The War Lover (1962) Plot Summary Explained

Rickson believes his instincts are superior to the commanding officer's judgment. As the group's best pilot, he trusts his ability to complete the bombing run despite the cloud cover that forced Colonel Emmet to abort the attack. He sees the risk as manageable and refuses to turn back when he believes the target can still be struck.

• buzz rickson
• abort order
• mission
• cloud cover
• defiance

Rickson is determined to bring the aircraft home despite the severe damage. With the bomb bay doors jammed open, an armed bomb still on the rack, and the plane hit by Messerschmitts, he chooses to fight the dying aircraft rather than abandon it. His decision reflects his deepest desire, to fly and to control the machine, even at the cost of his own life.

Foreshadowing: The flight surgeon earlier questioned whether Rickson is a hero or a psychopath, hinting at his death-wish

• buzz rickson
• bailout
• bomber
• crash
• death wish
• kent coast

Lynch is questioning Rickson's moral character, not his loyalty to America. He sees Rickson as a man whose love of flying and danger is so absolute that his allegiance is irrelevant, given a bomber and machine gun, he would fight with equal passion for either side. It's a warning that Rickson's values revolve around the thrill of war itself, not the cause.

• marty lynch
• buzz rickson
• loyalty
• moral character
• warning

Daphne is drawn to both pilots but ultimately chooses Bolland because of his stability and humanity. Rickson's forceful, dominating nature, later demonstrated when he forcefully pursues her at her flat, repels her. Bolland represents a more grounded, emotionally available man who can offer a normal life rather than the dangerous, self-destructive intensity that defines Rickson.

• daphne caldwell
• ed bolland
• buzz rickson
• romance
• choice

Rickson's visit to Daphne's London flat during liberty reveals his inability to accept loss or rejection. Though Bolland had already returned to base, Rickson makes a forceful advance, demonstrating his习惯 of taking what he wants without regard for boundaries. His pursuit shows his emotional recklessness mirrors his flying, driven by impulse rather than consideration for others.

• buzz rickson
• daphne caldwell
• liberty
• rejection
• advance

The B-17 takes heavy damage from Messerschmitt fighters during the bombing run. The impact and structural stress from the fighter attack jams the bomb bay doors in the open position, leaving one armed bomb still secured on its rack. This mechanical failure traps the crew in extreme danger as they approach the English coast.

• bomb bay doors
• jammed
• b-17
• damage
• messerschmitts
• mission

Colonel Emmet's plane is shot down over Germany during the next mission. With the commanding officer killed, command of the bomber group falls to Rickson, who now leads the formation despite the earlier tension between them over the aborted mission decision.

• colonel emmet
• shot down
• command
• mission
• death

Junior is the ball turret gunner on Rickson's B-17. During the final mission, the bomber is pummeled by Messerschmitt fighters, and Junior is killed in the attack. His death adds to the mounting cost of the mission and underscores the deadly reality of the bombing run.

• junior
• ball turret gunner
• killed
• messerschmitts
• mission

Daphne's cold reflection reveals her understanding of Rickson's death-seeking nature. Throughout the film, Rickson repeatedly risks his life on reckless missions, courts danger, and chooses to stay with a crashing plane rather than save himself. She recognizes his death was inevitable and perhaps even desired, a man who lived for flying and died in the ultimate flight.

• daphne caldwell
• death
• wanted
• quote
• flying
• crash

The flight surgeon observes Rickson's extraordinary flying skills alongside his reckless disregard for safety and orders. His willingness to risk his crew's lives, combined with his apparent comfort with death, makes the surgeon question whether Rickson's bravery masks something darker, a potential death wish or psychopathic disregard for human life.

• flight surgeon
• hero
• psychopath
• mental state
• evaluation

Lynch is killed in action during a mission over Germany, removing the last vocal critic of Rickson's leadership among the crew. His death comes shortly after he warns Bolland about Rickson's dangerous nature, creating a tragic sense that his doubts contributed to his fate, or at least that his criticism went unheeded.

Foreshadowing: Lynch's earlier warning that Rickson could be on either side gains tragic weight after his death

• marty lynch
• killed
• questioning rickson
• navigator
• mission

The crew trusts Rickson because he consistently delivers results, he always brings them home alive, no matter how reckless the mission appears. His intuitive flying ability is unmatched, and despite their fears, his methods have proven effective. Even co-pilot Bolland, who eventually becomes disillusioned, initially places his faith in Rickson's skills.

• crew
• trust
• buzz rickson
• flying skills
• intuitive
• ed bolland

Rickson maintains control of the crippled B-17 long enough to release the bombs on the target, achieving the mission's objective. Even with the aircraft heavily damaged by Messerschmitt fire and the bomb bay doors jammed open, he guides the plane forward to complete the bombing run before the situation becomes fatal.

• bombing run
• target
• success
• damage
• messerschmitts
• bombs