Directed by: Jackie Cooper
Written by: Ken Pettus
Unlike most other episodes, there's no newsreel to begin this episode.
Since Lt. Don French (Jeff Mac Kay) has gotten his fourth kill, reporters come to Vella La Cava to be ready to write an article about him as soon as he gets his fifth kill and thus becomes an "ace."
Talking to Sam Gorman (Douglas Dirkson), one of the reporters, Lt. French mentions that some of his colleagues also have four kills. Besides, his father owns a couple of newspapers, so he doesn't care about getting his name in the papers. And then it dawns on him: it's because of his father that he's getting all this attention.
Major Boyington worries the journalist will distract his men. The major orders Gorman to pack up and leave on the next C-47.
On patrol, Lt. French spots a Japanese zero and tries to get his fifth kill. But they're running low on fuel. Boyington orders everyone to go home. Afterwards, Boyington tells Lt. French that he fell for a sucker's pitch.
Boyington didn't know Lt. French's dad was coming. It's not that Lt. French dislikes his father, it's just he doesn't want his old man this close to the action. Also, if he became an ace that day, his father would leave satisfied very quickly.
Mr. French (Kenneth Mars) arrives. In a conversation with Boyington, French père boasts about his son's accomplishment as a quarterback.
On the next mission, Lt. French shoots down a zero, but no one else saw it. Without confirmation, Lt. French can't rightfully call himself an ace. But Mr. French insists that his son is indeed an ace, upsetting the son.
French's roommate and wingman is Lt. Carter (Frederick Herrick). They don't like each other all that much, but they get along better than Lt. Bragg and Lt. Casey.
Mr. French tells his son that he's going to Australia to interview Douglas MacArthur. The son thinks his father is more concerned with rubbing elbows with the legendary general than supporting his son.
Lt. Bragg (Dirk Blocker) asks Boyington to become Lt. French's wingman, Boyington denies the request. Bragg is concerned that Lt. French might unravel because of his father. Boyington dismisses Bragg without answering Bragg's question about what the major's going to do with the Frenches.
The next morning, Boyington tells Mr. French that if he doesn't leave in the afternoon, his son's going to be grounded until the father leaves.
The next mission is a rendezvous with B-17s. Carter gets hit because Lt. French was too busy chasing a Japanese zero. Carter jumps out, Boyington tells Wiley to follow his unfortunate comrade down. Back on the ground, Boyington gets word that Carter was picked up by Air Sea Rescue.
Colonel Lard shows up and reassures Mr. French that Lt. French will keep flying. The C-47 comes and goes without French père on it.
At the Sheep's Pen that night, Lt. French is despondent. "I let Carter get hit," he says, feeling very guilty, over a glass of scotch (he's got the whole bottle, actually). Lt. French tries to punch Boyington but he's too drunk and sluggish to connect anything.
Boyington tells Lt. French he needs to work out this thing with his father. Lt. French interrupts a conversation between Colonel Lard and Mr. French. The latter is finally convinced to leave the next morning, as his son goes up on another mission.
The episode ends with a newsreel about Lt. Donald French becoming an ace. The newsreel mentions that Lt. French's commanding officer, Major Boyington, is a "triple ace."
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Ace Pilot: Major Boyington already, Lt. French as of the end of this episode.
- Alliterative Name: Boyington gives Harold French an alliterative nickname: "Horrible Harold."
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: The newspaper clipping about Lt. French's fourth confirmed kill consists of a relevant headline, relevant lead paragraph and at least two paragraphs of classic filler text that has appeared in many other TV shows, as well as in movies.
