The Kill or Be Killed Raid

 is the fourth episode of the first season of The Rat Patrol. It first aired on 3 October 1966.

Synopsis
Posing as a German archaeologist, Sergeant Jack Moffitt infiltrates enemy headquarters to translate and destroy an ancient Coptic scroll which details the location of a coveted source of water deep in the desert. But when his cover is blown and he is captured with little chance of rescue, Sergeant Sam Troy is faced with carrying out a difficult order to kill him before he falls into the brutal hands of the Gestapo.

Moffitt dresses up as a Nazi archaeologist, Prof. Ulrich, so that he can read an ancient parchment about an untapped source of water. Moffitt reports to Colonel Schweiger (Milton Selzer) one day early. Schweiger tries not to let on that he suspects something is amiss, saying that the bureaucrats often don't know what they're doing.

When Schweiger says Moffitt's too young to be an archaeologist, Moffitt claims that his father is an emeritus professor of the subject in Leipzig. Schweiger allows Moffitt to look at the parchment. Moffitt says the script is "Coptic, Old Form," and that he's better at Sanskrit, so it'll take him a while to translate. Moffitt will work in a room under guard, his meals will be brought there.

Schweiger gets a phone call, letting him know that Prof. Ulrich is dead. Obviously Moffitt must be an impostor. Moffitt regretfully burns the parchment. Schweiger tortures Moffitt, demanding to know what the parchment said. Then Schweiger offers Moffitt tea. Moffitt hesitates, but tries it, and says "it could stand a spot more milk." Schweiger claims he doesn't want to send Moffitt to the Gestapo. Moffitt sees Schweiger's concern is not genuine, and refuses to say what was on the parchment.

Troy and Hitchcock are ready to help spring Moffitt at the right moment, but they must also accept the possibility that they might have to kill their friend and colleague if they can't free him. They have to change their plan on the spot when a German soldier tries to have a romantic interlude with an Arab girl on the same roof from where Troy and Moffitt are looking out from. They're still able to rescue Moffitt and escape.

The Rat Patrol find the water the parchment described. Before they drive to headquarters, Moffitt asks quite seriously Troy if he would have killed him. Troy doesn't know how to answer that. Moffitt lightens up and says Troy missed his chance.

Main cast

 * Christopher George as Sergeant Sam Troy
 * Gary Raymond as Sergeant Jack Moffitt
 * Hans Gudegast as Hauptmann Hans Dietrich
 * Lawrence Casey as Private Mark Hitchcock
 * Justin Tarr as Private Tully Pettigrew

Supporting cast

 * Milton Selzer as Colonel Martin Schweiger
 * Susan Dierderich as the Arab girl (uncredited)