A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane and parachute to safety when he arrives at the base but is unable to land due to heavy fog. On his first day on the job, his poor shooting skills results in the Hellcats losing an air combat competition. His fellow pilots accept him anyways but they think he's crossed the line when they erroneously conclude that while their CO Billy Gray is away, Drake has an affair with his wife Lorna. Drake is now an outcast and is prepared to resign from the Navy but his extreme heroism in saving Billy Gray's life turns things around.
Robert Taylor
as Ens. Alan Drake
Ruth Hussey
as Lorna Gray
Walter Pidgeon
as Squadron Commander Billy Gary
Paul Kelly
as Lieut. Cmdr. 'Dusty' Rhodes
Shepperd Strudwick
as Lieut. Jerry Banning
Red Skelton
as Lieut. 'Mugger' Martin
Nat Pendleton
as C.P.O. 'Spike' Knowles
Dick Purcell
as Lieut. 'Stichy' Payne
William Tannen
as Lieut. Freddy Townsend
William Stelling
as Lieut. Bush
Stanley Smith
as Lieut. Frost
Addison Richards
as Vice Admiral
