“Who’s flying the one called Swallow?” Hans asked.
“I think that’s my brother’s new girlfriend. Can you believe they let a female train as a pilot?”
Hans said nothing but watched Swallow with a keen eye.
The squad disbanded, leaving Gabi to perform her solo display. She set herself up for the first manoeuvre, a tight outside loop, followed by a barrel roll.
Kurt tracked the frenzied plane as it darted and spun above them, shaking his head and tutting aloud. “She’s a nutter—flies like an erratic female for sure.”
“I’d have her in my squadron any day. She’s brilliant,” Hans said, endorsing her performance by clapping along with the crowd.
After three impressive stunts, Gabi commenced her finale, a huge inside loop that levelled out low to the ground before flipping the plane upside down and flying over the viewing platform. The crowd ducked their heads and gasped their disbelief at such a feat and the general cursed his reckless daughter for scaring him so.
“See—she is crazy,” Kurt yelled above the roar of the frenzied mass.
Gabi landed the plane and climbed down to face Major Stern, who stood with his arms across his chest as a measure of restraint.
“That’s not what we practised, Cadet Richter,” he yelled.
“I’m sorry, Major Stern. I just wanted to impress my father.”
The major’s tense jawline eased, and he unfolded his arms and placed them on his hips. “I think you exceeded his expectations—your father has gone a shade of grey I’ve never seen before.” A good-humoured grin replaced the scowl. “Damn good flying, though.”
Meanwhile, Kurt weaved through the spectators looking for his brother.
“Heinz! Hey, Acorn!” Kurt’s arms waved wildly at Heinz, who shunted his way forcefully to get to his brother.
“Hey, big brother. What did you think?” He gave his older sibling a hug.
“Not bad, little brother.” Kurt shot Heinz a pretend punch to the stomach and followed through with a playful headlock. “Hans, this is my little brother Heinz, otherwise known as Acorn—no prize for guessing why.”
Kurt released his stronghold and Heinz broke free. He brushed himself down and saluted Hans, who returned a casual, half-hearted salute before clutching and shaking Heinz’s hand vigorously.
“It’s great to finally meet you. You’ve made your brother proud.”
Heinz looked at his big brother, his eyes dancing with glee, his dimples so wide they almost fell from his face.
“Don’t let it go to your head now,” Kurt said. He noticed a girl walk towards them and stepped forward to greet her.
“Well, well, who have we here?” He nudged Heinz with his elbow.
Heinz pulled Gabi to his side. “Gabi, this is my brother Kurt and his comrade—.”
“Lieutenant Hans Philipp,” she interjected.
They shook hands and Gabi felt the warmth of a blush spread across her cheeks. She pulled at a tie that bound her hair back, allowing her hair to fall freely over her face and shoulders.
Kurt cast a suspicious eye. “You know each other?”
“Yes, we met in Berlin last month.” Hans grinned. “Nice bit of flying there, Gabi.”
She blushed again.
“Yeh, you’ve got balls for a girl—maybe even bigger than yours, hey, Acorn?” Kurt took another jab at Heinz, who blocked the punch and followed through with a swift boot to Kurt’s rear.
“Watch it, little brother. Remember what happened the last time you tried to take me on.”
Heinz promptly backed down. “We’d better get going anyway; the ceremony will be starting soon.”
Heinz and Gabi hurried to the barracks to change into their official dress uniforms. The men watched the cadets scurry away and Kurt pondered aloud.
“She’s cute—I like that scar on her forehead. I wonder if she’s got any other scars?”
“Man, you’re weird,” Hans said, shaking his head. “I’d keep your warped fetishes to yourself—Gabi’s your brother’s girl.”
Kurt shrugged and walked off. “She’s not my type anyway—she’s got a brain.”
It took Gabi almost half an hour to track her father down, eventually finding him in a cluster of Luftwaffe officers, taking centre stage as he always did. She greeted her father with an official salute, and the general pointed to his cheek.
“What—no kiss for your old man—especially after nearly giving me a heart attack?”
“Oh, Papa, it wasn’t that dangerous.”
“That’s not what I hear.” He turned to one of the officers. “Irresponsible? Isn’t that what you said?”
The officer mumbled beneath his moustache and promptly retreated into the crowd.
“So, my little soldier, what happens next?”
“The ceremony will start as soon as the marching parade is over. I should go now, or I’ll be late.”
“Get going then. I’ll be there soon… but I need a drink first. Where is the refreshment stand?”
She pointed to a marquee and scurried off, leaving her father to make his own way to a settling beer.
Gabi joined the graduates on stage, shuffling her feet and only half listening to the speeches and award presentations. She looked for her father but could not see him. Had he already left? The doubt churned and her annoyance grew. How could he do this to her again? After all, it would not have been the first time that he had skipped out on her. But then she spotted Kurt in the crowd and standing beside him, her father in conversation with Hans. Her mood changed instantly, and she was happy again.
“We have one final award,” Major Stern announced. “Could Cadet Richter step forward.”
She took her place on the podium, gazing down at her father and Hans, her heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe.
“I am pleased to promote Gabriele Richter to the rank of Officer Cadet for outstanding achievement.”
Gabi covered her mouth to smother her surprise. She looked at Heinz, his stunned expression making her laugh and then she smirked across at Erich, who sneered back at her like a hyena. But her greatest joy was at seeing the glint in her father’s eyes. She had made him proud.
Hans and Kurt made their way to the car park, bumping into Gabi and Heinz not far from the exit gate.
“Congratulations, Officer Cadet Richter,” Hans said.
Gabi fluttered her eyelashes. She looked away to hide her embarrassment yet again and into the bemused face of Kurt.
“Who did you blow to earn that promotion then?”
But before Gabi could respond, Hans elbowed Kurt in the ribs and shunted him away, blushing adorably.
“Good luck with your fighter training; may our paths cross again,” he said.
Gabi couldn’t have wished for anything more. She dipped her eyes and saluted the lieutenant, but he had already disappeared and she stood there looking forlorn and wondering if she would ever see him again.
“Come on, your father’s waiting for us.” Heinz grabbed Gabi’s sleeve and dragged her to the general’s vehicle parked conveniently, and illegally, in a restricted zone.
Kurt and Hans watched the six-wheeled Mercedes-Benz G4 cut through the crowd on its way out of the academy grounds.
“Her father must be special,” said Kurt. “Not just any general can get their hands on one of those—strictly for parades, I thought.”
“Yes, it’s a nice car.” Hans removed his hat and threw it into the back of their battered military vehicle. “Maybe he’s made a pact with the devil.”
March 1941
It was ironic that the general had made a career of dealing with matters deemed difficult and for which he had earned both respect and the title of ‘The Fixer’ by High Command, yet he knew not how to deal with his rambunctious daughter. His little girl was an active Jagdflieger, and he had allowed it to happen. What had he been thinking to let things go this far?