Flying Tigers

Jim Gordon commands a new squadron of American volunteers flying Curtiss P-40C fighters over China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Tigers are motivated by pay and the thrill of combat as they safeguard air routes and challenge Japanese air power. Gordon's leadership sets the tone for the dangerous, improvisational warfare they undertake.

Woody Jason, an arrogant, hot-headed aviator, arrives at the base and immediately clashes with Jim and the squad. He pushes boundaries, takes unnecessary risks, and shows little respect for teamwork. The other pilots view him with a mix of awe and concern as his reckless confidence threatens the unit.

During a Japanese raid on the airbase, Woody seizes a P-40 without permission. He discovers it has no ammunition and is quickly shot down by Japanese aircraft, leaving the plane wrecked but Woody unharmed. The incident exposes Woody's impulsiveness and foreshadows the danger he poses to others.

Woody's self-centered tactics put the squad at risk. He abandons his wingman, Blackie Bales, in pursuit of a kill, leaving Blackie to be attacked and forced to bail out. Blackie is strafed by a Japanese pilot as he hangs in his parachute, a fate that mirrors real AVG pilot Bert Christman.

Woody begins romancing nurse Brooke Elliott, drawing suspicion from the Tiger pilots who see Brooke as Jim's girlfriend. The growing tension over romance foreshadows loyalty conflicts within the squad. Brooke's presence complicates Jim's authority and the unit's morale.

That night, Woody is late returning from a date with Brooke as a night patrol looms. Jim's trusted right-hand man, Hap Davis, secretly takes his place, despite having just been grounded for deteriorating night vision. In the ensuing dogfight, Hap misjudges distances and is killed when his aircraft collides with a Japanese plane.

Following Hap's death and the fallout from Woody's behavior, Jim confronts Woody and fires him, declaring that none of these men will ever fly with him again and that they must continue to fly. The decision marks a dramatic break in their volatile relationship. The squad's morale and cohesion are deeply affected by the firing.

A day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jim is ordered to destroy a vital bridge to disrupt enemy supply lines. The mission is heavily defended, requiring a low, unescorted bomber run—a near-suicidal tactic. The timing ties the Tigers' actions to America's broader entry into World War II.

Jim volunteers to pilot the bomber himself, taking responsibility for leading the dangerous mission. He embodies leadership and a willingness to sacrifice for strategic gains. The plan hinges on precision and nerve under extreme risk.

In a final bid to prove himself, Woody insists on joining the mission at the last second. Jim resents his presence but is forced to accept Woody aboard the bomber, increasing the mission's tension. The dynamic on the aircraft becomes a powder keg as they close in on the target.

The bomber breaches the defenses and cannot prevent the enemy train from crossing the bridge. Flak strikes the aircraft, forcing Jim to bail out, with Woody delivering an unexpected push to help him escape. Woody, however, has concealed a flak wound and stays aboard, crashing into the train and destroying it.

Woody's life is sacrificed in the final moments of the mission, a mix of reckless bravado and selfless risk. Jim survives and returns to base with a heavy measure of loss and leadership lessons. The squad mourns both Woody and Blackie, understanding the high cost of war.