Beyond the Line of Duty

Beyond the Line of Duty

7/11/1942 0h 22m 5.7/10

Overview

This short film in support of the war effort focuses on the training and missions of Army Air Corps Captain Hewitt T. Wheless just after the U.S. entry into World War II.

Director

Lewis Seiler

Top Billed Cast

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Narrator (voice)

William Hopper

William Hopper

University of Texas Classmate (uncredited)

Bill Kennedy

Bill Kennedy

Wheless' Air Force Buddy (uncredited)

Knox Manning

Knox Manning

Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Harry Lewis

Harry Lewis

Wheless' Neighbor (uncredited)

Hewitt T. Wheless

Himself - Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

7/27/2025

6/10

In wartime, everyone needs some sort of hero and this film provides one in the unassuming guise of Hewitt T. Wheless. Teased by his pals for being vertically challenged, he decides to join the US Army Air Force. What ensues now follows his training regime of theory and practice flights before he and his crew of seven other men head on a dangerous mission to attack shipping in the Philippines. The man himself reminded me a little of Glenn Ford with a big smile and a charismatic look to him that was obviously designed by the film-makers to entice others to follow in his stead and get their own silver wings. It mixes actuality with some dramatic-looking archive footage and what’s produced is a less jingoistic but still quite effective piece of WWII spirit-raising. It even gets a plug in for war bonds, too.

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