12 O Clock High Leadership Analysis

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Ashley Jones HON 150 Professor N. Stewart-Smith 7 October 2015 Leadership in Twelve O’clock High Introduction Colonel Keith Davenport, Brigadier General Frank Savage, and Major General Patrick Pritchard play significant roles through key leadership decisions throughout the film Twelve O’clock High. Former U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Major Henry Stovall has returned to Great Britain where he spots a Toby Jug that sends him back through his memories of his service in 1942. Though the memories themselves may seem mundane compared to stories of extraordinary valor, the leadership shown gives a glimpse of the dedication required of the men who served throughout World War II. Statement of the Question During a war that had already taken the lives…show more content…
On top of morale-related issues, Colonel Keith Davenport, the commanding officer of the 918th, is no longer able provide satisfactory discipline because of an increased comradery between himself and his group. Due to Davenport’s unwillingness to fly a low altitude, high risk mission, Brigadier General Frank Savage, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, feels obligated to inform Major General Patrick Pritchard, commanding general of VIII Bomber Command, that Davenport may no longer be an adequate leader for the group. This report spurs on Pritchard’s decision to relieve Davenport of command and turn the 918th over to Savage, whose harsh addressment of discipline problems instigates transfer requests from all of the 918th’s pilots, which Savage requests that the Group Adjutant, Major Stovall, postpones processing. After refresher training, the 918th resumes flying and goes on a mission from which they are the only group to bomb the target and have all aircraft return safely, causing the men to change their opinions of Savage. Pritchard reprimands Savage for ignoring the recall order, Savage is able to persuade him to suggest the 918th receive the Distinguished Unit Citation. The pilots withdraw their transfer requests, and Savage’s attitude becomes…show more content…
Though he would prefer Savage return to the VIII Bomber Command, he allows him to continue to command the 918th until he becomes disoriented and unable to fly. After the destruction of the target and the return of the group, Savage’s composure returns and he falls asleep. This is the end of Stovall’s flashback, and he returns to 1949, where he leaves the Toby Jug at the officers’ club and departs Archbury
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