Q Planes

During September 1938, several advanced British aircraft prototypes carrying experimental and secret equipment vanish on test flights, along with their crews. The disappearances baffle authorities and the military, creating a sense of national crisis. Spymaster Major Hammond and his sister Kay, a newspaper reporter undercover at the Barrett & Ward Aircraft Company, begin to probe the mystery.

Hammond is treated as an outsider at the Barrett & Ward Aircraft Company. Kay works undercover in the works canteen as part of her reporting assignment. Their presence inside the factory signals a deeper puzzle behind the disappearances.

Hammond discovers a valuable ally in star pilot Tony McVane, who shares his concern and helps push the investigation forward. Tony's reputation and skills lend credibility to the quest to uncover what is happening to the missing airmen.

Hammond becomes convinced Jenkins, the company secretary, is a mole connected to the disappearances. Before he can reveal his contacts, Jenkins is killed by a gunman firing from a moving car.

Tony returns to the factory determined to conduct the next test flight. His aircraft is struck down by a powerful ray from the mysterious salvage ship S.S. Viking, halting the mission and foreshadowing a far greater threat.

The downed aircraft, Tony, and the crew are taken aboard the Viking, where Tony discovers many other missing airmen held prisoner. The ship’s crew reveals a sinister pattern behind the disappearances as the captives realize they are far from home.

Tony leads an escape from the Viking's prison and begins collecting weapons as he moves through the ship. He aims to seize control of Viking and turn the tables on their captors, rallying the other prisoners to his cause.

Back in London, Hammond pieces together the truth behind the Viking operation and the disappearances. He decides to act, directing the Royal Navy to intervene by sending HMS Echo to the rescue.

Kay and Tony form a romantic relationship as the crisis unfolds, adding a personal stake to both the investigation and the peril aboard Viking. Their connection strengthens alongside the rescue effort.

Hammond, whose job keeps forcing him to cancel plans, finally meets his longtime love interest only to discover she has married someone else. The personal setback mirrors the broader costs of the mission.

HMS Echo closes in on Viking, and the Royal Navy launches a coordinated effort to free the airmen and others aboard the ship. The rescue operation marks a turning point in resolving the crisis.

The rescue succeeds and the immediate threat from Viking is neutralized. The film closes with the ongoing personal arcs: Kay and Tony's relationship persists, while Hammond faces the consequences of the failed romance in his own life.