The B Negative Raid

"The B Negative Raid" is the twenty-first episode of the first season of The Rat Patrol. It first aired on January 30, 1967.

Synopsis
During an attack against a German convoy, Sergeant Moffitt is critically injured, loses lots of blood and loses consciousness. Once retreated to safety, Moffitt falls off the jeep and Sergeant Troy's able to stop the bleeding. But without a blood transfusion, Moffitt will almost certainly die.

Both Hitchcock and Pettigrew have type O+ blood, Troy's A+ and Moffitt's B&minus;. The nearest Allied hospital is too far away for the Rat Patrol to get there in time. Troy decides to get the blood from an unlikely source: a German soldier. With gun pointed, Troy sneaks into Captain Dietrich's tent and demands to see his personnel records in order to find someone to donate blood to Moffitt.

Dietrich helpfully explains that "Blutgruppe" means "blood type." Unfortunately, B&minus; is as rare among Germans as it is among the Americans and the British. But Troy's in luck: Corporal Pennell (Fabian), a cowardly American deserter "who ran like a rabbit" rather than fight (according to Dietrich), happens to have B&minus; blood. It's more convenient for Dietrich, too: he gets to give the needed blood without risking any of his own men.

But Pennell doesn't want to go: as a wartime deserter, he might face the death penalty. He has no choice in the matter, Troy leaves with Pennell. But Dietrich gives chase, this might be his opportunity to capture the Rat Patrol. Pennell suddenly finds the courage to lob a grenade at Dietrich and his men.

The Rat Patrol are able to escape. With Pennell's blood, Moffitt is on the mend. As for Pennell, Troy's willing to say that the corporal was just unfortunate to be accidentally separated from his platoon, and leave out the stuff about the earlier cowardice before the enemy. After all, in war everyone is afraid, even men who don't show it, like Troy.

Main cast

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

Supporting cast

 * Fabian as Corporal Pennell
 * Nicholas Koppe as a German officer
 * Manfred Lating as a mounted soldier
 * Peter Morgenstern as a German officer