The Starfighters 1964

At George Air Force Base, part of the Tactical Air Command in Southern California, Lt. John ‘Junior’ Witkowski [Robert Dornan] and his buddy, Lt. York, begin training to fly the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, with a focus on the demanding mid-air refueling maneuver that tests precision and nerve.

Witkowski’s congressman father [Carl Rogers] — a renowned World War II bomber pilot — frequently calls with concerns about fighter safety, urging that his son be transferred to a Convair B-58 Hustler or Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber squadron in the Strategic Air Command.

Witkowski also finds romance with Mary Davidson [Shirley Olmstead], an Iowa girl who becomes a steady source of support as his training continues.

During training, Major Stevens [Richard Jordahl] assigns a cross-country mission for Witkowski, York, and Lt. Lyons [Robert Winston]. The trio must weather a severe storm and end up separated: Lyons’ aircraft goes down in the mountains, while Witkowski lands safely at an alternate base. Later, they learn Lyons parachuted to safety.

Back at base, Witkowski’s progress earns him praise from senior officers, even as his father remains disappointed by his choice not to take another assignment. In the end, he is picked for a Europe-based unit and shares a bittersweet farewell with Mary as he prepares for the next chapter.