Europe, 1916: Baron Manfred von Richthofen is a crack pilot of the German aerial combat forces, a legend in his own time, a hero at home, and a man both feared and respected by the enemy. Von Richthofen and his fellow officers see their duels in the sky as tactical, almost sportsmanlike challenges. But when he falls in love with Kate, she opens his eyes to the fact that there is more to war than dogfights and he becomes aware of his role in the propaganda machine and senseless war.