Receiving a "Dear John" letter from his hometown girlfriend Mary Jane, Sgt. Carter asks Col. Hogan's permission to escape from Stalag 17. Hogan allows him to do so -- on the proviso that Carter help out on one final sabotage mission. As it turns out, however, Carter is happier as a POW than as a scorned sweetheart. Written by Laurence Marks, "Request Permission to Escape" originally aired on April 29, 1966, as the final episode of Hogan's Heroes' first season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi