A British Lockheed Hudson has been damaged in aerial combat with a German Messerschmitt, with both aircraft ditching in the North Sea, twenty miles off the Dutch coast.

The four crew from the British aircraft are unable to send a complete mayday alert, although a signal fragment reaches England.

Flight Sergeant Mackay assumes a leading role in the rescue dinghy, tying everyone together to prevent anyone falling overboard, and sharing his boots with the pilot despite the cold.

As the weather closes in and a freezing cold night descends, aircraft suspend their search, leaving the now waterlogged dinghy to face the sea alone.

Commanded by Flying Officer Treherne, Launch 2561, or "Sixty One" in radio signals, struggles against the bad weather, mechanical problems and a fire in the galley.

Second in command, Flight Sergeant Singsby dominates the crew, playing a benevolent but demanding hand with the questionable seamanship of the junior ranks.

[13] Variety said the film "has several basic ingredients of a boxoffice success; tough but believable plot, a cast too big for the average theatre marquee and exciting action sequences in the climax when the missing air crew is picked up within range of enemy shore batteries.