The Lost Squadron

Captain Gibby Gibson and Red fight through the last hours of World War I, flying with Woody Curwood and their mechanic Fritz. They vow to stay together once the war ends, and celebrate with a toast and the chorus of Auld Lang Syne. The moment marks the end of their wartime camaraderie and the uncertain road ahead.

Years after the war, Gibby, Red, and Fritz ride a boxcar toward Hollywood in search of their old comrade. They hope to find work in lean times while clinging to their shared bond. The journey marks a hopeful but precarious transition from war to civilian life.

Woody Curwood has become a prosperous stunt flyer under director Arthur von Furst. He offers the trio well-paid work and introduces his sister, the Pest, who worries about the dangers of the worn-out aircraft used in the shoots.

Gibby's actress girlfriend Follette Marsh has a new boyfriend who can advance her career. Red decides not to reclaim his old job, which is now held by a married man with a new baby, signaling a shift in their personal and professional lives.

Gibby feels a spark of concern for Pest and misreads it as love. Red impulsively asks Pest to marry him, and she accepts, while Gibby accepts the complicated triangle with grace.

Von Furst, jealous and ruthless, secretly acid-coats vital control wires to add realism and sabotage the flight. Woody volunteers to perform the dangerous stunt in Gibby's place to protect his friends, despite the risks.

Red notices the tampering and alerts Gibby. He and Woody take the risky flight; the cable breaks and Woody crashes, dying before they can respond or communicate effectively.

Red seizes Von Furst at gunpoint, promising to kill him if Woody dies, and holds him captive as the night unfolds.

That night, Gibby phones the police to report a possible murder, but Red interrupts. Gibby discovers Red has taken his gun and chases him to the office where Red has tied up Von Furst.

In the ensuing struggle, Gibby drops the gun and Red shoots and kills Von Furst. Detective Jettick arrives soon after, and the truth remains hidden as the men attempt to cover their tracks.

Detective Jettick searches the hangar for Von Furst's whereabouts, while Pest, worried about Red, returns and witnesses the mounting tension. Sensing trouble, she fears the worst as the investigation unfolds.

Gibby sends Fritz messages for the lovers and helps load the corpse into a plane. He deliberately crashes the aircraft, dies, and takes the blame for the crime to protect his friends.

At the cemetery, two ghostly biplanes appear and, to the strains of the chorus, Gibby and Woody salute each other and disappear into the distance, closing the chapter on their friendship.