Flying Tigers (1942)

John Wayne: Capt. Jim Gordon

Photos 

Quotes 

• Woody Jason : [Woody has just inadvertently insulted Jim's girlfriend, who walks away]  Did I do something wrong?

  Jim Gordon : Do you ever do anything right?

• Jim Gordon : I hope you two had a good time, 'cause Hap paid the check.

• Jim Gordon : [after Woody joins a sortie against Jim's orders, in a fighter without ammo or a radio, and gets himself shot down]  Where do you think you are, with some broken-down flying circus?

  Woody Jason : Aw, it would've been a cinch; I was ridin' the murder-spot right above those Jap bombers! If I had ammo, I'd have blown them clear out of China!

  Jim Gordon : Instead, you wasted a good ship!

  Woody Jason : Hey, you talk like that crate's more important than me.

  Jim Gordon : I can't afford to lose planes OR pilots...

  Woody Jason : It's like I told you earlier, Pappy: All I get out of this is the dough, so you can't blame me for trying. In a skeet match, the guy who knocks down the most pigeons wins the cup.

  Jim Gordon : ...I also can't have grand-standers trying to hog the whole show! Results around here are based on co-operation and understanding. Discipline in the air is strict, because that's the only way an outfit like this can operate!

  Woody Jason : ...And here I thought it was every man for himself.

  Jim Gordon : Not these days, it isn't. Just wait until the day you look over your shoulder and see a Jap sittin' on your tail, in a ship that you can't out-maneuver! THEN you'll know what I'm talking about.

• Jim Gordon : [following Hap's medical examination]  Come on in, Hap... I gotta hand you one on the chin, but I'd rather it came from me than from anybody else: You're through flying.

  Hap Smith : The doctor said I'd out-live Confucius.

  Jim Gordon : Sure, if you stay on the ground... I can't send a man out there who doesn't know whether he's flying upside down or not! Take a look at that eye chart; your depth perception's a mile off! I know you've been gunning 'em since they were box-kites with broomsticks for rudders. But you gotta believe me, I'm doin' this for you! You've been close-winging in formation, overshooting your landings...

  Hap Smith : [sounding as if he might cry]  You don't have to say any more!... What else COULD I do around here?

  Jim Gordon : Well, taking care of these ships on the ground is just as important as gunning them upstairs. I need a man I can trust for that... I wish you'd take that job, Hap.

• [Woody has "broken the camel's back", by getting Hap killed] 

  Jim Gordon : There's an army truck out of here for Rangoon the day after tomorrow. Be on it.

  Woody Jason : Don't say that, Jim!

  Jim Gordon : Until then, you're confined to your quarters.

  Woody Jason : I'm still a good flier, Jim! I'll knock down five Japs for every one of our boys!

  Jim Gordon : It's out of my hands now. None of THESE men will ever fly with you again. And they HAVE to fly.

• Jim Gordon : [reading Woody's final letter]  Do me a favor, will you, Pappy? Give my leather jacket to Reardon, he's a cool character. Divide my address book evenly among the boys in the barracks. And give my silk scarf to the next hedge-hopper who thinks this is an easy racket we're in. Woody.

• [after the first sortie] 

  Jim Gordon : A little rough in spots, Dale, but I think after you've learned a few things about... Dale?

  [finds him dead] 

  Jim Gordon : ... Mike! Take care of Dale, would you? Thanks.

• Jim Gordon : Don't try to win this war all by yourself.

• Woody Jason : [almost crashing into mountain]  Pull 'er up!

  Jim Gordon : Didja you know I used to drive a roller coaster?

  Woody Jason : Delivering nitro?

  Jim Gordon : Yesss.

  Woody Jason : Were you killed?

  Jim Gordon : Uh-huh.

• Woody Jason : [after hitting bridge and supply train]  Give the gentleman a cee-gar!

  Jim Gordon : If they wanna cross that river, they'll have to swim it!

• Jim Gordon : [referring to the flight of replacement pilots]  Any word on that flight yet?

  Rangoon hotel clerk : Yes sir, it was attacked and fired on by Japanese aircraft. She's coming in on one wing and a prayer.

• Jim Gordon : Get 'er closer!

  Woody Jason : If we get any closer to that bridge, we'll have to pay a toll charge!