American John and Scottish Colin are two twelve year old boys destined to meet on the shores of Greenland, when John's father's plane crash-lands, and Colin, on board a fishing boat, is called, with the crew, to help rescue them. The year is 1932. John is flying round the world, in a Sikorsky amphibian plane, with his family, in a great adventure. He has to leave his friends and sports team, and his grandparents, and his sister has to leave her pet animals. But they like the thought of the flying adventure. The plane lands in Greenland, and its onward journey to Scotland, has to be round the coast of Greenland, instead of flying over the centre. The pilot feels this is not so safe, and he is right. A big bird flies into the engine and he has to crash-land the plane on the icy shores of Greenland.

They make a shelter, and signal MAYDAY to anyone who can come to rescue them. Their food might run out, and the weather is getting colder. And there are wolves. Colin, meanwhile, has to earn money to help his family after his father drowned at sea. He learns how to fish, to be a deckhand, and to help the wireless operator. The MAYDAY signals come in from the plane, and the Skipper of the TEE has to decide whether to go to the rescue, or hope that someone else will help. He asks the crew. Colin eventually takes his place on the lifeboat, and they go in search of the survivors.

The story is based on the true story of the Flying Family and their rescue.