Wings 1929

Jack Powell and David Armstrong, two young men from a quaint American town, find themselves as fierce rivals for the affections of the charming Sylvia Lewis. Unbeknownst to Jack, the lovely Mary Preston has long adored him from the sidelines. Both young men enlist in the Air Service to train as combat pilots, but their paths to love could not be more complicated. Jack mistakenly believes that Sylvia has feelings for him, while in reality, she harbors secret affections for David, declining to reject Jack due to her kind nature.

Once they arrive at the training camp, Jack and David are surprised to find themselves sharing a tent with Cadet White; however, their brief camaraderie is shattered when White tragically dies in an air crash on the same day. Despite the challenges they face, Jack and David transition from adversaries to steadfast friends. Their training culminates in their deployment to France to combat the enemy forces.

Meanwhile, Mary dedicates herself to the war effort by becoming an ambulance driver. While in Paris, she learns of Jack’s burgeoning fame as “The Shooting Star.” An attempt to reconnect leads her to find Jack inebriated and unable to recognize her. When military police unexpectedly intrude as she changes back into her uniform, Mary is compelled to resign from her duties and return home to the U.S.

The story reaches a dramatic peak during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. David is shot down and thought to be dead but survives and commandeers a German biplane in a daring escape. Unfortunately, Jack, fueled by revenge, mistakenly shoots down David’s aircraft, believing it to be the enemy. Overwhelmed with grief upon realizing the truth, Jack visits David’s side as he lies dying. In a heartbreaking moment, David forgives Jack for his tragic mistake before passing away.

Following the war’s conclusion, Jack returns to a hero’s welcome, but his journey of reconciliation is far from over. He visits David’s sorrowful parents to return his friend’s belongings and begs for their forgiveness, only for Mrs. Armstrong to remind him that the war—not Jack—bears the blame for her son’s demise. Ultimately, Jack’s journey of heartbreak leads him back to Mary, and in her embrace, he finds the love he always overlooked.