God Is My Co-Pilot

Major Robert Lee Scott Jr., at 34, is considered too old for combat but volunteers to fly in a secret bombing mission against Tokyo from the Philippines. He is recruited despite doubts about his age, proving his determination to contribute to the war effort. This gamble sets him on an unlikely path into frontline combat.

The mission is canceled after his arrival in India due to the fall of the Philippines. Scott is promoted to Colonel and reassigned to fly transport aircraft on dangerous, unescorted hump missions from Burma to China to supply the Flying Tigers. These flights cement his role as a steady, seasoned leader in the China theater.

Scott begins flying dangerous hump routes from Burma to China, delivering aviation gasoline and other supplies to AVG squadrons. The missions are grueling and push his endurance to the limit. Through these flights, he earns respect from the Tigers and their leadership.

Over time, Scott persuades General Claire Chennault to allow him to fly with the Flying Tigers' veteran airmen. He finally pilots a Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk and begins flying combat missions alongside them. This marks his transition from transport pilot to frontline combatant.

Scott shoots down multiple enemy planes and earns the status of a double ace while flying with the AVG. His growing prowess earns him the respect of his fellow pilots. He experiences first-hand the adrenaline and danger of aerial combat over China.

During the 4th of July raid on Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, Scott duels the famed Japanese ace Tokyo Joe. His engine is suddenly damaged, and he uses landing flaps to slow, allowing Joe to be within his sights. He fires a blistering volley and sets Joe's fighter alight, though his own plane continues to lose power.

Scott does not return as expected, and days pass without word. In a dramatic turnaround, a nighttime Chinese procession enters the Tigers' compound, carrying the injured Scott, along with Tokyo Joe's Samurai sword. The crowd's arrival signals his survival and revival of hope among the Tigers.

A medical examination grounds Scott, citing age, combat fatigue, and recurring malaria. He is benched during the largest planned air raid against the Japanese yet staged in China. The pause forces him to accept a slower pace and reassess his place in the war.

Chennault makes a personal decision to grant Scott use of a new, larger P-40 with a more powerful engine and extra firepower as a final gift from 'the old man'. Scott is elated and ready to fly again. The arrangement marks a symbolic passing of the torch to a veteran pilot.

Scott goes to the aircraft, fires up the engine, and the cockpit fills with the smoky intensity of a last mission. He rapidly climbs, joining the formations of fighters and bombers heading east toward certain victory. The moment seals his enduring commitment to the war effort.

With the new P-40, Scott reunites with the AVG and participates in expansive air operations over the China theatre. The sequence underscores his evolution from transport pilot to combat ace and the lasting legacy of the Flying Tigers.