 Murrow enjoyed his account and hired him on the spot, offering $70 weekly and an expense account during his time abroad.Downs became a member of Murrow's team of war correspondents who came to be known as the Murrow Boys, and worked alongside Collingwood, LeSueur, William L. Shirer, Howard K. Smith, Eric Sevareid, Richard C. Hottelet, Cecil Brown, and several other CBS reporters stationed throughout Europe.Downs was soon sent to head CBS' Moscow bureau and remained there from December 25, 1942 to January 3, 1944.