While Major Rane is in a bar with his admirer Linda, he is served a glass of beer. While talking with Linda, he takes only one sip, then decides to leave. But when he stands up, his glass can be seen to be almost half empty.
Early in the film, while standing in line with other military personnel just back from Vietnam, the brass U.S. and Infantry lapel disks on MSgt Vohden's Army uniform are wrongly positioned. They should be on the upper lapels, but instead they appear on the lower lapels. Interestingly, the brass on the uniform of the soldier next to Jones are correctly placed.
Although the ribbons on Major Rane's uniform are correct for an Air Force pilot who served in Vietnam, one important ribbon is missing: the one for the Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). This award was authorized for all U.S. military personnel who served at least six months in Vietnam or the surrounding areas. The movie's dialogue indicates that the major was in Vietnam for at least seven years, most of that time as a POW in Hanoi, so he most certainly would be entitled to wear the VCM.
MSgt Vohden mentions that he has been in the U.S. Army for ten years. He also served in Vietnam and was a POW there for an unspecified period (probably several years). However, his uniform lacks the required service stripes and overseas bars (both worn on the sleeve) to indicate the duration of his service and the length of time he served overseas.
At least two instances of incorrect uniform nameplates appear in the movie. Actual Air Force nameplates include only the last name of the wearer. However, Major Rane's plate shows his first name and middle initial in addition to his last name. And his doctor's nameplate includes his rank (Lt Colonel) as well as his last name.
MSgt Vohden's Army uniform has a Fifth Army patch at the top of the right sleeve. A patch on the right sleeve indicates that the wearer served with that unit in combat during a previous war or campaign. The Fifth Army last served in battle during World War Two. Vohden, as a returning Vietnam veteran in 1973, would have been only a year or two old during WWII (or possibly unborn).
When Rane threatens to shoot Lopez, it is clear that his missing tooth is just a black cap, as it shines in the light.
None of the guns fired throughout the movie recoil ("jump") when they are fired.
Just before the film's final shootout, Major Rane puts on his Air Force uniform. Up until this scene, the insignia on his coat were correct. This time, however, the coat not only has the two U.S. lapel insignia of an enlisted man rather than those of an officer, but they are also placed in the wrong location on the lapels.
Although the film takes place in 1973, a 1976 Chevrolet Impala is seen parked on the airport tarmac when Rane's family picks him up.
At approximately 73 minutes, Rane yanks the car steering wheel while Linda is driving, forcing the car off the road. When they get out you can see the reflection of a crew member on the car.
While being driven home from the hospital, Major Rane is wearing a dark blue baseball-style cap with his short-sleeve blue uniform. Such caps have never been part of Air Force uniforms of this type (although similar caps, with insignia, were authorized for wear with Air Force utility/work uniforms in many units).