Instead of answering, Nancy bowed her head and silent tears streamed down her face.
‘Hey, what’s the matter?’ Jean put an arm around her shoulder. ‘Why are you crying?’
‘I wish Dan was here. He would have liked those boys. I miss him so much.’ She was sobbing now.
‘Of course you do, and it’s time you let all that grief come out.’
Nancy sat up straight and wiped her face, then took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry. It’s silly of me after we’ve had such a lovely time.’
‘No, it isn’t. This evening probably reminded you of the fun you always had with your brother.’
Nancy nodded. ‘You know that star you gave to Steve; well, I was wondering if your uncle would make something I could give them.’
‘Good idea. I’ll ask him to make a star for all of them. What would you like your one to be – the moon?’
‘I was thinking of another star with their names engraved on the back. Could your uncle make that?’
‘I’m sure he could. How about making it slightly different from the one I’m giving them, and very highly polished.’
‘That sounds lovely.’
Jean squeezed Nancy’s arm. ‘I know we’ve become too fond of them, but that’s something we have to deal with. We can let them know they’re not alone here. That’s what they need.’
‘Yes, it’s something we can do for them.’
‘And we will.’ Jean smiled. ‘Feel better now?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Good. Now we had better get some sleep.’
Chapter Ten
The roar of planes taking off had Nancy and Jean running outside. It was always a sight to see and they watched as wave after wave of Lancasters filled the sky.
‘Dear Lord,’ Nancy gasped, ‘every plane in Lincolnshire must be up there tonight.’
‘No wonder they didn’t drink much last night. I thought it was because of the cost, but they knew what was going to happen.’
They stood in silence until the sky was clear. Nancy sighed. ‘I need a strong cup of tea.’
‘So do I. I don’t think we’re going to sleep much tonight.’
When they walked into the mess all the ground crews were in getting a late supper. Sarge waved them over. ‘Come and join us.’
Grateful for the company, they sat with the Allard ground crew, who already had several pots of tea and a pile of sandwiches on the table.
‘You’re settling in for a long night,’ Jean remarked as she poured tea for all of them. ‘I don’t know if it’s harder for those waiting on the ground or those in the air.’
‘Tough on everyone, but honestly, I’d rather be down here than facing the mayhem. We’ve got the greatest respect for those lads, and it’s agony waiting for them to return.’ The sergeant gave Nancy a sympathetic glance. ‘But you know all about that.’
She nodded. ‘I vowed never to get too friendly with anyone flying missions again, but it’s impossible, isn’t it? Do you have any idea why they’re sending out such a large force?’
‘I think it’s obvious an invasion is being planned, and they need to hit hard to disrupt Hitler’s manufacturing ability. The boys are going to be busy over the next few weeks.’
They stayed talking to the men for some time and then went back to their quarters. Much to her surprise, Nancy managed to sleep for a good while, but was suddenly awake when the roar of returning planes could be heard. She sat up, head on one side listening. With the experience of many such mornings she could detect Lancasters flying normally, and those labouring with damage. She was half out of bed when Jean put the light on.
‘Don’t go out there,’ she warned.
Nancy swung her legs back on the bed. ‘Sorry, it’s an automatic reaction.’
‘The commander has only got to see you out there once.’
Nancy thumped her pillows in frustration, but knew Jean was right. She was being watched, and didn’t want to risk being posted somewhere else. ‘I get the feeling the commander is looking for any reason to move me away from here.’
‘He is, but it’s only because he’s worried about you after losing Dan. You shouldn’t have been sent here in the first place; he knows that and so do you. He believes you should be away from a fighting squadron, but you’re good at what you do and are well liked, so he’s holding off.’
‘I know he never thought I should be here, and I’m aware he has made an exception for me.’ She gave a stifled laugh. ‘I daren’t let him know that I can hear Dan reprimanding me and saying – don’t you dare run away.’
That made Jean smile. ‘He’d have you out of here so quickly your feet wouldn’t touch the ground.’
‘I’ll be careful.’ Nancy rested her head back and listened to the sound of the planes still coming in. She would be very upset to be sent away. There were only a few WAAFs stationed here, mostly to deal with the office work, or in the stores, like herself. Two were drivers for the officers and they all got on well together. Most important, though, was her friendship with Jean, and Jean’s solid support had helped her through those first couple of agonising days. She hadn’t drowned her with gushing sympathy, which was the last thing Nancy had needed, but she was there, quietly and steadfastly reaching out to give her support and courage to cope with the loss. In her grief she had snapped at her and everyone around her, but Jean had ignored the outbursts. She owed her a lot, and it was their friendship that was one of the many reasons she felt the need to stay here.
They were both wide awake now, so they washed, dressed and went to get something to eat. Without mentioning it, but by mutual consent, they went to the NAAFI instead of the airmen’s mess.
It was only after they had emptied two pots of tea that they walked outside and over to the control tower. Dawn was coming up and they could see the airfield clearly now. Planes were everywhere. One was on its side, another had skimmed a tree on approach and bits were hanging off it, another had lost its undercarriage and had skidded right up to the boundary. Lorries and ground crew were swarming everywhere to get the airfield back into working order as quickly as possible.
‘That must have been a rough one,’ was all Jean said.
Nancy nodded and anxiously scanned the airfield. When she saw the tall figure of Steve walking well away from all the activity she heaved a ragged sigh of relief. They had survived another mission, and she hoped the rest of the crew were unhurt – especially Ricky, because although Jean never said much, it was clear that she had fallen hard for the lively Canadian. She sent up a prayer for all the other crews hoping the casualty list wasn’t too big or too serious.
Steve still had his flying jacket on and turned the collar up. The weather was getting colder now – nothing like it was at home, of course, but the wind was blowing across the field and was biting. He turned and strode briskly to their quarters.
Luke was sitting in a chair reading a newspaper and glanced up when Steve came into the room. ‘That was quicker than usual.’
He tossed his hat on the bed and ran a hand through his thick dark hair. ‘I could eat a nice big juicy steak.’
At that moment Ricky looked in the door. ‘So could I. We’ve had breakfast and I’m still famished.’
‘So am I.’ Andy arrived with the rest of their crew.
‘Why are we all so hungry?’ Luke complained. ‘We should be asleep after a night like that.’
The mid gunner, Eddie, leant against the door. ‘I swear I can still see those shells bursting all around us. That’s one hell of a view I’ve got.’
Retrieving his hat from the bed, Steve put it on and said, ‘We’re obviously not going to sleep, so let’s go and see if we can get something else to eat.’
‘Do you think they’ve got any steaks?’ Ricky asked hopefully.
‘Not a chance, but we might be able to get some spam sandwiches.’ Luke ushered everyone from the room and they headed for the mess.
When they walked in, most of the flight crews were there a
nd Sandy came over to them grinning. ‘I guess you’re still hungry as well.’
‘Hey, what’s wrong with everyone this morning?’ Ricky wanted to know.
‘Will you men stop milling around and sit down,’ one of the staff ordered. ‘We know you want more food.’
Luke gave her a wistful look. ‘A nice, big, rare steak would be good.’
Her smile said she understood. ‘Not possible, I’m afraid, but we’ll find you something.’
‘We’re always hungry when we get back,’ Sandy remarked, ‘but we’re extra hungry today and it’s damned difficult to sleep when your stomach is rumbling.’
‘Don’t worry about it. You’re all young, healthy lads and, like the planes, need constant refuelling.’
When she went back to the kitchens, they pulled tables together and all sat down. The cigarettes were passed round and they talked, trying to unwind after what had been a truly nerve-jangling night.
When the plates of spam fritters and fried potatoes came round, they tucked in. It wasn’t the steaks they longed for, but the ravenous men didn’t stop to worry about that. After clearing their plates and drinking several cups of tea they sat back, feeling much more relaxed. Cigarettes were handed round again and they settled down to chat about anything but the war.
‘That’s better,’ Luke sighed. ‘Now we might be able to sleep.’
‘Anyone know what the weather forecast is?’ Ricky asked.
‘Light cloud at the moment, but expected to clear by nightfall.’ The wing commander pulled up a chair and sat at their table, then turned his attention to Steve. ‘I’m coming with you tonight as an observer.’
‘Right, sir. Glad to have you along.’
Jackman took a cigarette out of the packet on the table, lit it with a gold lighter, then called out, ‘Dottie.’
The woman who had served them came over.
Indicating the empty plates littering the table, he said, ‘I’m hungry. How about the same you’ve been feeding these men, Dottie?’
‘You know we have to keep those flying on missions well fed. You can get a snack at the NAAFI if you’re that desperate.’
He drew on his cigarette and blew smoke up to the ceiling and grinned at her. ‘I’m flying tonight.’
She took a deep breath and let it out on a sigh. ‘You can’t keep out of it, can you, Robert? Your poor mother’s nerves were in shreds when you were on missions and now she thinks you’re safe.’
‘I am safe. I’m flying with Allard and his crew as observer, so how about that food, Aunt Dottie?’
‘All right.’ She gave him an affectionate pat on the shoulder. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
When she hurried away, Sandy asked, ‘Aunt Dottie?’
‘She’s a friend of my mother’s and I’ve known her for as long as I can remember. I’ve always called her aunt. When the war started, she was determined to do her bit by joining one of the services but was considered too old. She wouldn’t give up, though, and eventually managed to get into the Catering Corps, and has been at this base for a couple of years. She enjoys keeping the airmen watered and fed.’
‘Sounds as if she’s a determined woman,’ Luke remarked.
‘Oh, she is, believe me. She’s gone through two husbands and is on the third.’
The food soon arrived and once his plate was cleared, Robert stood up and slapped Steve on the back. ‘See you at briefing.’ They watched him walk away, a spring of anticipation in his stride.
Ricky waited until the door closed behind him and shook his head. ‘What do you think he’s going to observe; how thick the flak is? He can’t wait to get back in the air. Do you think we’ll be like that at the end of our missions?’
‘Probably,’ Sandy admitted. ‘Dicing with danger can become addictive to some. Still, that remains to be seen, and what we need now is sleep.’
They stubbed out their cigarettes and after waving thanks to Dottie made their way out of the mess.
At the briefing later that day they were told about the invasion being planned and the vital role they would play in the run up to it. Bomber Command’s job was to destroy the enemy’s infrastructure as much as they could, and Robert was coming to assess the effectiveness of the raids.
When they were dismissed, Robert gathered Steve and his crew and outlined what he needed from them. They were to go in with the first wave, drop their bombs and circle back after everyone else to take a look at the target.
‘Oh, great,’ Ricky muttered under his breath.
Steve narrowed his eyes, seeing the danger in the operation. It would mean being over the target longer than usual. ‘If I notice at any time we are too low on fuel, I will turn for home immediately, Wing Commander.’
‘Understood. You are responsible for the lives of all on board and I would expect you to put safety first.’
‘Why did he pick us to fly with?’ Eddie murmured, as Jackman left the room.
‘Because we’re a good crew,’ Luke replied. ‘Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about because Steve won’t take any unnecessary chances. Now, let’s get ready for what could turn out to be an interesting flight.’
‘That’s not what I would bloody call it,’ Andy swore. ‘I think we’re going to be busy tonight, mates.’
While they waited for the hour to take-off they lounged around, relaxing in any way they could, and when the time came, they flew ahead of the main force.
Upon reaching the target, Steve followed orders and flew in, dropped their load, then took up position to fly behind the last of the bombers. He watched the fuel carefully, assessing how much was needed to get them home safely. Luke didn’t take his eyes off the dials at this point.
‘Can you go round again?’ Jackman asked. ‘I would like a few more pictures.’
‘No, sir,’ was Steve’s firm reply as he turned for home.
There was a huge sigh. ‘I would’ve liked another look, but you’re quite right.’
The flight back was uneventful and when they landed at Scampton there were smiles of relief on all their faces.
At debriefing, the wing commander was able to report on what he had been able to see, praising Steve and his crew.
As they walked to the mess to have a well-earned breakfast, Andy said, ‘Steve, if he comes up with another scheme like that, then tell him someone else should have the honour of his company. By the way, how much petrol did we have left?’
‘Enough, I made sure of that.’
After breakfast Steve went for his usual walk, but this time left the base and strolled along a country lane. His thoughts turned to home and he knew that once he was back there, he would never want to leave again.
Chapter Eleven
The weeks slipped by. Sometimes they flew several nights in a row, and others when they were just hanging around waiting for the next raid. By the time Christmas came they were a seasoned and efficient crew, and had been told they might not be flying again until early January.
‘Any chance of leave?’ Steve asked the commander, hoping he could get along to see Harry again.
‘I’m afraid not. We need you on base in case orders change.’
Ricky was clearly disappointed. ‘Is that likely, sir?’
‘You can never tell. I’ve been ordered to keep the base in readiness. But, tonight is the Christmas Eve party in the officers’ mess and you’re all expected to attend.’
‘Is that an order, sir?’ Andy asked dryly.
‘Take it any way you like.’ He laughed quietly. ‘We shall see you all tonight, then.’
Ricky loved a party.
On their way to the NAAFI to practise their darts, Luke wondered aloud if the girls would be there.
‘I’ve no idea,’ Steve replied.
‘I’ll go and see if I can find them.’ Ricky sped off.
Eddie laughed. ‘That boy is definitely in love, and from what I’ve seen he’s picked the right girl in Jean. What about you, Steve? Nancy’s a nice girl and you seem to get on we
ll together.’
‘We do,’ was his only reply.
Ricky was soon back, all smiles. ‘I found Nancy and they’ve also been invited to the party.’
Steve handed him the darts. ‘Good, now see if you can hit the board.’
They enjoyed their game and complimented each other on their improvement.
‘In another six months we might be good enough to beat the girls,’ Steve joked.
‘Six months!’ Luke exclaimed. ‘We had better make it sooner than that because the war might be over by then.’
‘Oh, I doubt that,’ Andy said, shaking his head. ‘If the invasion takes place in early summer it’ll be a hard fight to reach Germany. My guess is that we could see the end next year or sometime the year after.’
‘That’s providing the invasion is a success,’ Luke pointed out.
‘It will be – it has to be,’ Andy replied. ‘There won’t be any turning back this time. It’ll be a case of go in and stay in, no matter how tough that turns out to be. There won’t be a repeat of Dunkirk, you can be sure of that.’
Andy spoke with passion and Steve could understand how he felt. ‘It’ll be a success, and you’re not alone this time.’
‘No, we aren’t, and they don’t stand a chance against our combined forces.’
‘We’ll toast that with the officers’ beer tonight.’
Andy grinned at Steve. ‘I hope it’s something stronger than beer.’
Back in their quarters again, they found that a large quantity of mail had been delivered, and having time to spare they sat down to read, eager for news from their families.
The first two letters Steve opened were from his parents, and the pang of homesickness he felt as he read was firmly pushed aside. Christmas at home had always been a happy time with the house full of people and laughter. He hoped it would still be that way even with him away. The next letter was from Harry and had him laughing quietly to himself. He didn’t recognise the writing of the last one, and he sat straight up in surprise when he started reading. It was from Nancy’s parents, wishing him and his fellow Canadians a happy Christmas. ‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ he said out loud.
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