Amid the tumult of World War II, a British aircraft is downed and crashes in territory held by the Nazis. The sole survivor, American Brigadier General George Carnaby (Robert Beatty), is captured by the Germans and taken to a nearby S.S. headquarters. Unbeknownst to the enemy, the General possesses critical knowledge of the D-Day operation. Recognizing the grave risk, the British authorities determine that the General must not be allowed to reveal any information regarding the impending Normandy landing, no matter the expense. To accomplish this, they assign Major Jonathan Smith (Richard Burton) to lead a skilled commando team in a daring rescue operation.
Included in this elite team is an American Ranger, Lieutenant Morris Schaffer (Clint Eastwood), who is puzzled by his participation in an otherwise all-British endeavor. After a parachute drop claims the life of one team member, Schaffer becomes suspicious about the true nature of Smith's mission. The intricate web of secrecy surrounding their objective begins to unravel, raising questions about the deeper intentions behind the operation.
