The young genius stared at the ceiling and the two army generals waited for his next comment. Brand, did not smile but closed his eyes and then opened them as if he had seen more answers to his questions. “General, it would require a large portion of Allied air forces being prepared for great losses, because it would necessitate mauling the Luftwaffe to the extent that they would have to pull forces from the East as well. An attack like this would require two divisions with at least three in reserve.”
Brand looked at Jameson who smiled back, encouraging him to continue his analysis. “I would imagine that it would pull German troops from all of France, the Low Countries, and even Norway. The fear that Hitler must have is a two-front war, and from his experience in the last war, he realizes the problem of holding on one front and attacking another. This would probably work in giving the Russians time to rebuild, but I would estimate a fifty percent attrition rate for our people and supplies. Could we hold a city like Cherbourg or perhaps La Rochelle? I doubt we could hold out for long. But if we were afraid that we would lose a Russian multi-million-man army to the enemy, then it is a loss we must incur.”
Smith wondered if the young scientist had seen the war scenarios played out by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the past month. The young scientist with no military training had just outlined Operation Sledgehammer, which was a last-ditch effort to intervene on behalf of the Russians to keep them in the war.
Eisenhower looked at Jameson and said, “Captain, your young protégé just figured out one of our war plans in five minutes which took a team of over 140 officers on both sides of the Atlantic thirty days to build and not as well.” Ike offered his commendation. “Mr. Brand, that was well thought out, well stated, and as I have heard before about you, offered without any apology or hesitation. We need that kind of thinking in all our efforts around here. If I thought for a minute I could get you away from Admiral King or the president, I would have you on my staff immediately.”
Brand blushed at the kind comment.
Eisenhower added, “But you have a mission as well, and it ties to both General Smith’s and mine. We want you and your team to look at what is real. Things that exist now or could be quickly organized. What is possible and what appears to be impossible. Who is thinking like you and who is sitting on their hands. Do not worry about the individual. I need to know. That goes for General Marshall and I am sure for Admiral King. If people are the problem or systems are an issue, please let us know. Do not hold back. If you hold back on your assessment Mr. Brand, it will mean the lives of countless Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen. It is time to step into the batter’s box, Mr. Brand, and swing.”
Brand smiled at the baseball analogy having been told about Eisenhower being an excellent baseball player and how he enjoyed the team atmosphere of the game. There were specialists on a ball team and many generalists. You had to hit, throw, run, and know the rules of the game. A team affair was needed in this war as well, and Brand sensed the concept of unified control was what was needed to make the war go well. Plans were great, but not everything could be planned.
The rest of the meeting went quickly with Jameson receiving a briefing book put together by Eisenhower’s staff, which included key personnel for the army and the army Air Corps as well as the locations of currently deployed American assets in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. The book also contained an analysis of the current Lend Lease supplies sent since the first of January and the items being pre-positioned for the arrival of American forces, especially air units, and support troops. One section profiled the British leadership the team might encounter, up to and including Prime Minister Winston Churchill. These materials were placed in a weighted bag that could be jettisoned in case of a plane crash or fear of capture. Jameson and Flannigan had been given more instructions in case of any downing of the plane or sinking of their ship. Those details were kept from Brand.
The meeting broke up with lots of handshaking and God speed comments. When the team had left, Smith looked at Eisenhower who had lit another cigarette, saying, “Ike, that is one smart kid. Are there more like him anywhere?”
Ike puffed a few times, gazed at the glowing embers of the cigarette, and casually replied, “No, Beetle, I doubt if there is one more like him in the entire country. General Marshall told me about him a month or so ago, along with the most amazing story about how the president found out about him. Do you want to hear it?”
Smith nodded his head.
Eisenhower took another puff. “Beetle, have you ever heard of Albert Einstein?”
Coming Soon
from author
J. Eugene Porter
The Naval Odyssey of Professor James Brand:
Mission to Britain
and the
Brad Bayle Mystery Series:
The Container Affair
U-Boat Scourge Page 31