Cloak and Dagger: Over Ground Railroad

Welcome to the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Cloak and Dagger. But first I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought in part by the financial

Are you willing to undertake a dayangerious mission behind the enemy lines knowing you may never return alive.

What you have just heard is the question asked during the war to agents of the OSS ordinary citizens.

So to this question answered yes.

This is.

Loop and Dagger, Black warfare, espionage, international intrigue. These are the weapons of the OSS. In tonight's episode, Overground Railroad, the part of Lieutenant Fontaine OSS agents who helped thousands of American airmen escape to safety is played by Lestremain, where he is suggested by actual incidents recorded in the Washington files of the Office of Strategic Services, a story.

That can now be told.

When a flyer was forced down behind enemy lines, he was just another fugitive, moving cautiously at night to avoid detection, fighting for survival. His shelter was a haystacker, a hedgerow. For food, he dug raw potatoes or turnips from the field, and in his panic he was always just one step ahead of the Gestapo, with no knowledge of the country and no friend whom he could turn. A few of

This is Major Davidson.

How do you do? Major lad maya Fontwann Before.

I asked Major Davidson to tell you a story, I want to say something, Yes, Colonel Johnson. At its narrowest, the English Channel is only twenty miles wide. Yet it took Major Davidson here more than a year to get across, and hundreds of Allied pilots all over France haven't been able to make it yet, and if something isn't done to help them, they never will.

But Colonel, with the Nazis occupying France.

With the Nazis occupying France, the channel is still only twenty miles wide. Our trouble has been that up to now we've had no contact with the French underground, no way of helping them smuggle pilots out of France. All right, Major Davidson, go ahead and tell your story now.

Well, I was shot down over the south of France coming back from a bombing mission.

The rest of the crew was killed of.

Just my co pilot, Johnny Porter, and me left. Yes, go on meet. We figured out am as are up. Any flyer forced down on enemy territory figures that nowadays. But we were lucky. A farmer picked us up and hit us overnight, and then the next morning a big black limbs drove up and a woman about sixty got out.

She took us to.

Her house in Paris and kept us there. She found a way to smuggle us across the channel with a fisherman just a few days ago.

Who was this woman, Major, Her name is.

Madame Annette Jobert. I used to tell her she meant more to the Yankee team than Joe DiMaggio. During the time we were with her, she managed to collect two more of our boys, but she has no way of getting them out of France.

Well, what do you think, Fontane?

Just what you think, Colonel for the first time, Olay says, has a lead a contact.

What you say?

This woman's name was Major A.

Jobert, Madam and Neette Jobert, and quite a goalto Colonel Johnson.

With her help, maybe we can set up a chain of way stations, established a shall we say, an overland railroad, collect our flyers and move them like chessmen right across France to the channel.

How soon can you leave.

Anytime? You say, Colonel Johnson? Anytime?

Oh?

By the way, Major, how will I be able to identify myself to Madamoiseeurbert? Did you agree on any cold word anything?

Yes?

Hey, yeah, a black lace garter.

I left London a few days later and landed the next morning on the coast of France. The disguised fishing boat let me off and I made my way to Paris undetected. It was spring nineteen forty four. I was going to know April in Paris, but not the way any American tourists before the war had known it. The red dawn was touching the roofs of Paris, the golden dome of the Pantheon. Most of the city was still dreaming of other better springtimes before the Germans came. Then the city started to wake up.

Aye, I smacked away?

Why I smack away alone? Bakers were at work through the windows, sweating the door. The waiters from the cafes were sweeping into the gutter the cigarette butts that their customers had dropped under the tables the night before. For a few minutes it was the Paris my mother had talked about. And then an official Nazi car turned the corner, and I knew that everything had changed me. I made my way to forty six for you, Dancy, where I'd find Madame Annette Jobert. Madame Jobert, Madame Jobert.

What are you doing making all that fucket so early in the morning?

People are still trying to sleep here?

Why I'm sorry, I'm looking for Madame and Jobert. This is her house, isn't it?

We it this her house?

Did you see her go out this morning?

Do you think I.

Have nothing better to do than keep an account of her comings and goings. But I did not see her go out this morning, and I have not seen her go out any morning.

For a week.

Just moved, moved.

If you take the trouble to knock your city windows.

Or boarded up, madam, madam, please, I've got to locate her. I'm her nephew.

Ask how good friends? The Germans?

Where she is good to the is stuffle?

Well wait a minute, please, I was up applying there. I had come to parents because I had a contact. Now the contact was gone.

There you are, Monsieur MERSI the first one in that cafe this morning. I remember other springs was always crowded at this time.

What is it for, Sieur? Do you not feel way something wrong? No? No, not not wrong exactly. It's just that I came to Paris to see my aunt. It seems she's moved and left no forwarding address.

But there is always one way to find her away.

What is it? You're the only to go to the Gestapo that they will do? You go to the Gestapo and ask sure? Why not? Always? This was in particular who helped us? As long as we got the help, I was sure Colonel Johnson wouldn't object to by letting even the Gestapo give us a hand. I beg your pardon.

I can't see them on the phone.

Wait a minute, I'm sorry.

Yeah, coming album blacklish at.

Coming on.

Now?

What is it around?

I would like some information, that kind of information. I arrived from south of France this morning. I came to visit my aunt. Only I discovered when I got here that she had moved.

What do you want us to do about it?

Well, I merely request her change of address. I felt certain it would be in the records of the guest stopping records.

The address are changeab address of anyone in Paris that's listed with us.

What's the name of your aunt, Jobert, madam, And that's Jobert.

Let me see your papers?

Yes, there you are.

These papers are heres intrigued me? Have I seen any like them before?

Something wrong with him?

On the contrary, they I figured out extremely accurately. Usually one thing or another is omitted. I congratulate you on your sighness. Thank you, sergeant, thank you, I commandant. There is a Frenchman at the front desk who is trying to locate his aunt and madam a natral bear. Yeah, come on, dan him in. Thank you, thank you very much. Sergeant wait, wait, one another thing. Your suitcase, my suitcase, and no one is allowed past this desk without having

It suitcase was filled with clothing, but there was a false bottom to it, and in the false bottom was a short wave radio. If the sergeant accidentally pushed the button, that would reveal the radio.

That is so slow?

About do you give me that suitcase?

Why are you having it?

Rocks?

No? No? Yes, yes, you see just personal articles I see.

Do you think I expected you to walk in to get Starpo headquarters with a time bomb? I short they've read on your suit just perhaps that's just the team.

I must check up.

A commandan's office. Hat down the whole first door you come to under at.

You sit down, Sit down, monsieur cigar. The wine soaked cigars are very good, Thank you, he commandant. I never resist a good cigar or a pretty girl.

You wonder perhaps why I am seeing you personally about this matter of locating you around?

Whatever the reason, Commandant, could I'm flattered or not at all?

Tell you around for me that I am delighted to render her his little service.

Fine woman, a delightful woman.

And a clever woman too. She's been most cooperative. Oh, I'm sure she has. Commandant Kurtz is most urgent. That I find her urgent, how urgent.

I have news for her about my uncle, her brother, who is very ill in the south of France. Pity it still over me that if she desires a trifle, I will arrange for the necessary permit. Of course, we are very kind, not at all, not at all. Hell, let me see. Ah, yeah it is.

She's boarded up our house at forty six Old dan Sike, as you know, and moved to another residence twenty kilometers southwest of Pels in the village of Torri Ferrot.

He here, yeah, right out, exact address. Thank you for your help, her Commandant, I assure you I will never forget it. I took a train to the village of Turiferout way, I kept thinking about Madame Jeanbert. The German High Command evidently considered her one of the most important collaborationists. We considered her our most important contact with the French underground. She certainly had someone food I hoped it was the Nazis.

Madame Jiebert is in here, monsieur in the library, Mercy, Monsieur Fontine.

Madame, comean, comean, Jessill you may go and close the door. Madame, come close, No, come closer. Let me have a good look at you. He yeah, it's quite far enough.

Now. What's all this nonsense about being my nephew.

What's the matter, Arvin? Don't you recognize me?

I've never seen you before in my life.

I have regards for you from friends, friends, Major Norman Davidson and Lieutenant Johnny Porter.

I've never heard of them.

You don't remember helping to smuggle them across the channel, Addie, this.

Is insolence of what are you accusing.

Me of being an important link in the French underground?

Nonsince, I know of no underground if there is one that does not concern me. Now go back and tell them at Gestapo headquarters that they have made a mistake, and they'll Commandant courts.

I am hurt at his suspicions of me.

What makes you think the Gestapo sent me?

Only the Gestapo knows my change of address.

They were very obliging.

They gave it to me, I ask you to leave, monsieur, I am very busy this afternoon.

I believe you lost this, Madame Joubert.

That luckless garto. Where did you get it?

Was given to me by Major Davidson, who says you mean more of the Yankee team than Joe DiMaggio. He also told me to give you a great, big kiss.

But well, bless my heart, bless my heart, indeed you still want me to leave.

You are as fresh as all Americans. Sit down, Sit down, thank you.

So you just walked in and asked bigger stuff for almost your good swine.

Oh I'd like to see their faces if they knew, Oh.

Come, come, come, Madame Joebert. Is that a way to talk? They think very highly of you.

Which is just what I want them to think.

We're the other two pilots now, Madam.

I deposited them in a monastery in the south of Safety, but I have no way to get them to the channel.

Look, Madame Jobert, perhaps you and I can establish a chain of way stations safe houses across France, and then the Osays can collect the hundreds of flyers were shut down and you can send them back to Safety.

Yes, how could I do that without help, without a way to contact England.

I have a radio in the suitcase.

Very well, in the morning we will drive to the monastery. The monks their friendly. They would be more than glad. I am sure to let us use that as a base to start operations.

Great, that's wonderful, Madam Jobert.

You had the kiss for me from mid Joe Davidson.

Where is it right here? Auntie?

Next see?

And now, young man, you will oblige me by giving me back my garter.

Yeah, yeah, she was quite a girl, all right, Madame Jobert. She gave me a suite of rooms to myself, got me a chaffeur's uniform, decided my name should be Claude, and in the morning we set out for the monastery.

Yes, yes, Fontaine a cloud. That is just what we will do.

Yes, oh, says We'll furnish each member of an air crew with detailed escape maps when they are briefed in England, pinpointing the friendly areas on the root of every mission. Do you think these safe houses will be difficult to set up?

Oh?

Not too difficult.

I think I know already of the home of his sympathetic parish priest, a church, school, a farmhouse, and I have many wealthy friends who will be willing.

I am sure. Why are you slowing down?

Nazi? God wants me to stop.

Don't worry. I have all the necessary permits.

I let me see a permit to travel.

Eh, you are this is a great inconvenience.

I will report it to my friend, Commandant.

Courts, Commandant Kurtz. I see you have his personal stamper on this pass. Where are you headed for, Madame Joubert.

I have business in the village.

Ah, I would suggest you do not go today.

Why not?

There's to be an execution at the square.

Not very pleasant, but execution.

What are you talking about?

We found thirty five tons of arms and materials that were stolen from German supply trains.

Found all that where.

In the monastery.

The monastery. I cannot believe.

That here, but it is true. And today they will be shot, five.

Of them, I see Cloud continue.

You may go if you like, but it will not be very pleasant.

Lord continue, madam.

So they discovered the supplies in the monastery.

What about the two American flyers you had hidden there? Did they discover them too? Are they among the five.

Quickly, drive quickly cloud.

We reached the square, parked the car and got out. The people were huddled in little whispering groups. At the far end of the square stood the monastery, and lined up at the wall were five monks, their heads lowered, their hands fingering the crosses around their necks. Facing them was a Nazi firing squad. Madame Joelbert grabbed my arm. What the want to do? I don't think there's anything we can do. Let this be a lesson to your people.

Off this village. This is what happens to those who five against us.

These five will be shot, the.

Other monks and the monastery will be sent to Germany.

You understand.

Heke a good look, lod you're lessened.

By wat.

Ah ah.

Madame Jobert and I went back to the car. But Madame Jobert, if you drive back yourself, what will the guards say who stopped us before?

I am an excellent liar.

I will simply tell him I went to see a sick relative and left you there to help. I must drive back immediately, As I told you, I am giving a birthday party for commandow Courts. I hope he does not live to see his next. No, you go to the convent. It is only a few kilometers from here.

You know what to do.

Yes, I know what to do. Madame Jobert, what do you think one of those two pilots who were hidden in the monastery, they.

Were probably found and killed.

But Lieutenant Fontane, we must go on with our plans. Some have been killed, lu but many gunn be saved.

I said good bye to her. She drove away. The Convent of our Sacred Lady was within walking distance. When I reached the gate, I saw an avenue of acacia trees leading to the great ornate iron door. The center panel formed the figure of the Virgin Mary. It was really spring in these gardens, a peaceful sanctuary in a war ridden world.

What is your wish?

I would like to see the Mother Superior.

Follow me.

I followed the nun through the spacious hall. It was part vestry, part repository of art objects. The walls were hung with darkened old paintings of the Holy Family in glass chests. Along the vestry, religious utensils of gold and silver had been stored.

This is the officer, Mother Angeline.

Come so you want me to let you use the convent of our sacred lady as a base for your underground operations.

Mother Anjeline, if you know the risk yourself and refuse. I can't find it in my heart to blame you, but if you agree, I want you to know first just what those risks are. Tell me, my son, I've just come from the village. The monastery there was rated last night. With my own eyes, I saw five of the monks shut. The others were hauled away by the Nazis. Only God knows where I know about that I heard

I thank you for telling me this. You are right, there's a great risk. I have many under my care here. They depend on my wisdom to do the right thing.

Of course, you have the other sisters to consider.

You came here today to convince me of your cause. I'm afraid I must disappoint you.

What's that you see? I what's the matter?

A German armored car? I can see it from the window coming here. I'm afraid so it is the first time we have been raided. I am not looking forward to them muddy boots in this place of God.

They'll find me, Mother Angeline. What can I do? Where can I hide?

They are at the door you rang for me, my mayor.

Yes, Sister Theresa, give my friend one of the sisters robes, one long enough to cover him, and a hood.

Women here the other sisters are They already in the chapel. Women here, they have thirty the afternoon aderation.

See that my friend joins them in prayer. Then then open the main door.

We have visited us.

I put a mumsch over my suit and went with Sister Teresa to the chapel. I knelt with the others. About twenty b divided by a middle aisle provided seats for the worshippers. At the far end of the room was a high pulpit. Many of the kneeling prayed with arms stretched out, symbolizing the form of the cross. The sister next to me clasped her hands and on her ring finger was the silver emblem of a bride of Christ. They prayed almost silently. Hers were the only words I heard.

Our maternal power of the universe, Mother of divine grace. Pray for us, our wisest virgin, our kindly virgin. Pray for us, Pray for the sick world.

Good sisters, these soldiers wished to serve the chapel. I must bow to their wishes and ask you to file back to your seads.

Leave now quickly and quietly. Please.

My head lowered, the hood covering my face. I got into the line of the sisters. I bent my knees slightly so that the robes would cover the chaffeur's boots I was wearing. I lowered my head even more as I passed the es as Hupman, who was standing with his men next to the Mother Superior at the door.

Oh good, the necessity of disturbing your prayer, mil Angeline. And after the unfortunate incident in the monastery last night, I feel it is necessary.

You may search this convent from top to bottom, as you are already doing. You will find nothing in this house of God to interest you.

I'm sure. Hurry, sisters, hurry back to yourselves.

They're really gone. Mother Arjeline.

Of course they found nothing here.

You can take that rope off now you look uncomfortably in it.

Thank you for protecting me.

I believe now, but we have not finished our condoxation.

Mother Arjeline, you told me I could not convince you about our cause you said you'd have to disappoint me. I took that as your answer.

Let me consult two of the other sisters. First. Wait, we am a mayor.

Our two sisters those in the sacristy. Send them here, please, Sister Celeste.

A few minutes later, Sister Celeste returned, followed by the two other nuns. Their arms folded and heads lowered, they shuffled into the room, and then all of a sudden, I noticed broad towed army boots protruding beneath the long black dresses. One of the heads raised, and I saw that he needed a shave. Mother Argerlie, I don't understand these men.

They are American pilot brought here yesterday when the monks received underground information that the monastery would be raided. Major Kerstein, Captain Lewis, this is Lieutenant Fontane of the oss Osa.

Said it's great if you got away of getting it's out of France. Lieutennant, Yeah, say what happened to Madame Jiobert? She all right, yeah, yeah, she's all right, Mother, Arjeline. You led me to believe I wouldn't be able to convince you of our cause.

Of course, not.

Son, how could you, since I was already convinced.

The convent of our Sacred Lady was the first link in a chain of safe houses that was forged within a couple of months under Madame Jolbert's leadership. We moved Major Kerstein and Captain Lewis along that chain until they reached the coast of France. They waited hidden in a farmer's barn while I established contact with headquarters in London.

Over two thousand more Yemen who were shot down and occupied France rode the overground railroad established by Lieutenant Claude Fontaine to safety. Thus, once again, the report of another OSS agent closed.

With the words mission accomplished.

Listen again next week for another true adventure from the files of the OSS on.

Cloak and Dagger.

Heard him Tonight's Clock and Dagger Adventures. Lieutenant Fontaine was less Romaine Madame Jobert, Brianna Raeburn and Mother Angeline Lily Valente. The script was written by Wonderfred Rolf and Jack Gordon. The music was under the direction of John Guard, sound effects by John Powers and Many Siegel. Today's OSS Adventure was based on the book Cloaking Dagger by Corey Ford and Alistair McBain.

This program was produced by Lewis G.

Conley.

The National Broadcasting Company extends its hottiest congratulations to Station wb EM Buffalo.

Welcome back. So our man strolled into GESTAPO headquarters with a suitcase containing his shortwave radio. And this is not the first time in this series that in OSS operative has escaped because he did something very risky and ill advised, but the Axes didn't suspect it because such a mistake would be so ridiculous, it was unthinkable. And it's important once again to remember that the OSS was not made