Plot

The wartime daily routine on a British bomber base in southeastern England is revealed through the eyes of newly arrived Flying Officer Peter Penrose (Sir John Mills).

Life on a British bomber base, and the surrounding towns, from the opening days of the Battle of Britain, to the arrival of the Americans, who join in the bomber offensive. This movie centers around Pilot Officer Peter Penrose (Sir John Mills), fresh out of a training unit, who joins the squadron and experiences life during wartime. He falls for Iris Winterton (Renée Asherson), a young girl who lives at the local hotel, but he becomes disillusioned about marriage when the squadron commander dies in a raid, leaving his wife, the hotel manager, to bring up their young son alone. As the war progresses, Penrose comes to terms about surviving while others have been killed.—mike.wilson6@btinternet.com

In 1940, Flying Officer Peter Penrose (Sir John Mills) is attached to a Royal Air Force unit straight out of flight training with a grand total of 15 hours in the air. The green young fellow finds his commanding officer, Flight Lieutenant David Archdale (Sir Michael Redgrave), understanding and supportive. He soon becomes a full-fledged member of the squadron, becoming a more than capable pilot and enjoying the camaraderie that comes from men facing death together. He also becomes interested in young Iris Winterton (Renée Asherson), who lives at the local hotel with her strict maiden aunt. Archdale marries to the hotel's manager, but tragedy strikes when he is killed in an air raid, leaving Penrose unsure about committing to Iris. The U.S. Army Air Force arrives in 1942 with the inevitable clash of cultures, and Penrose is taken off flying duties to become a controller. David Archdale's widow forms a close friendship with one of the Americans, and by 1944, the tide turns in favor of the allies, leaving Penrose to re-evaluate his feelings.—garykmcd