The film - a fictionalized account of a true story - documents the United States Air Force mission in 1948–49 to save thousands of cattle caught in the snowdrifts of a sudden winter storm in northern Nevada.

Max has rejoined the Air Force and is about based on true story, He and his dog had to leave for Germany to take part in the Berlin Airlift.

When his tour finishes in 1948, he's back home, where the United States is experiencing first a drought, then a massive series of 18 blizzards in 27 days, which cripples Nevada.

The first flight is a great success and, while President Harry S. Truman requests emergency funds for the ranchers, the 62nd Troop Carrier Group continues its haylift operation.

"[1] In the months prior to production, producer Joe Sawyer and cameraman Benjamin Kline made six trips to Ely to arrange filming locations.

"[10] Aviation film historians Jack Hardwick and Ed Schnepf cynically dismissed Operation Haylift as "... good if you like to watch C-82s dropping hay.