Major Brand, a British Royal Flying Corp squadron commander, is compelled by his superiors to send his pilots out in dangerous, rickety aircraft. He is tormented by the responsibility, increases his drinking, but does his duty as prescribed and is therefore branded a "butcher" by his two top pilots Dick Courtney and Douglas Scott. When the two disobey orders and cross enemy lines to blow out an airfield and a number of enemy planes, Brand lashed into them.
Brand is transferred to headquarters, Courtney takes over the command. Suddenly the impulsive and critical Courtney finds himself as much an unwilling "butcher" as his predecessor. Soon he too becomes alienated from his pilot buddies by exercising his authority. The situation escalates when Courtney sends the brother of his best friend Scott on a suicide mission. The lad is killed, and the friendship is shattered. To make amends, Courtney gets Scott drunk and flies the next mission himself — and is shot down while in battle with the fearsome German ace Von Richter. Now more understanding of his fallen companion, Scott takes over command of the squadron.