ahn.

The film opens with young Robert Scott "Scotty" wanting to be a pilot.  A man who works for the family asks Scotty why he thinks a plane stays in the air.  He answers because of man's ability.  The man plants seeds in Scotty's mind, saying it's a hand that holds the plane there, the same hand that shut the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel in the lion's den.

We move on through Scotty's life and his career in the army.  From graduation at West Point to his position as an army fighter pilot trainer, we see his longing to serve in active duty.

The chance finally comes, and Scotty must bid goodbye to his wife and family to fly on a secret mission.

Scotty and a group of pilots fly first to South America and then on to Africa.  It's later revealed that their destination is Karachi, India.

They wait for orders in Karachi, sampling a bit of the local nightlife.  The group is restless and want to know their final destination.  Col. Hayes arrives and tells them the orders have been canceled.  They were originally to fly to the Philippines, but since the US withdrawal, they are no longer needed there.

Instead, Scotty is told he's to fly gasoline and other supplies to General Chennault's Flying Tigers in China.  He's not at all happy about the mission as a supply flyer.  He wants to be a fighter.

Along the way, he becomes friends with a priest, Big Mike Harrigan.  Scotty tells him he wants to join the Flying Tigers.  Big Mike says that the Flying Tigers don't like Army guys coming in.  They are Americans fighting with the Chinese Army, and had been there since before Pearl Harbor.  During the flight, Scotty also confides to Big Mike that he's got no religion.  He just relies on himself.

When he gets to the Flying Tigers' base, Scotty is given the opportunity of seeing them in action.  A Japanese air raid is taking place.  He marvels at their abilities from the safety of a slit trench.  Before the raid, he confided to General Chennault that he wanted to join them.

During the raid, one of their own is shot down and buried on the grounds of the base.  His plane is fixed up and the General lets Scotty use it to train in and eventually take the fallen pilot's place.

Scotty is thrilled to be a part of the Flying Tigers.  The other guys aren't quite sure of his abilities.  Once he's practiced a bit, they give him the chance to go out on his own.

He sees a Japanese army convoy traveling on the Burma road and takes the opportunity to destroy it.

He also faces off with feared English speaking Japanese pilot Tokyo Joe.  It's a stalemate when both of them run out of ammunition and both vow to get the other later.  Scotty thinks of how lucky he was.  For a moment, it looked as though Tokyo Joe was going to shoot him down, but both ran out of ammunition at the exact same time.  When he returns to camp, Scotty earns the admiration of his peers for his exploits on his own.

Scotty takes the opportunity to talk to Big Mike about some questions.  Big Mike can see some changes taking place inside of Scotty.

Back home in Georgia, the town of Macon is thrilled with the news of Scotty's success in China.  They are very proud of their hometown hero.

The Flying Tigers are being disbanded, and their place is being taken by the US Air Force.  The Tigers are sad to be leaving, but glad to be going home.  It will be Scotty's job to train the newcomers under the direction of General Chennault.

Meanwhile, Japanese controlled Hong Kong radio announces that the Japanese Air Force will test the newly arrived American pilots.  They even name the day and honor on which they claim they will destroy them.

The Flying Tigers, supposed to be on their way home, go to General Chennault after the radio broadcast and tell him they want to stay and help train the new batch of guys.  The General couldn't be more proud.  He announces that they will surprise the Japanese and attack Hong Kong the day before they planned their own attack.

Before the operation, Scotty goes to an air base along the way to make sure it's okay that they can refuel there on their way to Hong Kong.  While there, he picks up Big Mike, who has been working with some of his other missions, and ferries him to another point.  Horrible weather makes flying difficult and extremely dangerous.  Big Mike tries to get Scotty to see that God keeps his hand on him, but Mike still believes its his own ability.  Just as Big Mike recites a religious poem, the weather clears and Scotty thinks about what Big Mike has said.

The American air strike on Hong Kong is a success.  The bombers get several key ships, factories, and even an important Japanese general.  They return to their base.

Before he can get home, Scotty goes head to head with Tokyo Joe once more.  Tokyo Joe shoots Scotty's plane, causing the engine to heat up quickly.  But Scotty still has a few tricks up his sleeve, and manages to out maneuver Tokyo Joe and shoot him down.

Scotty watches as Tokyo Joe's plan crashes.  Afterwards, his own plane starts to descend and fade from view.  Later, Japanese Radio announces that his plane was found burned to ashes.

The town of Macon is heartbroken, and Scotty's wife Catherine is inconsolable.

General Chennault is also hit hard, as he felt that Scotty was like a son to him.  After five days of hoping that Scotty would be found, he begins to write a letter of condolence to Scotty's wife.  As he sits to write, a loud noise causes him to stop.

Big Mike is leading a procession.  Riding on a chair being carried by Chinese nationals, Scotty is brandishing Tokyo Joe's sword.  The base is thrilled to have him back.  General Chennault has a cable sent to Macon to inform Scotty's wife that he is safe.

Because of malaria and combat fatigue, Scotty has to sit out the largest air raid against the Japanese that has been planned.  The General had originally wanted him to lead the group.  Scotty is terribly disappointed that he won't be in what he regards as the most important mission yet.  He listens to the General briefing the other pilots.

Having nowhere else to turn, he begins to pray.  Big Mike is behind him listening.  Scotty asks God to let him be a part of this one operation.  Big Mike says a prayer silently as well.

Scotty feels extremely bad as he watches the other pilots take off.  He watches them with a sinking heart.

General Chennault comes up to him and shows him a new plane.  It's faster and has more power than any he's flown before.  The General says it's his gift to Scotty.  The other pilots are waiting for him to join them in the air and lead them to victory.

Scotty is thrilled with the chance, and he hurries off to join his comrades in the air.

As they watch the formations take off towards victory, Big Mike says, "Yes, more things have been brought about by prayer than this world dreams of."

Cast rundown:

   Dennis Morgan..............................Col. Robert Lee Scott

   Dane Clark....................................Johnny Petach

   Raymond Massey...........................Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault

   Alan Hale......................................Big Mike Harrigan

   Andrea King..................................Catherine Scott

   John Ridgely..................................David "Tex" Hill

   Stanley Ridges...............................Col. Merian "Steve" Cooper

   Minor Watson.................................Col. Caleb V. Haynes

   Richard Loo....................................Tokyo Joe

   Philip Ahn......................................Hong Kong Radio Announcer

And that's all for God Is My Co-Pilot.  It's a highly enjoyable film.  The Warner Bros. ranch in California served as the set of the airfield.  About 60 aircraft were involved in the making of the film, a huge number for a movie.

One of my favorite scenes in the film comes at the beginning.  It takes place at the airbase chapel, where Big Mike is directing a children's service.  All of the Chinese children are singing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" in their native language.

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