'The Rat Patrol' aired on ABC during 1966-1968. It is about the exploits of four allied soldiers (3 Americans and 1 British). They were part of a long range desert patrol group in the North African campaign during World War 2.
The show was inspired by and loosely modeled on the New Zealand/British/Rhodesian Long Range Desert Group. The title of the program refers to the nick names given to some of the small desert groups like 'Rats of Tobruk' and 'Desert Rats'.
Cast
Christopher George played Sgt. Sam Troy, who was the units leader.
Gary Raymond played Sgt. Jack Moffitt, who is the only British member of the patrol. The Character Sgt. Moffitt was the expert on the desert and on the local Arab Tribes, which inhabited it. Moffitt speaks fluent German and Arabic, as well as able to read some dead, ancient languages.
Lawrence Carey played Pvt. Mark T. Hitchcock. The patrol calls him 'Hitch'. Hitchcock is a Ivy League college man turned soldier. If you watched a few episodes you'll noticed Hitchcock often chews bubblegum.
Justin Tarr played Pvt. Tully Pettigrew. Troy calls Tully one of the army's best wheelman. The story of Tully is he grew up in Kentucky and gained his driving skill by running moonshine.
Hans Gudegast (now known as Eric Braedon) played the character of Hauptmann Hans Dietrich. Dietrich is a dedicated, honorable German officer. He is the Rat Patrol's main nemesis.
During the second season, the storyline required the absence of Tully for a few episodes. Three different characters took turns rounding out the team Tully's absence.
- Peterson-Darwin Joston
- Andy-Mac McLaughlin
- Bo Randall-Bo Hopkins
Facts About The Production:
- 'The Rat Patrol' was filmed in Almeria, Spain during part of the first season.
- The threes part storyline of 'The Last Harbor Raid' was released in some venues as 'Massacre Harbor'.
- After the first season, each major cast member was shown a prospective script in which he was killed in action to prevent the actors fro asking for raises.
- A jeep overturned, injuring Christopher George. The injury lead to a bad heart that contributed to his subsequent death.
- As was the norm for low-cost productions, other equipment was substituted for original ones. The German vehicles were substituted with American Patton tanks, M7 Priest self-propelled guns, M3 half-track and M35 2 1/2 ton cargo trucks were painted in desert sand colors.
- The submachine guns used by the squad by the squad were props meant to look-like assault rifles or Thompson submachine guns.
- Sgt. Troy wore a slouch hat during the series. When 'The Rat Patrol aired in Australia, veterans of both World Wars were critical of Christopher George wearing an important symbol of Australian courage and sacrifice. It was seen as cheaping and sensationalizing the memory and spirit of the ANZACs, who died fighting Fascism. Christopher George, who was of Greek extraction, insisted his character wear the slouch hat to honor the Australians, who fought in Greece.
The Rat Patrol-Take Me To Your Leader Raid
The Rat Patrol-The Fire And Brimstone Raid
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