Beyond the Line of Duty

Beyond the Line of Duty is a 1942 American shortpropaganda film, directed by Lewis Seiler.^[1] The documentary film reenacted the life and career of United States Army Air Corps Captain Hewitt T. "Shorty" Wheless.^[2]

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hollywood rushed to turn out films that would help to win the war. The studios produced more than features, with countless cartoons and short subjects that were intended to inform the public, boost morale, encourage support of the Red Cross and other organizations that were helping at home and overseas or in recruitment. There were also films that were shown only to members of the armed forces. These films either trained them or entertained them.

Beyond the Line of Duty is one of the best examples of how Hollywood pitched in and worked to boost morale and also recruit men and women into military service. The film won the Oscar for Best Short Subject at the 15th Academy Awards in 1943.^[3]

In 1942, the story of the heroism of an airman was introduced in the April 28 Fireside Chat by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The story relates to the life and career of Hewitt T. Wheless as a bomber pilot in the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Beginning when Wheless, working as a ranch hand in Texas, joined the Army Air Corps in 1938, the account follows through theoretical and practical training in courses at Randolph Field, Texas. He later graduated as a pilot, receiving his wings at Kelly Field, Texas.

Qualifying as a bomber pilot, Lt. Wheless was stationed in the Philippines with the 19th Bombardment Group. On December 14, 1941, in the first weeks of World War II, Wheless was the pilot of a four-engine Boeing B-17 Flying Fortressheavy bomber assigned a bombing mission to attack Japanese warships and transports in the harbor at Legaspi, Philippine Islands.

While Wheless was able to successfully complete his mission, his bomber was attacked by 18 enemy fighters. During the running aerial battle, three gunners were wounded and a fourth killed while seven fighters were reportedly downed. Wheless was able to return to base and land the aircraft safely in the dark with three flat tires.

En su discurso a la nación, el presidente Roosevelt elogió el extraordinario heroísmo del piloto y destacó que Wheless había recibido la Cruz de Vuelo Distinguido . Como homenaje a la notable resistencia de su bombardero B-17, el capitán Wheless pronunció posteriormente un discurso en la fábrica de Boeing en Seattle, agradeciendo a los trabajadores.

Más allá del deber se produjo con la plena cooperación del USAAC, con el capitán Wheless como asesor técnico. La película comienza con los acordes de la cuarta estrofa de la "Canción del Cuerpo Aéreo":

Allá vamos, hacia el cielo salvaje que se extiende más allá, mantengamos las alas niveladas y firmes;

Si quieres llegar a ser una persona mayor con canas, mantén la nariz alejada de lo azul.

¡Hombres voladores, custodiando las fronteras de la nación, estaremos allí, seguidos de más!

En formación escalonada, seguimos adelante, ¡porque nada puede detener al Cuerpo Aéreo del Ejército! ^{[ Nota 1 ]}

Más allá del deber fue un ejemplo típico de las películas de propaganda de la época, producidas bajo los auspicios de la Oficina de Información de Guerra . ^{[ 5 ]} La película fue distribuida y exhibida por Warner Bros. bajo los auspicios del Comité Cinematográfico Cooperativo para la Defensa Nacional. Más allá del deber fue el tercer cortometraje bélico producido por Warner Brothers Studios y resultó popular entre el público. ^{[ 6 ] [ Nota 2 ]}

• Más allá del deber en IMDb
• Más allá del deber en AllMovie
• Más allá del deber en la base de datos de películas de TCM (archivado)