Scramble, Scramble, Scramble.

A Chapter by petec3638

SCRAMBLE! SCAMBLE! SCRAMBLE!

Time summer 1958 The Western Allies and the Russian Block countries were at a cold war with each other

Both sides trying to outwit the other; but at the same time wary of going too far, so as the begin a new war, one form which their could be no winner, both sides would be totally annihilated

The atmosphere is extremely tense, something has upset the balance> But what was it?

No-one really knows. It possibly something one leader has made about the other. It could explode at any time; just one more wrong word or comment, that is all it would take

It is about four hours flight between the capitals London and Moscow

The costal radio monitoring stations are at Maximum BLACK ALERT at Radar stations, listening for any wrong phrase or word. Every word has t be recorded and reported. They have a direct line to the Prime Minister, who in turn is connected to The White House and the President of the USA.

The RADAR stations are also at BLACK ALERT stations looking for any unusual aircraft or missile activity

On RAF airfields all Bomber and Fighter stations are on stand by

Both fighters and bombers have had extensive low level training. At a level to keep then out of RADAR detection beams.

It could happen that a single aircraft could avoid detection until it was minutes away from its target. With the English channel being only 50 miles or so wide; and a light bomber flying at close to 360 miles per hour, it would only take the attacker eight minutes to cross the water.

The air crew were living in their flight offices

Ground crew were on stand by alongside and inside the aircraft. The aircraft were connected to mobile ground units, Each armed only by the dreaded ultimate weapon of destruction; each had a full load of fuel, giving them 12 hours of flight time

On the word the ground crew would start the aircraft engines and remove the heavy power unit and all flagged air intake covers, those inside would exit.

Day followed night; night followed day, still the waited for the word. Stand Down, or, GO

Go to what?

Once that button has been pressed and everything was started, their could be now way back. It would be total destruction; of the world. There could be no return

The RED TELEPHONE rang. As it did on all the Bomber Command stations. It was SCAMBLE. Time for action had arrived.

Almost at the same time. Two senior NCO's, Sergeant and Corporal; picked up a ready prepared box containing a Very gun and red cartridges. They went on the roof of Air Traffic Control and fired off three of the red flares. To warn all aircraft to keep clear of the area

The Tanoy was sounded across the airfield. First a wailing, air raid, sound. Followed by the words "Scramble; scramble; scramble; al personnel to action stations"

The aircraft engines were started, the ground crew left their posts, all the removable flags were taken to one side and counted.

The air crew climbed the ladder, Pilot and co-pilot first. The ladder was removed and entrance door shut and locked from inside

The six air craft left their stations in order - should any aircraft fail to move, then the rest would just taxi past.

On the clear taxiway they touched fifty miles per hour at the end they took the hairpin turn onto the runway; no waiting this time, line up and full power, lifting into the sky; First one turning right, coming right round still climbing, round over the family living quarters, the second went Left turning over the Army Ordnance base. The four remaining similarly alternate right and left. They now set out for the locations in the sealed orders, each one different.

All six aircraft airborne in under four minutes.
In Air Traffic Control the operations clerk entered the details for each aircraft on the actions board. In the Destination column sealed orders ETD ETA columns: Destination Sealed orders

There for should the ultimate decision be taken, it would remain for evermore, or for some passing space traveller to read about the end of civilisation as it was; and to wonder at human stupidity

The pilot of number four had warned his wife should they be sent on such a mission. stopped and delayed. She must stay there as long as possible.

In the case of such a mission she should collect their children, take his car which was kept full of fuel and had food for four days and set out for his parents in the far north of Scotland. She was warned not to speed or bring attention to herself in any way, so that she would not give any reason to be stopped and delayed on her journey

In the sky half of the aircraft climbed to forty thousand feet. The rest went to low level at two hundred and fifty foot. They reached the appointed co-ordinates. Navigator "Change direction to (new direction) They flew on at the coast they turned off the navigation lights

Mean while on the fighter stations they awaited the call to intercept any invaders.

"Bandit, at (Altitude and position)

The Bombers were nearing their ultimate target "Target dead ahead ten miles to go skip" they had a fighter aircraft on their tail.

The pilot held his course; if they were shot down now they would crash close to the target and the results would be the destruction of all for miles around

It wouldn't matter any more

Bombs away skip, The pilot, climbed away from the scene; the aircraft released from the heavy load responded eagerly to his hands

No explosion skip - was the bomb a dud? Or hopefully a delayed action fuse

Navigator gave new instructions.

Two hours flying later, New directions skip. Another two hours flying. "climb to Thirty thousand feet; We are one hundred miles from home. Radio operator you can break radio silence now. Call up home base now forty miles to go request permission to join the flight path

Air Traffic Control "Altitude barometric readings etc"

"Welcome home, message from Bomber Command Head Quarters, Mission was a total success, bang on target, We were the fastest to get all aircraft airborne; three minutes and forty-five seconds

Number fours wife had been told it was an exercise. He would be home with her after the debriefing

The ground crew now had to prepare all aircraft for another mission

Wild Rose

Dec 2020

Maurice

Sitting in the window 2

12 October 2020

11:11

She was sitting in her window, Watching the world pass by,

Children on their way to school, Ladies setting out for the shops.
People beginning a new day

She had her scrap book on the table in front of her, she was about to open it.

There was a knock on the door. She heard the key in the lock. It would be her carer making her first of the days visits,

"How are you today Elaine?

"Oh I am fine, I was just going to look through an old scrap book, bringing back memories of times past"

"Would you let me look through with you, I like to hear what my clients have done in the past, but so many rely on their memories, but, sadly! for many the memories have faded over time"

Here we are then.

Me at boarding school, it was a convent; the head nun was a tyrant, cane for the least thing, talking, looking out the window at the flowers; still; we got over it.

Daddy got me a job in an office in Westminster, I had to move to London.

Hear we are, on a night out with the girls,

We were 'wild' they said; parties and dances.

They used to ask me to some grand balls; As soon as we got thought the door 'will you dance with me Miss Elaine'

Then they took me to the races, meeting the jockeys, trainers and owners,

We went to Silverstone.

Here look me with Achille Varzi and here with the German Rudolf Caraccola, at a car race somwhere;

Now where were the taken? it will come back when you leave;

I had a go at car racing.

I drove at La Mans in the twenty four hour race partnered with Doreen Evans the top British lady driver. Look at these from the magazines.

All that stopped when the war broke out
I wanted to do something to help the boys.

I Joined the NAFFI, not many girls could drive in those days.

I had to learn mechanics to see to the engine

I was given a mobile tea van, serving tea, sandwiches and cakes all over the place.

I was on a fighter station. Church Fenton, between Hull and Leeds; some times the boys only had time for a drink and they had been re-fuelled and re-armed and they were off again; it was the Battle of Britain, of course we didn't call it that then.

Winston Churchill the Prime Minister came to see them off one day; I asked him for his two pence, one of the officers handed over the two pence "Dont you know who that is? He asked me "Well the boys have to pay so why cant he"

Another officer, a Wing Commander saw what happened

"Are you that racing driver girl?

"Yes, sir"

"I have a job more suited to you it flying aircraft from the factory to the squadrons, we are short of girl pilots, the boys are needed on the squadrons, they will teach you to fly in one week its the Air Transport Auxiliary ATA,

We flew Spitfires and Hurricanes all over the country

One time I was attacked by two German fighters.

Well they didn't get to attack me

Air traffic Control called me;

I was going to Biggin Hill with a Spitfire, I had no armaments fitted, they did that at the squadrons.

I just had a radio, the controller said

'You are being approached by two enemy air craft, climb to ten thousand feet, we are sending out two Spitfires to intercept them.

A Spitfire pulled along side and waved, he pointed up

There I saw three more Spitfires

I waved back

All I could do was to keep flying towards Biggin Hill; It seemed like hours

One of the Spitfire came alongside, he waved and gave the thumbs up

He gave another wave, then moved in front of me, waved his wings, for me to follow

He took me right to Biggin Hill He flew over the runway

Leaving it for me to land

I followed the instructions from Air Traffic Control to an hanger

Where I was met by the Station CO; they took me to the Officers mess

That night they gave me a Station Plaque.

That is it on my sideboard

After the war I wanted some excitement.

We formed a flying circus

We took that onto the continent France, Italy, Spain, Portugal.

Then got a more steady job as a tour guide.

I moved into the office when the traveling became too tiring.

"You have had an exciting life. Has anyone ever offered to write it down and publish it,/ because we could get a writer for you,

I would stay here with you as they worked here"

"I don’t want my papers to leave me. Can I think about it, it would be nice to leave for my grand children. They like the stories"

"Of course you can,: I have to go now, I am going to be late for my next client, see you later"

Wild Rose

Oct 2020

Do you remember: Land Girls

14 April 2020

10:52

Do you remember the Women Land Army?

Some directed to work on the farms

Others were volunteers

They came from all walks of life to work on the farms

Feeding chickens, driving tractors, milking cows (often by hand)

The light work

The heavy work

The mucky work

The men away fighting in the armed forces

Growing and harvesting the crops

To feed the people

Left at home

High heeled shoes replaced with work boots

Posh frocks to heavy trousers

Manicured nails, clipped and varnish gone

Painted face; now windblown and sun tanned

Oh! how their lives did change

Late nights gallivanting in dance halls and clubs

Rise in time for lunch

Now rise with the sun

Work until dark

Sleep as her head touches the pillow

They kept food on the tables

Took on their new role

As the providers; not users

Accepted country living

In all its ways

Wild Rose

April 2020

Air Raids

09 August 2020

10:29

May and Harry had started to go to No 5 at nights to sleep

There was no 'Air Raid Shelter' for the area there was one down by the football stadium for the workers. No one knew what went on there, the rooms under the stands had been cleared out, trucks came at night and left before daylight. The football team had been disbanded; all the players had left for the war, the last game was months ago.

No 5 was deemed safer than No 1. It was in the middle of the row; the houses built of local stone, the stairs had stone steps supported on both sides by solid stone walls. The next door, No3 was exactly the same, their chimney stack was at the other side of the wall, to add to the strength, also their fire warmed the stones.

No 1 was the first house on the block, with only one solid place to hide, the opposite wall was just that a single outer wall.

They heard the undulating wail of the siren warning of an impending air raid.

James put the kettle on to boil, gathered the 'Air Raid' bag, he had a few sandwiches, clean metal cups and added them to the bag, the kettle boiled, now he filled a flask with tea and added that to the bag.

Meanwhile, Mary had gone to wake Nora, She had spent the previous night on 'Fire Watch' at the laundry where she worked.

Packing clean laundry for some far away soldier lads all day, then patrolling the area; Two hours on, two hours off; she had returned home at nine o'clock that evening and gone straight to bed with just a sip of tea. Now she had to go to the 'safe place'

On her way back down stairs Mary collected the ready awaiting blankets, left in reediness from last night.

The five of them huddled on the cold stone stairs, insulated by a thin cushion each, Mary had taken Harry to sit next to her, holding him close.

Out of the silence came the unmistakable drone of airplane engines. The ground defence guns started to pound; sending their missiles of destruction into the dark sky.

The sound of an 'Air Raid Warden' shouting at someone to "Put that light out; do you want Gerry to drop his bombs on you?

A crunch; "That sounds near" said James

Another crunch, then another, "that was nearer"

Silence

The guns started again; engine drones; the guns were more active, as bomb after bomb were heard to explode

Wave after wave with a few minutes between each one

"They must be after the munitions factory in the chemical plant, they produce Nitric Salt and have a huge store place, they say it can hold ten thousand tons"

Mary said "Lets have a sip of tea, just a sip" she poured a drop into one of the cups "Pass this round, we may have to make it last"

Three o'clock. The 'All Clear' shrill continuous signal was heard.

Nora "I'll go up and get my head down for three hours, wake me at six o'clock, I'll have to be off, there may be some clearing up before we can start work"

Half past six Nora left for work; she returned five minutes later "Its the footy ground, one of the stands is gone, I'm off now; Bye"

James went for his morning walk. Mary and May cleared up the remains of the nights party. Folding the blankets and placing them in readiness for the next night visit, washed out the cups and flask, they shared an uneaten sandwich, for breakfast.

James returned from his walk.

"The big stand has gone and there are three craters on the pitch and the bowling green and cricket pavilion and the pitch itself have been hit, you can't go down New Road there is an unexploded bomb by the church, wonder how Nora is getting on at the laundry, is she on fire watch tonight?

"No tomorrow night, then I think she has Sunday off this week, Do you want any breakfast? We shared a sandwich from last night"

"I'll make do with a mug of tea. Is that Harry stirring?

Wild Rose

Aug 2020

Having problems with my limbs

Doctors receptionist says “I will send up the practice nurse”

“No, I don’t want a practice nurse I want a fully trained nurse”

Car pulls up outside the door

No flashing lights or sirens

Lady alights and proceeds to get dressed in a disguise

Green coveralls, green hat, plastic apron, face mask, eye protection

She looked like a Muslim woman in a green niquab