Carter Meade is a crack pilot but cannot bring himself to pull the trigger on a machine gun. His phobia is a great embarrassment to his father, Colonel John Meade, commanding officer of the newly formed Sky Patrol. Tailspin Tommy takes Carter under his wing, determined to help him overcome his fear. On coastline patrol, pursuing arms smugglers, Carter is shot down and imprisoned on the gang's tramp steamer. Now Tommy must concoct a plan to sneak aboard, in a desperate attempt to save his comrade's life.
Sky Patrol was the third of four Monogram films based on Hal Forrest's popular comic strip, Tailspin Tommy. John Trent is joined by a strong supporting cast featuring Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards, Sr., Leroy Mason and a 25 year old Jackie Coogan.