Dawson's Down!

by Don Patterson

  While Harry sat in his room, he heard a commotion at the front door. Concerned, he started for the stairs to see what was happening. As he made his way to the landing, he overheard his sister, Susan, explaining something to Mrs. Winslow in a low voice. Susan had brought someone home from the airfield.

  Standing at the top of the staircase, Harry couldn't see the mysterious visitor. Wondering who had come to visit at so late an hour, Harry almost fell trying to get a closer look. Halfway down the stairs, he recognized the man standing in the doorway. It was Captain Dawson.

  "Captain Dawson!" Harry shouted and threw himself down the remaining steps into the arms of his beloved RAF pilot.

  "Careful, Harry," Dawson gently requested, "I'm still a little groggy from floating in a life raft for twelve hours."

  Harry looked up at Captain Dawson's face. A bandage was wrapped around the pilot's head, and he seemed pale and weak from his ordeal. Together, all three Winslows, Harry, Susan and their mother helped Dawson into the living room to sit by the warm fire.

  "How did you get back?" Harry asked.

  In a tired voice, Captain Dawson explained how he bailed out of his crippled Hurricane and ended up in a raft with a German pilot. Astonished, the Winslows stared at each other. Then, Dawson told them how the Luftwaffe pilot saved his life and set him free.

  Dawson cocked his head. His own words reminded him of his strange dream, the one he told Simms about in their quarters before breakfast.

  "It was like... a dream," Dawson mumbled. "He had me by the throat, but then he let me go."

  Harry swallowed hard and thought of his own nightmare.

  Dawson continued, "After the German submarine left with Captain Mueller, a fishing boat rescued me. Oddly enough, while I was on board, I couldn't help but notice there was no room for fish. Instead, the ship was filled with radio and radar equipment. It had to be a spy ship from British Intelligence. When we got to port, there was a car with a driver waiting to bring me back to Hampton. Surprisingly, he already knew the way."

  Harry, Susan and Mrs. Winslow looked at each other, mesmerized by the story. Although it could have been coincidence, Harry was sure his father was somehow responsible for rescuing Captain Dawson from the English Channel.

  "Sadly, Mrs. Winslow, I ruined the beautiful scarf you made for me," Dawson apologized. "But using it to bandage the German pilot's hands may have helped to save me from a German prison camp."

  Mrs. Winslow was breathless. "I'm just happy to know my small gift helped, Captain."

  Then Captain Dawson turned to Harry. "When we got back to Hampton, the driver asked to use a telephone. So I took him to Colonel Harrison's office. That's where I ran into Susan. She told me about the call you and Colonel Harrison made to your father. I asked her if she would bring me here so I could personally thank you for saving me."

  Confused, Harry stared at Dawson. "But Captain, the German pilot saved you from drowning. Mother's scarf saved you from being taken prisoner. And it must have been father who sent the boat to pick you up. I didn't do anything."

  Captain Dawson looked deep into Harry's eyes and tried to explain, "Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can be the most important. What you do to help doesn't matter as much as that you choose to help. You were ready and willing to do what you could. As it turns out, your actions made the difference. I know your mother made the scarf and your father sent a ship for me, but those things wouldn't have happened without you. Harry, your help combined with the others is what saved my life."

  Just as Dawson finished, there was a knock at the front door. When Mrs. Winslow answered, she was glad to see it was Erin. Concerned about Erin and her family, she reached for the ten year old's hand and invited her inside.

  "Erin dear, please come in."

  Erin stepped through the door and ran to hug Harry. After letting him go, she announced, "A man from British Intelligence just rang up our house. He told us my father is alive and well. You were right, Harry. He was separated from his unit for a couple days, but made it back. Father's coming home soon!"

  "That's great news, Erin," Harry replied, happy for his friend.

  Mrs. Winslow agreed, "Yes, Erin, come and tell us all about it."

  Erin joined the Winslows and Captain Dawson gathered around the fire. She explained how her father had been missing for days. It worried her mother tremendously, and they both feared the worst. The telephone call confirming her father's safety couldn't have been more timely.

  "Odd, though," Erin mumbled, "when I answered the telephone, the man on the line knew my name."

  Erin breathed a heavy sigh and confessed, "It was horrible not knowing where father was. I had all but given up hope when Harry gave me his beautiful scarf. It reminded me I have friends to help me through bad times. I just wanted to say thanks, Harry."

  Harry smiled, a little embarrassed by the attention from Erin. He had no idea the small gift meant so much to her. And yet, for Erin, it seemed to make all the difference.

  Glad to be together, the Winslows and their guests continued chatting in the living room for some time. Then, the happy moment was interrupted by another knock at the door. Mrs. Winslow got up to answer, but before she could, a man stepped through the doorway and let himself into the house. Susan, Harry and Erin were speechless. Mrs. Winslow stood frozen, unable to move at the sight of the man standing in her home.

  Captain Dawson recognized the stranger as the driver who had brought him back to Hampton. But Harry and Susan, and especially Mrs. Winslow, knew him as someone far more important. The man standing in the doorway was Trevor Winslow. Harry's father had come home.

  "Happy Anniversary, dear," Mr. Winslow quietly greeted his wife. Tears of joy started to pour down Mrs. Winslow's cheeks as she raced to embrace her husband. For the first time in almost two years she was able to hug him on their wedding anniversary.

  Somehow, Mr. Winslow had accomplished everything Harry had asked. After making sure that Captain Dawson was rescued, Trevor Winslow, himself, drove the pilot back to Hampton. From Colonel Harrison's office he was the one who called Erin's mother to tell her Mr. Bentley had been found. And best of all, he was able to come home to be with his family when they needed him.

  A surprised and excited Harry called to his father, "I thought you said you wouldn't be able to take care of everything."

  Mr. Winslow looked at Harry and explained, "I told Mr. Churchill about your telephone call, and he said he could sacrifice a few days without me. So it turns out that I was able to take care of everything, this time. I'm just glad you helped remind me what was important."

  Thinking about the rescue of Captain Dawson and Erin's father, Harry began to understand the importance of just being willing to help. As it turned out, no one person was responsible for saving the men. It was only through the combined efforts of many people that Dawson was returned to Hampton, and Erin learned her father was safe. Harry realized that when enough people make a sacrifice and choose to help, anything can be accomplished.

  Together, Mr. and Mrs. Winslow walked over to join Harry, Erin, Susan and Captain Dawson sitting around the warm fireplace. The stories they told were filled with happiness, even though the world was at war. The Winslows and their friends knew something special that gave them hope. They lived their lives knowing that when people are willing to help each other, things work out in the end. Harry would never again forget his parent's anniversary. On what almost became the worst day of his life, he learned that helping others was the one way to shed light in the darkest of times.

  IN HINDSIGHT

  During World War I, combat pilots endured incredible hardships. Not only did they face extreme conditions and danger from enemy planes, many pilots were left no escape if their plane was crippled by combat. Parachutes small enough to fit inside the cockpit were not invented until late in the war. Resulting pilot shortages proved the only thing more important than airplanes are trained airmen to fly them.

  After the experience of World W
ar I, military air services like Britain's Royal Air Force recognized the need for improvements in pilot safety. Unlike their unprotected predecessors, World War II RAF pilots were issued parachutes, life preservers, and in some cases small inflatable life rafts. In addition, they were trained to jump clear of damaged planes and use their parachutes and safety gear to survive.

  In order to retrieve downed pilots, the RAF developed a simple rescue service. However, the growing number of men needing rescue from the English Channel and North Atlantic Ocean during the Battle of Britain, required the Air Ministry to quickly expand their search and rescue system.

  A pilot parachutes to safety.

  The new, highly organized Air Sea Rescue Service divided the British Isles into four regions. Each zone, headed by a group of senior officers was responsible for initiating a sea search at a moment's notice.

  Upon receipt of a "Mayday" or "SOS" call, the Air Sea Rescue Service would dispatch an airplane to search and report on the position of the downed pilot or airmen. Then, a high speed motor launch was sent to pick up the survivors. If possible, the search plane would watch over the area until the boat arrived.

  Reports of downed men could come from the pilot himself, another pilot, the Coast Guard, Coast Watchers or Royal Observer Corps. In some cases, the local police or general public living in the area would call to inform the service of needed rescue. In order to retrieve survivors, the Air Sea Rescue Service used the RAF Fighter, Bomber, and Coastal Command, as well as the Royal Navy. In addition, Air Sea Rescue also relied on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and members of the merchant and fishing fleets located all along the coast of England. Anything that could fly or float carried some degree of responsibility for search and rescue.

  Outdated aircraft like Westland Lysanders were typically used in off-shore aerial searches for downed pilots. Equipped with life raft and sea markers attached to their undercarriage, the short-field take off and landing capabilities of the Lysander proved useful in coastal rescue operations. For searches farther from the coast, medium range Avro Anson and Lockheed Hudson aircraft were dispatched. Primarily used for long range patrols in the North Atlantic, the Short Sunderland flying boat hunted submarines, protected convoys, and rescued survivors of torpedoed ships far out at sea. The Sunderland's range and size made it the ideal search and rescue plane for vast stretches of open ocean.

  Short Sunderlands rescued survivors from the North Atlantic.

  Although aircraft proved most effective at finding pilots downed at sea, boats were most often used to retrieve them. Specialized rescue launches used by Coastal Command were fast and well equipped. After an air search determined the position of a survivor, a motor launch could race to the area and pick him up. In the event a launch was unavailable, the Air Sea Rescue Service called on local merchant and fishing boats to retrieve pilots as well.

  Retrieving survivors from a float.

  In all air-sea rescue operations, time is critical. Low water temperatures surrounding the English coast could prove fatal depending on the time of year. Recognizing the danger of survivors succumbing to the effects of hypothermia, the Air Sea Rescue Service developed an elaborate system of large floats, similar in design to a houseboat. Survivors could swim to the float and climb inside. Painted with brilliant red and yellow banding and Red Cross markings to make them easy to spot, the floats were equipped with radio, food, dry clothing, bunks, and first aid supplies. Outside, a flag was raised to alert patrolling aircraft or surface vessels to the presence of a survivor. Anchored at strategic positions offshore, floats dotted the English Channel from the straights of Dover up to the North Sea.

  An ironic compliment to the RAF's Air Sea Rescue Service and their dedication to saving lives, the German Luftwaffe realized the value of floating rescue stations. They attempted to run a similar rescue scheme. However, the German system was smaller in scale and less efficient. Rescue vessels from both sides often found German airmen inside a British float and RAF pilots in German floats. In each case, the survivors were made prisoners-of-war.

  GLOSSARY

  Air Vice Marshall: A high ranking officer, second only to Air Marshall.

  Ballast Vent: Vents for channeling water used as ballast in submarines.

  Captain: A military officer ranking below colonel and above lieutenant.

  Coastal Command: A branch of the RAF similar to the Coast Guard

  Colonel: A military officer ranking below general and above captain.

  Conning Tower: The raised control and observation post of a submarine.

  Hardstand: A hard surfaced area next to an airstrip used for parking planes and ground vehicles.

  Hawker Hurricane: A type of British fighter plane.

  Hedgerow: A row of bushes or small trees that form a fence.

  Intercept: To stop or interrupt the progress of enemy aircraft.

  Jink Away: RAF term for a sudden evasive action or maneuver.

  Junkers Ju 87: A German two-seat dive bomber (also Stuka).

  Lieutenant: A military officer ranking below captain.

  Messerschmitt 109: A type of German fighter plane (also Me 109).

  Operations Building: The airfield's central administration building.

  Prime Minister: The head of the English government.

  Quick Squirt: RAF term for a short burst of gunfire.

  Ropey: RAF term describing something in an uncomplimentary way.

  Scramble: The immediate launch of airplanes from the airfield.

  Stick or Yoke: The control stick of an airplane used for steering.

  Supermarine Spitfire: A type of British fighter plane (also Spit).

  U-boat: Term for a German submarine.