The 918th is now temporarily part of the 15th Air Force. They fly to a base at Bellagio Italy commanded by Colonel Yates. Yates is a drunk and misfit base commander, who once was the Commanding Officer of the 918th. The village overlooks the air base, Gallagher feels the base is being attacked because of spies who live in the homes that can see the base and call in and set the range of the cannon fire from the hills.