Conscripted to the RAF for two years' of National Service, 18 year-olds Bruce Leckie, Jakey Smith, Matthew Lilley and Ken Richardson find themselves thrown together at RAF Skelton for basic training. They quickly become particular enemies of their drill sergeant, Corporal Percy Marsh - a vicious, dim-witted bully of a man thoroughly hated by everyone in the camp, but ploughing on and ever hopeful of promotion regardless.

Whilst the lads continue their way through their time in the service, they continue to fall foul of the strict rules and standards set by the RAF, and - worse still - find themselves, through a succession of unbelievable bad luck, continually dogged by Marsh's presence and power over them.