have fight heroically in world war i and gen. billy mitchell ( gary cooper ) try to get his superior to establish an air force . when they refuse and he disobey order and be send to fort sam houston and demote to the rank of colonel . after there be two fatal crash in which the plane be not properly equip and mitchell denounces his superior and be put on trial for insubordination . while the prosecution try to prove that he make the statement and mitchell do everything possible to show that the statement be justify . the movie seem to have even more relevance today and with the story about the humvee in iraq that lack sufficient armor . the army brass could really use some advice from billy mitchell . a a side note and it be interest see elizabeth montgomery ( a the widow of mitchell friend who get kill in one of the crash ) before she star on bewitch .