screen credits (main roles identified): Virginia Bruce as Mary Norvell Dennis Morgan as Chick Farber Wayne Morris as Artie Dixon Ralph Bellamy as Bill Graves Jane Wyman as Nan Hudson John Litel as Dr. Barclay Margot Stevenson as Rita Dorothea Kent as Mabel John Ridgely as Lt. Parsons Lucile Fairbanks as Thelma Maris Wrixon as Bonnie Jan Clayton as Jane Morrow Lynn Merrick as Marilyn (as Marilyn Merrick) Phyllis Hamilton as Phyllis Carol Hughes as "Texas" Production The use of American Airlines Douglas Sleeper Transport, the initial variant of the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3 airliner, that had accommodations for 24 passengers during day and fitted out with 16 sleeper berths in the cabin for night, gave an air of authenticity to the film. Principal photography consisting of aerial shots and exteriors took place at Burbank Airport, California. Although a mix of studio mock-ups, real aircraft and model work was used effectively, the stock footage of DC-3s at the beginning of the film led to "Flagship Illinois" becoming "Flagship Tennessee" as the airliner begins to taxi from the gate and then becomes the "Flagship Illinois" again as passengers are leaving after a bumpy landing, necessitated by the birth on board of a baby. The cast was made up of a large group of both rising and falling stars that were not typical of a lesser film. While filming Flight Angels in 1940, Wayne Morris became interested in flying and became a Naval Aviator. When war was imminent, Morris joined the Naval Reserve and became a Navy flier in 1942, leaving his film career behind for the duration of the war. Flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat off the aircraft carrier USS Essex, Morris shot down seven Japanese aircraft and contributed to the sinking of five ships. Aircraft The film featured: Boeing 247 airliner (under the title credits, bearing the United Air Lines logo) Douglas DC-3/DST airliners (in American Airlines "Flagship" livery) Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior subbing for the "stratosphere ship." Lockheed 12A, registration number NC17342, was owned by Lang Transportation, Las Vegas, Nevada, and was also used in the 1937 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Rosalie, Happy Landing (1938) and Secret Service of the Air (1938). Reception Considered only a "B" film, Flight Angels has been decried in contemporary reviews as demeaning to women and stereotypical in its treatment of pilots and aviators. References Notes Citations Bibliography Dolan, Edward F. Jr. Hollywood Goes to War.