In the opening of Chapter 10, a group of men in the "Department of Internal Affairs - Territorial Division" are going over a list of names of civilian/military casualties the previous day during the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the names mentioned is William Sickner. William A. Sickner was the cinematographer on this serial.
CHAPTER TITLES: 1. The High Road to Doom; 2. The Rising Sun Strikes; 3. Attacked by Bombers; 4. Knives of Vengeance; 5. A Watery Grave; 6. Escape by Clipper; 7. Fifteen Fathoms Below; 8. Treachery at Sea; 9. The Bridge of Peril; 10. Blackout in the Islands; 11. Held for Treason; 12. The Torture Fire Test; 13. Sinking the Rising Sun.
Thompson is an obvious onscreen replacement for Downwind Jaxon, a character in the "Smilin' Jack" comic strip who was always facing downwind--that is, away from the reader--because he was supposed to be so handsome that the women he met were always attracted to him.