Secret in the Clouds

by Christopher Cummings

  Wednesday meant cadets so Stephen took his army uniform to school with him. Classes went by with no problems and the breaks were enjoyable because he had decided he did like Judy and started to respond to her. ‘I might ask her for a date this weekend,’ he thought. Then he remembered the plan for an expedition to Black Mountain. ‘Do I really want to go?’ he wondered. As no-one else raised the issue he did not mention it.

  By then the plane was no longer a hot topic but Stephen did tell Graham that the journal article was in the mail. Graham merely nodded, his attention being taken up with eyeing off Rowena.

  At cadets there was another small mystery. For the first time Stephen could ever remember Capt Conkey was not there. “Is he sick?” he asked. He had seen him earlier in the day and he had seemed perfectly alright then.

  “No idea,” Peter replied.

  Stephen noted Gwen and Barbara exchange worried glances so he turned to them. “Where’s Capt Conkey?”

  “Don’t know,” Gwen replied, but she did not sound very convincing. That worried Stephen because Gwen was usually very truthful and he had never known her to lie.

  The 2ic, Lt Maclaren, took the parade and training went on as usual. Stephen soon found himself busy with three new recruits who had to be kitted out and fitted in to the platoon. As two were friends and wanted to stay together he put them in Cpl Russell’s section. The other was a girl so she was put in Cpl Clark’s section. On the dismissal parade Stephen felt another puff of pride. With seven people standing opposite him the platoon had begun to take visible shape.

  ‘Another ten recruits and we will be in business,’ he thought happily. As the platoons had grown steadily in every year he had been in cadets he was confident this would happen. Lt Maclaren again took the parade and later, just before he set off for home, Stephen noted the officers in an anxious huddle.

  ‘Something’s up,’ he thought. He felt sure it involved Capt Conkey and that worried him as cadets was now very important to Stephen and he saw Capt Conkey as the keystone of the arch.

  At home Stephen had another surprise. His father had obtained a book on German Raiders from the university library. As soon as he had done his homework Stephen settled on his bed and began to read. The book only had one chapter on the Kondor and he soon read this. Then he slowly re-read it, checking all the references to aircraft.

  To his frustration and surprise there were hardly any references to the aircraft at all. The first was a brief note that, while chasing a ship, the captain of the Kondor said that their Arado would have been useful, if they could have launched it. The sea was too rough.

  It was not until the Kondor was in the Indian Ocean that frequent mentions of using the floatplanes for reconnaissance sweeps by day were made. Stephen read the paragraph aloud, “On some days it flew two wide sweeps, and the visibility was so good we could keep it in our binoculars when it was ninety kilometres away. From the plane they could see as far again, which meant we could have a total search sweep of up to 180km out, a 360km radius. And every day it was the same magnificent visibility and the same perfect weather, so that we could set our Arado down with ease.”

  There was also a paragraph which explained how they always had the Arado do a circuit around the ship to check that everything appeared to be in order in the ship’s disguise, and also to allow the ship to check that the aircraft was in working order before landing- that it did not have a damaged float.

  Apparently all this was for nought. They did not locate a single ship. Then the Kondor moved around to the south of Australia and the weather in the Roaring Forties precluded the safe use of the planes.

  There were no further references in the book to the use of the seaplanes. To Stephen that was quite unsatisfactory. He re-read the page which mentioned the voyage into the Coral Sea and noted that it took only two sentences: ‘After cruising off Auckland the ship headed west into the Coral Sea. No ships were sighted in seven days so the Kondor made her way eastwards into the Pacific.’

  “Nothing there about spies,” he muttered. “But then they wouldn’t, would they. Even in a naval history they would still keep their mouths shut about secret agents.”

  It was all very unsatisfactory and only increased Stephen’s desire to know what the crashed aircraft had been doing. ‘I’d better do some more research,’ he thought.

  That led him to asking Graham, Peter and Andrew to help when he saw them at school the next day. Andrew at once reached into his bag. “I might have something to help,” he said. He held up a book titled ‘Who sank the Sydney?’ by Michael Montgomery.

  “This was written a good few years ago,” he explained, “and there are later books which disagree with much of what he says, or so my Dad tells me, but it has a bit more on planes from Raiders.”

  “Read it,” Stephen asked, his curiosity fired anew.

  “This is about the cruise of a raider called the Kormoran,” Andrew said. “She was the one who sank the Sydney. It says here that on 25 September, that’s in 1941, after sinking a Greek ship named the Stamatios G Embriricos, they had to use the Arado to round up a lifeboat full of survivors who had escaped in the night. Ah yes, here it is. ‘This was the seaplane’s seventh flight in all’. That’s in about six months, ‘and its single contribution to success of the entire cruise’.”

  “Detmers, he was the captain, complained in the Log Book that, ‘it could have amounted to at least forty flights with a catapult, as taking off is the trouble. All take-offs took place in moderate seas. Any rougher seas produce such strain on the aircraft until it has attained sufficient speed for flight that take-off is practically impossible’.”

  “That would be right I suppose,” Graham agreed. Several years earlier Graham and Andrew had been lucky to survive the crash of a floatplane so Stephen nodded and accepted this.

  Andrew went on, “It adds that the German Naval War Staff noted in rejoinder that ‘those’, he means the floatplanes, ‘of most other auxiliary cruisers were on the whole highly satisfactory’, and quoted examples of the Atlantis launching her plane twenty two times in the Atlantic in the space of two months, and of the Orion managing to do so no less than thirty seven times in the Indian Ocean over a similar period. They continued: ‘some remarkable successes were achieved, particularly in the case of reconnaissance, occasionally more directly- cutting radio aerials, stopping enemy ships by dropping bombs, firing guns, or dropping written orders to stop’.”

  Graham nodded. “I read in one of the books how one of those ships, the Orion, or the Atlantis, saved herself several times by their seaplane spotting British cruisers in time to escape.”

  “Could these planes drop torpedoes?” Peter asked.

  “No, only bombs,” Stephen answered. “I read that the Arado had great potential but that the Germans did not develop it.”

  “But we still don’t have much to go on about secret missions to spies,” Peter commented.

  “You are right,” Andrew agreed. “Not one of the books I have read makes any mention of such activities.”

  “But there must have been a few spies surely?” Graham suggested.

  “There were,” Andrew agreed. “But most German nationals, and even a lot of Australians with German parents, were put in Internment Camps when the war began.”

  Peter nodded. “They did that to the Italians too didn’t they?” he added.

  “I think so,” Stephen replied. “Andrew, why did you say there were spies?”

  “Because this book mentions some,” he said, holding it up.

  “Read it,” Stephen insisted.

  Andrew leafed through the pages and then began to read. “This is about a Japanese spy ring that was working in Australia before World War Two. It says, ‘Nor were their informants all of Japanese origin: although not considerable in terms of mere numbers, the fifth column was well organized and worked closely with the local Nazi Party structure; a list of forty one German names found at Tatura in Nineteen Forty Two was thought to have represented
an offensive nucleus in the event of a Japanese invasion’.”

  “Where is Tatura?” Graham asked.

  “I think it was a Prisoner of War camp in Victoria,” Andrew replied. He continued skimming through the pages. He stopped, re-read a page, then said, “Here it is. It says that the Prisoner of War camp for officers, a station homestead called ‘Dhurrigle’, was already noted by Captain G. Proctor, who was Officer Commanding Intelligence Investigations in Southern Command at the time as, “a Nazi hot-bed”, and the Party organization was recognized as being considerable. It says here that a search at Tatura revealed one internee to be a graduate of the Party School for Foreign Agents in Heidelberg. After attending in nineteen thirty four a further course at the ‘Knights of Epp’ Espionage School in Hanover, he had then been designated as the Party Leader for South Australia.”

  “The Knights of Epp!” Graham cried, “What a name! I wonder if that is true?”

  Stephen was now very thoughtful. “Does the book give this spy’s name?” he asked.

  Andrew shook his head. Stephen then went on, “If they had trained and appointed someone as Party Leader for South Australia, then it stands to reason they would have done the same for the other states as well.”

  “I reckon,” Peter agreed.

  “So the plane was trying to contact this man in June Nineteen Forty One,” Graham added.

  “That’s what I think,” Stephen said, “And he was in North Queensland at the time.”

  That was a thrilling thought. Then Stephen voiced his other thought, “And he might still be alive. That’s why the Federal Police wanted those papers, to try to identify him.”

  “Good! I hope they catch the bastard,” Graham added.

  “I’d love to know,” Stephen replied. His curiosity was now like an itch.

  But he had no further opportunity that day to scratch that itch. Classes began and he was absorbed into the normal life of the school. What did worry and puzzle him was that when it was time for History a relief teacher appeared instead of Capt Conkey. As the teacher came in Stephen nudged Graham and said, “Where’s Capt Conkey, do you know?”

  Graham also frowned. “No, no idea. He might be just sick.”

  “I hope so,” Stephen replied, but inside he had the feeling something was wrong. However he was unable to find out, even by asking the relief teacher at the end of the lesson.

  “Sorry,” she replied, “The office did not say.”

  During the first break Stephen again raised the question with Gwen and then Barbara but neither would tell him, although both looked anxious. ‘They know something,’ Stephen decided, but all he could do was worry.

  They also had the relief teacher for Geography later in the day. By then Stephen was sure something had happened to Capt Conkey but he was unsure what to do. ‘He might be just sick, or it might be none of my business,’ he decided. So he shelved the idea of telephoning Capt Conkey at home after school.

  On Friday the same relief teacher was there again, and still no word about Capt Conkey. That really got Stephen anxious. ‘What will happen to cadets if Capt Conkey is gone?’ he wondered. He could not picture the other officers putting in the same time and effort. The thought of cadets without Capt Conkey Stephen found a very depressing one.

  Also depressing was the fact that his parents had refused to allow him to go on an expedition to Black Mountain.

  “You can go in a couple of weeks,” his father said. “Three weekends camping in a row is too much.”

  “Aw but Dad! There will be nothing left! The treasure hunters will have stripped the place bare by then,” Stephen replied. The image of treasure hunters scouring the mountainside with metal detectors looking for badges and small items made him break into an anxious sweat. ‘They will find it for sure,’ he thought unhappily, picturing where he had done some digging and burying. ‘I should have moved it further away.’ But he knew that was a pointless worry. ‘If I’d taken longer Graham would have become suspicious.’

  That thought made him feel guilty. ‘I should have told him anyway. We will have to share.’

  Being banned from camping, Stephen turned to his other project, of asking Judy for a date. He waited till she was alone at First Break then sauntered over, trying to pretend he was cool and calm. To his enormous relief she smiled and visibly brightened up when he asked what she was doing on Saturday night.

  “Nothing,” she replied, her eyes alive with interest.

  “I was thinking of going to the movies and wondered if you would like to come?”

  “That would be nice,” she replied. “What movie were you thinking of seeing?”

  That put Stephen on a spot as he hadn’t checked to see what was showing. “What would you like to see?” he replied.

  To his relief Judy named a movie. Stephen vaguely knew it was a mushy, sentimental love story but that suited him. ‘If I want to win I’d better keep her happy.’

  It was only later that it dawned on him he hadn’t asked his parents for permission to go. That caused him some anxiety till he got home. To his relief his mother had no objection. “Who are you going with dear?” she asked.

  “Judy,” Stephen replied.

  “Oh the lovely black-haired girl? She is very nice. Is it just the two of you?”

  “Yes Mum.”

  “Would you like a lift?”

  That had been bothering Stephen as well. “Yes thanks Mum.”

  So on Saturday night he went to the movies with Judy. Contrary to his usual methods he did not make a serious move to ‘pash’, sensing that she would not like that. To his own amazement he thoroughly enjoyed just being with her and was more than happy with a friendly little peck on the cheek when his mother dropped her off at her house.

  “Thank you very much Stephen, that was lovely,” Judy said.

  “It was. See you again then?” he asked, very aware his mother could hear.

  “That would be nice, yes thanks,” Judy replied.

  “When?”

  “My parents are going to a chamber music recital tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to come?” Judy asked.

  Chamber music! Stephen felt a stab of angst. What will my mates think of that? Then he smiled. His real friends would not even care. “I’d love to come,” he replied, trying to sound as convincing as he could.

  ‘With her parents,’ he thought anxiously as he lay in bed that night. It wasn’t quite what he had in mind. ‘But she is nice,’ he decided, drifting off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 12

  ANOTHER NAZI NUT ?

  To Stephen’s surprise he actually enjoyed the chamber music. Judy’s parents were nice people, very ‘genteel’ was how he privately described them. They greeted him happily enough and seemed to think he was alright. Even the music he found relaxing and soothing.

  Afterwards there was an afternoon tea. Judy got him to sit to one side and they discussed the sorts of music they liked. It was not a subject Stephen had really thought about but he had to agree that he actually liked quite a wide range of music and admitted he enjoyed classical music.

  That evening Stephen did his homework and relaxed in front of the TV. He went to bed early and slept quite soundly, realising when he woke up on Monday morning that the previous weeks must have been more tiring than he had thought. ‘Maybe Mum and Dad were right?’ he admitted.

  At school Stephen was concerned to find that Capt Conkey was again absent. ‘He must be sick,’ Stephen thought, only to be dismayed by overhearing Louise saying to Vincent that Capt Conkey was in some sort of trouble over some girls. That was really worrying to Stephen as he knew that the Education Department was very strict about there being no relationships of any sort between teachers and students. ‘I hope it’s not true,’ he thought ‘He could lose his job. And that would be the end of him in cadets too.’

  Stephen discussed this with Graham but he could only shrug and say that he hadn’t heard anything. So worried was Stephen that at the first opportunity he dragged Graham al
ong to find Gwen to ask her. “What’s going on Gwen?” he demanded to know.

  “I can’t say,” Gwen replied, looking very unhappy as she did.

  “Can’t? Or won’t?” Stephen persisted.

  “Won’t. I’m not allowed to,” Gwen replied. “And don’t go around asking other people. It will only cause a wave of speculation and rumour that will do more damage.”

  “But we have a right to know,” Stephen answered.

  “I’m not sure that you do,” Gwen replied. “Anyway, please don’t talk about it. We will be told soon enough.”

  “But...”

  “Please Stephen.”

  At that Stephen nodded. “OK, sorry. I am very worried, that’s all.”

  “We all are,” Gwen replied. “Now, I have to go.”

  Stephen and Graham had to be content with that and they agreed to do what Gwen asked. But it was a worry and it stayed there to niggle at Stephen all day. That put him in a bad mood so he was in no mood to arrive home and have the telephone ring and find it was another ‘Nazi Nut’. He slammed the phone down angrily and went to his room.

  Tuesday was no better- still no sign of Capt Conkey and no word of what was happening. That tended to confirm Stephen’s suspicions that it was something bad. ‘If he was just sick they would say so,’ he thought. He found himself tense and irritable and it took an effort not to be grumpy and short with Judy when she sat with him at lunch time.

  He was saved by Graham and Andrew. Graham was carrying a book.

  “What’s that?” Stephen asked as Graham sat down.

  “Australia’s ‘Official History’ of World War Two,” Graham replied. He held the book so that Stephen could read the cover. ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY 1939-1942 it read. Graham flicked it open at a bookmark. “There is a bit more about German Raiders and their planes,” Graham replied.

  “Wait a minute. Here come Peter and Roger,” Stephen said.