Post by Diarist on Nov 27, 2018 9:58:54 GMT 1
When we landed at Gibraltar I was totally surprised to see Louis Mountbatten waiting for us. "Well look what the Gibraltar monkeys have dragged in."
"Good to see you too, Bob. I see you have a couple of new girlfriends."
"Oh, I'm outnumbered by you navy types. May I surrender if I buy the first round?"
"Of course, but we have some business to take care of first."
After arranging accommodation Louis and I sat together and I read the dispatches he had brought from London.
"Are you here as SOE or MoD?"
"Both. Winston doesn't want too much excitement here, Bob."
"I'm only arranging a naval transport mission. I don't want British warships anywhere near it or our Ensign to be seen. The mission is to move 15,000 Spanish troops from Ceuta/Melilla to Valencia and Barcelona escorted by the Spanish Navy."
"Pretty harmless. I could organize that for you because the boss has already approved it."
"Good because I want to get to Munich then home. Coordinate the mission with the Spanish navy officer I brought with me. He is working with General Franco. How's Sally? I haven't talked to her for a couple of days."
"She is doing fine. Prince Rupprecht pulled out all the stops for her in Bavaria. She talks about nothing else."
"I like Rupprecht. He's great company."
"I like him too."
"I've heard that we have a couple of prototypes flying?"
"We do. We've made progress on the radial engine too but it is slow progress."
"That's an important project."
"You'll be amazed at what we have achieved while you are away."
"Are you suggesting that I need to be away more often?"
"Never."
"Then let's attack the bar. I'm dying for a decent beer."
"Good to see you too, Bob. I see you have a couple of new girlfriends."
"Oh, I'm outnumbered by you navy types. May I surrender if I buy the first round?"
"Of course, but we have some business to take care of first."
After arranging accommodation Louis and I sat together and I read the dispatches he had brought from London.
"Are you here as SOE or MoD?"
"Both. Winston doesn't want too much excitement here, Bob."
"I'm only arranging a naval transport mission. I don't want British warships anywhere near it or our Ensign to be seen. The mission is to move 15,000 Spanish troops from Ceuta/Melilla to Valencia and Barcelona escorted by the Spanish Navy."
"Pretty harmless. I could organize that for you because the boss has already approved it."
"Good because I want to get to Munich then home. Coordinate the mission with the Spanish navy officer I brought with me. He is working with General Franco. How's Sally? I haven't talked to her for a couple of days."
"She is doing fine. Prince Rupprecht pulled out all the stops for her in Bavaria. She talks about nothing else."
"I like Rupprecht. He's great company."
"I like him too."
"I've heard that we have a couple of prototypes flying?"
"We do. We've made progress on the radial engine too but it is slow progress."
"That's an important project."
"You'll be amazed at what we have achieved while you are away."
"Are you suggesting that I need to be away more often?"
"Never."
"Then let's attack the bar. I'm dying for a decent beer."