- Throwing a party for Klink, the prisoners use the party balloons to get weather information.
- Hogan receives information of a planned aerial attack on a new hydro-electric dam and is ordered to provide daily wind direction data. He then fabricates an anniversary party for Colonel Klink for the sole purpose of justifying the balloons needed to acquire the needed information. Meanwhile, General Burkhalter, who is at the dam developing security protocols, telephones Klink to warn him that unauthorized radio transmissions have been detected in the local area. He goes on to demand that Klink be extra diligent in observing prisoner activity for anything out of the normal. The tightened security necessitates the need for the Heroes to create a more elaborate scheme.—Harry Tumilson
- At the start, prisoners are playing a volleyball game in the compound. Klink, Schultz, and General Burkhalter come out of Klink's office. Klink talks to Burkhalter about physical fitness for the prisoners. Kinchloe comes up and wants to see Hogan - a message came in for Hogan. Hogan calls the game over, and the men complain and start to go into the barracks. Schultz says that the exercise period is not over. The message is that there is going to be a bombing of a hydroelectric plant in the area, and London wants daily weather reports. They will need weather balloons; Hogan smiles as he holds a volleyball.
Burkhalter leaves camp in his car, with Klink talking about a promotion. Hogan asks Klink to show the men the 'finer points of volleyball'. He talks Klink into participating in a volleyball game. LeBeau brings out a volleyball, holding it so it doesn't fly away because it has been filled with helium. Klink serves the ball, and the ball goes up, and up, and disappears. Klink did not think that he was so strong. While this is taking place, Carter and Kinch are behind the barracks, Carter bending over to reveal a tracking telescope on his back, with Kinch taking bearing readings on the volleyball as it goes up.
Hogan wants balloons from the non-commissioned officers' party. Hogan, Klink, and Newkirk are in Klink's office, with Klink telling Newkirk to wait on tables in the camp German non-commissioned officers' club. Newkirk is ordered to do this by Klink, after some conniving and convincing from Hogan, who told Klink that Newkirk showed some disrespect to some German NCOs.
Newkirk is seen in the NCO club, searching cabinets, and finally finding balloons. Schultz is in the NCO club drinking with some others; as he leaves, he runs into Klink. There is some discussion on Newkirk, and Schultz says that Newkirk has showed no disrespect toward German NCOs.
Hogan brings the balloons back to the barracks. Klink walks into the barracks and sees the balloons. Having been caught, Hogan makes up the story about Friday night, they are going to have an anniversary party of Klink taking command of the camp. Klink, not yet remembering what day he took command, agrees to the party. LeBeau will make apple crumb cake - Klink's favorite.
Later, Newkirk and Carter are in the motor-pool, and LeBeau comes in with balloons. The balloons are released and float off. Carter is bending over again with the tracking telescope on his back, and Newkirk taking measurements. This information is eventually sent to London.
London sends a message back that they need more information. Hogan and Newkirk go to Klink's office, to talk about the party. Hogan wants to know what the weather is going to be like on the day of the party, so Klink has Hilda call the meteorological office. Klink asks for the weather report for tomorrow. The barometer will by 29.12 (inches), stratus clouds at 3000 meters, wind 12 knots and clearing (wind direction not stated). Hogan and Newkirk leave, Hogan satisfied that he got the information he wanted. Then there is a call from Burkhalter; there are unauthorized radio transmissions from the area, and he wants security precautions taken.
The next day, outside, Schultz comes to Hogan and takes balloons. Hogan says 'Good morning, Colonel Klink' and salutes. Schultz releases the balloons, turns around, salutes, and does not see Klink. This was just a pretext to get Schultz to release the balloons. Again, behind the barracks, Carter is bending over showing the tracking telescope, with Newkirk taking readings on the balloons.
In Klink's office, Klink and Schultz are there. Klink is getting suspicious; he says that Hogan is planning something. Klink says that he is going to play 'pin the tail on the donkey', only this time Hogan will be the donkey. Klink says that he looked at the records, and his anniversary there has 4 months to go.
That Friday, at the party, Klink and some prisoners are in party hats. Klink blows out candles on a cake. Klink asks about one prisoner who is missing - Kinchloe. Hogan says that he couldn't make it. Actually, Kinch is sending the weather information to London. Klink says that if Kinchloe can't come to the party, the party will go to Kinchloe. He is moving the party to the barracks.
When Klink and the others get to the barracks, they see Kinch cranking a bucket. It is really the power for the radio transmitter, but he says that it is an ice cream maker. Klink has the guards shoot the barrel, thinking it is a radio transmitter (it really is, but Klink does not know that). Klink was told that the barrel had ice cream, pistachio, Klink's favorite flavor. After Klink and the guards leave, Hogan talks with Kinch about the radio that was shot up. Kinch says that he might have enough power for 1 more transmission. Hogan tells Kinch to radio London to switch to the German radio at 1000 that evening. Hogan has an idea on how to guide the bombers to their target.
Back at the party in the recreation hall, Klink and the prisoners are dancing. Klink suggests singing 'Ach du Lieber Augustine', so the men start singing it. At 1000, Hogan suggests to Klink that he call Burkhalter. Klink then suggests singing 'Lily Marlene'. Klink makes a phone call, but it is intercepted by Newkirk on a switchboard; he tells Klink in a German accent that the phone lines are down. Klink then calls Burkhalter on the radio. As they are talking, Burkhalter is annoyed at Klink calling him. The bombers home in on the radio signal from the hydroelectric plant where Burkhalter is and bomb the place. Hogan and the men start singing 'My Buddy'. The bombers hit the dam, and Burkhalter hangs up. There are explosions, and the table the radio is on gets knocked over.
At the end, an injured Burkhalter goes to Klink's office, mad at Klink for what he has done. Hogan comes in to protest Klink's conduct. Hogan says that Klink was trying to save the dam by homing the bombers to him and not the dam, endangering the prisoners in the camp. Hogan says that if Klink wants to commit suicide, let him, but not take the prisoners with him. Hogan asks how many bombers were shot down; Klink replies none. Hogan says that Klink did better - he shot down a whole freezer full of pistachio.
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