[2] Although portraying the strategic bombing of Nazi Germany in World War II, the main action takes place almost entirely within the confines of the headquarters of its protagonist.

In 1943, at the English Ministry of Information, war correspondents Elmer "Brockie" Brockhurst and James Carwood of United News attend the daily bombing mission briefings.

The RAF representative announces light losses, but the PRO of the Eighth Air Force causes grumbling with his report of a record 48 bombers lost bombing an undisclosed industrial target.

In addition Kane's headquarters reports that a visiting congressional committee is due, while Garnet also pleads for low loss missions because a joint resources conference at the Pentagon in three days might curtail more bombers.

Brockhurst learns about the mistake and to gain his cooperation Kane decides to trust him with the top secret information that their plan seeks to destroy factories building a German jet fighter before it can go into service and ruin American strategic bombing.

Kane grudgingly gives permission to continue the operation while Dennis agrees to award Jenks (who had refused to fly the mission to Schweinhafen) a medal during Malcolm's visit.

Clark Gable joined the Army Air Forces during World War II shortly after the death of his wife Carole Lombard in an aircraft crash, following a bond drive.

He was promoted from lieutenant to major and flew five combat bombing missions from England in B-17s as a waist gunner, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

On the basis of his stage performance as Technical Sergeant Evans in the Broadway production of Command Decision, James Whitmore was contracted to MGM, although Van Johnson played the role in the film.

[N 9] Barry Nelson provided the uncredited radio voice ("Cumquat B-Baker") of B-17 pilot bringing in his bomber after a raid with wounded aboard.

Only two exteriors were used, of Brockhurst driving up to the main gate of the base in a jeep, and of Martin saying farewell to Dennis at his bomber's dispersal hardstand, totalling little more than a minute of film.

[citation needed] The premiere in Washington D.C., which took place sometime in February, was attended by Vice President Alben W. Barkley, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt S. Vandenberg and other dignitaries.

[12] Critical review centered on the key dramatic elements of the film, especially concerning the human factors involved in making command decisions.

Bosley Crowther noted: "... it is the performance of Clark Gable in this scene of a soldier's momentary grieving that tests his competence in the leading role.

[citation needed] On March 3, 1949, Clark Gable, Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Brian Donlevy, John Hodiak, Edward Arnold and Richard Quine reprised their film roles in a 30-minute radio version of Command Decision for the NBC radio network program Screen Guild Theater, the first pre-recorded commercial show to be broadcast over the network from Hollywood.