They Were Expendable

After a demonstration of new PT boats, Navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.

• John FordDirector
• Frank WeadScreenplay
• Herbert StothartOriginal Music Composer
• Christina SteadScreenplay

• Robert MontgomeryLt. John Brickley
• John WayneLt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
• Donna ReedLt. Sandy Davyss
• Jack HoltGeneral Martin
• Ward Bond"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
• Marshall ThompsonEns. 'Snake' Gardner
• Paul LangtonEns. 'Andy' Andrews
• Leon AmesMajor James Morton
• Arthur WalshSeaman Jones
• Donald CurtisLt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
• Cameron MitchellEns. George Cross
• Louis Jean Heydt'Ohio'