F.P.1 1933

Lieutenant Droste, Leslie Fenton, envisions a bold mid-ocean hub—a floating air station that would let pilots on intercontinental routes refuel and repair their aircraft when storms or damage threaten a flight. With the help of the pilot Ellissen, Conrad Veidt, he manages to win the support of the Lennartz-Werke for the project. Ellissen, who has taken up with the owner’s sister Claire Lennartz, Jill Esmond Lennartz, shies away from marriage and seeks new adventure.

After two years, the platform has been installed and is ready for operation. During a storm, the radio connection to the platform is lost. The last noises heard were gunshots and screams. The weather clears, and the best pilots immediately head for F.P.1.

Ellissen, in a lovesick depression, is convinced by Claire to fly her to the platform. Immediately after touching down their plane receives rifle fire and subsequently rams a railing.

They find the crew of F.P.1 knocked out by gas deliberately released by a saboteur. Before chief engineer Damsky fled in a boat, he opened the ballast valves, causing a danger that F.P.1 will sink. Claire finds the badly injured Droste and takes care of him. Ellissen has to recognize that Claire is slipping away from him. After a short time, he pulls himself together and takes a plane out to get help. He sees a ship, parachutes from his plane, is taken aboard the ship, and calls for help via radio. A fleet of ships and planes are sent to rescue F.P.1.