The B-17F ''Lucky Lass'', part of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 99th Air Base Wing (the "Diamondbacks") from the Twelfth Air Force is stationed at Navrin, Algeria in 1943. We learn in the opening reveal that air crews are expected to complete 25 combat missions before they can be sent home. However, losses are heavy and the odds are that only 2 in 10 will survive 25 missions. During a raid on Gerbini Airfield, Italy, with her Irish Americans crew, the ''Lucky Lass'' is heavily damaged and the (Pilot (aeronautics) "Pops" (Jamie Martz), and both waist gunners, Jake (Anthony Ocasio) and Joe (Steve Holm) are killed.