Character Relationship Map: Bombardier

Characters

• Chick Davis (played by Pat O'Brien) — protagonist

  A U.S. Army Air Corps officer who champions the bombardier role. He commands a training school, evaluates cadets, leads a B-17 group in combat, and pursues a relationship with Burt Hughes.

• Buck Oliver (played by Randolph Scott) — protagonist

  A pilot who initially prioritizes airmen over bombardiers. After training setbacks and a romantic past with Burt, he redeems himself by sacrificing his life during a night raid to destroy a Japanese f...

• Burton Hughes (played by Anne Shirley) — supporting

  A civilian secretary and administrator who navigates romantic tensions between cadets. She ultimately chooses Jim Carter and supports the war effort through her base duties.

• Tom Hughes (played by Eddie Albert) — supporting

  A bombardier cadet who overcomes fear-induced airsickness and panic. He ultimately sacrifices his life to save Cadet Carter during a training flight, demonstrating significant personal growth.

• Paul Harris (played by Russell Wade) — supporting
• Jim Carter (played by Walter Reed) — supporting

  A bombardier cadet who takes responsibility for Tom's panic during an emergency. He graduates, deploys to the Pacific, and becomes Burt's romantic choice.

• Joe Connors (played by Robert Ryan) — supporting

  A bombardier cadet who faces spy recruitment and personal doubts. He later serves as Oliver's bombardier and sacrifices his life to destroy the secret bombsight after being captured.

• Japanese Sergeant (played by Abner Biberman) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Joe Connors → Buck Oliver (Professional Bombardier And Pilot) — They form the operational pilot-bombardier team for the decisive mission.

  Connors is assigned as Oliver's bombardier during the night mission against the aircraft factory.

• Jim Carter → Chick Davis (Professional Cadet And Commander) — Carter progresses from cadet under Davis to a deployed member of his bomber group.

  Carter trains at Davis's school, graduates, deploys to the Pacific, and serves in the group Davis leads.

• Tom Hughes → Chick Davis (Professional Cadet And Commanding Officer) — Davis mentors Tom through failure and recognizes his capacity for growth.

  Davis evaluates Tom's fear and panic, then grants him a second chance after Tom confesses what happened.

• Tom Hughes → Burton Hughes (Family Brother) — Their sibling relationship gives Burt a personal stake in Tom's training and death.

  The cadet class includes Tom Hughes, and the plot identifies Burt Hughes as Tom's sister.

• Burton Hughes → Jim Carter (Romantic Lovers) — Burt and Carter become the film's confirmed romantic pairing.

  When Carter leaves for the Pacific, Burt passionately kisses him, revealing that she has chosen him.

• Buck Oliver → Burton Hughes (Romantic Former Lover) — Their past relationship complicates Oliver's return and Burt's later romantic choice.

  Davis learns that Oliver and Burt have a romantic history before Oliver returns to the training school.

• Chick Davis → Burton Hughes (Romantic Suitor) — Davis develops serious romantic feelings for Burt, but she does not reciprocate them.

  After America enters the war, Davis awkwardly proposes marriage to Burt, but she turns him down.

Story Dynamics

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

• Paul Harris → Jim Carter (Alliance Deployment Fellow) — Harris is part of the same departing bombardier group as Carter.

  Harris leaves with Carter, Connors, and Rafferty for the secret Pacific island base.

• Japanese Sergeant → Joe Connors (Conflict Enemy) — The enemy captivity threatens Connors's crew and the security of the bombsight.

  The Japanese captors execute captured crew members while attempting to extract military information after the bomber is shot down.

• Buck Oliver → Japanese Sergeant (Conflict Captor And Prisoner) — The Japanese Sergeant represents the coercive enemy force holding Oliver after the crash.

  Oliver's crew is captured, and their Japanese captors try to force Oliver and the tail gunner to reveal the base location.

• Joe Connors → Chick Davis (Alliance Informant) — Connors's disclosure allows Davis to protect the bombsight and expose the spy.

  Connors tells Davis that a spy wants information about the secret bombsight, and they work together to lure the spy into a trap.

• Chick Davis → Buck Oliver (Conflict Rival) — Their professional disagreement becomes a recurring test of competing military priorities.

  Davis and Oliver debate whether bombardiers or pilots are more important, then settle the argument through a bombing duel.

• Tom Hughes → Jim Carter (Social Friend) — Their friendship is expressed through mutual protection and self-sacrifice.

  During the emergency flight, Tom saves Carter's life, and Carter later claims responsibility for Tom's panic.

Story Analysis

The story follows the rise of the bombardier mission from military theory to wartime sacrifice and victory.

Plot Progression

1. The Bombardier Principle — Davis and Oliver argue over the military value of bombardiers and pilots. Their bombing duel establishes Davis's confidence in the secret bombsight.
2. Cadets Under Pressure — Davis takes command of the training school and encounters a troubled new class. Personal history, fear, airsickness, and commitment problems complicate the cadets' preparation.
3. Courage and Loss — A spy trap protects the bombsight, but training emergencies expose the cadets' weaknesses. Tom's sacrifice saves Carter and drives Oliver away from the school.
4. War and Departure — Pearl Harbor brings America into the war and transforms Davis into a B-17 group commander. Burt rejects Davis and reveals her love for Carter before deployment.
5. Fire Over Nagoya — Oliver and Connors receive a dangerous mission to ignite the target before Davis's main formation arrives. After capture and sacrifice, Oliver creates the fire that guides the successful raid.