A Flight of Golden Wings

by Beryl Matthews

  ‘I expect you’re right.’ Gussie poured them another cup of tea. ‘How will you feel about that?’

  ‘Lucy told Jack that she’s going to live for the now and let the future take care of itself. That’s what I’m going to do. I love Jack and need to be with him while it’s possible. If he walks away at the end it will hurt like crazy, but at least I’ll have had him for a while.’ She gave a shrug of resignation. ‘Does that sound selfish of me?’

  ‘No, those are my sentiments exactly. We can’t put our feelings on hold. We’ve got to make the most of what we have now.’

  Ruth sighed. ‘Jack’s trying to put his feelings on hold. I’ve broken through his defences a little, but I don’t believe he’s truly convinced that we should have a serious relationship at this time. Perhaps he never will, but that’s something I’ll find out some time in the future.’

  ‘And you’ll handle it in your usual sensible way. I was upset when Don left without a backward glance, but I think he was just having fun with me. We liked each other, but our feelings never went any deeper than that.’ Gussie’s eyes gleamed. ‘I’ve found someone else now, and this is the real thing!’

  Ruth stopped with her cup halfway to her mouth, and then put it down hastily. ‘That’s terrific! Who is he? Where did you meet him? What’s he like?’

  ‘Whoa!’ Gussie laughed. ‘Save your questions, you’ll get to meet him tonight. Now, come on, move, Ruthie, or we’ll be late. Looks like decent flying weather today.’

  That evening, Ruth, Jack and Simon met in the local pub to wait for Gussie and her new boyfriend. Sally and Jane joined them and they began to speculate who Gussie’s friend might be.

  ‘Have you any idea?’ Sally asked Ruth. ‘She’s kept this romance very quiet.’

  ‘She certainly has. I didn’t even know she was seeing anyone.’

  ‘I hope it isn’t another American.’ Jane pulled a face. ‘Sorry, Jack, I keep forgetting you’re American. I don’t mean to offend you, but Gussie was more upset than she let on when Don left.’

  ‘No offence taken. I also hope she’s found someone who won’t up and leave her. Gussie’s a lovely girl and no one wants to see her hurt.’

  ‘He’s bound to be someone lively like herself.’ Ruth chuckled as she thought of her extrovert friend. ‘She’ll soon get tired of him if he isn’t.’

  The door opened and a group of RAF airmen came in. They were all sporting wings on their jackets, and Gussie was in the middle of them. One of the men was Dave Sullivan.

  ‘Oh, hell!’ Jack cursed quietly under his breath when he saw Dave.

  Gussie waved and towed her entourage to their table. She introduced each one in turn – Paul, Dave, Stan and Harry. Then it was bedlam as more chairs were commandeered and pints ordered.

  Ruth managed to grab Gussie’s arm. ‘Which one is yours?’

  ‘Harry.’ She sighed blissfully. ‘Isn’t he the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Ruth studied Harry as he stood at the bar with Jack and Simon waiting for the beer to be served. There was nothing spectacular about him; in fact he was quite an ordinary looking man with brown hair and dark eyes. But when he came back to the table she could see that there was a glint of devilment in his eyes. Oh, yes, she could see what had attracted Gussie to him. He was well over six feet, and Ruth couldn’t help wondering how he squeezed himself into a fighter. Then she felt a cold chill creep through her when Gussie announced that Harry was a bomber pilot. She silently uttered Jack’s curse – Oh, hell! Being part of a bomber crew was a precarious occupation.

  ‘Hello, Jack.’ Dave put a pint in front of Jack. ‘I met your sister at Ratcliffe.’

  ‘So she told me.’ He picked up the beer. ‘Thanks. You with Gussie?’

  ‘No, Harry’s her fellow. We met outside the door and she insisted we join her party.’

  ‘Ah, she would. Are you going to see Lucy again?’

  ‘I’ve got a couple of days’ leave and I thought I would.’ Dave sat back. ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘Would it make any difference if I said I did?’

  ‘None at all.’

  ‘I thought not.’ Jack nodded and took a mouthful of beer. ‘My sister’s her own person and will do as she pleases. I think she’d like to see you again.’

  ‘Good, I’ll go tomorrow.’

  Ruth had listened to the exchange, and knew she couldn’t love Jack more than she did at that moment. Even though he was protective of his sister, he had just told Dave that the way was clear for him if he wanted to see Lucy. It looked as if he had taken Lucy’s words to heart and was now prepared to let the future unfold as it would. They were living in dangerous times and, in her opinion, the only thing they could do was take each day as it came. If they worried about what tomorrow would bring, they would never leave the house.

  It had turned out to be a lively evening, Simon thought wryly, his head thumping slightly, but the couple of Aspirin he’d taken would soon clear that – in fact it was already fading. He climbed into the Anson. Those RAF boys really knew how to enjoy themselves, but no one could blame them. They were risking their lives every time they took off. And Gussie’s boyfriend, in bombers, never knew if he was coming back after every raid. No, he wouldn’t deny them any happiness they could snatch.

  He took off, pleased the weather was clear today. One of the Ansons was out of service and he’d been asked to cover a lot of the country today. Pilots everywhere needed to be picked up and dropped at their next destination. His first call was Shawbury, then Litchfield and on to Ratcliffe. He was pleased about that as he might have a chance to see Lucy. He couldn’t get Jack’s sister off his mind, and with some leave coming up, he was hoping to take her out. It would give him a chance to get to know her.

  He was, therefore, pleased when he saw her waiting for the taxi at Lichfield.

  ‘Hi, Simon.’ Lucy laughingly started to thumb a lift. ‘You going to Ratcliffe?’

  ‘My next stop.’ He turned to the group of pilots – men and women. ‘Little Rissington after that, and all stops on the way to White Waltham.’

  Four, including Lucy, hoisted up their parachutes and followed Simon to the plane.

  At Ratcliffe, Simon decided to take a break and see if he could persuade Lucy to come out with him. Perhaps he’d take her dancing.

  They’d just got out of the plane when he heard Lucy give a squeal of delight. Simon recognised the man she was waving frantically to – Dave Sullivan.

  ‘Do you know him?’ he asked.

  ‘Sure do. Thanks for the lift, Simon.’ Then she was rushing towards Dave.

  The disappointment Simon felt was more than he would have expected. He’d seen Dave talking to Jack last night, but he’d never guessed that Lucy knew him as well.

  That served him right. While he’d been hesitating, someone else had stepped in.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The summer months had flown by, and it was now the end of September. As Ruth looked back, she realised that on a personal level it had been a good few months. She now knew for certain that her love for Jack was strong and lasting, and Lucy had become a good friend. Because of the volume of work they had only been able to meet now and again, but both Lucy and Jack would be spending Christmas at her home. Her parents had met Lucy and were looking forward to it enormously. Things were going well for Gussie and Harry as he continued to return from his bombing raids. But as far as the war was concerned things were not encouraging.

  In June Tobruk had fallen to Rommel’s Afrika Korps, with thousands of allied troops being taken prisoner. American troops were engaged in fierce fighting in the Pacific, and in August there had been an attempt to raid Dieppe, with disastrous results.

  ‘Ruth!’ The sound of Sally’s voice broke through her reverie. ‘Jane wants to see you.’

  ‘Right.’ She noticed that Sally was looking very pleased about something. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘You won’t find out if you stand there.’


  That was enough for Ruth and she hurried to Jane’s office. Sally was very steady and usually calm. It took something really special to stir her up like that. Ruth knocked on the open door.

  ‘Come in, Ruth, and sit down. Has Sally told you?’

  ‘No, she just said I should get in here quickly.’

  ‘Well, I’ve got good news. You and Sally have been recommended to go on a course for the four-engines.’

  Ruth gasped in surprise. ‘You mean try for our Class 5 rating?’

  ‘You’re going to do more than try. You are going to succeed.’ Jane leant forward. ‘The choice of the first pilots to convert to four-engines has been given careful consideration, and we are sure that you and Sally are the most suitable candidates. Some men still believe that women can’t handle the big planes. We’re going to prove them wrong!’

  ‘We certainly are!’ Ruth couldn’t stay in her seat. ‘When do we start?’

  ‘The day after tomorrow. You will go to Leavesden. Captain Anders will be your instructor, and he’s on your side. He believes that women can fly the large bombers.’

  Ruth nodded. ‘I like him, and he’s one of the best instructors in the ATA.’

  ‘I agree, and we’re also going to train some flight engineers.’ Jane gave a satisfied nod. ‘Now, back to today’s business. I’d like you to take the Anson, pick up pilots from Lyneham and return them to White Waltham.’

  After thanking Jane, Ruth couldn’t get out of the office quickly enough. She had been chosen! It was hard to believe.

  Sally was waiting and they grinned at each other, then the full import of what they were about to do hit Ruth. ‘Wow!’ was all she could say.

  ‘Wow, indeed!’ Then Sally sounded a note of caution. ‘This isn’t going to be easy, Ruth. If we don’t make it on the four-engines then that will be the end, and the doubters will say, “I told you women weren’t strong enough.”’

  ‘We’ll prove them wrong,’ Ruth declared with complete confidence. She picked up her parachute. ‘But first, I’ve got some pilots to collect.’

  One of the pilots waiting for the taxi was Gussie. Ruth was bursting to tell her, but decided to wait until later when there weren’t so many people around. She wasn’t sure if anyone else knew about this yet, but Jane hadn’t told them to keep it a secret. She hoped Simon and Jack were around when she landed at White Waltham.

  She was in luck. They were both there checking in when she went to do the same. She pulled them out into the corridor to give them a bit of privacy. ‘I’ve been chosen to go on a conversion course for the four-engines.’

  The two men looked at each other, then back to her, but said nothing.

  ‘Class 5!’ She spread her arms out as wide as they would go. They didn’t seem to be getting the message. ‘Big bombers!’

  Suddenly she was lifted off the ground by Jack and spun round. ‘We know, honey, and that’s great. Don’t take any notice of us, we’re just teasing.’ He put her down again.

  Simon kissed her cheek. ‘Congratulations, Ruth, you’ll do just fine.’

  ‘What am I missing?’ Gussie rushed up to them. Ruth told her, and her friend erupted with pleasure. ‘Wonderful! Do well and that will give the rest of us a chance later on.’

  Ruth grimaced. ‘There’s no pressure then.’

  But during the winter as one delay after another held up the training, the pressure built. Ruth had only completed six of the required solo landings when the Halifax had problems and the course was stopped. She worried about the time it was taking, and doubts crept in as to whether the idea of women flying the large bombers had been abandoned. Sally was confident that it hadn’t.

  Ruth tried to relax over Christmas, and having Jack and Lucy with them helped. Her parents were in their element making a fuss of their guests.

  Sally proved to be correct, and in February 1943 the course resumed, and Ruth finally completed the required solo landings. Handling large planes did not prove to be too difficult. With a flight engineer on board, all they had to do was concentrate on the flying. They had proved that women were capable of doing this, and the way was now open for more women to progress to the large aircraft. It had been a long haul due to the many delays, and now it was over, Ruth felt quite drained.

  Jack was in Perth on a priority delivery, and Ruth longed for him to be with her. She wanted him to hold her in his arms and just talk in his deep, soothing American voice.

  Sally wandered into the Mess and sat beside Ruth. ‘We’ve just heard from Gussie and she won’t be back tonight. She’s grounded by bad weather and she’ll try to complete the delivery tomorrow. It’s a priority again.’

  ‘Jack’s on one of those as well. Blast!’

  ‘We ought to celebrate our new rating.’ Sally spoke gently. ‘Tricia and Rob would have expected it. Let’s you and I do something crazy.’

  Sally was quite right, Ruth realised. Neither of those lovely friends would have expected them to be gloomy after their achievement. She sat up straight. And it was an achievement to be proud of. ‘I agree. What shall we do?’

  ‘We’ve got tomorrow off so why don’t we go to London and dance until we drop? We could spend the night at the Savoy and have breakfast in bed before coming back.’

  ‘That’s a wonderful idea,’ Ruth laughed, ‘but hardly crazy.’

  ‘Ah, but who knows what we’ll get up to while out on the town!’

  ‘True,’ Ruth agreed. ‘We’ll have to go by train because I haven’t got enough petrol for the car.’

  ‘As it happens, there’s an RAF truck going to London. I’ve already cadged a lift.’ Sally winked at Ruth. ‘We’re not the only ones looking for a night out.’

  ‘That’s terrific.’ She stood up. ‘When is it leaving?’

  Sally consulted her watch. ‘In about fifteen minutes.’

  ‘What? We can’t be ready by then!’

  ‘Of course we can. You keep an overnight bag in your locker, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes … but I haven’t got a dress in it.’

  ‘Neither have I, and it doesn’t matter, everyone will be in uniform, Ruth.’

  ‘So they will.’ Ruth pulled a face. ‘I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to go out all dressed up and looking feminine. Do you think anyone will ask us to dance when they see the stripes and wings?’

  ‘Let’s find out, shall we?’

  They both made a dash for the lockers and had just collected their bags when a voice shouted that the truck was leaving.

  ‘I’ll just leave a note for Gussie in case she gets back and wants to join us in London.’ This was hastily written and left with ops.

  When they climbed into the back of the truck, it was crowded with a mixture of ATA pilots and servicemen. They were the only women and Sally was already joking with the men. Ruth had never seen her in such a relaxed mood, but she obviously felt she had earned a bit of fun. And she was right. Ruth squeezed in between two men and smiled, now ready for a good night out and a little flirting. This was another thing she had almost forgotten how to do, but would soon get the hang of again. And she’d forget Jack for a while. Since his sister had talked to him, he’d become more affectionate and relaxed with her. When they were alone together – which wasn’t nearly often enough – he held and kissed her, but as soon as their passion mounted, he stepped back. It was damned frustrating. Sometimes she wished she didn’t love him quite so much. Still, she couldn’t change her feelings for him, and didn’t want to. He was everything she wanted in a man, and if he drove her mad at times, then that was just the way he was. Whatever he did was because he felt it was the right thing to do, and she couldn’t argue with his motives.

  When they arrived in London, the first thing they did was book into the Savoy Hotel. They were busy and only had a twin room free, so they took that.

  After dumping their bags and freshening up, they had a meal in the restaurant and then went to the American Bar for a drink.

  ‘Do you know where we
can go dancing?’ Sally asked the barman.

  ‘Try Covent Garden. They hold dances in the Opera House sometimes.’

  ‘Really?’ Ruth was surprised and turned to Sally. ‘Let’s try that. We can walk from here.’

  They quickly finished their drinks and were on their way.

  There was indeed a dance being held there and, when they stepped inside, the place was packed. They’d hardly set foot in the door when two army officers moved in on them. One was Major Alan Brewster and the other Captain Pete Hammond, both in the parachute regiment.

  ‘Told you it wouldn’t matter if we were in uniform, didn’t I?’ Sally managed to whisper before they were swept on to the dance floor by the men.

  Pete was Ruth’s partner. He was tall with polished manners, but he was clearly a strong man. No doubt they had to be ultra-fit to jump out of planes and be ready to fight. Ruth glanced around at the sea of uniforms and studied some of the faces, everyone intent on having a good time. She couldn’t help wondering what many of them had seen and done. They were ordinary people being called upon to do extraordinary things.

  ‘You don’t talk much, do you?’ Pete remarked dryly.

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ She smiled up at him. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, but I couldn’t help looking at the crowd. There must be servicemen of many nations here tonight.’

  ‘Including the Yanks. That’s why we moved in as soon as we saw you. Our American friends have a way with the ladies.’

  Ruth bit back a smile. ‘So I believe.’

  He held her away from him so he could examine the gold wings on her jacket. ‘Air Transport Auxiliary. I’ve heard about the women pilots, but you are the first one I’ve met. What do you fly?’

  ‘Anything that needs delivering.’

  ‘You mean trainers?’

  She shook her head, but didn’t have a chance to answer as Sally and Alan danced up to them.