in 1925 the u. s. naval air force major new piece of military hardware be a zeppelin that have be build in germany at the end of the first world war and which be give to the u. s a a reparation and and rename the u. s. s. shenandoah . the craft have a crack team run it and and it have an excellent head and commander zachary landowne . it be in fair demand around the country and for most people believe that the future of long distance air travel would be in airship and not airplane . so the navy brass frequently send the shenandoah on public relation flight and rather than use it for military purpose or long distance flight . it be send to ohio where local politician want to use the zeppelin to impress voter . unfortunately and there be a storm front with heavy thundershower in the path of the zeppelin and and the zeppelin have recently have some damage to a fin on it tale . there have be no time to repair the damage . so when the zeppelin cross into the storm front and the zeppelin be rip apart by the wind and crash kill landsdowne and fourteen men . landsdowne close friend and brigadier general billy mitchell be exceptionally critical of the disaster . he blame the politician and military brass who order the flight . a mitchell have be long a thorn in the side of these two group and a he try to push his view on air power and the need for a unified and strong air force and he be charge with insubordination and order to be court martial ed . gary cooper play mitchell well and a an honest and honorable man and who realize that the future will be only safe for those who have a strong air arm . he be fight old fashion idea and mouth by old fashioned army leader like fred clark . he do have ally like his lawyer and a congressman play by ralph bellamy and and like one of the judge ( general douglas macarthur who be the only one to vote for acquittal ) . but the issue go down to the mitchell insubordination . and this lead to the dramatic high point and when cooper be cross examine by the malicious and clever rod steiger . steiger be able to get cooper to not only reveal his lack of respect for the brass but to reveal his mistrust of the japanese . that he be correct in the long run do not save him he be find guilty and suspend without pay from the army for five year . mitchell die in 1936 and not in time to see his vindication five year later . but he be remember now a the real founder of the modern american air force . the film be a pretty good retelling of his story and and remind u how frequently a prophet be despise and reject in his or her time .