China Girl

Johnny Williams is detained by the Japanese military in Luzhou. An officer offers him $20,000 to photograph the Burma Road, a vital Allied supply line, but he declines the bribe, choosing not to take sides in the conflict.

During a staged farewell, Captain Fifi smuggles a gun and helps Johnny and Bull Weed escape from their cell. The trio slips away from Luzhou toward uncertain freedom.

With Fifi's help, they locate an airfield and escape plane. Johnny, a former barnstormer, pilots them through a hail of Burmese anti-aircraft fire into Mandalay.

In Mandalay, Johnny bumps into his old ally Captain Shorty Maguire, a mercenary pilot with the Flying Tigers. Shorty offers him a chance to join the Tigers, but Johnny declines to take sides.

Haoli Young returns from New York and explains that her father, Dr. Young, has a home in Mandalay and she is funding a Kunming mission school. Johnny is drawn to her, and they share a kiss, though Haoli remains reserved. He then returns to his hotel, where he briefly contemplates Fifi before turning his attention back to Haoli.

Back at his hotel, Haoli is waiting and reveals that Fifi and Bull are Japanese agents, casting doubt on Johnny's loyalties. Johnny realizes he's been played. He cleverly manipulates them into swapping their camera gear with his own, so he can photograph the Burma Road for the Western press, then tells them to leave Mandalay.

Johnny remains in Mandalay, awaiting a solo reconnaissance flight with Shorty to survey the Burma Road. He spends a week courting Haoli and falls in love with her. However Haoli leaves with her father for Kunming, leaving Johnny heartbroken and slipping into a bender.

Bull Weed reports to his Japanese commander and is ordered to retrieve the document Johnny accidentally took. The document appears to contain military plans for an upcoming campaign against the Burma Road.

Fifi warns Johnny that Bull is coming for him and confesses her love, urging him to run away with her. She tells him Kunming will be bombed soon, attempting to push him toward escape.

Johnny and Shorty fly to Kunming to assist Haoli and her family, arriving just after a devastating air raid that kills Dr. Young. Johnny helps pull children from a toppled building during the rescue, trying to save as many lives as possible.

During the rescue, Haoli is killed, sending Johnny into a tearing grief and foreshadowing a deeper personal war against the Japanese. The loss cements his resolve to fight back.

Motivated by Haoli's death and the carnage around Kunming, Johnny climbs to the top of a building, mans a machine gun, and shoots down a Japanese fighter. This act marks the belated start of his personal war with the Japanese.