While on patrol Pappy is accidentally shot down by T.J. He hits the silk and winds up on a Japanese occupied island. The squadron's morale hits rock bottom while he is MIA and Jim is unsure of his abilities to command. Pappy soon discovers he is not the only one trying to survive on the hostile island.

The Japanese have a new special modified armored Zero with the best Japanese pilots in the air. If Pappy or any of his men come up against them they are to disengage and get home. This doesn't sit well with Pappy or the rest of the squadron. Pappy pulls strings and has newly 'returned to service' Ace pilot Doug Rafferty assigned to his squadron. His father is an Admiral...but Jim remembers him from previous missions and believes him to be a jinx. Pappy won't have this kind of superstitious talk going around and tells Jim to keep his mouth shut.