 As the approaching Americans consolidated their gains, the 16-year-old Bannführer was ordered back to his Luftwaffe training base.Once there, with the suspension of training, flight candidates were being ordered to the front lines to face the American infantry.However, a Luftwaffe officer, likely for the purpose of preserving Heck's life, ordered Heck to organise the retrieval of needed radar equipment near Wittlich and then to take a four-day leave in his home town.