Red Hawk Rising

the hangar. Andy saw a door marked ‘Admin. Store’ and headed for it. Inside the room he located the equipment he was looking for and the associated visible edge cards. He took a pack and went back into the hangar. This was where all the maintenance and servicing would be done. Andy headed out of the hangar and a flash from the seaward side caught his attention. As he turned his head he saw it again. It was the sun glinting on something shiny, like glass, in the vicinity of the sea wall. Someone was obviously interested in the activities on the base. Whether it was innocent interest or otherwise he wouldn’t know. By the time someone got to the sea wall the person would be gone. He would report it and also tell Rogerson. They would have to watch out for a repeat and try to catch the person. The flash was also seen by personnel in the control tower and binoculars trained on the spot but whoever it was had slid out of site. The incident was recorded in the log.

Berin made notes of his observations of the activities on West Sanby airfield. A new building was being constructed and there was greater activity at the nearby hangar. A site had also been prepared near the northern end of the runway. He guessed that the radar would be located there. All this meant that the arrival of the trials unit and the SAM system was getting close. He would need to visit more frequently and also visit the pub at West Sanby to see what he could find out. Walmar wasn’t going out fishing tonight because he had to attend a parent/teacher meeting at the local school. He was a dedicated family man. That worried Berin because it could cause Walmar’s loyalty to be divided and he could not afford to let that happen. One of the married airmen rented a house at Parfleet St Peter and seemed to be very friendly with one of the fishermen. Walmar got information on the base’s activities from that fisherman. Obviously the airman had a loose tongue but would he be of any use for information on the new SAM system? Berin thought not. He would need to make contact with the trials unit personnel. Berin decided to go over to West Sanby that evening. He would ask Walmar for the use of the van. If the trials unit personnel had recently arrived then they would head for the nearest pub. Could he get access to the equipment, he wondered. Dogs and handlers patrolled the airfield at night which made going through the fence risky. He would have to look at different options. Berin slid down the seaward side of the sea wall and headed for Parfleet St Peter. He would use the path on top of the wall when he was well past the base.

That evening, Andy suggested that Lance and Dan and he go down to the local pub for a game of darts. It should be quiet, being a Monday evening. They headed down in Lance’s car. Lance commented on the name of the pub, The Hound and Pheasant, wondering what the chances of getting pheasant were in the season. As Andy expected, the pub was quiet, with only half-a-dozen customers. They went to the bar to order drinks. The publican was at one end in deep conversation with a couple of the locals and called out “Jamie, serve the customers.” James Rogerson came through the door to take their order.

Andy commented, “Where’s the usual barman?”

“Oh, he works the weekends. I help out the boss during the week,” said Rogerson. Lance ordered the drinks and asked where the darts were kept. Rogerson nodded over to the end of the bar as he pulled the drinks. Lance and Dan headed down to where the darts were kept and Andy used the opportunity to speak to Rogerson. “Someone is observing the airfield activities with binoculars. We need to do something about it and we need to arrange how we make contact,” he said.

Rogerson said, “Okay. Let’s do the same as last night.” Andy nodded his agreement, paid for the drinks and took them to a table near the dartboard. The three friends set up for a game of 500. While they were playing, some more of the detachment came into to the bar, ordered drinks and sat near the dartboard where they could all converse. Andy was pleased to note that no-one spoke of work. After a few minutes he asked one of the others to take his place in the game while he went out to the toilet. Rogerson saw him and followed him out as though he were going to the cellar. At the back of the building they stopped to talk.

“What free time do you have, Jamie,” Andy asked.

“I have the mornings off,” said Jamie, “and I can get other time off if I arrange it with the boss. The job was arranged for me but I don’t know what the connection is. He was in the RAF during the Second World War.”

“Can I telephone you here?” asked Andy.

“Sure,” said Jamie, “I’ll give you the number.”

Andy responded, “You can ‘phone me at the JSTU but someone will be listening in to any calls. Could you visit Parfleet St Peter tomorrow morning and check out the fishing boats and see what you can find out. Our interested observer and your radio messages may be connected.”

“I’ll see what I can find out and talk to you tomorrow evening,” said Jamie. Andy nodded his agreement and headed for the toilet. Jamie headed for the cellar.

When Andy went back into the bar he noticed a newcomer. The man had the complexion of someone who spent a lot of time at sea or on the sea-front. He was standing with his back to the bar and looking at the JSTU