12 O'Clock High (1964)

Episode Overview

During a mission to bomb a refinery and fuel storage site in Kasendorf, Lieutenant Harley Wilson from the 53rd Fighter Squadron accidentally collides with Colonel Gallagher's plane while targeting an enemy fighter. Eager to prove himself, Wilson struggles with feeling like an outsider, and the incident only heightens his anxiety. After two frustrating months without a kill, he heads to the Star & Bottle bar, where he faces rejection from Sandy, gets ignored by Agnes the barmaid, and awkwardly hits on Captain Vincent, not realizing she's with Gallagher. Determined to make a mark, he volunteers for a photo reconnaissance mission over Kasendorf. During the flight, Gallagher’s plane is damaged, forcing him to bail out. In a courageous move, Wilson disregards orders to land and rescue Gallagher while under fire from enemy aircraft, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross and a newfound status as a "hero." Later at the Star & Bottle, he receives cheers from his peers and even catches the attention of reporters Harkness