Don Winslow of the Navy is a Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...

 film serial

Serial (film)

Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...

 based on the comic strip

Comic strip

A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....

 Don Winslow of the Navy

Don Winslow of the Navy (comics)

Don Winslow of the Navy was an American comic strip distributed by the Bell Syndicate from 1934 to 1955. The title character was a spychasing Lieutenant Commander in Naval intelligence. The comic strip led to a radio adventure serial that began in 1937, as well as a film serial that began in 1942...

by Commander Frank V. Martinek.

Production

The serial was based on the comic strip by Commander Frank V. Martinek, which was approved by the US Navy. The strip gained new meaning with the approach of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, which would also affect the serial: "Its presentation as a Universal serial in October 1941 - just before the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...

 in December - was one of the most timely contributions of the serial field."

The Universal serials for 1941-42 were meant to run: Riders of Death Valley

Riders of Death Valley

Riders of Death Valley is a Universal movie serial. It was a high budget serial with an all-star cast led by Dick Foran and Buck Jones...

, Sea Raiders

Sea Raiders

Sea Raiders is a Universal film serial starring the Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys. This was the child stars' second of three serials, between Junior G-Men and Junior G-Men of the Air . Sea Raiders was the 52nd serial to be released by Universal...

, Head Hunters of the Amazon, Gang Busters

Gang Busters (serial)

Gang Busters is a Universal movie serial based on the radio series Gang Busters. The city is terrorized by a crime wave masterminded by the elusive, soft-spoken Professor Mortis...

. Head Hunters of the Amazon was, however, dropped in favor of this serial. This is possibly due to the greater name recognition of the licensed property over the more generic planned serial.

Chapter titles

1. The Human Torpedo
2. Flaming Death
3. Weapons of Horror
4. Towering Doom
5. Trapped in the Dungeon
6. Menaced by Man-Eaters
7. Bombed by the Enemy
8. The Chamber of Doom
9. Wings of Destruction
10. Fighting Fathoms Deep
11. Caught in the Caverns
12. The Scorpion Strangled

_Source: