Sky High

Desperate for a promotion after being assigned to work three more years as a lowly tailgunner at Fafnir U.S. Air Force base, dim-witted G.I. Herbert Pumice seeks the help of his girl friend, base café owner Sally. She offers to ask commanding officer Col. Baker, who has sought her advice on base maters previously, to give Herbert a better position. Later, when Sally approaches Baker, he becomes so enamored with her that he schedules Herbert for an examination board assessment that Friday. Sally then returns to her café, where she performs an antic-filled dance routine to celebrate the good news with Herbert. Later that night at her apartment, while Sally helps Herbert study for the examination, Herbert answers the phone and discovers that Baker has arranged a date with her. Herbert protests, but Sally assures him that she is only trying to repay Baker for the favor. That Friday, after Herbert fails all of his evaluations, psychologist Dr. Kapok is asked to find Herbert's hidden talent. After hours of examination, the board finally concludes that Herbert should remain a tailgunner. Meanwhile, Baker assigned special intelligence officer Maj. Talbert to safeguard the new automated plane and apprehend the spy ring, which plans to sabotage the mission. When Talbert spots his old tail gunner, Herbert, on the base, he realizes Herbert bears a striking resemblance to head saboteur Muskrat Maxie. Talbert then asks Baker to assign Herbert to pose as Maxie and infiltrate the gang to identify other undercover operators on the base. Baker scoffs at the suggestion that Herbert could handle an intelligence assignment, but finally relents when no other solution presents itself. Herbert, disguised with a mustache identical to Maxie's, is ordered to mix with base personnel and report back to Baker and Talbert when he hears anyone utter the undercover operators' passwords, "Hello handsome." Later at the cafe, a saboteur disguised as a WAC named Lily Gaylord, spots Herbert, whom she believes is Maxie, and addresses him with "Hello, handsome." Herbert believes Lily is flirting with him and insists on meeting her alone. Once outside, Herbert attempts to kiss Lily, but is met with a slap. Later, with a little prodding from Talbert and Baker, Herbert finally realizes that Lily is one of the saboteurs. Talbert and Baker then order Herbert to make contact with Lily and uncover the spies's plans. Meanwhile, at the spy hideout outside the base, Lilly's boss tells her that Herbert has been impersonating Maxie. They then plan to lure Herbert to the hideout and expose him as an imposter. Later at the café, Sally threatens to break up with Herbert if he speaks with Lily again. Herbert, sworn to secrecy about the mission, is unable to explain his true relationship with Lily. Consequently, Sally becomes infuriated when Lily enters the café and Herbert leaves with her. Lily escorts Herbert to the hideout, where the real Maxie ties Herbert up and interrogates him. Herbert refuses to talk, but Lily's kisses force him to reveal that the plane will be tested the following morning. Maxie then attempts to change outfits with Herbert while the others climb into the jeep to return to the base, but Herbert knocks Maxie out and then joins the others, posing as Maxie. The next morning in the radio control room, Talbert and Baker prepare for the plane's departure. Meanwhile, the saboteurs have secretly hidden themselves inside the plane, leaving Herbert to guard the door. They soon realize, when Herbert's mustache falls off, that he is not Maxie. Herbert quickly locks them in the plane and flees. Moments later the plane, piloted from the radio control room, takes off as Herbert tells his commanding officers that the saboteurs are onboard. Baker and Talbert steer the plane into loops and dives, knocking the saboteurs about the cabin before they can damage the plane. After the plane lands, the saboteurs are arrested. Although Herbert is hopeful that his efforts will be well rewarded, Baker promises him an exciting job overseas with Talbert, as a tailgunner.