Hamilton was ensconced in an office of Davis Aviation Industries, going through the files of all the staff and employees and checking them against the security clearances. There were three persons he was querying and he would feed their names back to MI5 for further checking. One was a staff member and the other two worked in the manufacturing and assembly areas of the factory. Hamilton was checking everyone, not just those involved with the launcher construction. He would also spend some time following through the assembly process and those associated with it. Hamilton was looking forward to finishing the checks by the end of the week and getting back to sealing the other leaks. He also wanted to follow up on Major Garasov of the Russian Consulate in Manchester, feeling quite sure that he was behind a lot of the problems they were experiencing with the Red Hawk system. Looking at his watch, Hamilton decided to have a break and go and get some lunch. He headed for the management dining room which was in the admin. building and separate from the works canteen. The sound of an aircraft taking off came to him. It was a heavy aircraft, most likely one of the new Bristol Britannias that were becoming popular with the charter companies. Davis Aviation was on the developing industrial estate that flanked Luton Airport. It occurred to him that it would be easy to fly something out of the country once it got past factory security. The RAF team would be leaving at the end of the week and he suspected that security wouldn’t be as good once they left. Hamilton decided that he needed to talk to the works manager about security measures. He would also talk to the RAF sergeant about key components to the launcher. Then he would determine whether any new measures were needed to ensure effective security was maintained.
At the JSTU on RAF West Sanby, there was a lot of activity. The radar unit was rapidly assembled and the generator and caravan were sited. The power connections and testing would follow. Andy was busy checking the various components and their serial numbers against the hand-over records from the previous week. He decided that he would be glad when the progress clerks were posted in and they could take over a lot of this work.
At Jennings Engineering, a dummy frame was being assembled to cover the real purpose of the missile loading tractor (MLT). The vehicle was designed with dual controls in the cab so that it could be driven normally on roads as well as work on missile sites. One of the company’s drivers would be delivering it to RAF West Sanby where it would be handed over to the JSTU. So far, the design appeared to be working well and the company was looking forward to a firm order for a number of the vehicles. The RAF team had left early that morning in an RAF truck for the base. The company had used Thorneycroft for the engine and chassis and designed the rest to the Ministry of Defence specification. They were pleased to have won the contract against other tenderers. The managing director stood in the shed where it was being prepared for delivery and had a very satisfied expression on his face. He had promised the men a bonus when it was delivered and he felt they had all earned it. His best driver, Eddy Dennis, would deliver the vehicle. He was also good with the tools if there were any problems on the way.
Jamie Rogerson arrived back at the West Sanby pub and took the seafood into the kitchen. His boss’s wife was in there and she looked pleased with what she saw. “If this lot goes well, we’ll order more for the week-end,” she said. Jamie nodded and apologised for being late back but explained he had to wait for the fishing boats to return on the high tide. “That’s okay, Jamie,” she said. “Bob’s been holding the fort till you got back so you’d better get changed for work and relieve him.” Jamie thanked her and went into the bar to see Bob, the publican, and then get changed to start work. There were a few locals in for a ploughman’s lunch and a beer. Some would be going back to work but a couple of the old-timers were settled into a game of dominoes. When Jamie came back in, Bob said that he was going for his lunch and would relieve Jamie in about thirty minutes so that Jamie could also have lunch. Jamie thanked Bob and went to collect dirty glasses and dishes from the tables. Back in the kitchen, Mary, Bob’s wife, had set out lunch for them both and they sat down to eat. “That Jamie’s a good lad,” she said. “Pity he’s only temporary.”
“Ay,” said Bob, “it is, but that’s the way things are sometimes. Let’s see what he thinks in a couple of weeks’ time.” While saying this, Bob knew full well that he couldn’t tell his wife the truth about the approach to him from the RAF. They had been good years in the RAF and he was pleased to be involved now in some way and it felt great. Bob kept his eyes on his plate as he ate, not wanting to give anything away to his wife. Out in the bar, Jamie was able to talk to the old-timers and mentioned his visit to Parfleet St Peter and got them talking about the place and its inhabitants. They mentioned the fishermen and their boats. Jamie mentioned the fish he’d got from Walmar. “Nickie the Pole!” one of the old men said. “He escaped from Poland in 1939 and settled here after the war. He married into a local fishing family. I knew Penny when she were a youn’un.
