A shuttle raid is planned by 8th Air Force commander Lieutenant General Harry Owen. They will bomb the Ergen Oil Works in Poltava Russia, and hit Berlin on the way back. A straggling Russian bomber joins the formation and does not give any recognition signals or responds to Major Baladin's radio calls. The aircraft is shot down by Baladin against Gallagher's orders. Later we learn that the aircraft was piloted by a Russian hero, Major Tobulkan.