Douglas,abroken,solitary,SpitfireAce,mustovercomehispasttoleadaLancasterbombercrewinthepivotalaerialwaroverBerlin,in1943. August1944.WiththeAmericanEighthAirForcepoisedtostrikeoverNaziGermany,BritishIntelligencelearnsthattheycouldbeflyingintoadeadlytrap.Withonlyhourstospare,FlightLieutenantEdwardBarnesmustflyalifeanddeathmissionoverBerlininhisunarmedSpitfiretoobtainphotographicevidenceandsavethelivesof1200men. 
