Another entry in the futility of war stakes is pinpointed on the bombings of the Rumanian oil refineries at Ploesti and tallies the decimation of the American 473rd Bomb Group of B-24s based in Italy. Lt. Johnny Elliott, S-2, briefs the target but is never on it, sees the spirit of the group wavering when its C.O., Royson, whose military procedure on the ground is impeccable, is the cause of lash-ups in the air, and watches it shocked out of low gear when the loss of crews and machines mount. Solid pilot Sawyer nurses Royson through and protects his name after Royson is killed while Elliott finds his own therapy, first on a leave in Rome and then by finagling permission to ride in one of the bombers on a run over Ploesti. But Elliott's new found adjustment is tested when Sawyer is shot down and the Italian girl he loved proves to be less than the perfection he had believed..... Air war and the men who made it has some heroics and heroes but mostly mere, muddled mortals.