William Wister Haines, 81; Author

William Wister Haines, who wrote a string of literate adventure novels, among them “Command Decision,” which underwent a play-book-film metamorphosis, died of a stroke while on a cruise ship off Acapulco, his daughter said Monday.

Mrs. Murray J. Belman said her father was 81 when he died Saturday on board the Island Princess.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Haines was a nephew of Owen Wister, author of “The Virginian.” He wrote his first novel, “Slim,” in 1934, three years after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He then came to Hollywood to write the screen version of that tale of electric linesmen arguing about their work and women. It featured Pat O’Brien and Henry Fonda. Subsequently he wrote “High Tension,” published in 1938 and then “Command Decision,” a novel based on his play which originally appeared in serialized form in the Atlantic.

The play was first produced in Cleveland in 1946, on Broadway in 1948 and became a feature film starring Clark Gable in 1949. The play-movie about a general’s decision to bomb Germany was based in part on his own experience with the 8th Army Air Force in London during World War II.

One of his later works was “Ultra,” an analysis of the Air Force’s use of the German codes which the author helped break while working with intelligence forces in Europe.

Haines’ other books include “The Hon. Rocky Slade,” “The Winter War,” “Target” and “The Image.” His screenplays include “Alibi Ike,” “The Black Legion,” “Mr. Dodd Takes the Air,” “The Texans,” “Beyond Glory,” “The Racket,” “One Minute to Zero,” “The Eternal Sea,” “The Wings of Eagles” and “Torpedo Run.”

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife, Frances, a son and four grandsons.