The United States Air Force at Itazuke Air Base during the Korean War has a visitor: Jane Carter (Coleen Gray), a female journalist who wishes to do a feature story on the wives of the American pilots. Jane admits to the wing commander General Hale (Richard Arlen) that she is the wife of one of his squadron leaders, Colonel Gil Manton (Robert Stack). This is news to everyone.

Gil and Jane have been separated for two years. Jane prefers life under her former name as a major journalist with frequent travel, while Gil prefers a wife who will stay home and have a family. Gil is not only upset that Jane left their anniversary celebration to get a story from the wife of a Death Row prisoner about to be executed, but Gil feels Jane callously used and exploited the woman for a story. Gil has kept their separation a secret as a divorce would hurt his career.

Jane meets the wives and learns their motivations and that though they are open with each other, they hide their fears from their husbands lest it affect their performance.

Meanwhile, with the Korean War raging, military intelligence has discovered A North Korean air base filled with Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighter jets and piston engine Yakovlev Yak-9 aircraft threatening the United Nations forces. General Hale wishes to lead a carefully synchronized combined airstrike of Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers escorted by North American F-86 Sabre to deal with the enemy aircraft and Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star ground-attack aircraft to destroy the enemy’s anti-aircraft defenses.

General Hale’s superiors are sympathetic but inform the General that approval for such a massive combined operation can take a long time to approve. General Hale replies that the wet season in North Korea will begin in a week that would make the operation impossible after it has begun.[1]

General Hale disobeys orders by personally flying an F-86 on a reconnaissance mission without escort over the target. After he is aloft, intelligence discovers the air base is located elsewhere and that what the General is flying over is a stronghold full of anti-aircraft weapons and enemy fighter aircraft.

The General is shot down; Jane is with the General's wife Marge (Julie Bishop) when Gil breaks the news of the loss of the General. Marge's incredible composure and courage brings Jane to tears and makes her reevaluate her marriage and behavior towards Gil.

Gil takes over command of the fighter wing and leads the escort mission protecting F-80 fighter-bombers and B-29 bombers on an attack against the North Korean air base. While their mission is successful, Gil loses three jet pilots. After consoling the wives of the pilots that were lost, Gil see Jane waiting for him at the gate, and they embrace.