Roberta Harper is placed in charge of the
Women's Auxiliary Ferrying
Squadron, better known as the WAFS, a war-time unit of twenty-five
women who ferry planes across the United States so that male pilots
can be released for combat service. After six months, Col. Andy
Brennan, Roberta's commander, tells her that many in the military
are still worried that her squadron cannot handle the more difficult
and dangerous tasks required of the ferrying service. Within her own
ranks, Roberta has problems with her ambitious sister, Virginia
"Virgie" Alford, a globe-trotter who pursues glory for herself above
all else. In addition, a romantic triangle develops when aviatrix
Nadine begins to court Alex Anderson, though he is secretly married
to fellow flyer Jill Romilly.
Meanwhile, Gerry Vail (Anne
Gwynne), the best
aviatrix in the WAFS, worries about her upcoming 100th mission for
the unit, as it was during their 100th performance that her father
and two brothers, the famous flying circus known as "The Flying
Vails," were killed in an aerial accident. Roberta soothes Gerry's
fears, however, by informing her that she already flew her 100th
mission two weeks earlier. Tragedy does strike the WAFS, however, as
Jill's plane crashes soon after takeoff, leading a guilt-ridden
Nadine to promise to fly twice as many missions in her place.
Soon,
the WAFS are given their first overseas assignment, the delivery of
planes to a secret South Pacific base, but the mission is canceled
when publicity-seeking Virgie purposely crashes her plane in Tucson
during a military review, stealing the headlines from the newly
decorated war heroes. On the train back to her base, however, Virgie
has a change of heart about her actions when she sees her estranged
husband, Frank Garrison, on his way to Leavenworth prison for
desertion.
Despite her sincere apologies, Virgie is "washed-out" of
the WAFS by Roberta, who then learns that her husband Tommy has been
listed as "missing in action." Accepting the blame for her sister's
actions, Roberta resigns as head of the WAFS, so Virgie tries to
steal a plane and fly to Washington to straighten things out.
Instead, she crashes the plane during an aborted takeoff and is
nearly killed. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Wade informs the female
pilots that they have been incorporated in the military and will now
be known as the Women's Air Force Service Pilots. Their first
mission is to deliver war planes to a secret South Seas base known
as "Easy Queen Island." Just before takeoff, Roberta is reunited
with Tommy, who has returned to the States safe and sound.
Loretta Young is the serious executive officer of the
original two dozen WAFS, determined that the girls who ferry ships overseas
should get recognition from Army brass-hats. Her main job is to keep her
charges in line and their minds on responsibilities at hand. 
