Chapter 16: D-Day is announced, and another body switch.
Note to readers: Before June 6, 1944, the Normandy invasion was known as Operation Neptune, not D-Day. Even the name of the operation was considered a military secret and was uttered within military circles on a need-to-know-only basis. I have used the term D-Day here and in future chapters for the benefit of present-day audiences.
31 May 1944, Wednesday.
The pilots were back after another successful mission of heavy night bombings. There were casualties, of course, but the rate was far lower than expected, and it was easy to get caught up in the general exuberance and a feeling that the tide of war may be turning. Radio reports from underground resistance operatives in northern France and parts of Germany confirmed the damage to weapons depots and vital German infrastructure as well as the untold deaths and casualties to the civilian population.
We tried not to think about the casualties or the countless civilians in northern Europe who were just as innocent as the thousands of Londoners and other English men, women, and children whose homes were bombed or burned and whose lives were lost in this global conflict. But what other choice did we have? Herr Hitler declared the supremacy of the Aryan race and all others would be enslaved or killed as his empire expanded throughout Europe and beyond.
It was nearly sunrise when the mission debriefing was held in the mess tent. Colonel Drummond had me attend that meeting and relay the reports I received from the underground to the pilots. He was careful to instruct me not to mention anything about the civilian casualties. The pilots gave a tired cheer after hearing about the success of their efforts from my report.
By the time the debriefing was over, the sun was up, and it was time for the morning administrative meeting. Agatha arrived with dispatches from London, pressing one envelope with large red letters marked "most secret" into Colonel Drummonds hands. She whispered something excitedly into the Colonel's hands before taking a seat beside me.
"What is it?"
I whispered.
"You'll see!"
she replied in an excited voice.
The Colonel broke the seal and tore open the envelope. His gruff facial expression changed into an excited grin as he read the contents of the letter inside. When he was finished reading, he started to put the letter down, only to pick it up again and reread it. When he was finished a second time, he carefully folded it and put it back into the envelope. He swallowed and cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen! . . . and ladies. What I'm about to tell you is top secret and is not to be shared beyond this tent. D-Day, known as Operation Neptune, has been set for next Monday, June 5
th
," he announced as calmly as he could.
That was only 5 days away. He paused briefly to allow the impact of that information sink in. Whispers were heard murmuring excitedly among the officers and staff seated in front of him. Like him, it was hard for his audience to contain their excitement. The Colonel waited until he had their full attention again.
"I shouldn't have to tell you how important it is that no word of this gets out to the enemy," he said.
"Sir! Do we know where the landings will be?"
That was Squadron Leader Porter.
Porter was the Nazi mole! Surely, he would leak the date of the landings to the enemy!
"No, Mr. Porter, I've not been given that information, and I'd advise you not to make any further inquiries about the location. London is taking great pains to keep that information secret. The success of the entire operation is dependent upon it," Colonel Drummond replied.
The remainder of the meeting was fairly routine, except for the very end. Colonel Drummond looked at me and smiled.
"Miss Spellman, would you stand up, please?" he asked.
I looked around cautiously before slowly rising to my feet. This could hardly be a public reprimand or a request for another report, not with the smile Colonel Drummond was sporting.
"It has been brought to my attention through Major Locke and my secretary Lois, that we have an ace pilot and a true hero in our midst. During our surprise attack yesterday, Miss Spellman boarded Lefftenant Lucarelli's P-47 and shot down three enemy aircraft, saving her brother's life and quite possibly this entire airfield," he announced.
The officers and staff in the tent gave me a round of applause. I blushed and was about to sit down when the Colonel stopped me.
"Please remain standing, Miss Spellman. Whether you're aware or not, you have the record for the second-highest number of enemy kills among the American pilots at this airfield. Only your brother has more . . . just one more, and he did that yesterday. You deserve an air medal for that achievement. Unfortunately, since you are a woman and not an official member of the Army Air Force, you are not eligible. I am sorry. I can only award you with our recognition and gratitude," he said.
He ended the meeting with that but called me over afterwards.
"I will look for some other way of rewarding you, but in the meantime, my orders for you not to leave the base still stand. As skilled as you may be as a pilot, you're much more valuable to me here on the ground. Is that clear?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I understand sir," I replied.
"Very well," he said, as he turned to go back to his desk.
"Colonel, sir?"
"Yes, Miss Spellman?" he replied, turning back around.
"For the record, sir, it was an instinctive reaction. I saw the empty plane and I knew we needed as many planes in the air as we could get. I never meant to disobey your orders and I certainly didn't do it for recognition or a medal," I said sincerely.
I was really speaking for Lee, who was in my body at the time. But I knew my words reflected his motivation.
"I know that, Miss Spellman. Like I said at the meeting, that is the mark of a true hero," he said smiling as he turned and walked back to his desk.
Agatha was waiting for me outside the administration tent.
"What did he say to you after the meeting?" she asked.
"Basically, that I'm still grounded and can't leave the airfield," I replied.
As we walked to the communications tent, Agatha changed the subject.
"Are you going to tell Amanda the date of D-Day?" she asked.
"You heard what the Colonel said. We're not supposed to tell anyone. Despite all that praise at the meeting, I'm still in his dog house. Besides, I have a better idea on how Amanda can help us with this information, although she's going to hate me for it," I replied.
When we got back to the communications tent, Agatha pulled a replacement jar of contraception potion from her bag and handed it to Amanda.
"You two look excited. Anything important happen at the meeting?" Amanda asked.
"One of the secret dispatches Agatha brought from London had the date of D-Day in it," I explained.
"It's about time! When is it?" Amanda asked, excitedly.
"We've been ordered not to tell anyone," I replied.
"Morina, I'm not anyone. I'm your partner and tent mate. You've got to tell me. You know you can trust me to keep it secret."
