“Reconnaissance Pilot” is a 1943 training film depicting the duties of a recon pilot. Produced by the First Motion Picture Unit Army Air Forces, it stars William Holden in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War as a pilot who flies reconnaissance missions.

The film opens with a DC-3 traveling through the night sky. GI’s in service uniforms sleep. Lt. Cummings reflects.

01:51 The plane lands and Cummings greets awaiting loved ones. A journalist interviews Cummings about his war experience.

03:21 At home, Cummings and his girlfriend Katherine talk on the porch swing. Cummings reflects on his service.

04:16 Cummings and several other recruits join the Army and take the oath.

04:48 At an airfield, new pilots learn how to fly a PT-17 Stearman. Cummings begins his first solo.

05:50 Flight instructors observe Cummings as he executes a deep spiral. He flies P-47s, P-49s, and B-26 bombers.

06:40 Cummings stands before a P-38. A colonel greets Cummings.

07:33 Cummings flies the P-38 effortlessly.

07:39 He received a phone call with news that his war-hero pilot father was killed in action.

08:50 Cummings flies his P-38 with vengeance, firing at ground targets.

09:05 Cummings learns he’s going to a reconnaissance training outfit to fly the F-5 Lightening, a modified P-38. Colonel Henry explains the job is to take pictures.

10:53 An instructor introduces students to the K17 and K18 aerial cameras, capable of taking detailed close up photos from 30,000 feet.

11:12 Student pilots study navigation, radio, photography, the Allison engine, and train in high altitude chambers, in a Link Trainer, and high altitude missions.

11:39 Cummings flies an F-5 (a modified P-38 Lightening) over the Owen Stanley range in New Guinea.

12:14 He is briefed by an intelligence officer about the a Japanese aerodrome in Kaweah he is to photograph.

12:46 He flies through the air. As he nears his target anti-aircraft artillery bursts around him. Cummings activates his cameras.

13:39 Cummings lands at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. The crew unloads the cameras, take the negatives to the portable labs, develop, and make prints. Cummings ensures the pictures he took come out properly.

14:35 An F-5 takes off on another mission. Montage of high altitude flying, photographing targets, reviewing prints.

15:43 Five Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zeros threaten. Cummings drops the F-5’s belly tanks. The zeroes attack. Cummings dives. He evades the fighters, sets for his camera run and heads to his target against anti-aircraft artillery. The zeroes return and Cummings heads for the clouds. A zero attacks from behind. Cummings pursues and rides the zero into the ocean.

17:38 Cummings heads for base. He lands at Port Moresby. The ground crew greats him, see he’s been hit, and send for an ambulance.

19:01 Cummings and fellow officers celebrate in the officers’ club.

19:37 Squadrons of B-17 bombers take off.

19:55 Cummings drinks at the officers’ club. A messenger tells him the CO wants to see him.

20:30 Cummings enters the CO’s tent. The colonel explains that the target Cummings photographed contained 200 Japanese airplanes, an important recon mission jeopardized by Cummings pursuit of the Japanese zero he forced into the ocean. The CO explains the importance of the recon pilot.

23:57 A collection of mismatched combat footage: B-17s fly overhead, a pilot looks over his shoulder and sees a squadron of P-38s. B-25 Mitchell bombers drop bombs that explode on target. B-25s strafe ground targets with machine gun fire.

25:56 Cummings receives a Distinguished Service Cross at a ceremony.

27:08 Cummings and Katherine are on the porch swing at home.

27:37 William Holden with two decorated reconnaissance pilots, Major Alex Gray and Major Arthur Lester Post who would be killed in action the following year. Holden explains the action in this movie is based on their recon experiences.

28:28 END

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