Irishman Jeff Riley left the Royal Flying Corps in 1918, hardened by war. He survived those harsh years with the help of his quick-witted English friend, Sean McClean, although Jeff would never want to admit it. When the Battle of Britain erupts in 1939, he's once again drafted and forced to leave his flourishing commercial pilot career and join a new squadron. Although another war disrupts his life, he's not disappointed to find himself reunited with Sean. Jeff is attracted to many of the men in his new squadron of misfits. Never before has he seen such a diverse group assembled for a single cause, including Jimmy Dupont, a handsome, strong Texan who joined the Royal Air Force to help the war effort, and his constant companion Filip, a young and talented Polish airman. It's evident from the beginning that there's something special about the connection between Filip and Jimmy, but as time goes on, Jeff feels himself not alienated by it but drawn into it. Jeff tries to focus on staying alive, but he's only human, and there's more to life than survival. There's also loving, and Jeff can't get by without it, especially when any day could be his last.