Red Hawk Rising

both pilots were dead and the plane scattered in pieces across the face of the mountain. It was 15.31 hours on 23rd November.
At RAF Kinloss, the air traffic controller reported that all contact with the Pembroke WK467 had been lost, suspected crashed. Similarly, two other alerts were made, one being the RAF Mountain Rescue Unit at RAF Leuchars and the other the radio operator on board the Russian trawler. Both were listening in on that radio frequency.
Corporal Watson at the Mountain Rescue Unit telephoned his Section Commander, Flight Lieutenant Thompson, and reported the situation. “We have a couple of our unit training with some RAF mountaineers and base-camped at Loch Morlich, sir. They are due to radio in at 16.00 hours.” Flight Lieutenant Thompson ordered Corporal Watson to alert the duty team and prepare for departure, weather permitting. He also told him to let the mountaineering team know the situation and ask them to head for the anticipated location based on the radio messages from the co-pilot. While the Mountain Rescue Unit had to wait for an official order, the team on location was free to move as part of their training.
Simultaneously, the radio operator on the Russian trawler (really an electronic eavesdropping ship) reported the news to the political officer on board, who then prepared a coded message, “The eggs have been spilled. Please retrieve.” He also put the co-ordinates into the message in coded form. Returning to the radio room, the political officer gave the message to the radio operator and told him to transmit at the agreed times. On the ground, a team of four men were camped in the Shelter Stone near Loch Avon, almost due north of Braemar, waiting for the message. The leader, Captain Garasov, received the message and confirmed that he understood. There were no other people camping in the Shelter Stone so they took advantage of being able to light a fire safely. Under torchlight, he studied the map and calculated the possible location of the aircraft.
The weather closed in, preventing aerial searches taking place. At 16.00 hours the Mountain Rescue radio operator transmitted the message to the mountaineering team. Corporal Scott took the message. He was a member of the Mountain Rescue team based at RAF Leuchars. Flying Officer McEwan headed the mountaineering team and he read the message that had been handed to him, “Thanks, Scotty,” he said, “this will need some planning.” The team was in the main tent which served as a dining, briefing and training room. It also served as their base and Communication Room. After about half-an-hour poring over the map and doing some calculations, Flying Officer McEwan called the team together. “Right, let’s make some decisions. I estimate that the plane crashed in the region of Cairn Toul, most likely on the eastern side. That’s about ten miles of hiking for us from here. Sergeant Bradley’s team is already a lot closer and should have made camp by now a little north of Loch Einich. They’ve got that new short-wave radio that we’re testing for the ISU.It’s now 16.45 hours and they should be checking in at 17.00 hours. We’ll have them head over at first light to the estimated location of the crash site. There are six of them. Four of us will head out with some of the emergency equipment. Scotty, you and Stevie (referring to Corporal Steve Evans) stay here at base camp and keep the radio manned.” There were nods of agreement and team members started going about the different tasks. For anyone listening in it was clear that in this situation there was less formality with no loss of respect for the leadership and authority.
A red light started winking on the radio, even though it was still ten minutes to the “On Air” time. Scotty called out, “Someone is operating the Emergency Procedure on our ISU frequency, sir,” as he moved over to the radio and switched it over from ‘standby’ mode. He got a nod from the officer to proceed and flicked the switch over. “Cairngorm Base RAF. Proceed.”
“ISU base. Switch to scrambler.”
The atmosphere became tense as all eyes were turned to the radio. Flying Officer McEwan crossed the tent to the radio as Scotty switched ‘scrambler’ on, picked up the handset and passed it to the officer. He said, “Flying Officer McEwan.”
“Iain, Groupie here. I understand that you know about WK467.”
“Yes sir,” was the reply.
“Well, you need to get to her fast. We believe that she has crashed and should be somewhere around the Cairn Toul — Ben Macdhui area. Apart from finding out if the crew is still alive, she was carrying the latest ECM unit crated for installation in a Kinloss Shackleton. Now, Intelligence reported picking up radio messages from a Russian trawler off Aberdeen shortly after we lost contact with WK467. We think that some of our ‘friends’ may be in the area and seek to get that ECM unit. When you set out, go armed as a precaution. If the weather clears a helicopter will fly a team in to give you support. Over and out.”
Flying Officer Iain McEwan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. The eyes of the other five men were watching him. As members of the RAF’s in-house Intelligence Unit, without being told they knew that this was going to be more than a normal search and rescue. Their officer gave them the news. Then the team in the field was calling in and this time they were all able to listen in to the conversation.
“Corporal Rogerson checking in for the team, sir.”
“Jamie, put Sergeant Bradley on.” Corporal Rogerson handed the mike and headphones to the sergeant. “Brad, this is Iain McEwan here, our training is to be put to the test. A Pembroke went missing this afternoon, presumed crashed and estimated to be on the eastern side of Cairn Toul. It was carrying special equipment for