Spitfire

Another truck rolled into the compound and the ensemble took careful notice. The heightened war meant increased prisoner numbers. Hogan wondered how many more men Stalag 13 could handle. Then he remembered that the captured men represented a percentage of the raiders who survived.

Death from above – that 82nd Airborne motto haunted him. While the paratroopers embraced it, Hogan understood it from a different point of view. You drop your eggs and you get the hell out of there. Along both routes, you evaded enemy fighters and antiaircraft artillery shells. If the foo fighters were about, ignore them as best as you could. Whoever or whatever they were, they merely observed and did not interfere. It sounded easy.

In the air, bomber crews saw the destruction as clouds of smoke. On the ground, it was a different story. Hogan remembered when he was in London during a bombing raid. He was trying to get to the airfield, casually until the sirens blared. He tried seeking shelter. Panicked civilians ran for cover. An egg hit a building and he ducked for cover.

In an instant, Hogan realized how terrible the destruction was when he saw three women shred to pieces from the force of the explosion. They were not in the building, simply in the road running for their lives. Is that what happened when he dropped his eggs? Quit calling them eggs, he thought. They are bombs – lethal things that kill people and destroy buildings.

The guards ordered the prisoners out of the truck. Hogan watched with curiosity. Six black men emerged from the back of the truck and one wore the silver bars of a captain. He did not realize the Tuskegee Airmen operated in Germany. He thought they flew missions over Italy and Africa.

LeBeau approached and said, "Mon Colonel, why are those men all black? Don't misunderstand me but I've never seen all black men captured."

Hogan said, "Tuskegee Airmen."

As Kinchloe approached he said, "They're with the 332nd Fighter Group. The 332nd loves dropping eggs on the Rhineland. I miss it."

Hogan said, "I don't get it. They have an impressive record."

Kinchloe shrugged his shoulders, "Even you got shot down, Colonel."

Hogan laughed, "That's true. What about other fighter groups?"

Kinchloe said, "The 99th Pursuit Squadron operates this vicinity as well."

Hogan said, "Those patches?"

Kinchloe said, "Same as mine. We're the Spitfires."

Hogan said, "We'd better listen in. I'm curious as to how the Kommandant will react."

As the men entered the barracks and set up the coffee pot in Hogan's office, the officer thought about the situation. Klink did not express the same views as Burkhalter. He remembered Battling Bruno. The general did not want a loyal German losing a boxing match to a black man. Hitler saw defeat at the 1936 Summer Olympics with the great athlete Jesse Owens, the man who singlehandedly crushed the myth of Aryan supremacy.

Listening in to the conversation, there was the initial shock from Klink when he realized he was addressing six black men. Instead of interrogating the men, Klink chose to render his famous speech. No one escapes Stalag 13. He summoned Schultz to find barracks space for the men.

Hogan said, "We'd better help Schultz."

Kinchloe said, "Yeah. Do we even have six beds?"

Hogan said, "I hope so. LeBeau, they're probably hungry too."

LeBeau said, "I'll take care of it."

As Hogan and Kinchloe intercepted Schultz, Hogan approached the officer and said, "Colonel Robert Hogan, senior POW officer and liaison." He extended his arm to the captain, who looked slightly bewildered at first but quickly regained his composure and reciprocated the handshake.

"Captain Al Cochran," said the man. "I take it this is home for a while."

Hogan said, "Regrettably yes but don't mind Schultz. I say that because LeBeau is cooking up some dinner for you and Schultz will try to hone in on the action."

Cochran said, "I see."

Schultz asked, "What is the cockroach cooking?"

Hogan said, "I don't know. Why don't you go help him out?"

"But the prisoners," whined Schultz.

Hogan said, "Kinch and I have it covered. You were going to put them in Barracks 10. We'll take it from here."

"There is monkey business going on here but alright, you can take them to Barracks 10," said Schultz.

Cochran snapped, "Monkey business?"

As Schultz walked away, Kinchloe said, "He wasn't being racist."

Hogan said, "Believe it or not, he's more of a friend than the enemy."

The men headed to Barracks 10. Hogan waited until inside before explaining some of the delicate operations of the traveler's aid society. It was a cruel thing to end up in Stalag 13, knowing one could not escape. One of the men pulled out some small radio parts from the lining of his escape bag.

Hogan asked, "What's your name?"

"Sergeant Richard Baker," said the man.

Hogan said, "Kinch, show Baker your radio."

"Yes sir," beamed Kinchloe. He went over to one of the sinks and unlatched the entrance. He braced himself as he descended into the narrow entrance. Baker immediately followed.

Hogan said, "Captain, this next tour may prove more interesting." He descended into the tunnel, and the captain followed.

Hogan liked showing off his tunnel networks. He had a variety of operations including the forgers and the smiths. Hogan liked Cochran. He grasped the situation quickly. After a few moments Cochran said, "You run a fine operation, sir."

Hogan said, "Thanks. We'll see what we can do to get you out of here." Cochran raised an eyebrow. "No one escapes from Stalag 13. The men who end up here understand that. Eventually Klink will want to transfer you to an Oflag. That's a camp for officers. Trust me, it's a good thing. Once you're on the way out, we'll rescue you and send you off to merry old England."

Cochran said, "What about my men?"

Hogan sighed, "They're enlisted. We can try but it's difficult. Do you want to stay with your crew?'

Cochran said, "I care about my men. I also want to keep dropping eggs on the Rhineland."

Hogan said, "I know what you mean. I'm under orders from London. This is my command now. If Klink never transfers you, you're stuck here and for that, I'm truly sorry. If he does, know that your men will be taken care of here. We look out for each other."

Cochran said, "Thank you sir. I'll take that into consideration."

Hogan understood the officer's dilemma. He never again saw his crew, in part because of his posting to Stalag 13 and his new assignment. Yet there were days he wanted nothing more than to bomb the German country.

Would this war ever end?