Command Decision

An officer needs to choose whether to disobey orders that could cost innocent lives…

The Tunnel

Colonel Hogan was talking to the Lieutenant who was shot down a day ago and brought to Stalag 13 via Oskar Schnitzer's taxi service, aka the dog truck.

''Sir, Second Lieutenant John Scripps, 13th Photographic Squadron, USAAF. Based out of RAF Mount Farm.'' The young pilot saluted. He had just come in from the tunnel that began from the dog kennel. Underneath the doghouse.

''Colonel Robert Hogan, Senior Prisoner of War Officer. And branch manager of the local Traveller's Aid Society.'' He returned the Lieutenant's salute.

''Welcome to the Adolf Hitler Biltmore, Lieutenant Scripps. Not much to look at, I admit. But it's home, not so sweet home for the time being. And our innkeeper isn't too genial. As you can see, the housekeeper hasn't been here in ages.''

Laughter from the other Heroes...

''How was the ride, Lieutenant Scripps? Not a Yellow Cab or limousine service, I'm afraid.''

'Interesting to say the least, sir.''

''For a while I was wondering what was going on. I hit the silk and was stuck in a tree for most of the day. Then was cut down from my chute by friendly Germans. They said they were members of the Underground.''

''I was taken to a house owned by a veterinarian. Didn't look too friendly at first, but then he offered me some food and alcohol. Given a boiled potato, some sausage, black bread, and 2 shots of schnapps.'' Lieutenant Scripps answered.

At least you got something to drink and eat, thought Colonel Hogan. They didn't give me anything at the Dulag my first night.

''And then I'm put into a dog truck full of German shepherds. Thought they were going to maul me. Darned thing was those dogs were more like Rin Tin Tin. Pretty much licked me nearly to death.'' Lieutenant Scripps chuckled.

''Schnitzer trains the dogs well. They don't care for Germans. Especially ones wearing a German military uniform.'' the Colonel answered.

''And sir, your tunnel system is amazing. My father is a civil engineer for the City of New York. Works with the subway. He would love this.'' Scripps replied.

''Well Lieutenant, it keeps us out of trouble. Idle hands are the work of the devil. And let's go topside.''

Barracks 2

''Coffee, Lieutenant? asked the little French corporal holding the pot and a cup. ''The good stuff. Not Ersatz.''

''Er, what?'' Lieutenant Scripps looked confused...

''Ersatz means substitute or replacement in German, Lieutenant. The Krauts always give us fake coffee. They make it out of acorns, chicory, and beechnuts. We have our sources for procuring real coffee'' Kinch chimed in.

''Yes and when the Guv'ner has real coffee, he usually gives it to his bird in the commandant's office.'' Newkirk was grousing. ''I prefer a cuppa tea meself. Tea leaves, not in a bloody bag.''

''Look at what I just built!'' Carter was exclaiming. ''The Gonculator 2.0. Hassenpfeffer was getting lonely and I wanted to find him a friend.''

''Carter, make sure it isn't a lady friend. We don't want to be overrun by baby Hassenpfeffers. Fibonacci numbers.'' Hogan was at times exasperated by the kid who was a genius at chemistry, but naive as well.

Lieutenant John Scripps was wondering what in the world was going on. An unusual crew, these prisoners of war.

The Germans in the Underground said he would be in England within a week. How this bunch would get him there was a mystery.

''Kinch, get on the radio and contact London. Going to arrange a sub pick up for you. Fake papers, money, the works. You will be back with your squadron the day after tomorrow. That's the plan, Lieutenant.'' was the Colonel's response.

Scripps was really wondering what was going now. Arranging for a submarine. In the middle of Germany?

Hogan's office 30 minutes later with Lieutenant Scripps-Along with his second in command

''Colonel, Sergeant, let me tell you about my mission.''

'I was on a reconnaissance flight over Nuremberg.'' Lieutenant Scripps began his account.

MAN plant, thought Hogan. Tanks-Panther tanks.

''I finished my pass over the factory and had 5 minutes worth of film left in my camera. So I decided to follow the railroad tracks. To the main railway yard. Saw an interesting train. Did one more pass when the right engine on my F-5 cut out.''

''Not enough fuel to make it back to England on one engine, so I figured I might try an emergency landing at Ramitelli.''

''Then an FW190 took out the left engine of my plane. Had to bail out. You know the rest sir.''

''OK, Lieutenant, get some rest. You can sleep on my bunk for now. Guards won't find you there.''

''Thank you sir, but I can't sleep. That train. It was carrying something out of Flash Gordon. Looked like Ming the Merciless' invasion fleet. Rows and rows of rockets on train cars. Heading north.'' The Lieutenant's words were a surprise to Hogan.

Hogan gasped. The Wunderwaffe that could win the war for Germany. V-1 and V-2 rockets. That train had to be stopped.

''Kinch, send a message to London now. Priority. If any of those rockets make it to their launch sites, there will be hell to pay''.

''London replied 15 minutes ago. An SOE agent working undercover in the Nuremberg railroad yards has the schedule for the train transporting the rockets.''

''Why didn't they order an air strike?'' the Colonel inquired.

''Not enough time. Train just left and is going through rural Bavaria now. Our intelligence network doesn't go that far. But guess what sir?''

Hogan didn't want to know. Something seemed seriously wrong.

Kinch continued. The news was stunning.

''The train is stopping to take on more coal and water in Flensheim. And will pass through Hammelburg. Tonight. 2300 hours on the dot.''

''London's orders are to take out that train. Blow it up.''

The Colonel was shocked at the orders. And rightly so.

''Good God Kinch! With all that high explosive and fuel, blowing up the train will destroy all of Hammelburg. As well as a good chunk of Flensheim as well.''

We will end up killing civilians. And people we work with. Schnitzer, Oskar Danzig, Red Riding Hood, Max the greengrocer, Lily Frankel, the Wagners. The entire Hammelburg Underground! Hogan thought with horror.

''Not to mention most of Stalag 13… Kinch, I am refusing these orders. Tell London it's a no-go. They can take the train out themselves. Via an air raid in an unpopulated area. But under no circumstances do we blow up the train in town! We are not the SS!''

''Colonel, refusing orders in wartime is a court-martial offense. These are legitimate orders. Taking out a military target is allowed. But I don't like it either. Collateral damage is never a good thing.'' Kinch replied...

''Kinch, send a message on the radio with my decision. And I'll tell London that I will be resigning my position as commanding officer of this outfit. As of this minute.''

''Get the boys together and I'll make the announcement… if Pops reads my message, he will back me up. And if Robbie finds out as well, maybe a squadron of Mosquitos could do the job.''

The notes as usual

Might end this story at this point. Keeping it as is since that may have more of an impact.

I had to Google it up, but ersatz coffee was actually composed of the ingredients mentioned in my story.

Obviously questioning legitimate military orders in wartime is a court martial offense. But Hogan is aware of what the collateral damage would be to innocent civilians as well as members of the Underground. As well as Kinch.

As far as I know, V-1 and V-2 missiles were transported by truck and armed/fueled at their launch sites. Transporting them armed and fueled via train is not feasible. But makes this story more gripping.

Wanted to change the reference of rockets from Buck Rogers to Flash Gordon. As Buck Rogers was mentioned in 'I Look Better in Basic Black.'

The F-5 was the photo reconnaissance version of the P-38 fighter. Had cameras instead of armament and depended on speed to evade enemy fighters.

Lieutenant Scripps' unit and base are real. He of course is not.

The MAN factory in Nuremberg is still extant today, I believe. During the war it built tanks.

Ramitelli was an American airbase in Italy. The famous Red Tails-the Tuskegee Airmen were based at Ramitelli during the war.

Hopefully General Tillman Walters and Group Captain Roberts save our Colonel. And DeHavilland Mosquitoes are effective at precision low level bombing missions.