Strategic Air Command

James Stewart joined the Army Air Corps during World War II, and flew combat missions in Europe. At war's end, he transferred to the Reserve as a colonel. He remained an active pilot in the Air Force Reserve, and was trained on the B-36 and B-47 bombers which he flew in this film. He flew one combat mission over Vietnam in a B-52. He retired as Brigadier General James Maitland Stewart, USAFR in 1968. In 1985 he was promoted on the retired list to Major General (by his friend, President Ronald Reagan), making him the highest ranking member of the military of anyone ever in the acting profession.

The model aircraft seen on Gen. Hawkes' desk in the final scene might appear to be an eight-engined variant of the six-engine B-47 featured in the film, but is actually a prototype B-52 (either XB-52 or YB-52), with a canopy cockpit design similar to the B-47; the design was changed in the production version.

Although there was a "Dutch Holland" in baseball, he never served in the military. The character of "Dutch" Holland is loosely based on the life of Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams, who finished his career and became a Vought F4U Corsair flight instructor, then was recalled into active duty and flew combat missions in Korea. He was the wing man of legendary astronaut and future senator, John Glenn. Ted Williams resigned his Marine Corps Commission at the conclusion of the Korean War with the rank of Captain, the equivalent of an Army Captain.

The B-36 and B-47 bomber aircraft showcased in the film were such powerful deterrents against Soviet aggression in the 1950s that neither plane ever had to be used in combat. The B-36 was eventually retired due to persistent problems with its engineering and its fuel distribution to the outer wing, exactly as shown in the movie. The B-47 was being replaced as soon as the last wing was put into service. Both bombers were replaced with the B-52 Stratofortress. It has remained in service for over 50 years and the grandchildren of the original pilots are now piloting the same aircraft which have been meticulously cared for and upgraded over the decades.

The B-47 cockpit used in the film is now on display at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, CA.