Chapter 11: The Re-birth Of The Operation

"He's been here for a week now and not once has he asked any questions about escapes. Something seems fishy," said Newkirk in a quiet voice to Kinch.

"You read his file. He's been through a lot. Maybe he isn't ready to escape yet because he's afraid of the consequences if he's captured by the Gestapo again. I told you what they did to Lieutenant Fowler. The Gestapo isn't fond of escaping prisoners," said Kinch.

"Speaking of his file, I think it's all made up. There are too many missing pages and time unaccounted for. No one could have that many escape attempts under his belt and now be too scared to escape," said Newkirk. "On top of that, he doesn't act like a typical officer. How many officers do you know who don't enjoy the power of their position, especially when it comes to exerting it over us enlisted men?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Kinch motioned for Newkirk to turn around.

"Got a problem, Corporal?" asked Hogan with irritation.

"Well we were…I was…How long have you been standing there?" Newkirk was finally able to get out.

"Long enough." Hogan sat at the table. "You have questions. Let's hear them."

Newkirk shifted uncomfortable. "You don't act like a typical officer. I was just wondering why."

"So because I don't follow proper military protocol you don't think I can be trusted. You use your talents to steal my file from Klink's office to check up on me. Now it sounds like I'm trusted even less because the Nazi's misplaced a few pages. Oh and to clarify something. As for why I don't concern myself with escaping, it's none of your business. Anything else you want to know, Corporal?" Hogan was a little more than agitated at Newkirk and it showed.

"Colonel, don't be mad at Newkirk for getting your file. I asked him to get it. There is something I want to show you, but I had to make sure you're not a German-American Kraut plant. Follow me, please." Kinch walked over to the bunk and banged on it twice.

Hogan's jaw dropped when the bottom bunk arose and a ladder leading downward appeared. He walked over in shock. "This seems pretty elaborate for an escape tunnel."

"It's not an escape tunnel. Scotty, watch the door. Colonel, if you'll go down, I'll explain everything." Kinch motioned for Hogan to go down first.

Emotion's of wonder and amazement flooded Hogan. His face lit up like that of a child's on Christmas morning. "What is all of this?"

"This is our way to help fight the war." Kinch explained the truth to Hogan about their former CO and what went on here.

"This is amazing. So all you do is gather intelligence from Klink or any other Kraut and radio it to someone who then radios it to London. This reminds me of a lecture I gave along with my CO at West Point. But you said it's only a transmitter. Any messages London has for you come via the BBC. Have you ever gotten in touch with the local underground to help get parts to build a transceiver?" asked Hogan as his brain jumped into over drive.

"You gave that lecture?" asked Newkirk

At first, Hogan stared at Newkirk puzzled, but then nodded. "Yea, it was a series my CO asked me to do on ways to harass the enemy if ever caught and unable to escape. This is the first time I've seen it in action!"

"We have no way to get in touch with the underground, except for our contact and we don't know who he is. Lieutenant Fowler was the only one who knew. Besides, we wouldn't be able to communicate with them very well," said Kinch. "I know quite a bit about electronics, but haven't been able to come up with a viable transceiver yet and our contact said it's too risky for him to get involved any more than he already is."

Hogan paced. "How long did it take to dig this?"

"A few months. Getting rid of the dirt was the hard part," said Kinch.

"If we work in shifts around the clock we could build a tunnel to the wood line in no time," Hogan said as he thought out loud.

"Are you suggesting an escape tunnel, Colonel?" asked Newkirk.

"No; a way to get in and out of camp," said Hogan still lost in thought.

"I think the Krauts did some number on him," said Newkirk to Kinch. To Hogan he said "Why would anyone want to escape to a POW camp?"

"What better place to hide downed flyers. No one would ever think about looking for them here. It will also provide a way for us to meet with the underground to set up an escape route. We can radio London via your contact to tell them what we're doing and request them air drop the radio parts we need plus anything else. We'll need anyone who can sew to make uniforms and civilian clothes. We'll need people who can pay attention to detail to make travel documents. Money. We could set up a print shop down here to print German marks to help the flyers while at the same time, destroying Germany's economy," Hogan continued thinking out loud.

"I think he's lost it. Prison life got to him. This officer is nuttier than a fruit cake," said Newkirk "How do you suppose we do all of this and not get caught?"

"We will all start being model prisoners. No more escape attempts. We will get the Krauts to believe they have beaten us and we are too cowed to fight back. Kinch I need to place a call." Kinch powered up the transmitter. He grabbed a piece of paper and pencil to take down Hogan's message. "Message for Big Bird from Goldilocks. Need following presents and a book to read to be air dropped fifty-three km south from our flat then twenty-three km west at 2200 tomorrow night." Hogan gave the list of items needed to make his plan a reality.

"You mind telling me what that was all about, Colonel?" asked Kinch.

"Big Bird is my former CO. Goldilocks was the name of my plane. I simply asked him for the parts we need plus a code book," said Hogan mater-of-factly.

"What makes you think they'll do it?" asked Newkirk.

"We might want to tune into the BBC later to see what they say," suggested Kinch.

HH HH HH

"The coach couldn't believe the request he received from his team before the thirteenth game. However their request wasn't turned down. The team will have to go to the birthday party about five kilometers east from original location to get their presents from a fan." Kinch disconnected the radio when the BBC broadcast was finished.

"You must have some connections to get that accomplished. Considering we don't have the tunnel out of here, how do you plan on getting out?" asked Newkirk

"Through the front gate. Newkirk, I want you to snatch a couple of uniforms from the Krauts laundry. Make one of them Klink's and the other can be any guards as long as it fits you," said Hogan with a grin.

"You're balmy! I won't get five feet before they shoot me," said Newkirk almost in a panic.

"Don't worry. They won't shoot someone who's taking Klink into town," reassured Hogan.

"You mean I have to drive Klink into town?" asked Newkirk.

"Not Klink himself, just someone dressed like Klink; me," said Hogan.

"Kinch, explain to me again why you had to show this officer our operation?" asked Newkirk then under his breath he mumbled, "Pick a few lousy pockets and it automatically makes you a thief."

HH HH HH

Newkirk and Hogan drove out the front gates as planned. Hogan gave Newkirk directions to get to the house. Once there, Hogan told Newkirk to keep an eye out while he met their contact.

They had no way to work out a recognition code, so Hogan decided to use the name he made contact with London with. He knocked on the door. A man in his mid sixties opened the door. "Guten Aben, Herr Oberst."

"Guten Aben. Perhaps you can help me. I am looking for a big bird. Have you seen it? He has some presents for me," said Hogan in perfect German.

"You mean the one named Goldilocks?" asked the man. Hogan nodded. "Ja. Come in."

Hogan entered the house. It was dimly lit by candles and a fire place. He followed the man down the hall to a closet. He waited patiently as the man removed a few items from the bottom of the closet then lifted up the floor. "Come." Hogan followed the man down the hole.

The sudden appearance of light surprised Hogan. "From what I've been told, you put in quite an order. We cannot fill it all right now. Some of the pieces are large and will be hard to sneak around. For now, you get the book and the parts for a transceiver. Unless you can discover a safe way to get the rest of the stuff into camp, you won't be getting them."

"I figured it was a stretch any how. At least with the transceiver, we can communicate with our contact and London easier about working out the details," said Hogan.

"You mind telling me what this is all for?" asked the old man.

"All I'm going to say is we need to get an escape route started. I plan on helping downed flyers make it home to continue the fight. I'd appreciate any help you could give me," said Hogan.

He didn't like being so open with someone he just met, but he had to trust someone on the outside for this to work and his gut said this man could be trusted.

"I will help any way I can. I'm Oscar Schnitzer. I train the guard dogs for Camp 13. Don't worry about them. I train them to pretend to be mean when they see an allied uniform. They will not harm anyone wearing such uniforms. I can sneak any message I need to get to you by using one of the dogs. I will sew it inside their collar. Make sure to have one of your men around when I deliver the dogs to hear the name of the one with the message. If no one is around, I will make them sit and pat their head before I put them in the kennel with the others. In case you are wondering why I don't use the radio, I try to use it as little as possible. I never know when a Nazi is going to stop buy to check out my dogs."

"I think I can arrange that. Would you be willing to smuggle people in and out of camp using your truck?" asked Hogan?

"It could be possible. The guards are scared of the dogs and don't check the truck. How will you get them to and from the truck?" asked Schnitzer.

"I'm working on it. Who else is part of the underground and would be willing to help on the escape route?" asked Hogan.

"I'm not sure, but will find out for you. You better get going, Goldilocks." Schnitzer helped Hogan upstairs with his box of parts.

"Thanks for your help and look forward to working with you in the future." Hogan went to the car where Newkirk was waiting.

"Got everything, Colonel?" asked Newkirk.

"I got the stuff for Kinch to build a transceiver. They won't give me the rest until I figure a safe way to get everything into camp. Let's get back to camp before I get to use to this freedom and decide to keep going." On the way back to camp, Hogan stuffed radio parts in different pockets. What he couldn't fit, he left for Newkirk.

HH HH HH

Kinch stared at all the radio parts scattered on the table. "Sorry, there are no instructions on how they fit together," said Hogan.

"I think I can figure it out. Thanks." Kinch immediately started putting the pieces together. A few hours later, "Colonel, I believe it's ready for our first broadcast. You care to do the honors?"

Hogan sat at the desk. He set the dials according to the code book. "Goldilocks to Big Bird. Come in Big Bird."

After a moment of static, "This is your contact, Kewpie. Good to hear from you Goldilocks."

A broad smile appeared on everyone's face. "Same here. This is just a test. Will contact later with ideas for the rest of the presents. Goldilocks out." When Hogan got off the radio, he patted Kinch on the back. "Great job. Men, this is the beginning of a whole new operation. It will be dangerous going out and bringing in downed flyers because the woods will be crawling with Krauts. I will not order anyone to go on these missions; strictly volunteers. If you choose not to go out, I understand. For now, let's keep this low key and on a need to know basis. Anyone in camp we don't trust or who becomes to nosey, I'll see about getting them transferred."

"How?" asked LeBeau. "Ask Klink to transfer them?"

"Something like that. I'll make up a good reason." Hogan stared at the two discarded German uniforms. "You know, it's a shame when you put something in the laundry and it gets lost." Everyone followed Hogan's gaze. He bent down next to one of the uniforms, holding it in his hands. "This may help make it safer."

"You can't be serious? It was bad enough to go out tonight as Krauts, but on a mission where there is a good chance of running into real Krauts is another story. What if we run into a patrol or something?" asked Newkirk.

"Only those who speak German fluently will be dressed as Krauts. I'll offer German classes to those who wish to help on missions. It may require listening in to a German conversation and we will need to know what is being said. If we are out on a mission, speaking anything except German will be disastrous. When out on a mission to pick up downed flyers, we'll say we're from the camp here, assisting in the search. Piece of cake," said Hogan.

"And if we're caught?" asked Kinch.

Hogan paused. "If we're caught, we won't have the Geneva Convention to protect us. The most we could hope for is a firing squad and pray they don't torture us first. If you don't want to go outside on a mission, just say so."

The small group of men stared at each other. "I'll do whatever you need me to do," said LeBeau. "I want to get back at them for Paris."

"Same here, mate. I owe them for what they did to London," said Newkirk.

Kinch chuckled. "I don't think they'll believe I'm a German. I'd only hinder the operation."

Hogan stood before Kinch. "You may not be able to go out, but you can still be part of the team. You speak excellent German and are an expert when it comes to radios. You will be our radio man. You can monitor radio frequencies for Kraut traffic and keep tabs on where patrols are located."

"Looks like you got yourself a team, Colonel," said Kinch with a smile.

"We need to bug Klink's office. Kewpie is working out fine, but I want to be in direct contact with someone who will be monitoring our frequency 24/7. Kinch, what will we need to accomplish that?" asked Hogan.

"An antenna as large as a flagpole," answered Kinch.

"What are we supposed to do, Colonel, ask Klink if we can put a flag pole up in the compound?" asked LeBeau.

Hogan thought a moment. "Isn't there a flagpole on top of the kommandantur?" The men nodded. "Simple, we replace it with our antenna."

"How do we bug Klink's office without it looking obvious?" asked Kinch.

"We do it the same time we are putting up the new flagpole," said Hogan.

"Why is Klink going to let us put up a new flagpole?" asked Newkirk.

"I'm still working on it. Right now, I want all men working on a tunnel to Klink's quarters. Let's go upstairs before we're missed," ordered Hogan.