Wing and a Prayer Carrierx Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bingo Harper

Don Ameche was the star of the film playing Bingo Harper. Harper is the tough nosed Officer in charge of the bomber crews. The men do not like, or understand, his reasoning for sticking to the rules at all time, particularly at the end when he refuses to turn on the searchlights to help guide a plane in for fear of giving away the carrier's position. "Wing and a Prayer" came out in 1944 and is recognized not only as one of the leading propaganda films of its time, but also a great film in its own right.

The film received and Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Answer: Captain Waddell

Charles Bickford was one of the most active character actors of his era appearing in dozens of movies. In "Wing and a Prayer" Bickford played the role of Captain Waddell. He is the captain of the air craft carrier with strict orders not to engage the Japanese as they tour the Pacific acting as a decoy to lull the Japanese fleet into the Battle of Midway. Central to the propaganda nature depicting the battle of the Coral Sea as a strategic victory rather than the near disaster that it was.

Answer: Edward Moulton

Mr. Andrews was mentioned in the opening song of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". His character in "Wing and a Prayer" was Edward Moulton the leader of a new squadron assigned to the aircraft carrier that had the arduous the task of fooling the Japanese fleet into believing there was more than one craft carrier operating in the area and springing the trap at Midway.

Answer: Malcolm Brainard

Morgan is probably best remembered for playing the role of Col. Potter on M*A*S*H. In "Wing and a Prayer" Morgan's character is grounded for dropping a bomb too close to the aircraft carrier, putting the lives of many men and the mission in danger. A brash young naval aviator with a distaste for authority who takes unnecessary risks? Where have I heard that before?

Answer: The Admiral

Sir Cedric also played the role of Sethi in "The Ten Commandments". Here he stars again as the supreme authority figure as "The Admiral", likely based on Admiral Nimitz, Supreme Commander of the Pacific theater. As usual, the military brass has secret plans that they don't bother sharing with the enlisted men charged with carrying out the mission, to the point of near mutiny.

Answer: Gus Chisholm

Another great character actor of the era, his career went into decline as many major male movie stars returned from the war. In "Wing and a Prayer" his character, Gus Chisholm, is one of the pilots in the newly assigned squadron, Torpedo 5, tasked with protecting the carrier.

His plane is shot down by the Japanese. The carrier depicted in the film was the actual USS Yorktown. The Navy was heavily involved with the production of the film and allowed access to the carrier for filming in 1943. The previous USS Yorktown was sunk at the battle of Midway.

Answer: Commander O'Donnell

Hadley was known for his deep voice and his penchant for playing villains and lawyers (but I repeat myself). Here he portrays Commander O'Donnell, one of the officers showing increasing frustration as the orders remain unclear to the crew. He was also in "I Take this Woman" with Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr. "Wing and a Prayer" has named after a No.1 song from 1943 "Coming in on Wing and a Prayer" which may have been written about Navy Pilot John O'Donnell.

Answer: Beezy Bessemer

In "Wing and a Prayer" Jaekal plays Beezy Bessemer, a young gunner who is afraid it will be learned that he is only 16 years old. At the end of the movie his plane is shot down on his 17th birthday, but he is saved from sea by a destroyer. Jaekal would later appear in "The Dirty Dozen" another classic. "Wing and a Prayer" contained actual footage from the war mixed in with shot footage.

The film was lauded at the time for its realism in depicting combat in WWII and life on board a carrier.

Answer: Director of the Film

Hathaway was the Director of "Wing and a Prayer". He was a well accomplished studio Director for 20th Century Fox, the studio behind the film. Hathaway was of course also the Director of "True Grit", one of the best movies of all time. Due to the extensive involvement with the Navy, "Wing and a Prayer" was considered a semi-official release.

The planes mainly used in filming include Avenger, Hellcat, and Helldiver bombers. The part of the Japanese Zeroes was played by the Grumman F4F Wildcat.

Answer: Hallam 'Oscar' Scott

Tragically, Eythe died from Hepatitis after a series of negative incidents after his career declined. In "Wing and a Prayer" he portrayed Hallam "Oscar" Scott, an Academy Award winning actor turned pilot, not unlike the real life James Stewart who flew combat missions over Europe as a co-pilot in a B-24 bomber. President Ronald Reagan would later state that he was involved with the awarding of a medal to a pilot, but he was likely just remembering the plot of "Wing and a Prayer" and the pilot was the character portrayed by Eythe.