August 17, 1939:
Ragged clouds and gale-force winds tore at the twin- engine Lockheed Electra L-10E as it forged its way through the pitch dark which enshrouded the German countryside - sans running lights or anything capable of giving away its location. Bolts of jagged lightning arched the sky, allowing the pilot, Thomas Manning III, to catch intermittent glimpses of the terrain below.
Heidelberg . . . Must find Heidelberg! There, off to the right!
The powerful craft dipped its wings and swung to starboard. Far below, a double line of smudge pots twinkled through the grayness. Manning feathered the props and nosed the Electra downward at a steep dive.
The craft screamed its protest, as though loath to perform acts beyond its flight envelope. At five hundred feet altitude, a fierce bolt of lightning struck a nearby mountain ridge, illuminating the small band of people standing their ground against the raging storm. Manning applied the flaps and aligned the craft with the crude private runway.
No, hard surface equals crash, Tommy old boy! Are you up for this?
The Electra's landing gear swung down. The tires met firm resistance, much to Manning's relief. Ground winds buffeted the aircraft all the way down the runway.
Suddenly, a man emerged from the dark directly ahead, waving his arms crossways over his head. Manning cut the throttles back to maneuver position, then applied the left brake pedal. The craft obeyed, lurching in an arc to port until it faced the direction of approach. Manning cut the engines to idle, and the engines assumed their characteristic rough, clattery dialogue.
As one more surge of lightening traced its eerie outline in the night sky, a small group of people emerged from the shadows of the nearby trees. Scared and shivering, six German, Jewish scientists hurriedly made their way towards the plane.
And in their midst, almost hidden by their haste to embark, stood a solitary young woman, her youth a stark contrast to the weary and anxious scientists.
As they hurried towards the plane, there was a great sadness surrounding them. Hugging their briefcases it was as if their entire lives were contained in those cases. But the greatest treasures they carried were the brilliant minds behind those faces. It was an extraordinary cargo that embarked that night.
"Get that hatch, will you Arnie?"
Arnold Kessler, co-pilot and navigator, made his way to the hatch, then Swung it inward to reveal a mass of gray shapes, huddled against the wind and rain. He lowered the step, then motioned for the refugees to come aboard.
Thomas' eyes locked onto the eyes of a young refugee woman, Rose Mandelbaum, 19. Rose was a tall slender girl with long, dark, wavy hair dark tied back in a bun, wearing a cotton navy blue dress that hung well below her knees. She glanced forward at Thomas as she hurriedly started to her seat in the middle of the plane.
The eyes of Marie Mandelbaum, Rose's mother, filled with tears. In German, Marie quickly told Rose that she and her father , Samuel, won't be escaping with her. Marie handed placed her daughterÕs small suitcase to the co-pilot to secure, then turned to her puzzled and handed her a small package wrapped in cloth which she placed in RoseÕs lap.
"Guard this with your life Rose. It is your heritage." was were her parting words, as she strapped Rose securely into her seat before Rose could ask any questions.
In broken English, Samuel asked Thomas to take his daughter to the safety of the United States and to look after her until they arrive, presumably on another flight. He hands Thomas, Rose's passport and some money. There is no time for explanation n or discussions. Thomas looks again at Rose, then at Samuel and agrees.
The Mandelbaums kissed Rose good-by then rushed off the plane, as the co-pilot closed the hatch, and disappeared into the night, leaving Rose alone, sobbing, still strapped in her seat. Her pain was almost unbearable. Rose was totally confused. Tears fell from her young innocent blue eyes. "Mama, Papa!" she shouted, but her cries were barely audible over the roar of the engines.
Thomas Manning pushed the throttles forward. The aircraft moved forward, while the co-pilot maid sure all passengers and baggage were secured. Rose caught one final glimpse of her parents waving to her as the Electra rushed down the airstrip and up into the raw, storm filled night sky.
Rose blinked her eyes for only a moment. When she looked again her parents were gone as the plane rose quickly from the ground narrowly missing the trees. She clutched the cloth-covered package and its contents in her trembling hands. Everything Rose had ever known and loved slowly faded as the aircraft lurched its way into the clouds.
Thomas looks over at Rose. He knew at that moment that his destiny and hers were intertwined. There is something about this stranger that made Rose feel safe though she knew nothing about him and no words were exchanged.
The fleet craft swept over the countryside in a graceful arc as it gained altitude. Rose stared down at the ground, searching for some familiar sign. Off to the left, she saw the ancestral home of the Mandelbaums as another streak of lightning embraces the night sky. A feeling of intense longing and despair swept through her. The Electra gained altitude and disappeared into the ragged clouds.