“He’s not going to. That’s his problem. And I told him about Castle Wewelsburg.”
“Why did Wallace transfer him?”
“I think (a) to get him out of the new DCI-Europe headquarters, and (b) to cover his ass by sending the other Storch down here. If El Jefe were to ask, he would say, ‘I wanted Cronley to have all the assets he needed.’”
“I hate to admit this, but I think you’re right.”
“See what you can do about getting them some really secure quarters. Really secure in Barbara’s eyes.”
“And what will you be doing when I’m on my knees before the Nuremberg Military Post housing officer?”
“Don’t go to him, go to the post commander.”
“While you’re doing what?”
“Having a chat with my cousin Luther in Strasbourg.”
“I knew you would have a credible excuse for dumping your commanding officer’s responsibilities on my weary shoulders.”
“Carry on, Captain Dunwiddie,” Cronley said, and hung up.
[THREE]
The South German Industrial Development Organization Compound
Pullach, Bavaria
American Zone of Occupation, Germany
0915 24 February 1946
Cronley had indeed risen with the roosters intending to get to Strasbourg as early as possible and was at Soldier’s Field before seven. At seven-twenty, he was at the threshold of Runway Two Four, cleared for a VFR flight to Strasbourg.
He had an epiphany.
Goddamn you, Tiny, for so subtly reminding me of a “commanding officer’s responsibilities.”
Then he had picked up the microphone.
“Soldier’s Departure Control, Army Six One Six.”
“Six One Six. Go.”
“Change of flight plan. Scrap VFR Soldier’s-Entzheim. File VFR Soldier’s-Schleissheim.”
“Six One Six, sir, you’re required to go to Flight Planning to change your flight plan.”
“Soldier’s, if you do this for me, you will be rewarded in heaven. It’s important.”
After a thirty-second pause, Soldier’s Departure Control came back on th
e air.
“Army Six One Six is cleared for VFR Soldier’s-Schleissheim and for immediate departure Runway Two Four.”
“Six One Six rolling. Muchas gracias, which means Vielen Dank!”
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