Factual error: All of the flight scenes show the AC with the USAF star and stripes logo and the fuselage said "United States Air Force" quite prominently. The Air Force was not created as a separate service until 9/18/1947. Prior to that, the Air Force was part of the Army and known as the US Army Air Corp or US Army Air Force (USAAF). The movie was released 9/3/1953, based on a book written 1944, based on a true story of a flight February 3, 1943 and the Air Transport Command. The ATC was a designation from 1942-1948 only and when the AF was established in late 1947, it was not part of the service. There could not have been a C-47 with "United States Air Force" designation when the book was written, when the real event occurred or when it was portrayed.
Island In The Sky (1953)
1 factual error
Directed by: William A. Wellman
Starring: John Wayne, Lloyd Nolan, James Arness, Walter Abel
Revealing mistake: When ice is shedding from the plane's wings, the chunks slowly slide forward and then down the leading edge. Loose chunks should have flown off rapidly to the rear due to the airflow.
Capt. Dooley: Tell them we're in a jam. Loosen up and lose some altitude. We're turning North West until we run out of gas.
Pilot: But if we go North West Captain, we'll fly right off the map. It says "unchartered" up that way.
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Answer: Because after eating it as part of their rations throughout WWII many ex GIs never swore to touch the stuff.