Canal Zone plot
The stubborn and reckless playboy and pilot Harley Ames arrives at the 'Ginger Bar', which is located next to a former banana shed, close to the Panama Canal. This hangar has been turned into a training center for bomber pilots since the beginning of the Second World War. The pilots fly back and forth to Africa during the training sessions. Despite his good track record, Ames has a hostile relationship with the training officer "Hardtack" Hamilton because of his reckless behavior and his advances towards Susan, the daughter of Commander Merrill, whom Hardtack is in love with. Frustrated at Susan's failure to keep an appointment, Ames gets drunk. The next day, Ames crashes during flight training, killing a fellow pilot.