On a mission, 9 out of the 10 crew of the Piccadilly Lily are wounded, save one - Komansky. Komansky flies and lands the plane, becoming a press celebrity. A wounded Gallagher puts him in for the Silver Star. Kirby Wyatt, the 918th press liaison, calls Susan Nesbitt, an American correspondent working for the BBC. She takes advantage of Komansky, realizing this story could make her (he rescued General Gallagher's son). Kirby Wyatt goes along with Susan. Sandy is very uncomfortable with the celebrity. He is kidded about being a jinx by Technical Sergeant Chapman, Major Benson's Flight Engineer. Sandy replaces him on a mission and has to kick a bomb loose. Sandy is awarded the Silver Star.

The 918 is on its 8th mission to bomb the submarine pens at St Nazaire. Major Kurt Brown, who leads this mission, has never aborted for any reason. Richards, Brown's bombardier, is badly wounded, and Brown tells his Navigator to hold him to the bomb sight. He completes his mission but is annoyed at the cost and argues with Colonel Gallagher. On eight missions, they have lost 34 aircraft. Later in the Star & Bottle, Gallagher asks Brown to drive Elizabeth Hoffman home. On his next mission (43rd), he aborts because his Navigator has appendicitis. Elizabeth tells Brown she is German. Brown is angry. He flies his 44th mission and is in a daze. Brown finally admits that he loves Elizabeth. Before the next mission, Brown passes out from exhaustion before flying.