Major Daniel Kirby takes command of a squadron of Marine fliers just before they are about to go into combat. While the men are well meaning, he finds them undisciplined and prone to always finding excuses to do what is easy rather than what is necessary. The root of the problem is the second in command, Capt. Carl 'Griff' Griffin. Griff is the best flier in the group but Kirby finds him a poor commander who is not prepared to make the difficult decision that all commanders have to make - to put men in harm's way knowing that they may be killed.
John Wayne
Robert Ryan
Don Taylor
Janis Carter
Jay C. Flippen
William Harrigan
James Bell
Barry Kelley
Maurice Jara
Adam Williams
James Dobson
Carleton Young
Michael St. Angel
Brett King
Gordon Gebert
Hal Bokar
Barry Brooks
Charles Brunner
Richard Condon
James Craven
Victor Cutler
Gail Davis
Sam Edwards
Fred Graham
Chuck Hamilton
Douglas Henderson
Milton Kibbee
Mona Knox
Keith Larsen
Harry Lauter
Paul McGuire
Eda Reiss Merin
John Mitchum
Patricia Prest
Noel Reyburn
Hugh Sanders
Lynn Stalmaster
Milburn Stone
Harlan Warde
Dick Wessel
Mack Williams
Peter Ortiz
Chuck Courtney