Mrs. Patton was in the United States when the accident happened. The General was supposed to be returning to the State for Christmas leave that was originally scheduled to happen a couple of days after the accident. Mrs. Patton and COL R. Glen Spurling, the Army’s senior consultant in Neurosurgery were flown from Washington, DC, to Germany. The C-47 carrying both of them departed Washington, DC, on the evening of Dec. 10. Col Spurling was recalled from his Christmas leave in Louisville, KY, to make the flight to Germany. He had, until a few weeks before, been the Chief Neurosurgeon in the US Army in Europe.
This is information is from the account written by Col Spruling that is on file at the US Army Center of Military History. It is located in the Geo. S. Patton file, Center’s General Officer Biography collection
That is correct.
The best, most comprehensive account of Patton’s treatment that I’ve seen, was by Ladislas Farago in “The Last Days Of Patton”.