Colonel Keith Davenport — Twelve O'Clock High Character Profile

About Colonel Keith Davenport

Initial commander of the 918th Bomb Group. Becomes demoralized and overly empathetic toward his men following a disastrous mission, which negatively affects group leadership. Relieved of command by General Pritchard and replaced by Savage.

Character Facts

Played by

Gary Merrill

Appears in

Twelve O'Clock High (1949)

Role

Supporting

Relationships (4)

• Colonel Keith Davenport — Professional Command Replacement — Brigadier General Frank Savage (Gregory Peck)

  Savage replaces Davenport as group commander due to Davenport's demoralization and inability to enforce discipline.

• Colonel Keith Davenport — Conflict Former Ally — Lieutenant Colonel Ben Gately (Hugh Marlowe)

  Gately initially shares Davenport's demoralized outlook before Savage's leadership changes the unit's trajectory.

• Colonel Keith Davenport — Professional Commander And Subordinate — Lieutenant Zimmerman (Lee MacGregor)

  Davenport's refusal to discipline Zimmerman highlights his inability to maintain military standards.

• Colonel Keith Davenport — Social Former Comrade — Major / Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Stovall (Dean Jagger)

  Stovall maintains a nostalgic connection to Davenport's era through physical artifacts and personal reflection.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of Twelve O'Clock High

More characters from Twelve O'Clock High

• Brigadier General Frank Savage (Gregory Peck)
• Lieutenant Colonel Ben Gately (Hugh Marlowe)
• Major General Patrick Pritchard (Millard Mitchell)
• Major / Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Stovall (Dean Jagger)
• Sergeant McIllhenny (Robert Arthur)
• Major "Doc" Kaiser (flight surgeon) (Paul Stewart)
• Lieutenant Birdwell (Sam Edwards)
• Major Cobb (John Kellogg)
• Lieutenant Bishop (Robert Patten)
• Lieutenant Zimmerman (Lee MacGregor)
• Clerk (Patrick Whyte)
• Sgt. Keller (Kenneth Tobey)