Bombardier (1943) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Davis believes the top-secret bombsight will be the 'spearhead of the striking force' because precision bombing from high altitude can hit targets that dive bombers miss. During the staff meeting test, Davis proves his theory by hitting a stationary target from 20,000 feet in a B-17 Flying Fortress, while Captain Oliver using a dive bomber misses. This demonstration establishes that the technology and the specialist who can operate it are more valuable than simply having more trained pilots.

• bombsight
• precision bombing
• Chick Davis
• B-17
• training debate

Tom Hughes suffers from fear-induced air sickness that has plagued him throughout training. During the bailout drill, his fear overwhelms him and he freezes, unable to jump. His friend Jim Carter crash-lands the aircraft instead, taking the blame initially, though Tom later confesses the truth to Davis. The experience leads to Tom facing an elimination board, though he persuades them to give him a second chance.

Foreshadowing: Earlier ground school sessions revealed Tom's struggle with fear-induced air sickness, foreshadowing his fatal inability to overcome panic.

• Tom Hughes
• bailout
• air sickness
• training
• Jim Carter

During a subsequent flight, Oliver nearly throws Carter out of the bomb bay when Carter faints from oxygen deprivation, a moment of confusion and desperation. In the chaos, Tom Hughes falls to his death while attempting to save Carter. This tragic event occurs as the unit faces increasing danger and pressure during training, demonstrating the high stakes of combat preparation.

Foreshadowing: Tom's earlier panic during the bailout drill and his struggle with fear established his vulnerability in crisis situations.

• Tom Hughes
• death
• Jim Carter
• sacrifice
• oxygen deprivation

Oliver is wracked with guilt over Tom Hughes's death, particularly because Tom was Burt's brother and Oliver had romantic history with Burt. Unable to face Burt after the tragedy, Oliver transfers out of the school. His departure marks a turning point in the story, separating the romantic subplot and setting up his later return as a major during the Pacific campaign.

Foreshadowing: Davis earlier learned that Burt and Oliver shared a romantic history, and the tension between them had been building throughout training.

• Buck Oliver
• transfer
• guilt
• Burt Hughes
• Tom Hughes

After Pearl Harbor, Davis is promoted to colonel and becomes a B-17 group commander. He proposes to Burt awkwardly, but she declines. The reason becomes clear when the cadet class departs for the Pacific, Burt kisses Jim Carter goodbye, revealing she has chosen him as her romantic partner rather than Davis. Her choice reflects her connection with someone from her own life rather than the commanding officer.

Foreshadowing: Jim Carter was introduced as one of Burt's suitors earlier in the training program.

• Burt Hughes
• Davis proposal
• Jim Carter
• romance
• rejection

During the Nagoya mission, Oliver's bomber is shot down before he can drop his incendiary bombs. Connors remains at his post and sacrifices his life to destroy the top-secret bombsight, ensuring it doesn't fall into Japanese hands. This act protects critical military technology from enemy intelligence, which was the exact concern raised earlier when a spy tried to buy information about the bombsight.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Connors warned Davis about a spy trying to buy bombsight information, establishing the device's strategic importance.

• Joe Connors
• bombsight
• sacrifice
• Nagoya mission
• intelligence

After being captured, Oliver and Dixon are forced to watch as Japanese troops execute the rest of the crew to extract the base location. Dixon is killed during an escape attempt. Oliver then drives a burning gasoline truck through the factory, intentionally igniting the building and exposing the camouflage netting. He completes the mission knowing he will be killed by his own men (who don't know he's driving the truck), fulfilling his duty despite certain death.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Oliver was tasked with dropping incendiaries to start fires before the main group arrived, a mission he must now complete through this desperate act.

• Buck Oliver
• burning truck
• sacrifice
• Nagoya
• mission completion

M/Sgt. Archie Dixon, who arrived with Davis at the training school, serves as tailgunner on Oliver's downed bomber. After capture, Dixon attempts a desperate escape and is machine-gunned by Japanese troops. His sacrifice, combined with Oliver's final act, ensures the mission succeeds, the burning truck ignites the factory that the B-17 group then destroys.

Foreshadowing: Dixon had been a steady presence throughout training, showing loyalty to Davis and commitment to the program's success.

• Archie Dixon
• capture
• escape attempt
• death
• Nagoya

The mission targeted an aircraft factory in Nagoya, Japan. Oliver was assigned to drop incendiary bombs at low altitude to start fires thirty minutes before the main B-17 group arrived at high altitude. The plan was to create confusion and expose the target through the fires, making it easier for the high-altitude bombers to destroy it. Despite losing Oliver's plane and suffering casualties, the B-17 squadron fought off enemy fighters and achieved the objective.

• Nagoya
• aircraft factory
• incendiary bombing
• B-17
• mission objective

Joe Connors warns Davis that a spy is attempting to buy information about the top-secret bombsight. Davis helps set a trap, luring the would-be traitor into a sting operation where he is arrested. This incident reinforces the importance of security around the bombsight and demonstrates the high stakes of protecting this technology throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: This early subplot directly connects to Connors's later sacrifice to destroy the bombsight, protecting the technology he helped safeguard.

• spy
• bombsight
• arrest
• security
• Joe Connors

During the bailout drill, when Tom Hughes freezes and refuses to jump, Jim Carter must act quickly. Rather than bail out himself, Carter attempts to land the aircraft but panics and crash-lands it. He initially claims he was the one who panicked, but Tom later confesses the truth to Davis. The incident leads to both cadets facing an elimination board, where Tom's honest confession helps them earn a second chance.

• Jim Carter
• crash landing
• bailout drill
• Tom Hughes
• training