In a warehouse in Sleaford, the tractor/loader was being measured, photographed and documented. Its drive wheels were on rollers as its motor was being run in without the vehicle going anywhere. The dummy cover had been removed to reveal the normal outline of the vehicle. Eddy Dennis, under hypnosis and drugged, was watching a film of roads in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire taken from the cab of a vehicle. He was effectively being brainwashed in another part of the warehouse. Colonel Karkhov was pleased with progress. At 19.00 hours the engine was switched off. This allowed an inspection of the drive systems and also avoided the risk of complaints and curiosity from neighbours. On the morrow the loading mechanism would be operated to see what it could do. When the examination was finished, Eddy would be allowed to drive on to West Sanby but he would not know what had happened.
It was Thursday morning (6th) and Group Captain Clarkson was reading a signal from Sqadron Leader Dawson to advise that the Missile Loading Tractor had gone missing en route to RAF West Sanby and that the search would continue that day. He telephoned Air Vice-Marshall Denby and advised him of the situation. Denby picked up the ‘phone to MI5 and passed on the contents of the signal and asked that Hamilton be informed as he would be at Jennings Engineering that day. He then made another call, this time to Lutterworth, to tell them to get instructions to Jamie Rogerson.
The two-man team from Jennings Industries left Melton Mowbray by 7.30 a.m. and drove towards Grantham. By 8.00 a.m. they were driving through Grantham with no sign of the vehicle. From there they drove towards Sleaford. It was about 8.30 a.m. and as they were approaching Sleaford they noticed the lay-by with the caravan selling food and hot drinks. “I reckon Eddy would have reached here near lunchtime yesterday,” said the driver. “How about we check it out?”
The other replied, “Why not. I could do with a cuppa.” They turned into the lay-by and pulled up behind a lorry.
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
