Navy pilots - question on landing procedure (from movie)?

Question

In the movie “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”, the characters are flying F-9s off a carrier in the Korean war. In one scene, 1 of a flight of 2 F-9s gets hit, and the tailhook is damaged.

When they get back to the ship, they’re low on fuel. Damaged Tailhook Guy (DTG) lands first, and calls for the safety net to be set up. The plane hits the net and gets tangled. The deck crew has trouble getting the plane out of the way, and they give Low Fuel Guy (LFG) a choice: ditch and be rescued, or land, but they would park a heavy aircraft tug behind the tangled plane to keep LFG from crashing into it if he misses (which means land perfectly or die). LFG opts to land, and makes it.

In reality, would DTG land first (he was commander)? Wouldn’t it make more sense to let LFG land first and get out of the way, then deal with the safety net? Or was this contrived for dramatic effect (it was this incident that caused LFG to lose his confidence)?

Answer 1

it was for dramatic effect.

normally, the airrcraft with more chances of a succesful trap (arrested landing) would go first.

In the movie, it was a no-brainer.

In reality LFG would have gone first because he had a functioning tailhook.

DTG would have gone second, into the net.

Rank has nothing to do with it.

Answer 2

no longer an issue. that's why the angle deck was invented

Answer 3

No longer an issue on angle deck carriers, as long as the first one didn't foul the deck. Then it becomes an issue real fast. In that case, he would have needed to make a heck of a case for bringing in the a/c because they would have had him punch out, no way they are taking a chance on endangering the ship.

General rule of thumb regarding Hollywood, and aircraft.

It's 100% BS.