Paul Redmond, a test pilot who was dishonorably discharged from the United States Marines, meets Martha Dawson, daughter of Colonel E. J. Dawson, the owner of Dawson Aircraft Corporation, by chance on an airliner. On landing they are greated by Martha's father and her fiancé, Dana Kirk and, Paul introduces himself as their new test pilot. Dana and Paul are old friends and Dana has agreed to give Paul a chance to make a comeback. Later, during a test flight, Dawson establishes a new speed record, but the plane crashes as he lands. Martha and her brother, Ritchie, who is also a test pilot, then take over the company. During the test flights that follow, many of their pilots are killed or maimed. This track record terrifies Ritchie and on the eve of his test flight, he commits suicide. In order to save Martha from the disgrace of her brother's suicide, Paul places Ritchie's body in a test plane, takes it up and, after setting it ablaze, parachutes out. The accident is investigated and it is revealed that Paul was discharged from the Marine Air Corps for bailing out on a student flyer. Now everyone but Paul's fellow pilot, Jim Barlow, believes he did the same thing to Ritchie. Later, Paul learns that Dana is scheduled to perform a dangerous flight test and rather than let the inexperienced pilot risk his life, Paul knocks him unconscious and performs the test himself. Watched by Army Major T. L. Metcalf, Paul safely performs the test and as a result, the army orders the planes to be built for their use. Then, Barlow tells Dana how Paul covered up Ritchie's suicide. Dana relates this to Martha, as well as the fact that he did not perform the test. With the truth revealed, Barlow unites Martha and Paul by skywriting, "Paul--come back to Marty!"