At the end of World War II, young American pilot Felix Smith had to choose between returning home to a job with a commercial airline and remaining in Asia. Life in the Midwest, however, could not compete with the seductive mystique of China, so Smith chose to stay, becoming one of the first pilots to fly for General Clair Chennault"s Civil Air Transport (CAT). Chennault, famous as the founder of the mercenary organization, dubbed as the "Flying Tigers", late established the CAT to fly food and medical supplies into devastated post-war China. For over 30 years, Smith lived as a civilian among the local people and flew over 8 million miles on flights of mercy - flights that cost the lives of many of his comrades.