The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Cloak and Dagger: "Direct Line to Bombers" (A0012)

Original Air Date: June 25, 1950
Podcast Release: August 23, 2025
Host: Adam Graham

Episode Overview

This episode of Cloak and Dagger dramatizes the wartime exploits of an American OSS agent and his German accomplice, Professor Warburg, as they parachute into Berlin to direct American bombing raids from inside enemy lines. The story, steeped in espionage and peril, is based on real incidents recorded in the Washington files of the OSS. After the adventure, host Adam Graham reflects on the psychological and moral toll of undercover work, with particular emphasis on the indoctrination of youth under totalitarian regimes and the razor-thin margin for error in the world of espionage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assignment and Preparation (04:32–08:30)

• Setting & Main Mission: Lt. Olesnikos, freshly returned from France and bored at OSS headquarters in England, is offered a new, dangerous assignment: parachuting into Berlin with Professor Warburg to direct bombing raids via radio from the ground.
• Covert Training:
  • Weeks of rigorous preparation to master Berlin civilian life, from using food coupons to mimicking German social mannerisms.
  • High stakes: even minor details (like a laundry mark or an American cigarette) could be fatal giveaways.

Quote:

"An American cigarette, an English match. A laundry mark could give us away." — Lt. Olesnikos (08:15)

2. Infiltration and Initial Danger (09:01–13:45)

• Drop Into Germany: The duo successfully parachutes near Berlin but is confronted by a suspicious farmer and his deadly Doberman.
• Tense Escape: They narrowly outwit the dog and the farmer, showcasing both resourcefulness and the ever-present threat of exposure.

Quote:

"If we get out of this, my friend, I shall never again be a dog lover." — Professor Warburg (12:21)

3. Allies and the Threat of Betrayal (14:00–28:00)

• Safehouse Tensions: The agents find refuge in a Berlin bakery run by Frau Leitner, an old friend of the Professor.
• Emil’s Return: The unexpected return of Frau Leitner's teenage grandson Emil—recently indoctrinated and proud of his Youth Movement Red Swastika—creates mistrust and danger.
• Nazification of Youth: Emil represents the Nazi regime's exploitation of children to report on even their families.

Quote:

"Already they have poisoned his mind. I cannot get to him...He's a little parrot, speaking only what is taught him." — Frau Leitner (19:50)

4. Risks of Espionage: The Little Things (29:00–37:30)

• Fatal Mistake: Meeting at a tavern, the agents are shadowed by Hauptmann Muller, a German officer. He uncovers Olesnikos’s true identity by observing his fork usage—an American habit.
• Violent Escape: They kill the officer and realize how easily minor slip-ups can lead to doom.

Quote:

"No European eats the way you do...Americans hold the fork sideways in the right hand." — Hauptmann Muller (35:30)

5. Betrayal and Tragic Consequences (37:45–45:30)

• Discovery: Emil searches Olesnikos’s room, finds the radio, and confronts his grandmother and the agents, threatening to report them.
• Heartbreak: Emil, torn between family loyalty and indoctrinated duty, ultimately betrays them.
• Gestapo Closing In: The agents attempt to flee over the rooftops as Frau Leitner is killed in the ensuing chaos, underscoring the high cost and frequent tragedy in such operations.

Quote:

"My little Emil. Turn me in, Joseph, would he?...I'm afraid he would." — Frau Leitner (41:40)

6. The Final Stand and Sacrifice (46:00–51:30)

• Desperate Resistance: Wounded on a rooftop, Professor Warburg insists Olesnikos escape while he remains behind to direct the bombers.
• Redemptive Sacrifice: The Professor purposely calls in a strike on his own location, ensuring both mission success and preventing their capture, but sacrificing himself.

Quote:

"Attention bombers. Imperative, wait two minutes and bomb crossroads at sector 7, grid D3...That's here. This sector. Go on, run." — Professor Warburg (50:55)

7. Aftermath and Reflection (52:00–53:30)

• Mission Accomplished: Olesnikos escapes; the sabotage cripples Berlin's industry and transport.
• Haunting Loss: The bakery is destroyed, the Professor buried, and Emil's fate left unresolved in the devastation.
• OSS Report: Closes with the agent's stoic note: "mission accomplished."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Child Indoctrination Theme:

  "He is a little parrot, speaking only what is taught him." — Frau Leitner (19:51)
  A stark reminder of the psychological warfare waged on Germany’s youth.

• Espionage Hinges on Tiny Details:

  “Americans hold the fork sideways in the right hand. In my nervousness, I’d forgotten.” — Lt. Olesnikos (36:05)
  Illustrates how survival can depend on the most trivial habits.

• Ultimate Sacrifice:

  "Go on, run. Nicky. I cover." — Professor Warburg (50:58)
  The Professor’s selfless, fatal act to ensure the mission and his comrade's survival.

Host Adam Graham’s Commentary (54:00–56:25)

• On Emil’s Indoctrination:
  Graham spotlights the episode's depiction of Nazi techniques to turn children against their own families, drawing parallels to later regimes:

  "The absolute way that the Nazis poisoned Emil and brainwashed him is one of those things that really does deserve remembered about the methods that were utilized..."

• Espionage Realism:
  He contrasts the grim reality in Cloak and Dagger with the often romanticized heroism in detective fiction:

  "Real life spies don’t applaud your clever deduction and march off to await their eventual execution. They will complete their mission and preserve themselves at all cost..."

• On the Perils of Small Mistakes:
  Graham underscores the “little things”—like a fork habit—that can doom a spy:

  "The clue that gave them away...was a reminder of the difficulty of espionage and how many little things you have to watch.”

Important Timestamps

• Assignment and Mission Briefing: 04:32–08:30
• Barn Escape: 11:10–13:45
• Bakery Introduction & Emil’s Return: 15:40–21:25
• Indoctrination Discussion: 19:40–20:55
• Dinner with German Officer; Fatal Mistake: 33:00–36:23
• Emil’s Betrayal & Confrontation: 39:44–42:50
• Rooftop Escape and Shootout: 46:13–49:02
• Professor’s Sacrifice: 50:35–51:35
• Aftermath & Reflection: 53:13–54:00
• Host Commentary: 54:00–56:25

Final Thoughts

"Direct Line to Bombers" offers a taut, authentic tale of World War II espionage, with tension built on both obvious and invisible dangers. The emotional core—especially the betrayal by Emil, a child turned ideological informant—makes this episode as impactful as it is suspenseful. Adam Graham’s commentary bridges the historical reality and the dramatic presentation, highlighting how these old-time radio stories offer both entertainment and sobering reminders of the complexities and tragedies of war, particularly for those living undercover.

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Recommended Listening:
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