Operation Pacific

Operation Pacific is a 1951 black-and-white World War II submarine war drama from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Louis Edelman, and written as well as directed by George Waggner. John Wayne and Patricia Neal star and Ward Bond and Philip Carey play supporting roles. Much of the film is set aboard a Gato-class submarine. The technical advisor was World War II Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Commander, Submarine Forces, Pacific (COMSUBPAC). Plot During World War II, the submarine USS Thunderfish, under the command of Commander John T. "Pop" Perry, while on a special mission to the Philippines, is charged with rescuing a group of nuns and children, including a newborn infant nicknamed "Butch", and transporting them to Pearl Harbor. On their way, the sub sights a Japanese aircraft carrier and attacks, but its torpedoes malfunction, exploding halfway to the target. Attacked and pursued by the carrier's escorting destroyers, Thunderfish manages to escape. While in Pearl Harbor, the ship's Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Duke E. Gifford goes to visit Butch at the base hospital, and runs into his ex-wife, Lieutenant (j.g.) Mary Stuart, a Navy nurse, and they kiss passionately. Unfortunately, Mary is now romantically involved with Navy pilot Lieutenant (j.g.) Bob Perry, Pop's younger brother. Duke pursues Mary anyway, but is sent to sea again before anything is settled.