The Last Flight
Encyclopedia
"The Last Flight" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone
. Part of the production was filmed on location at Norton Air Force Base
in San Bernardino, California
. The vintage 1918 Nieuport 28
biplane was both owned and flown by Frank Gifford Tallman, and had previously appeared in many World War I
motion pictures
.
Terry Decker, of the British Royal Flying Corps
, lands his World War I
-era Nieuport
biplane on a 1959 American airbase in France, after flying through a strange cloud. He is immediately taken into custody and questioned by the American base commander General Harper and his deputy, Major Wilson, who ask Decker if he was trying to make a film or was part of an air show. Decker identifies himself and his squadron and informs the American officers that the day is March 5, 1917. When in turn informed that it is March 5, 1959, Decker is shocked. Decker tells the officers that he and his comrade Alexander Mackaye were fighting seven German aircraft and that Mackaye died. Decker refuses to believe that Mackaye is alive, and has become an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Air Force
, as the American officers inform him. Mackaye had been a hero during the Second World War, saving thousands of lives from German bombing. The Americans also ask Decker if he knew that Mackaye was actually coming to inspect the base that day.
Major Wilson attempts to engage Decker to recollect and find an explanation. Decker recalls and confesses that through his service, he had acted as a coward, only pretending to do his duty and managing to go off on his own during patrols. Only now he and Mackaye were together when confronted with a large number of German aircraft, and Decker chose to escape rather than support Mackaye. He refuses to believe that Mackaye somehow escaped with his life. At an off-hand suggestion of Wilson that maybe someone else helped him, Decker realizes that he has been given a second chance. He tells the American officer that there was no one within fifty miles who could have come to help Mackaye, so if Mackaye survived, it had to be because he went back to help him. Decker pleads with Wilson to release him from custody, but upon meeting with refusal, he assaults the guards and escapes. Finding his plane, he is about to take-off when Wilson catches up and puts a gun to his head. Decker tells him to let him go, as saving Mackaye would also mean saving thousands of lives that Mackaye had saved during the Second World War. Decker also tells Wilson to shoot if he wants to, because this was an opportunity for him to redeem himself from his previous cowardice. Wilson allows him to escape, and Decker flies his plane into the white clouds.
Major Wilson is rebuked for letting Decker go, but when Air Vice Marshal Mackaye visits, he asks him if he knew Decker. Mackaye says that Decker had saved his life by helping him fight the German planes that day. Although initially he feared Decker had deserted him, Mackaye says Decker returned from out of nowhere to shoot down three German planes, before he was shot down himself. General Harper now shows Mackaye the badge and personal effects of Decker which had been confiscated, when Mackaye told them they were never returned by the Germans. When Mackaye insists on demanding what all this is about, Major Wilson suggests he sit down, calling him "Old Leadbottom" (as Decker had done). "What did you call me?", Mackaye asks incredulously (for no one outside his squadron knew that), as we see the clouds outside the General's window...
" from a short story of Matheson's.
The Royal Flying Corps
never flew the Nieuport 28.
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
. Part of the production was filmed on location at Norton Air Force Base
Norton Air Force Base
Norton Air Force Base is a former front-line United States Air Force facility located east of downtown San Bernardino, California in San Bernardino County.-Overview:...
in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
. The vintage 1918 Nieuport 28
Nieuport 28
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, UK: Harleyford Publications, 1960, pp. 98–99....
biplane was both owned and flown by Frank Gifford Tallman, and had previously appeared in many World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
motion pictures
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
.
Synopsis
Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Terry Decker, of the British Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, lands his World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
-era Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
biplane on a 1959 American airbase in France, after flying through a strange cloud. He is immediately taken into custody and questioned by the American base commander General Harper and his deputy, Major Wilson, who ask Decker if he was trying to make a film or was part of an air show. Decker identifies himself and his squadron and informs the American officers that the day is March 5, 1917. When in turn informed that it is March 5, 1959, Decker is shocked. Decker tells the officers that he and his comrade Alexander Mackaye were fighting seven German aircraft and that Mackaye died. Decker refuses to believe that Mackaye is alive, and has become an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, as the American officers inform him. Mackaye had been a hero during the Second World War, saving thousands of lives from German bombing. The Americans also ask Decker if he knew that Mackaye was actually coming to inspect the base that day.
Major Wilson attempts to engage Decker to recollect and find an explanation. Decker recalls and confesses that through his service, he had acted as a coward, only pretending to do his duty and managing to go off on his own during patrols. Only now he and Mackaye were together when confronted with a large number of German aircraft, and Decker chose to escape rather than support Mackaye. He refuses to believe that Mackaye somehow escaped with his life. At an off-hand suggestion of Wilson that maybe someone else helped him, Decker realizes that he has been given a second chance. He tells the American officer that there was no one within fifty miles who could have come to help Mackaye, so if Mackaye survived, it had to be because he went back to help him. Decker pleads with Wilson to release him from custody, but upon meeting with refusal, he assaults the guards and escapes. Finding his plane, he is about to take-off when Wilson catches up and puts a gun to his head. Decker tells him to let him go, as saving Mackaye would also mean saving thousands of lives that Mackaye had saved during the Second World War. Decker also tells Wilson to shoot if he wants to, because this was an opportunity for him to redeem himself from his previous cowardice. Wilson allows him to escape, and Decker flies his plane into the white clouds.
Major Wilson is rebuked for letting Decker go, but when Air Vice Marshal Mackaye visits, he asks him if he knew Decker. Mackaye says that Decker had saved his life by helping him fight the German planes that day. Although initially he feared Decker had deserted him, Mackaye says Decker returned from out of nowhere to shoot down three German planes, before he was shot down himself. General Harper now shows Mackaye the badge and personal effects of Decker which had been confiscated, when Mackaye told them they were never returned by the Germans. When Mackaye insists on demanding what all this is about, Major Wilson suggests he sit down, calling him "Old Leadbottom" (as Decker had done). "What did you call me?", Mackaye asks incredulously (for no one outside his squadron knew that), as we see the clouds outside the General's window...
Episode notes
This was the first episode of The Twilight Zone scripted by Richard Matheson. Rod Serling had previously adapted the episode "And When the Sky Was OpenedAnd When the Sky Was Opened
"And When the Sky Was Opened" is an episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It was first aired on December 11, 1959.-Synopsis:...
" from a short story of Matheson's.
Inaccuracies
The USAF Major General repeatedly refers to Mackaye as "sir", and suggests that he is a superior officer, inspecting the Air Base. However, Mackaye is ranked as an Air Vice Marshal, which is an RAF rank equivalent to Major General, thereby making the two officers equals.The Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
never flew the Nieuport 28.