Red Hawk Rising

NAAFI. “There’s a flap on. We have to go to Wensley Electronics tonight and pick up the blown klystron. While we are there you boys will need to pick up your tool kits. I’ll meet you outside the MT section in fifteen minutes.”
Andy asked, “Can I be of any help?”
“Who knows. You might as well come along too.” At the same time the managing director of Wensley Electronics was telephoning the night security at the factory and telling them to co-operate with the RAF team that would arrive that evening. He explained that Flying Officer Goodhew and others would be arriving within the hour.
The three corporals arrived at the MT Section to find Sarge in the cab passenger seat of a one-tonner and young Higgins at the wheel. They piled into the back of the truck and it took off in a hurry. Flying Officer Goodhew had already left for Wensley Electronics, driving the Vanguard. Meanwhile, the station CO had arrived at the base and headed out to the airfield. He found the duty officer in the hangar with the ground crew readying the ‘Anson’ aircraft for a flight. Also, seats were being removed from the latter part of the cabin to allow cargo to be stowed.
The RAF truck rolled up to the gates of Wensley Electronics to find night security and Flying Officer Goodhew waiting for them. A security officer waved to the driver to follow him and they headed to a loading dock in the secure area of the factory. After opening up, the security officer led the RAF team into the factory to collect the klystron and pick up their tool kits. Andy went with them to give a hand. They loaded the klystron and their toolboxes onto a trolley and wheeled it out to the loading dock. They secured the unit and their toolboxes and the truck moved off to the gate. While this had been going on, Flying Officer Goodhew had gone to his office and was talking to the managing director (MD) on the telephone. It was clear that some action needed to be taken to resolve the problem of missing spares and the blown klystron. The MD agreed to transfer Sam Wilson off the project and out of the secure area. He would work out an excuse to make the move urgently and avoid the risk of a disruption at the factory. The security staff were told not to discuss the night visit by the RAF with anyone. The truck rolled out and headed for RAF Ouston followed by Flying Officer Goodhew in the Vanguard. This time, Sarge travelled back with Goodhew and Andy was in the cab of the truck while the other two stayed in the back with the equipment.
Arriving at RAF Ouston, the RAF policeman told them to go straight to the hangar. There they found preparations had been going on. A small hoist was there and a trolley with a crate and packing material. The klystron was lifted out and packed into the crate. Flying Officer Goodhew then called the three corporals over to talk with them. “Corporals Williams and Brennan, you will go with the sergeant and your toolkits and the klystron in the Anson. It will take you to RAF Leeming. There you will be taken to a workshop with facilities to remove the main components from the klystron frame and replace them with out-of-date radar components. There will be a team of techs to help you do this quickly. The Anson will wait for you to complete the change and then bring you all back to Ouston before dawn. The modified unit and other parts will stay at Leeming. Unfortunately, you will have to go to Wensley Electronics in the morning as normal so that suspicions are not aroused. Corporal Hill, you are not left out of the action. You will be ready to leave at 07.30 hours but you are to be in your civilian clothes. The CO has told me that you are to work with Hamilton of MI5. Meet me at the MT Section and I’ll drop you off at the Station Hotel in the morning before I go on to Wensley Electronics.”
“Very good, sir,” replied Andy. A SAC (Senior Aircraftman) from the parachute section issued the three ‘techs’ with a parachute each. They signed for them and headed for the aircraft. Its engines were already warming up and the klystron and their tools had already been loaded and stowed. As they climbed in, they were handed meal packs and a flask of tea. They strapped their parachutes on and used them as cushions to sit on in the seats of the Anson. Then they each fastened the safety harness and gave thumbs up to the pilot who was in the cockpit and watching them. He had already completed his pre-flight checks and as he revved the engines, he released the brake and the aircraft rolled forward.
As the aircraft taxied down to the end of the runway for take-off, Andy had a sense of excitement. It was now about 23.00 hours. The night sky was clear and away from the city he could see plenty of stars. It was easy to pick out the Plough and the North Star. Being mid-September, it was cool but not really cold. The Anson had reached the end of the runway and, turning, its engines roared and it picked up speed going down the runway. It was a dark shadow flashing past the runway lights and then it rose into the air and became silhouetted against the sky, its navigation light winking in the darkness. Andy turned and saw that Goodhew was talking with the station CO. Higgins offered to drop him off at the barrack block on his way to returning the truck to the MT Section and Andy gratefully climbed into the cab. He knew that he would have to ‘switch off’ to get some necessary sleep ready