"Sir! Colonel! We're going down, sir! Sir, wake up! Damn it, COLONEL!" The final screams of Phoenix's co-pilot were swiftly smothered by the sound of bending metal and soft explosions from the gas tanks as the plane twisted and burned, crashing through great, hundred-year-old trees before coming to rest, afire and groaning, next to a river.

Shouts and orders in German soon filled the air as guards from the nearby Luft Stalag 13 scurried to put out the fire and search for survivors.

Colonel Wilhelm Klink helped his men dig through the cockpit, where they found that flames had taken the life of one man, the corpse curled protectively around a small form. Corporal Langenscheidt crept down into the cockpit and dragged the injured commander away from the remains of his co-pilot, checking his vitals before shouting to Sergeant Schultz.

"He's alive!" The Corporal's voice arose from the remnants of the damaged cockpit as he pulled the commander roughly onto his shoulder, climbing back out of the burning wreck and passing the young American colonel to Schultz, who read his identification tags.

"Charles J. Meyers, Full Colonel…"

"Born on the 29th of April, 1916, graduated West Point ranked a full Colonel, first in his class. Assigned to London as Commander of the 134th fighter squad. Survived the crash of his P-51 Mustang fighter plane 'Phoenix' two months ago after being shot down by Luftwaffe AA batteries stationed in Hammelburg, the plane coming to rest a short way from this camp, spent those two months in hospital and is now assigned to Stalag 13 for the remainder of the war or until sent back to London in a prisoner exchange." Gestapo Major Hochstetter read out before dropping the file on Klink's desk. "An extremely dangerous man, Klink. I suggest you keep an eye on him. Do not let him escape."

Klink nodded. "Will that be all, Major, or would you like to further interrogate the prisoner here?"

"A few questions can't hurt." Hochstetter grinned, turning towards Meyers, who stood hunched over on a pair of crutches, his right leg lifted from the ground and his left eye covered with a filthy eye patch.

"Colonel Meyers, I will make you a deal once more." Hochstetter grinned. "We will give you passage to London if you release to us the location of your base. Are you willing to answer this question?"

"Meyers, Charles J, Colonel, United States Air Force, Serial number B343675." Meyers replied, loud and clear, over the top of Hochstetter's head.

The major growled and stormed out, after the customary 'Heil Hitler!', fed up with the Colonel's locked jaw and Klink's stupidity.