Pinky Scariano (Don Taylor) is an Ohio barber who, with his closest buddies, Alan (Mark Daniels) and Frankie (Lon McCallister), longs for the day he will be flying planes for the U.S. armed services. When the three friends finally do make it into flight school, they immediately befriend Irving (Edmond O'Brien) and Bobby (Barry Nelson). But the five men are ill-prepared for the rocky road ahead, and each must face his own unique battle in the journey to earn his stripes.