Character Relationship Map: Sky Devils

Characters

• Wilkie (played by Spencer Tracy) — protagonist

  A cowardly lifeguard and friend of Mitchell who desperately tries to avoid military service. He eventually deserts, stows away on a troopship, and pretends to want to become a pilot. He competes with...

• Sergeant Hogan (played by William 'Stage' Boyd) — protagonist

  A competent U.S. Army Air Corps sergeant who initially clashes with the cowardly Wilkie and Mitchell. He is a skilled boxer and pilot, competes with Wilkie for Fifi's attention, and eventually forms a...

• Mary Way (played by Ann Dvorak) — supporting

  A civilian driver who accidentally crashes after being startled by Wilkie and Hogan. She is mistaken for a spy by military police and escapes with the two men in an aircraft, getting captured and resc...

• Colonel (played by Billy Bevan) — supporting

  A high-ranking Air Corps officer who authorizes a rescue squadron to retrieve Wilkie, Hogan, and Mary Way after they are captured behind enemy lines.

• Mitchell (played by George Cooper) — supporting

  Wilkie's cowardly best friend and fellow lifeguard. They evade military service together before deserting and stowing away on a troopship to France. Mitchell trains as a pilot and later accidentally s...

• Fifi (played by Yola d'Avril) — supporting

  A French performer who becomes the object of affection for both Wilkie and Sergeant Hogan, sparking a rivalry between the two men during their military training.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Colonel → Sergeant Hogan (Professional Senior Officer) — The Colonel's command structure places him above Hogan and enables the rescue.

  The Air Corps colonel sends a rescue squadron after Hogan is captured with Wilkie and Mary.

• Colonel → Wilkie (Power Rescue Authority) — The Colonel exercises institutional authority to recover Wilkie from behind enemy lines.

  The Air Corps colonel sends a squadron to rescue Wilkie after he is captured in enemy territory.

• Wilkie → Fifi (Romantic Interest) — Wilkie's interest in Fifi intensifies his rivalry with Hogan.

  Wilkie competes with Sergeant Hogan for the attentions of Fifi at the military training setting.

• Sergeant Hogan → Fifi (Romantic Interest) — Hogan is one of Fifi's competing admirers during the training period.

  Sergeant Hogan competes with Wilkie for the attentions of Fifi, a French performer.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Mitchell → Sergeant Hogan (Alliance Unlikely Allies) — Mitchell's clumsy flying unexpectedly supports Hogan's survival and recovery.

  Mitchell trains as a pilot and later helps the rescue by frightening German forces with inept maneuvers while Hogan is being rescued.

• Sergeant Hogan → Mary Way (Alliance Escape Companion) — Hogan becomes connected to Mary through the accidental crash and their joint escape.

  Hogan hides in Mary's car, escorts her to an inn, and later escapes with her and Wilkie in an aircraft.

• Wilkie → Mary Way (Alliance Escape Companion) — Their accidental meeting develops into cooperation during the flight and escape.

  Wilkie hides in Mary's car, escorts her to an inn, has breakfast with her, and later escapes with her in an aircraft.

• Wilkie → Sergeant Hogan (Conflict Rivals) — Their rivalry begins with public combat and continues through romantic competition.

  Wilkie knocks Hogan out at the boxing match, and the two later clash while competing for Fifi's attention.

• Wilkie → Mitchell (Social Best Friends) — They are cowardly but loyal companions who share the same attempts to avoid the war.

  Wilkie and Mitchell are introduced as friends and repeatedly evade military service together.

Story Analysis

Two reluctant friends repeatedly try to escape military service but become accidental participants in dangerous wartime aviation missions.

Plot Progression

1. Lifeguards Against Enlistment — Wilkie and Mitchell try to avoid military service while taking credit for Sergeant Hogan's rescue. Their boastful escape from the boxing crowd is followed by uniforms and unpleasant base work.
2. Desertion Across the Atlantic — The friends desert in a manure truck and stow away on a ship. They discover that their supposed route to freedom is actually a troop transport carrying pilots to France.
3. Training and Romantic Rivalry — Wilkie and Mitchell pretend to want aviation training while trying to avoid becoming pilots. Wilkie and Hogan compete for Fifi, and a nightclub confrontation brings them into Mary's accidental crash.
4. Flight Into Enemy Territory — Military police mistake Mary for a spy and pursue the group. Wilkie, Hogan, and Mary escape by aircraft but land in enemy territory and are captured.
5. Accidental Heroes Return — Wilkie accidentally bombs a German munitions depot, prompting the Colonel to order a rescue. Mitchell's poor flying helps frighten the Germans, but Wilkie causes one final disaster by bombing his own...