A motion picture tribute to the intrepid Flying Tigers , those youthful and courageous American pilots for hire, who harassed the Japanese Air Force over the Burma Road prior to their sneak attack on Pearl Harbour. John Wayne stars as the squadron leader and John Carroll as the cocky pilot who vie for the affection of the pretty nurse. The American Volunteer Group, or Flying Tigers, fight bravely for China's freedom despite the fact that they are greatly outnumbered. Squadron leader Jim Gordon (John Wayne) gets a new recruit when Woody Jason (John Carroll) joins the group. Woody signs up only because he needs money to pay for a breach-of-promise suit. His egotism and mercenary motives gain him the ill-will of fellow fliers. He further antagonises them by stealing Jim's girl, Brooke (Anna Lee), a Red Cross worker.