12 O'Clock High - Episode Guide

Season 1

The Sound of Distant Thunder

Episode: 1x04 | Airdate: Oct 16, 1964

The Sound of Distant Thunder

Savage works to transform an awkward youth (Peter Fonda) with surprising talents into an able serviceman.

The Climate of Doubt

Episode: 1x05 | Airdate: Oct 23, 1964

The Climate of Doubt

Savage acts on his own initiative when he iscaught betwen his own convictions and a senator's contrary recommendations.

Decision

Episode: 1x07 | Airdate: Nov 6, 1964

Decision

Interlude

Episode: 1x10 | Airdate: Nov 27, 1964

Interlude

Soldiers Sometimes Kill

Episode: 1x12 | Airdate: Dec 11, 1964

Soldiers Sometimes Kill

After losing his memory, Savage is found wandering around Berkley Square, South Grosvenor Street by Lieutenant Ryan. After being examined by Kaiser, he reads in the paper that Barbara Talbot was murdered in London. Later, Inspector Thorne and Sergeant Padget from the CID come to see Savage, after finding a lighter with a 918th crest in Barbara's flat. Savage is missing his lighter and has no memory. He starts retracing his steps to Redgraves Club, then Barbara's flat. It turns out that Redgraves is a blackmailer and spy; he uses women like Barbara to lure important people into compromising situations. Frank realizes that Redgraves killed Barbara and that Padgett works for Redgraves. Frank confronts Regraves, and as Regraves is about to kill Frank, he is shot and wounded by Inspector Thorne. Next mission will be to Saarbrücken.

Those Who Are About to Die

Episode: 1x15 | Airdate: Jan 1, 1965

Those Who Are About to Die

The 918th draws a particularly tough mission, an aircraft plant in Rhone Valley, 120 miles beyond fighter support range, surrounded by 500 anti-aircraft batteries and at the bombers maximum fuel range. At least 3 squadrons of fighters will be waiting for the bombers and they will not have a lot of fuel for evasive action. Fog rolls in and they stand down for 3 days, the tension of waiting is driving the men crazy. Tom Lockridge has flown 24 missions and has been hospitalized with hepatitis. He and Sergeant Rutherford are the only members of the original crew, all the others completed there tours or were killed. Major Kaiser wants to keep Lockridge is hospital a little while longer but Lockridge wants to get his tour over with.

The Albatross

Episode: 1x17 | Airdate: Jan 15, 1965

The Albatross

Kane completed his 25 missions and is going back to the States on a Public Relations Tour. He will be performing in Winged Victory and wants to resume his career as an actor after the War. Savage asks Kane to volunteer for one last mission as his co-pilot and when the Flight Engineer & Bombardier are killed on the mission, Kane goes to check the oxygen tanks and is badly burned in the face. Back at base Doc Kaiser asks the General if Kane was a good actor before the War, Savage says he was, Doc says "Well he can be retrained of course". When we next see Kane he is bandaged about the right size of his, face, feeling sorry for himself he refuses to see anyone or eat. After refusing to see his buddies, then being rejected by his fiancée he steals an airplane and goes on a suicide mission. Savage talks him down and later Kane (sans bandages) offers Savage his Lighter, a signal he is no longer afraid.

The Clash

Episode: 1x21 | Airdate: Feb 12, 1965

The Clash

Gen. Savage is shot down over the North Sea between England and Nazi-occupied Norway. He manages to make it to a life raft only to find he's sharing it with a downed German fighter pilot, Col Dieter. Savage has an emergency radio and Dieter is wounded, but he has the only gun in the raft, the current is pushing them toward Norway, and Allied search-and-rescue operations are seriously hampered by foul weather. For a few long hours, the war is reduced to its most basic equation, man versus man.

The Ticket

Episode: 1x22 | Airdate: Feb 26, 1965

The Ticket

The Brauberg Dam needs to be bombed. Savage thinks that a specially equipped P-51 with two 500 lb bombs can take it out. He asks Lieutenant Paul Stiger, a Kentucky farm boy who takes risks and volunteers for all special missions. Stiger volunteers, then wins the football pool for £ 20,000. He begins to realize that there is much more to life than he had thought. Lieutenant Crain becomes his friend and tries to help him. Stiger falls in love with his girlfriend, Myra, and wants to get married. Savage denies his request. He goes on the mission and survives. He then marries Myra with Savage's permission.

The Trap

Episode: 1x23 | Airdate: Mar 5, 1965

The Trap

While working on a plan to bomb Strassbourg, Savage gets trapped in a cellar/shelter during a London air raid. A delayed-action bomb blocks the sole exit. Trapped with him are Lady Constance, Dr. Lewis Glenway, Miner Bert Higgs, and a pregnant woman, Eleanor Nicholls. We learn more about each of the people as they try to free themselves. Dr. Glenway turns out to be Archie Lewis, a lower-class con man who redeems himself. After they are freed, Lady Constance decides to open her home, Penrose Hall, as a home for young women like Eleanor.

The Threat

Episode: 1x25 | Airdate: Mar 19, 1965

The Threat

Mutiny at Ten Thousand Feet

Episode: 1x26 | Airdate: Mar 26, 1965

Mutiny at Ten Thousand Feet

After returning from a rough mission, Gen. Savage reacts harshly (possibly on purpose) to a pilot that has cracked under the pressure. Lt. Kerr, a conniving opportunist looking for a way out of the fighting, sees his chance and concocts a scheme to methodically convince his fellow crew members that Savage is also cracking up. As co-pilot, that would leave Kerr free to take control of the Picadilly Lily and fly her to neutral territory, effectively taking them out of the war.

The Hero

Episode: 1x32 | Airdate: May 7, 1965

The Hero

Season 2

Grant Me No Favor

Episode: 2x10 | Airdate: Nov 15, 1965

Grant Me No Favor

The 918th is being chewed to pieces while attempting to bomb a target in Norway, so secret that even Joe Gallagher doesn't know what it is or why it's so important. In fact, in its latest try, the mission commander, Col. Christie, decides to abort and turn back only 4 minutes from the target after losing 8 out of 21 bombers, with 4 more heavily damaged, including his own. Infuriated by the excessive losses and secrecy surrounding the missions, Joe alienates his superiors when he aggressively defends Christie against a looming court martial. To the rescue, possibly, rides his father, Lt. General Gallagher, who is hellbent on getting his son his first general's star. But Joe is in no mood to discuss promotion with his friend and the reputation of the 918th teetering on the edge of oblivion.

The Jones Boys

Episode: 2x13 | Airdate: Dec 6, 1965

The Jones Boys

Off the base, JayDee Jones is working up the nerve to go on his next mission. He gets Jan Warner to sneak him back on base. He gets spotted by Chapman who is stealing 3 45 pistols to sell. JayDee's older brother Frank talks to him and tells him to straighten up. JayDee says he has had enough, he wants out. Jones and Chapman make briefing at 04:30. On takeoff JayDee over-revs his B-17's engines, but they don't have enough speed to take off. His co-pilot tries to help but the plane crashes killing the bombardier and badly injuring the co-pilot who dies later. Frank covers for his brother and says it could be a maintenance problem. Colonel Hunter the Wing G-4 (Supply) comes to investigate. Chapman sells his pistols to an Englishman who gets caught. Captain Mason from CIC comes to investigate the stolen guns. Jones co-pilot dies. Chapman and JD talk, Chapman says him will back Jones up. Hunter and Gallagher interrogate JayDee Jones, Frank Jones and Chapman. Chapman backs Jones who still can not remember

Target 802

Episode: 2x15 | Airdate: Dec 27, 1965

Target 802

On the way back from a bombing run over the Ruhr Valley, Gallagher's battle-damaged B-17 accidentally drops its bombs on Ste. Monique, France. 1st Lieutenant Parks, the bombardier, is interrogated. A single bomb falls in the village square, killing resistance leader Pierre Fecamp. Two American pilots hiding in Ste. Monique escape: Major Coefield from the 918th and Captain Pollard from the 511th Fighter Squadron. Pollard has fallen in love with Claudine, the woman who rescued them and the daughter of Fecamp. She has brought her son to England badly wounded from the bomb's explosion, and he may lose his leg. Claudine hates Gallagher and is going to kill him. She goes with him to the 918th Officers Club and sees the pilots get drunk. Meanwhile, in Ste. Monique, Hauptman Bergdorf says they will not bomb again because of the last mission, so now they can put in a German Radar Station. On the way to Wing HQ in Archbury, Claudine tries to kill Gallagher. General Marteen orders the 918th to bomb Ste. Monique that night. In Ste Monique, German soldiers kill Marcel Lenoir as he radios information to London.

The Outsider

Episode: 2x20 | Airdate: Jan 31, 1966

The Outsider

Fighter pilot Harley Wilson wants to be accepted by his fellow airmen, but sometimes he tries too hard—-as when he accidentally shoots up Gallagher's B-17 while trying to down a German plane. 

Angel Babe

Episode: 2x24 | Airdate: Feb 28, 1966

Angel Babe

Decoy

Episode: 2x25 | Airdate: Mar 7, 1966

Decoy

When Gallagher and a pilot who resents him are shot down over the North Sea, they're rescued and treated with surprising decency by a U-Boat commander -- but the Nazi turns out to have a sinister hidden motive.

Cross-Hairs on Death

Episode: 2x27 | Airdate: Mar 21, 1966

Cross-Hairs on Death

A dishonorably discharged flier (James Franciscus) masquerades as a replacement pilot in order to fly one combat mission.

Siren Voices

Episode: 2x29 | Airdate: Apr 4, 1966

Siren Voices

A British girl (Victoria Shaw) broadcasting for the Germans as a double agent obtains codes and frequencies for the Allies.

Season 3

Gauntlet of Fire

Episode: 3x01 | Airdate: Sep 9, 1966

Gauntlet of Fire

Continuous stressful missions have made the men of 918th extremely fatigued, and put their planes in very bad shape with even more missions to come.

Massacre

Episode: 3x02 | Airdate: Sep 16, 1966

Massacre

The Ace

Episode: 3x12 | Airdate: Dec 9, 1966

The Ace

Six Feet Under

Episode: 3x13 | Airdate: Dec 16, 1966

Six Feet Under

52 Division 3rd Bn captures Argenteau Air Six Air Defense HQ in cellar, Sandy & Gallagher are in France scouting forward bases. Is ordered to investigate . Harvey & Rand from CIC fly in to examine documents. Major Dimscek is killed defending position. Captain Maso and the Willard Germans are closing in. Doud leads mission that successfully bombs the town.

Duel at Mont Sainte Marie

Episode: 3x14 | Airdate: Dec 23, 1966

Duel at Mont Sainte Marie

A nun (Lilia Skala) won't evacuate her mountain top retreat, despite the fact that the Germans are using it as cover for attacks. Gallagher parachutes onto the mountain to get the Nuns and some refugees to move so the area can be bombed.

Graveyard

Episode: 3x15 | Airdate: Dec 30, 1966

Graveyard
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