The movie details the exploits and personal battles of United States Marine Corps aviators during World War II.

Marines have long had the nickname "leatherneck", hence the title.Major Dan Kirby arrives at VMF-247 (the "Wildcats") as the new commander when everybody in the unit was expecting Captain Carl "Grif" Griffin to take over.

Kirby adjusts tactics and losses increase, but there are successes and he leads the squadron in an attack on a huge Japanese convoy – a scene likely based on the Battle of Guadalcanal.

The Wildcats' line chief, MSgt Clancy, is an old Marine veteran and comrade-in-arms of Kirby and he uses unorthodox methods to obtain provisions for the unit.

Mustered back to Hawaii and destined for Washington D.C., Kirby is given the chance to return to the Pacific front and organize low-level ground attack tactics.

The film's screenplay was credited to James Edward Grant, based on a story by Kenneth Gamet, but some sources claim that Beirne Lay, Jr. was an uncredited contributor as well.

[6] Principal photography began in November 1950 at Camp Pendelton and El Toro Marine Corps bases and then moved to RKO-Pathé Studios in February 1951 for sound stage sequences.

[10] The role of Major Kirby portrayed in this film was inspired by real World War II flying ace Maj. John L. Smith for his missions over Guadalcanal in 1942.

Howard Thompson in The New York Times commented that "As long as it stays in the air, Flying Leathernecks is an exciting thing to watch.