Writer: Ellis Kadison
Director: Robert Sparr

commentary: Gustav Luden, a radio operator, wants to defect, so he sends secret information to the Americans on a frequency that the Rat Patrol listens to. The Patrol goes in after him. They get inside the German base and, once there, find that Luden is being questioned by the Gestapo.

Jan's Notes: The One That Got Away Raid, a.k.a I'm called little Buttercup
9 April 1999

Lt. Loden, a German communications officer codenamed Buttercup, is secretly working for the Allies. However, he is not offering snuff and tobaccy, sugar and watches and knives, he is providing the latest in German codes and supplying information regarding German convoys. He has been a little too generous and has come under suspicion by the S.S. and Dietrich. The Patrol is orderd to get Buttercup out.

Dietrich is rather upset with Loden because three fuel supply convoys have been destroyed in the past month. When asked how he explains this, Loden replies it simply proves that the German army has no monoply on brains. I think we know that already. The SS say they going to take Loden to the Gestapo for a little chat. The Gestapo are great conversationalists aren't they? I always thought that the SS took care of their own dirty laundry. But who am I to quibble. (I wasn't aware that the SS had a presence in North Africa, but artistic license and all that). I thought Dietrich was lucky that he wasn't being hauled off as well as Loden, since so far he has lost a radar station, water supply, an ammunition depot, as well as assorted trucks, tanks, and other heavy equipment. Dietrich was very anxious to see the SS off with Loden. Guess the fact the he had been harbouring an Allied spy is another black mark on his record. Oh, the reason the Germans are all talking English is that the "walls have ears" and they didn't want to upset the enlisted men. God knows they have problems enough, what with their poor eyesight and hearing.

Meanwhile, the Patrol have hidden their jeeps and have commandeered a German truck in order to infiltrate the German camp. Moffitt is dressed in German garb and driving, while Troy, Tully, and Hitch are riding in the back. Typical back seat drivers, both Tully and Hitch complain about Moffitt's driving. It is a wonder they didn't have their heads poked out in order to point out the ruts, stones, and other assorted obstacles.

"Watch out for that rock."

"You're going too fast."

"You're going too slow."

"Get out of the ruts."

"Stay in the ruts."

If I was Moffitt, I would have threatened to make them walk. Tully gets his one and only line in this episode during this scene -- "Just whose side are you on anyways, theirs or ours?" referring to Moffitt's driving.

When they arrive at the gate to the German camp, the guard actually act like a guard. Instead of just taking Moffitt's word for it, he goes around the back to check out his load. Of course, this means he dies, but hey, it is a small price to pay for having brains. Moffitt takes over guard duty and Troy takes over driving the truck.

Troy, Hitch and Tully carry on up to the German camp. They arrive there just in time to watch the SS load Loden in to a German staff car. Troy heads over to the communication office to contact Moffitt at the gate and just manages to inform him that Buttercup is on his way with the SS when Dietrich points a gun at Troy's head. Boy, the Germans are really on the ball in this episode.

Moffitt gets the message, stops the vehicle, and by acting the conscientious German guard manages to knock out all three SS officers with the help of Loden/Buttercup. They pile the bodies in the guard house. There are now four Germans, either dead or unconscious, in this guard house. It is getting rather crowded. Then Moffitt and Loden head back to the camp in order to rescue the other three.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (sorry, couldn't contain myself), Dietrich is interrogating Troy, Hitch, and Tully. Dietrich announces that he could have Troy shot 'cause he's dressed as a German. Troy responds that that isn't Dietrich's style. Dietrich tries to intimidate Troy by barking. "Don't count on it." Sorry, Dietrich, Troy doesn't intimidate easily. Neither do the others when Dietrich tries to get them to talk. Tully says nothing (what else is new?). Hitch repeats the old name, rank, and serial number. Okay, what's his middle name -- Thomas, Thaddeus, Tobias, Timothy, Tod, Tad, Terrance, Tony, Thackery?

We also learn about the standing orders regarding the Patrol. They are considered something very special by the Germans. What are these standing orders?

An extended stay at the POW cap of their choice?

An all expense paid trip to beautiful downtown Berlin?

A meeting with Rommel to exchange Desert Survival tips?

An opportunity to provide the Germans with much needed target practice?

Unfortunately we never get a change to find out. By the way, check out the picture of Hitler in Dietrich's office. It's practically mural size. Guess they couldn't find a larger one.

Then Dietrich makes a big mistake. He is called away because someone just has to speak with him and he leaves two, just two soldiers guarding the three Rats. And he knows that Moffitt has to be around somewhere. He had brain freeze again. So he leaves, and who shows up: Moffitt. He walks in saying Guten Abend which confuses the two guards since it is only afternoon, and Tully kicks the gun out of one guard's hand and knocks him out. Hitch tackles the other, and Tully finishes him off. The four rush off, picking up Buttercup, who has been hanging around outside, and take off in the guard car. Dietrich walks back into the office, sees his men lying on the floor, and heaves a big sigh. He then brings the fact that the Americans have escaped to his men's attention. His men then valiantly rush out from their hiding places in order to allow the Patrol to kill them more easily. However, four soldiers manange to get on their motorcycles and give chance. By the way, Moffitt isn't driving anymore. Tully made sure of that.

As they head toward the gate, a soldier, who I guess came by to relieve the first, finds the guard house full of unconscious SS officers and calls in an alarm. He then attempts to stop the speeding staff car by jumping in front of it and yelling "HALT!" Yep, that would do it. Also, have you ever wondered how come Germans seem to stay unconscious for extremely long times? They certainly are not very hardy.

Tully strangely enough does not stop the car, and the German is forced to jump out of the way. He tries to shoot at them but has trouble hitting a moving target. The motorcycle four speed after them, but Troy has Tully turn around and play chicken with them. A grenade takes care of two and the other two give up.

The mission is an unqualified success because not only did they get Buttercup but they also got his wares -- the latest German secret codes.

My apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan.

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