The British Army planning a raid called Operation Wildcat, unaware that it's a set-up. A Nazi anti-tank unit is waiting for the soldiers; as Moffitt phrases it, "They'll be cut to ribbons!" The Rat Patrol learns of the trap and are about to warn the British when a German scout column headed by Dietrich appears. The Rats attack the column and escape, but when Tully tries to raise the British, they learn that their radio was damaged during the battle; it can receive signals, but it can't transmit. Now our heroes can't contact the British in time... or can they?
The Rats are 50km away from El Jebel, the home base for a British traitor known as "Colonel Windsor" (Michael Evans), who broadcasts Nazi propaganda meant to demoralize American soldiers; his show can be easily be heard throughout the area. The BBC monitors his program, so Troy comes up with a plan: take over Windsor's studio and use it to convey their message. The Rats enter El Jebel, locate Windsor's radio station, sneak past a secretary and some German soldiers who are playing cards, and break into the studio mere minutes before the turncoat is about to start broadcasting. But just as the Rats are letting Windsor know what they think of him, Dietrich and his troops show up! He masterminded this Evil Plan to both capture the Rats and prevent them from sending their vital message.
The Rats are imprisoned in two separate rooms in the studio's basement, but then some German soldiers bring Troy and Moffitt a radio: "Compliments of Colonel Windsor, so you do not miss his broadcast." This is all the opportunity they need to overpower their captors and free Hitchcock and Tully; then, the team retakes the studio while Windsor is live on the air! A British captain and two monitors listen as the Rats and the Nazis exchange gunfire, followed by Troy taking the microphone:
More German troops arrive and cut Troy off; he realizes that "If [the British] haven't got the message now, they never will", so he and his comrades fight their way out of the building. Dietrich survives as always, but Windsor isn't so lucky: when he attempts to flee the studio, the Nazis mow him down before they realize who he is.
Later, the Rats confirm that the British did indeed receive their message and Operation Wildcat has been canceled. Since the Colonel Windsor show has been canceled too, they drive off into the desert listening to some relaxing Jazz music.
Tropes:
- Ask a Stupid Question...: In Dietrich's defense, he was probably just making conversation after capturing the Rats.Dietrich: You don't like [Windsor], do you, gentlemen?
Troy: Should we? - Bond One-Liner: A non-fatal variation when the Rats (seemingly) commandeer Windsor's studio and prevent his broadcast.Moffitt: Sorry, I'm afraid your show's been pre-empted.
- Deadpan Snarker: Colonel Windsor brings out the snark in the Rats, both on the radio and in person.
- First, Hitchcock MSTs one of his broadcasts.Windsor (on radio): Why should you Americans have to pay the price for Churchill's war, when Germany is America's real friend?
Hitchcock: Oh, we'll never need an enemy. - Later, when they actually confront him:Windsor: Has it ever occurred to you, you might be on the wrong side?
Moffitt: No.
Windsor: In spite of my broadcasts?
Moffitt: Because of them.
- First, Hitchcock MSTs one of his broadcasts.
- Defiant to the End: When the Rats shoot Windsor's engineer, his last act as he dies is to turn the volume down on the broadcast, hoping the heroes won't notice this when they send their message. Fortunately, Hitchcock sees this and turns the volume back up.
- Diegetic Switch: In the final scene, the jazz music on the Rats' radio continues to the end of the episode, replacing the usual triumphant closing theme.
- Evil Brit: Colonel Windsor, who betrayed his country to serve the Nazis as a propagandist.
- For Want Of A Nail: If Windsor hadn't insisted on giving the Rats a radio as a final insult, or if Dietrich had just killed them instead of locking them up, things would have gone very differently.
- Indy Ploy: Troy comes up with the plan to take over Windsor's studio on the spur of the moment.
- The Infiltration: The Rats carefully making their way through Windsor's studio. It goes very easily for them... a little too easily. Lampshaded.Dietrich: Tell me, do you really think you could sort of walk in here and take over the radio station?
Troy: The thought crossed our minds. - Karmic Death: Windsor is killed (albeit accidentally) by the same Nazi soldiers he betrayed his country to join forces with.
- Mysterious Past: We never almost nothing about Windsor's Backstory, from his real name to the reason he did a Face–Heel Turn. All we see is a wedding ring during a closeup of his hand.
- Near-Villain Victory: Once again, Dietrich comes this close to succeeding.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Windsor is based on the Real Life traitor called "Lord Haw-Haw
".note - Operation: [Blank]: Operation Wildcat, the doomed British plan. We never learn its specifics because they're not important to the story.
- Race Against the Clock: The Rats must warn the British to stop Operation Wildcat before it starts or their troops will be slaughtered.
- The Radio Dies First: Variation: the radio isn't completely dead, but it's useless for what the Rats need it to do.
- Stage Names: It's very doubtful that "Colonel Windsor" is the character's actual name and rank. It's a reference to both Windsor Castle and King Edward VIII, formerly the Duke of Windsor, who abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry American woman Wallis Simpson; both were suspected of being Nazi sympathizers.note
- Tokyo Rose: Colonel Windsor, a Englishman who defected and now broadcasts German propaganda. He focuses on how the Nazis are winning the war, and the Americans should stop fighting for Britain and ally themselves with Germany. Based on the Rats' skeptical reactions to his broadcasts, he's not too convincing.
- Trigger-Happy: The German troops blast Windsor the moment he runs out of the studio, not realizing that he's on their side until it's too late.
- We Interrupt This Program: The Rats attempt this, are briefly captured, then escape and pull it off. This is interspersed with the shocked reactions of the British captain and his monitors who are listening in.
