by Bob Kranich
In this part, Our two main characters, Manuel and Hector have joined up with the Freedom Fighters. They are being escorted to Opa-Locka a deserted Second World War Army Air base in north Miami. They will soon be involved in the intrigue and operations of the CIA.
They were looking at a ‘57 Ford convertible, top down. A low rider. Probably lowered a couple of inches in the front and a full six in the rear! Sylvia opened the passenger door and pulled the seat forward so Manuel and Hector could get in. Ed threw their gym bags in the trunk.
Ed fired the Ford up and a sudden sound blasted out of the dual chrome pipes in the rear. Rupp-ah, Rupp-ah, the car roared as Ed swung out into the street from the parking space in front of the store.
“Cool car,” Hector said, “Will she move?”
“You bet!” Ed exclaimed, “I’ll give you a sample when we get out to the highway.”
When they got to the highway, Ed poured it on.
Ed looked over his shoulder and had to say kind of loud, over the roar of the dual pipes, “We’re going out to Opa-Locka. It’s an old deserted Army Air base in north Miami. There are some old barracks near the flight line. The flights are going out at night, lights out.
“Who is and to where?” Hector asked.
“Sorry Hector, can’t answer either of those questions. It will be best if you guys don’t ask anything. Just go along with the program.”
“Well Ed, we appreciate you getting us both right out there because we don’t have any place to spend the night,” Manuel said.
“They'll take care of you, don’t worry,” Ed replied.
They must have been doing 80! Ed slowed down for a turn. “Bam, Pow, tha...tha...tha, the Ford complained. A short distance from the main road in what appeared to be a deserted area, they came up to a gate across the road. A sign on the gate read:
DEAD END
U. S. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
KEEP OUT
TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED
There was a chain-link fence going to the left and right as far as they could see. Brush was growing on both sides of the fence. It sure looked deserted.
“Hector, will you take this key and jump out, unlock and open the gate. Please shut and lock it after I pull through,” Ed ordered.
Hector jumped back in and gave Ed the key. They drove down the road. There was a lot of trash on the road, and it was overgrown on both sides. They soon started to see deserted Second World War wooden barracks buildings, windows boarded up and glass broken out. Some were one and others two-story. They were all decorated with faded and peeling paint. It was a desolate scene. At one time this was a bustling and first class Army Air Base.
In 1927, the city of Opa-locka* was founded by the retired aviation pioneer, Glen Curtis. He and his partner-investor James Bright also developed the cities of Miami Springs and Hialeah. Curtis then moved his aviation school to an airport he built nearby and named it Florida Aviation Camp. Curtis was instrumental in the establishment of commercial aviation such as Pan Am and Eastern Airlines. He willed the Aviation Camp to the U.S. Navy after his early death in 1930. In World War II the airport became Naval Air Station Miami and was the headquarters for the U.S. Naval Training Command.
There were at least 10,000 personnel, both military and civilians working at this base. After the war it fell into disuse. In 1959 the property was given to Dade County, and in 1962 it was renamed Opa-locka Airport.
They pulled up to a couple of single-story buildings near the flight line. These buildings appeared to be in somewhat better shape than the ones they had just passed by. Ed got out and said, “Here we are. Let’s go inside and see if anyone is around.”
There was a big two wheeled cart next to the door. It held a large red painted fire extinguisher. Ed knocked hard a few times. In a few minutes a face looked through the window, and the door opened up.
Ed said, “Enrique, you didn’t go with the last group?”
“No, the three of us just missed the flight. They said to remain here.”
Ed asked, “Did they take care of you? I mean food and clothes. I see that you have your fatigues.”
“Yes, we’ve got plenty of food. The refrigerator is full. The cupboard is stocked. We won’t go hungry.”
“What did they tell you?” Ed asked.
“They said to hang tight. Frank would be here tomorrow. Didn't say when we fly out,” Enrique informed him.
“What about John and Sam?” Ed asked.
“They're in their bunks, sacked out,” Enrique stated.
“Then Enrique, I want you to meet Manuel and Hector. They’ve just joined up. Show them where the fatigues and the food are. They need both,” Ed said,
“Hector, Manuel, I’m leaving you in good hands. Enrique will show you around. Is it all quiet at the administration buildings?”
“Yes, they all left a couple of hours ago...it’s dead over there!”
Ed and Sylvia left. The Ford could be heard starting up and then its dual pipes fading off in the distance as they headed back to the gate.
Enrique said, “The fatigues are there in some boxes. Not too fancy. Only medium, large and x-large. I would leave your civvies and pack what you can get in your bags. Food’s over there in the cupboard and refrigerator. Make yourselves at home. The back room has a bunch of bunks. John and Sam are back there sleeping. I recommend eating and sleeping because the C.I.A., I mean Frank and the others sometimes show up early. We’ve been here a couple of days, and they showed up at dawn yesterday.”
“Thanks Enrique. We’ll do just that,” Manuel answered.
“Manuel, while we’re eating I want to show you some things in our survival manual,” Hector said.
“Ok Hector, you read and I’ll cook. Enrique, I’ll cook enough for five. I don’t do so bad.”
“Thanks Manuel, I’ll tell John and Sam.”
About the time he got the food on the table, the three guys came up from the back. Introductions were made all around. The three were interested in Hector’s serious reading of survival techniques. They all took Enrique’s suggestion and bunked down early just as the sun was setting.
“Guys, we got to get up. Frank just pulled up.”
“Man, what time is it?” Hector asked.
“Around 4 am,” Enrique said, “Get cleaned up, and come to the front just as soon as you can.”
Since this was an old barracks it had a large wash room. The four were all there at one time trying their best to get woke up, shaved and dressed. When they came out front there was a man in a gray suit sitting at the table.
He said. “Guys, grab a chair.”
He was tall with dark brown hair and piercing brown eyes.
“OK guys, this is it. At 5 am, a C-54 is going to land. You five jump in it as soon as the loadmaster gives you the thumbs up! Eat fast and have your belongings ready to go. This is the last load out of here. Things are moving!”
“You guys, listen up. Enrique is in charge, and he will answer to the load master. You all got it?”
“Yes sir!” they said.
It wasn’t long before they could heard the drone of a large propeller driven aircraft.
Frank stuck his head in, “Enrique, I got the guys out with the lights. They will be down shortly. Get ready! You’re going as soon as they taxi up, turn about, and the loadmaster gives you the high-sign.”
They all filed out with their bags. They could see dark shapes of a car at each end of the runway. Next to each one was someone holding a blinking light, green at one end and red at the other.
Suddenly this huge black shape was coming down out of a dark sky. They then heard the screech of tires touching concrete and the sudden back-lash of feathered props. The huge shape came up towards them, spun around, the engines slowed down, and a side door opened up.
Frank said, “OK...Go!...Go! Straight for the open door. Look out for the props! Good luck!”
From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s SouthWest Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969. bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
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