The Spitfire Sisters

by Margaret Dickinson

  She landed at Duxford, taxied to where she was directed and climbed out, taking the hand an RAF pilot held out to her. As she jumped to the ground, she looked up into his face.

  ‘Good Lord. You!’

  Johnny grinned at her. ‘You’ve no idea how many ferry pilots I’ve greeted over the past fortnight hoping it would be you. Come on. I’ll take you to the mess and get you a slap-up meal.’

  Daisy glanced at her watch. ‘Is the Fox Moth here yet? Gill’s piloting it today.’

  The Fox Moth, still an open-cockpit aircraft, had an enclosed cabin below that could carry four passengers. It was used as a taxi to pick up pilots so that they could return to base all the more quickly to deliver more aircraft. Today, Gill was piloting the taxi.

  Johnny glanced about him. ‘I don’t think so. I haven’t seen it. Anyway, aren’t there more pilots to come in yet, for it to collect?’

  Daisy grinned. ‘Yes, at least two that I know of, so “Lead on, McDuff”.’

  ‘Oh my! Bacon, eggs, sausages, fried bread and mushrooms. You certainly know how to spoil a girl, Johnny Hammond.’

  ‘How’s the rationing affecting your family?’

  ‘Not too badly, I think. ’Course, living in the country, things are a little easier for us. Everyone in the village is digging up their flower borders and planting more vegetables.’

  ‘Ah yes, “Dig for Victory”. Is your grandmother coping without you?’

  ‘Granny will always cope, Johnny, but, yes, she’s doing fine. She’s got a lot more to do with all the Ministry of Agriculture directives coming through regularly, but she still finds time to lead the local branch of the WVS, though Mummy helps her a lot with that.’

  ‘And what about Luke? Do you hear from him?’

  ‘Now and again. Did you know Harry’s joined the RAF too?’

  ‘Really?’

  Daisy nodded. ‘I’ve no idea where either of them are, though I do know Luke’s been posted down south somewhere.’

  ‘Right,’ Johnny said vaguely. He was quiet for a few moments, watching her eat. As she cleared the plate and laid down her knife and fork, he said, ‘Daisy, are you delivering a lot to airfields in the south?’

  ‘All over the country really, but, yes, now that you mention it, we do take a lot to southern aerodromes. Why do you ask?’

  He leaned closer and lowered his voice. ‘We’re doing a lot of flying over France now – since the Dunkirk evacuation – and we can see for ourselves that the German Luftwaffe is gathering on the French coast. Everyone here is pretty sure they’re going to try to get control of the skies prior to a land invasion and there’re only us fighter pilots – and our bombers – to prevent an invasion because, despite all his posturing, I believe that’s what Hitler intends.’

  ‘I agree. I never did believe his “peace” moves. He wants to dominate the whole world.’ She was quiet for a moment before muttering, ‘God help us all, if he ever gets here.’

  Johnny reached across the table and clasped her hand. ‘It’s up to us to stop it, Daisy. Me, Luke, Harry and the rest. And you too, Daisy. You and your fellow ferry pilots. You’ve got to keep bringing us the aircraft we need.’

  ‘We will – if only they’ll let us loose on the aircraft you really need. The Hurricanes and Spitfires.’

  Johnny sighed. ‘I know – and they really ought to let you fly those too. But just think of it this way. At least by flying the other types of aircraft, you’re freeing up the men to fly the combat aircraft.’

  Daisy pulled a face. ‘I suppose so,’ she agreed reluctantly.

  ‘Where are you based? Maybe I can come over to see you when I get leave?’

  ‘Still at Hatfield at the moment.’

  His face lit up. ‘Why, that’s no distance. Not on my motorcycle. Look . . .’ He fished in his pocket for a scrap of paper and a stubby pencil. ‘Here’s a telephone number you can ring when you know you’re going to be off duty. I’ll do my best to wangle some leave.’

  As Daisy tucked the paper into her pocket, Johnny said, ‘You look awfully smart in that uniform. It suits you.’

  As they left the mess hall, Daisy looked up towards the noise of a Fox Moth coming in to land. ‘There’s my taxi.’

  ‘Have you any more deliveries today?’

  ‘Yes, one to Tangmere.’

  As the Fox Moth’s pilot climbed out, took off her helmet and shook out her hair, Daisy said, ‘Here’s Gill.’

  ‘Hey, you two,’ Gill called out cheerily. ‘Was this planned?’

  ‘No,’ they chorused.

  ‘Well, it should have been,’ Gill chuckled.

  ‘I didn’t know he’d be here,’ Daisy protested, but she was laughing as she said it.

  A little sheepishly, Johnny said, ‘But I’ve been watching out for weeks, hoping she’d make a delivery here.’

  Gill stepped between them and linked arms. ‘Right, I’m gagging for a cuppa. Are the other two girls here yet?’

  ‘One is. Violet – but there’s no sign of Ivy,’ Johnny said.

  ‘I know Violet, but I don’t think I’ve met Ivy,’ Daisy added.

  ‘She’s new. Only arrived yesterday straight from training.’ Gill glanced worriedly at the sky. ‘I hope she’s all right.’

  ‘She’ll be fine. It’s not as if it’s bad weather for her first delivery, is it?’

  ‘Mm.’ Gill paused and then, with a final glance at the sky, said, ‘Right, let’s go and find that tea whilst we wait.’

  Violet joined them at their table and the four chatted amiably for over an hour until Gill said, ‘I’d better ring our ops manager and ask what I ought to do. No good delaying any longer.’

  ‘I think that’d be a good idea,’ Daisy said. ‘I’ve got another delivery to make this afternoon and you know we have to land before dark. It’ll probably mean I’ll have to stay overnight.’

  ‘Go to the office, Gill. They’ll let you ring from there,’ Johnny said. He turned back to Daisy. ‘You’ll have to bring an aircraft here late one afternoon and stay the night, Daisy.’

  ‘We have to do as we’re told, don’t we, Violet?’ Daisy said primly, but her eyes were sparkling as she said it.

  ‘I haven’t known you and Gill long, but I get the distinct feeling that that’s not always the case.’ Violet got up. ‘I’m just going to powder my nose. Won’t be a minute.’

  As the girl moved away, Daisy said, ‘By the way, I haven’t asked you how Uncle Mitch is?’

  ‘He’s fine. Got himself involved with fire watching in London. And – don’t tell a soul, Daisy – but he and Jeff have got involved in something highly secretive.’

  ‘Really? A bit like Aunty Pips, then. No one knows exactly where she is or what she’s doing.’ Daisy laughed. ‘She’s not allowed to tell anyone – not even George, by the sound of it, though I expect he knows more than he’s letting on.’ She paused and then added, ‘Has Uncle Mitch got a girlfriend?’

  ‘Dozens of them, I expect, knowing my uncle, but no one special.’ He put his head on one side. ‘I think you know why, don’t you?’

  Daisy opened her mouth, about to say something, when Gill returned. Her face was white and her eyes wide. At once, Daisy said, ‘What is it?’

  ‘Ivy crashed on take-off.’

  ‘Oh no! Is she . . .?’

  ‘In hospital. Critically injured, but still alive. At the moment.’ Gill bit her lip. ‘They don’t think it was her fault, but something went wrong with the aircraft and, probably because of her inexperience, she didn’t know how to handle it.’

  ‘That’s awful.’

  Violet returned at that moment. When they told her, her eyes filled with tears. ‘She’d become my closest friend. We joined on the same day, went through training together and then she followed me to Hatfield.’

  ‘Come on, we’d better get back. By the way, Daisy, someone else has done your second delivery.’

  ‘You all right to fly, Gill?’ Johnny asked.

  Gill looked at him a
little disdainfully. Her voice was tight as she said, ‘Perfectly, thank you. We’re professionals, just like you are. If one of your mates gets shot down, you don’t give up, do you?’

  ‘Gill, he didn’t mean . . .’

  At once, her face softened. ‘Sorry, Johnny, I know you meant well, but we have to carry on – just like you do.’

  ‘I apologize, Gill. But don’t believe all you hear about us. One of our lads got shot down last week. His aircraft went down in flames. There was no hope and his closest mate, who saw it happen, hasn’t flown since. He’s on sick leave at the moment. So, we’re not as tough as they make out. As they have to make out. Come on, I’ll walk you to your aeroplane.’

  As they neared the aircraft, Johnny took Daisy’s arm and held her back for a moment. He hugged her hard, not caring who might see, and whispered. ‘Do take care of yourself, Daisy Maitland.’

  She hugged him in return and said, in a voice that shook a little, ‘You too, Johnny Hammond.’

  Gill flew the aircraft perfectly and they landed safely back at base, but all three girls probably breathed a sigh of relief. Daisy certainly did. A pall of sadness and an unusual silence hung over the base and when Gill and Daisy returned to their billet, neither of them felt like talking, so they had supper and went to the room they shared.

  They were soon in bed, but Daisy was sure neither of them was going to sleep well that night.

  I just hope, she thought, that they don’t hear about the crash at home.

  Thirty

  ‘Robert,’ Alice said, her eyes wide with anxiety, ‘I haven’t heard anything from William for weeks.’

  ‘Sadly, darling, I don’t think you will. Sending letters out of an occupied country must be virtually impossible.’

  ‘And there’s been no telephone call from Pips or from Daisy recently and no one has any idea where Luke or Harry are now.’

  ‘Luke will be a bit busy, I’m afraid, if he’s down south now. And I have no doubt Daisy is, too, for the same reason, though she won’t be in danger like Luke will be. He’ll soon be fighting the Luftwaffe over the south of England – if he isn’t already – and Daisy will be delivering all sorts of planes to the airfields, though as I understand it, only non-combat aircraft.’ He forbore to add ‘up to now’. Alice looked terrified already. Robert put his arm around her. ‘I do have a number I can ring to leave a message for Daisy. Would you like me to do that?’

  ‘Oh please, Robert. I – I just want to know she’s all right, that’s all.’

  Later that day, Robert managed to get through to the offices at Hatfield where a member of staff assured him that Daisy was safe and well. ‘She’s not here at the moment, but I will tell her you rang,’ was all the woman was able to say.

  The telephone at the hall shrilled just as Robert and Alice were mounting the stairs to go to bed.

  ‘Oh!’ Alice said, startled. ‘I hate telephone calls late at night. I always think it’s going to be bad news.’ She ran lightly down the stairs and reached the phone before Robert had even turned round.

  ‘Hello – hello—’

  ‘Mummy – it’s me. I’m so sorry I haven’t called recently. We’ve been so busy. I’ve had to stay away a couple of nights this week and it’s difficult asking to use telephones for private calls.’

  ‘I understand, darling. I just wanted to know if you’re all right, that’s all.’

  ‘I’m fine and so’s Gill. She’s beside me, waiting to ring her parents too. Is everyone your end well?’

  ‘Yes, but a bit anxious, as you might guess. Daisy – do you know where Luke is? We’ve heard nothing from him.’

  ‘No, sorry, I don’t. I did bump into Johnny not long ago, so maybe I’ll see Luke some time. I’ll let you know if I do.’

  ‘We’re all trying to busy ourselves with war work, but it’s so hard, not hearing for weeks on end.’

  ‘I know, Mummy. Look, I’ve got to go, but I’ll try to write or ring you more often. I promise.’

  Alice replaced the receiver slowly, reluctant to break the connection. ‘She’s all right, Robert, but she doesn’t seem to know where Luke is. She’s seen Johnny though.’

  She climbed back up the stairs.

  ‘Did she say where she’d met Johnny?’

  Alice shook her head. ‘No, I expect it was at one of the airfields. Maybe she’s not supposed to say.’

  ‘Probably not. Now, come on, let’s get to bed. Perhaps you’ll sleep a little better tonight at least.’

  Two days after their telephone calls home, Gill, Daisy and two other ferry pilots were due to take Tiger Moths to Tangmere on the south coast. They would be picked up by the Anson, a much larger taxi aircraft that could carry more pilots. Daisy and Gill were not yet qualified to fly it, though they hoped that after their sojourn at Upavon, they would be.

  As Daisy taxied to a halt at Tangmere, Gill came running towards her, impatient for her to climb down. ‘He’s here. I’ve found him.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Luke, of course.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, come on. We’re all in the mess hall. We were waiting for you.’

  ‘It’ll have to be quick. We ought to get back. The Anson should be here any minute.’

  ‘Oh, you’ve time for a quick cuppa.’ Gill grasped Daisy’s arm and almost dragged her towards where the other two ferry girls were sitting, surrounded by a gaggle of RAF pilots. The air was filled with laughter and they appeared to have not a care in the world. Seeing them, no one would have guessed that the previous day they had lost two of their fellow fighter pilots or that at any moment the bell that called them to their aircraft and into the air might jangle.

  ‘Hey, Dais.’ Luke rose at once and came towards her, arms outstretched. He kissed her on both cheeks in cousinly fashion and then led her to a chair. ‘I’ll get you some tea. Biscuit?’

  ‘Please.’

  As he moved away, Gill said, ‘I’ve been asking about him at every aerodrome I’ve been to in the south for weeks, but today I struck lucky.’

  ‘You’re lucky they told you. I’ve been asking too, but all I get is a blank stare, as if I’m some sort of spy.’

  ‘It’s been a bit like that too for me, but today when I asked at the office, as I’ve been doing, I got my delivery chit signed by a fresh-faced young feller, who didn’t look much more than twelve, bless him. He hesitated and then said, “Wait a minute, miss.” Well, it was a lot longer than a minute. It must have been getting on for fifteen, because I was about to give up and go in search of a cuppa whilst I waited for the other two and you to arrive, when back he came with Luke in tow.’

  Daisy lowered her voice. ‘He looks exhausted.’

  ‘They all do, if you look behind all the ribbing and the laughter, which sounds a bit forced to me.’

  ‘Understandable, I suppose,’ Daisy murmured. ‘Does he know where Harry is?’

  ‘I haven’t asked him yet,’ Gill said, just as Luke came back with tea and a plate of biscuits. He sat down between them, but it was to Daisy he turned to ask, ‘How’s everyone at home?’

  ‘Fine. Coping really well, though they’re all worried about you.’ She punched him lightly on the arm. ‘It seems you haven’t written in weeks.’

  Luke gave a weak smile. ‘It’s difficult to know what to say, Dais.’

  ‘I know, but they all want to hear that you’re all right. Give my granny a ring sometimes. She’ll always deliver a message.’

  ‘Trouble is,’ he said softly, ‘you’re only all right at the moment you’re writing or telephoning. The very next time you go up . . .’ His voice faded away. Then, more strongly, he added, ‘I will keep in touch more, I promise.’

  ‘And I’ll phone home tonight and ask Daddy to give them messages from you. By the way, d’you know where Harry is?’

  Luke grinned. ‘Last I heard, he was still at training school. He’ll have an awful lot of tests and examinations to get through before he gets his wings. Of course, now w
e’re in a war situation, the courses have been shortened. No doubt, he’s still finding time to take a different WAAF out every night.’

  They laughed easily together, but at that moment the door swung open and a squadron leader shouted, ‘Scramble!’ at the same moment as a bell began to ring loudly.

  The pilots leapt up and rushed for the door, spilling tea and overturning chairs, grabbing their jackets and flying helmets. Within seconds, only Daisy and her fellow ferry pilots were left.

  ‘We’d better get going, too,’ Daisy said, looking towards Angela, the pilot of the Anson, who had just arrived and had sat down with a cup of tea. She was a far more experienced pilot than they were and was trained to fly the larger aircraft. But the young WAAF who’d come out from behind the counter said, ‘No need to rush, miss. They won’t let you go until they’re all airborne.’

  ‘Of course. I didn’t think.’

  ‘Let’s go outside anyway and wave them off,’ Gill said.

  Outside the five young women – Daisy, Gill, Angela and the other two ferry pilots – stood watching as aircraft after aircraft took off. The squadron climbed until they were specks in the clouds.

  ‘Right, we’ll see if we can go,’ Angela said.

  They were given clearance and took off, but the Hurricanes and Spitfires were no longer anywhere to be seen.

  Gill sat in the seat nearest to Daisy. They were flying in line with the coastline before turning north when Gill suddenly said, ‘Oh look, over there to the left. Over the sea.’

  ‘Black smoke,’ Daisy said grimly. ‘I bet they’ve been bombing our shipping in the Channel. That’s where our fighters will have gone.’

  Gill was still craning her neck and now she was looking through a small pair of binoculars. ‘Look, over there in the far distance. Our lads have found their fighters. There’s a dog fight going on.’

  ‘We’re getting out of here,’ Angela said firmly and she put the Anson on track towards home. After a moment, she asked, ‘Did you see any aircraft go down?’

  ‘No. But there were bombers and their fighters as well as ours.’

  ‘We’d better go to some kind of debrief when we get back,’ Angela said. ‘We must tell them what we saw, even if I get hauled over the coals for going slightly off course. But you didn’t see any go down, did you?’ she asked again.