Although the First Wotld War in Europe had started in 1914 the Americans had not entered it in 1917. But many young men went to France in order to fly for the Allied forces and joined the "Lafayette Escadrille".
The Germans had the better planes, weapons and pilots. The average life expectancy was between three to six weeks. Why then did men went into a war, which was not even their own?
It was a time when men were idealistic, but naive, in search for great adventures.
Blaine Rawlings left his home in Arizona as his famiiy's farm was foreclosed by the bank. He saw a newsreel of fighterpilots in France and decided he had nothing to lose.
Briggs Lowry is forced by his rich father to join, as he is assumed to do nothing right.
The Afro-American boxer Eugene Skinner had been living in the racial tolerant France for many years and now wants to give something back to the country.
These Americans are under the command of Captain Georges Thenault and Reed Cassidy and they were the first combat pilots of the world.