The War Lover is a 1962 British war film directed by Philip Leacock and written by Howard Koch loosely based on the 1959 novel by John Hersey, altering the names of characters and events but retaining its basic framework. It stars Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner and Shirley Anne Field. The war itself is not the most important element of the film. Instead it focuses on the character of Captain Buzz Rickson played by McQueen and his determination to serve himself and get what he wants – in the process antagonising everyone. Plot In 1943, Captain Buzz Rickson (Steve McQueen) is an arrogant pilot in command of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress while stationed in Britain during the Second World War. On one mission over Germany, Rickson's commanding officer, Colonel Emmet (Jerry Stovin), aborts the bomber group's attack due to cloud cover. Instead of obeying his superior, Rickson dives under the clouds and completes the mission. He believes Emmet will tolerate his insubordination because he is the group's best pilot. Even though the group's flight surgeon is uncertain whether Rickson is hero or psychopath, Rickson's crew, especially his co-pilot, First Lieutenant Ed Bolland (Robert Wagner), value and trust his intuitive flying skills. Between missions, Rickson and Bolland meet a young Englishwoman, Daphne Caldwell (Shirley Anne Field). Although she is attracted to both pilots, she chooses Bolland. They soon fall in love. Even so, she suspects he will leave her behind and return to America at the end of his tour of duty. Meanwhile, Bolland becomes increasingly disillusioned with Rickson after the latter pressures his likeable navigator, Second Lieutenant Marty Lynch (Gary Cockrell), into transferring to another crew after he questions Rickson's behaviour. Lynch even tells Bolland, "Give Rickson a bomber and a machine gun, and he could be on either side." Soon after the transfer is implemented, however, Lynch is killed in action. Bolland takes it hard and blames Rickson. Then later, while on liberty in London, Rickson makes a move on Daphne, visiting her in her flat after Bolland has returned to the base. Daphne rejects his forceful advances, telling him she loves Bolland. The next morning, on a long-range bombing mission over Germany, Colonel Emmet's B-17 is shot down, leaving Rickson in command of the entire group. Rickson's B-17 drops its bombs on target, but there's a cost. The plane is badly shot up by Messerschmitts, killing one of