The 50s were an anxious time for the Yanks, unsure in their position as world leader, worried about the Commies coming to attack, but very proud of their military. There were a rash of movies that promoted devotion to duty and military readiness.This is a bio about a war ace and later test pilot who ended up dying ("so that others may learn"). It's very pro military - during the Korean War sequence James Whitmore encourages them to slaughter the opposition because the battle is a trial run for the reds and we have to show them who's boss.
It's easy to laugh at the June Allyson perfect wife character she played in these movies but she was very good at it and is here. Alan Ladd is erratic - he's lethargic and too old in the early scenes, with him as a private who wants to fly but keeps getting in trouble with authorities. He is better in his scenes with Allyson (the two had so much chemistry Ladd was separated from his wife for a period) and James Whitmore.
The best moments are a dogfight sequence in Korea and the final test flight - one wishes there was more of these and a little less "pressures of the job on the marriage" stuff between Ladd and Allyson (though to be fair Allyson was then almost as big a star as Ladd).
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