An Italian gangster, Cesare Celli, formerly active in Chicago but now retired in his homeland of Italy, is kidnapped by Harry Price and his gang.

His professional pride offended by this development, Cesare offers to assist Harry and girlfriend Juliana in pulling off a daring heist that could net them $5 million.

Harry and the gang overcome many obstacles and the robbery is a great success, at least until the bomb bay doors open unexpectedly and the loot falls out.

The B-17 airplane used was B-17G-85VE 44-8846, an actual World War II combat veteran aircraft currently being flown by the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis Museum.

[6] Annakin later recalled that Welch "tended to wing her lines a little bit and would keep us waiting, and I wasn't going to stand for any of this, so we had a big showdown quite early in the picture.