Beyond the Line of Duty Backdrop Blur
Beyond the Line of Duty Poster

Beyond the Line of Duty

This short film in support of the war effort focuses on the training and missions of Army Air Corps Captain Hewitt T. Wheless just after the U.S. entry into World War II.

Top Cast

  • Hewitt T. Wheless

    Hewitt T. Wheless

    Himself - Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces

  • Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan

    Narrator (voice)

  • William Hopper

    William Hopper

    University of Texas Classmate (uncredited)

  • Bill Kennedy

    Bill Kennedy

    Wheless' Air Force Buddy (uncredited)

  • Harry Lewis

    Harry Lewis

    Wheless' Neighbor (uncredited)

  • Knox Manning

    Knox Manning

    Radio Announcer (uncredited)

  • Glenn Strange

    Glenn Strange

    Cal (uncredited)

Overview

This short film in support of the war effort focuses on the training and missions of Army Air Corps Captain Hewitt T. Wheless just after the U.S. entry into World War II.

Rating

5.9 / 10
11 Reviews
0 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 Jul 27, 2025

    In wartime, everyone needs some sort of hero and this film provides one in the unassuming guise of Hewitt T. Wheless. Teased by his pals for being vertically challenged, he decides to join the US Army Air Force. What ensues now follows his training regime of theory and practice flights before he and his crew of seven other men head on a dangerous mission to attack shipping in the Philippines. The man himself reminded me a little of Glenn Ford with a big smile and a charismatic look to him that was obviously designed by the film-makers to entice others to follow in his stead and get their own silver wings. It mixes actuality with some dramatic-looking archive footage and what’s produced is a less jingoistic but still quite effective piece of WWII spirit-raising. It even gets a plug in for war bonds, too.

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