Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  Up at the caravan, they ordered two teas and the driver asked if the proprietor had seen the vehicle which they described to him. “Yes, it was here late morning yesterday. I remember seeing it go past. The driver must have bought a tea or something. I get so many passing through that unless they are regulars I don’t remember them,” replied the proprietor. “Anything wrong?” he asked the Jennings men.

  “He failed to deliver the vehicle to the customer yesterday so we are looking for him,” was the reply. “He may have broken down or something but he hasn’t ‘phoned in”. The Jennings men nodded their thanks and walked back to their vehicle. They got in and drove into Sleaford. When they saw a telephone box, they stopped and the senior man of the two telephoned Jennings Industries and spoke to the factory manager, telling him what they had found out. In Sleaford they drove around the town checking out workshops and garages and accommodation places. There was no sign, nor any further reports of people seeing the vehicle. Back at Jennings Industries, Hamilton of MI5 had arrived and learned of the situation. He then contacted his office at MI5 and briefed them. After the works manager received the information from the search team, he informed the managing director and Hamilton. Hamilton reported it to his superior and also to Air Vice-Marshall Denby. Arrangements were made to have the Jennings and the RAF search teams to meet up. This would have to be done when each reported back by telephone.

  The two teams ‘phoned in again at 10.00 a.m. The Jennings team had drawn a blank. The RAF team had been checking parking yards on their way to Sleaford and drawn a blank also. It was clear that the route had not been followed after the lay-by outside Sleaford. They met in the market square in Sleaford and exchanged notes.

  Unbeknown to them, they were observed by one of the Russian team who was out buying some supplies. He returned to the warehouse and reported his observations to Colonel Kharkov. “Check the reading on the mileometer,” he told the team member. After checking he was told that it was three hundred and four miles. “Fine! Cut the motor. It isn’t as much as we want but it is better to avoid the risk of the sound of the engine being recognised,” he said. The engine was cut. Kharkov called the team together. “I’ll need another two hours with the driver and then we can prepare to let him go. Do we have all the information on the vehicle?” He was told that they were not finished but could do so in about an hour. “Good,” Kharkov said. “Let’s aim to send driver and vehicle on their way as soon as possible. We need to start dismantling our presence before we have the police checking all industrial buildings for the vehicle. Gregor, go and get the truck for the equipment. We will have to leave this place clean.” They went about their tasks and Kharkov went to work some more with Eddy Dennis.

  The RAF team and the Jennings team drove around the town together without finding anything that could lead to the missing driver and vehicle. At the end of it they agreed to telephone in a report and recommend that they return to their respective bases and hand the search over to other authorities. Having done that, the Jennings team headed for Coventry and the RAF team headed back to RAF West Sanby. The time was 11.25 a.m.

  The reports of the two teams were relayed to Air Vice-Marshall Denby and to MI5. Action was now up to MI5. A notice was issued to police with a description of the vehicle and its trade plate number. The notice would take time to be relayed to the different county constabularies and down to the local police stations. MI5 started to arrange a team to follow up the search in Sleaford if there was no news by the Friday morning.

  Hamilton reviewed the records of all the Jennings Industries employees with some urgency and then started interviewing them. He obtained a list of all those who had either worked on the project or had some administrative connection to it. That included people like typists and switchboard operators. Back in London, Air Vice-Marshall Denby decided that the launcher delivery had to be secure and arranged for it to be transported by RAF transport since it was due to be delivered on the Monday. The RAF transport would collect it on the Friday while there were still RAF personnel there. He decided that when the missiles and control unit were due to go to RAF West Sanby from Argonaut Industries, they would be moved by Brennan Transport. He notified Squadron Leader Dawson of his decisions and then advised Griffiths. He gave ‘security’ as the reason for the decisions but did not advise of the timing of the collection of the launcher from Davis Aviation. Griffiths was somewhat put out but realised that he could do nothing about it.

  It was 13.00 hours and Colonel Kharkov’s team were busy dismantling their equipment. Eddy Dennis had been given a meal and was now boarding his vehicle to take it on to RAF West Sanby. As he drove out of the warehouse, the van that had brought him in followed the MLT out. He drove north out of Sleaford and took the ‘B’ road to Potterhanworth, as he had been programmed to do. The van would follow him as far as Scopwick before turning back to Sleaford. Fifteen minutes after they left, a delivery van from Trans Trade Import and Export Co. Ltd. arrived. Colonel Kharkov climbed into the passenger seat carrying a diplomatic bag and the vehicle left and took the road that would take them back to Sheffield. The doors of the warehouse were shut and the work of dismantling all evidence of their stay continued. After reaching Potterhanworth, Eddy Dennis drove to Wragby. From there he took the road to Louth. By 3.00 p.m. he was driving through Louth and taking the road to West Sanby. He arrived there about 3.45 p.m. and pulled up at the main gate and gave his papers to the duty RAF policeman. The arrival was telephoned through to the JSTU and the policeman was told to direct the driver and vehicle through to the airfield gate. From there a Landrover led him to the JSTU hangar to be met by relieved personnel with a lot of questions. Eddy explained that he had been driving around the countryside running the vehicle engine in. It was close to completing the first five hundred miles when the vehicle fitters would need to tighten the head down and check all the other parts for adjustment. He said that he had parked in a lay-by near Gainsborough for the night and slept in the cab of the vehicle. Flight Lieutenant Gaskin arrived and heard Eddy’s story. Asked why he hadn’t telephoned in, Eddy was vague and shrugged his shoulders. He asked about being taken to Grimsby railway station to get a train back to Coventry.

  Gaskin telephoned the news to the Unit CO and also to Jennings Industries. The Managing Director at Jennings gave the news to Hamilton of MI5 while Squadron Leader Dawson telephoned Group Captain Clarkson with the news. Denby pulled out a file with Jamie Rogerson’s report on his visits to Parfleet St Peter. Denby wondered... the MLT was last seen outside of Sleaford... a Polish skipper of a fishing vessel with an East European-looking crew member... the crew member changing frequently... it was suspicious. He decided to get Jamie Rogerson to go to Parfleet St Peter and see what happened. Next, Denby contacted Coastal Command for reports of Russian trawlers or other Soviet vessels in the vicinity of the Lincolnshire coast. He then contacted MI5 for reports that might connect with this situation. Thirty minutes later he received a report from MI5. It contained information that a delivery van of a known front company for Soviet activities was seen in the vicinity of Sleaford the same afternoon that the MLT disappeared. Denby telephoned MI5 and then Squadron Leader Dawson. Then he telephoned Lutterworth.

  Eddy Dennis was asked to stay and go through the vehicle with the JSTU team before they would sign the acceptance papers. The team took its time and the sergeant kept asking questions of Eddy about the vehicle’s performance on the road. He had received a message to delay Eddy from leaving. Finally, it was too late for him to get a train from Grimsby and he was offered accommodation in the Sergeants’ Mess for the night. He was promised good hospitality. Eddy grumbled but really thought this could be a good evening and he would get a train home in the morning. He arranged to telephone his wife and let her know he was okay and would be home the next day. During the course of the evening the medical officer visited the Sergeants’ Mess in mufti and engaged Eddy in conversation. He couldn’t detect anything wrong with Eddy but concluded that a specialist might pi
ck something up he may have missed. He thanked the president of the Sergeants’ Mess and headed for the sick bay to telephone his report to Squadron Leader Dawson.

  That evening Jamie Rogerson received a telephone call from Lutterworth. He went and asked his boss if he could go to Parfleet St Peter the next day and get some more seafood for the pub. He had received some instructions. Bob understood and told him to take the van.

  Down in Luton, the JSTU team were having a final meal out together before they moved to RAF West Sanby. Andy had been invited to join them. The news of the missing MLT had reached them and they were discussing the possibilities. Andy kept his peace on this but listened with interest. He had completed his work and also had looked at the various construction processes and found them to be secure. His concern was that delivery from factory to the RAF could possibly be compromised. The solution would be for the RAF to take delivery from the factory itself. That would go in his report to Lutterworth. The RAF collecting the launcher this time could be a ‘one off’ and he needed to make the point.

  While Andy and the team were having their meal in Luton, Berin was arriving in Sleaford, driving Walmar’s van. He went to the address he had been given and rapped on the door in a coded sequence. There was a pause, footsteps inside and rapped reply. Berin completed the sequence and then the door was opened. He went inside and the door shut behind him. Four men gathered round him and questioned him. Berin gave satisfactory answers and was introduced to the person he had to take back to Parfleet St Peter. They shook hands and the man gave his name as John Matheson, obviously an assumed name, Berin thought. Matheson went and got a metal case and a leather hold-all. The metal case contained a set of photographs and drawings and notes. Kharkov had the drawings and notes photographed as well as the vehicle. Matheson and Berin climbed into Walmar’s van and left. Shortly afterwards the truck and other van, loaded with all the equipment, pulled out of the warehouse and the doors were locked. The van drove to a real estate agent’s office and an envelope with keys was put into the letterbox. The van then linked up with the truck and both vehicles headed south down the A15 to Peterborough and on to London.

  Early that evening, Walmar received a telephone call from Manchester to advise him that he was to delay the promised delivery until the next evening. Penny asked about the telephone call and Walmar told her it was a customer wanting to delay receiving an order. He didn’t give any further explanation and Penny sensed that she shouldn’t ask further. There were private orders from time to time that he didn’t tell her about but as they seemed to be well paid for the orders she didn’t ask questions. Penny was sure that her husband was an honest man and wouldn’t do anything outside the law. For Walmar, it was a bit of a headache. It meant keeping a stranger out of sight until they sailed. The man would have to stay in Berin’s quarters at the shed. Later in the evening he went down to his shed and found lights on and his van inside. There were voices in the flat and Walmar knocked on the door and called out to Berin. The door opened and Walmar went in. Berin introduced him to ‘John Matheson’. They shook hands and then Walmar gave news of the delay. Matheson cursed but was told to stay calm and that he would have to make the best of it. Walmar decided that they would not fish that night but go out on the afternoon high tide and fish until nightfall. They would then rendezvous with the ‘pick-up’ and come back in on the high tide. Matheson would be passed off as a friend of Berin’s going out with them for the experience. Berin would make up a bed on the settee for Matheson. After a short discussion, Walmar headed for his home and family. Penny was pleased when she heard that her husband was not going fishing that night.

  Friday morning (7th) came and Eddy Dennis was taken to Grimsby Railway Station for his train. He had thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the Sergeants’ Mess but he had a head-ache as a result of it. Still, he would be pleased to get home. Back at the JSTU hangar the team were busy putting the MLT through a series of checks to ensure all was well. At Davis Aviation, a RAF Leyland Hippo arrived at 10.00 a.m. to pick up the launcher and replacement parts. It would also take the team’s toolboxes and test equipment. Hearing that the truck was going directly to RAF West Sanby, Andy Hill asked if he could travel back on the truck and the driver agreed. When the truck pulled out he was sitting on the ‘gunny’ seat between the driver and co-driver. The JSTU team would travel up on the Monday as previously planned.

  At 9.00 a.m. Jamie Rogerson took the van and headed for Parfleet St Peter. On arrival at the village he parked the van by the harbour and walked around. Jamie noticed that Walmar’s fishing boat was still in the harbour. Another was also in but it was clear that someone was working on the engine. Walmar’s deck hand was sitting at the front of the shed working on cray pots. Jamie nodded to him and headed for the fishmongers. As he walked in, Yvonne greeted him with a warm smile. “So nice to see you again. I wondered when you would be back.”

  Jamie gave a warm smile in return. “What’s the situation with fresh fish?” he asked. Yvonne told him that they had a little but it would be best to return on the high tide if he wanted a good choice.

  “I noticed that the Penny Jane is still in harbour. Is that unusual?” he asked innocently.

  “Apparently Bill’s got a friend up from the south and he wants to go out with them. Walmar preferred to go out in daylight hours to let the visitor see things rather than it all happening in the dark. He’s a kindly man,” said Yvonne.

  “Yes, he must be,” replied Jamie. “I’ll have a coffee before I go back to West Sanby.”

  “Fine, said Yvonne, “how do you take it?”

  “White with two sugars,” was the answer.

  “I’ll have one with you. It’s quiet at the moment,” responded Yvonne. They sat at a table by the window where Yvonne could watch for customers coming. That suited Jamie because he could watch the harbour. “We’re having a dance here in two weeks’ time,” said Yvonne. “Why don’t you see if you can get the time off and come over for it? It’s a real community affair and folks will be coming from West Sanby as well.”

  Jamie looked at her face and could see the invitation in her eyes. He wondered if he could mix business with pleasure. “All right, I’ll talk to my boss and see what we can do,” he replied.

  Yvonne’s face wreathed into a smile and the pleasure shone out of her eyes as well as being in her voice. “That’ll be great if you can make it,” she said. A car pulled up and people got out and headed for the shop. Yvonne got up from the table and headed for the counter. “Come back about one o’clock,” she said over her shoulder.

  “Fine,” answered Jamie. “I’ll see you then.” He left the shop after the new customers entered and headed for the van. Jamie was curious about Bill Enderby’s friend and hoped to see him. As he drove back to West Sanby he decided to bring a camera back with him to get some photos of Bill and that friend.

  At the Russian Consulate in Manchester, Colonel Kharkov and Major Garasov were feeling particularly pleased with themselves. The colonel would fly back to Russia on the Saturday carrying diplomatic bags that contained the details of the new vehicle for transporting and loading the missiles. That evening they would be having a formal dinner at the consulate for business leaders which would help to hide the real purpose of Kharkov’s visit. The second set of notes and drawings would return to Russia by a different route. It was a pity that the pick-up at sea was delayed but it couldn’t be helped. The discussion turned to the key elements needed to nullify the SAM system. Most important was the wavelength that it would operate on. If they could obtain that then they could jam signals and neutralise the missile once it was launched. The other was the klystron. They discussed having a second attempt to obtain one but knew it would not be easy. Information had also come through that the system trials would begin at RAF West Sanby on 20th October. Their navy would ensure that an intelligence-gathering vessel was in the area to ‘listen in’ to the trials.

  CHAPTER 10

  It was after 12.30 hours and the R
AF transport from Luton had reached Peterborough. The drivers decided to have a lunch break and found a suitable transport cafe near town to pick up some hot tea. They pulled into the car park and Andy offered to stay with the vehicle while they got their tea. The two drivers left the vehicle and went in to the cafe. They had been inside about a minute when Andy heard something at the back of the truck. There was a question and the reply was “Da!”

  “Russian,” Andy thought and was instantly alert. He crouched down in the cab with his feet toward the door and waited. Footsteps came along the side of the truck and someone grabbed the handle of the cab door, heaved himself up and swung the door open. The man was wearing the uniform of a RAF senior aircraftman and his face registered surprise at seeing Andy. Uncoiling like a spring, Andy’s legs shot out and slammed the door wide open. The intruder fell back off the truck and landed on his back. Levering with his arms, Andy propelled himself out of the truck, landing on the man’s stomach, winding him. The noise brought the truck driver out of the cafe in time to see another man getting into the passenger side of the cab. He yelled for his co-driver and ran towards the truck. Andy turned and pulled himself back up into the cab to be met by a fist to his head. He held onto the back of the driver’s seat to prevent himself from falling off the vehicle. By this time, the co-driver of the truck was running towards the vehicle as well. The driver reached the winded man and kicked him down as he tried to get up, then dropped his full fifteen-stone weight onto the man’s chest and finished by kneeling on him. In the cab, Andy managed to grab the arm of the other intruder, also in RAF uniform, as the man struggled to get out of the cab. The co-driver, seeing the struggle, ran to the passenger side and climbed up. Hanging on with his left hand, he put his arm around the intruder’s neck and then jumped back pulling the man out with him. They both landed in a heap and the intruder pulled himself free and started to run for a vehicle near the back of the truck. It had a driver and the engine running. Andy jumped out backwards and managed to avoid the two men on the ground. He then took off at a run for the rear of the truck to head the man off. The driver of the vehicle accelerated towards Andy, meaning to run him down but the moment before impact, Andy jumped into the air and landed on the bonnet of the car. The momentum made him fall and slam into the windscreen of the car, blocking the driver’s view and the car changed course and veered towards the men on the ground. The truck driver threw himself backwards before the nearside wheel of the car went over the head of the man on the ground. As the car lurched, Andy lost his grip and slid off onto the car park. The car kept going out of the car park and down the road. The second intruder paused, stunned at what had happened, and then ran off down the road in the opposite direction to the car. Andy lay shaken and feeling sore but with no pain as though bones were broken. The RAF truck driver got to his feet and came over and helped Andy up. His co-driver came round and helped too.