Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  Back at MI5, the duty team were putting pieces of a jigsaw together. The Russian trawler docking at North Shields in the River Tyne, just a few miles downstream from the Wensley electronics plant; the klystron sabotaged by an employee associating with a person who is a known security risk; a ‘phone call from a cleaning firm to the Russian Consulate in Manchester about an important replacement part leaving Argonaut Industries in the morning for Wensley Electronics and now known members of the Communist Party moving a large panel van after a visit by an employee of Wensley Electronics. “We’d better move this one to a Code Red,” said the Duty Leader. “Call Hamilton and brief him while I speak to Air Ministry.”

  While all this was going on, there was a much more relaxed atmosphere among the JSTU team at RAF Ouston. After the evening meal, Dan had headed for the telephone in the NAAFI to call Margaret in Corbridge. That one not being available, Andy headed down to the box near the main gate to telephone Alice. John Walton answered the telephone. On hearing Andy’s voice and name, John’s voice became less formal and more relaxed. “I suppose you want to speak to Alice?” he queried.

  “Yes, please, sir,” Andy replied.

  “Hold on!” Andy heard John call out to his daughter and hurried footsteps along the hall. “See you again,” said John and handed the ‘phone over to Alice.

  “Hallo, Andy? I’m so glad you called.” Walking through the lounge door, John had a big smile on his face and Judith gave him a knowing look. Andy and Alice were already lost in their own world, one that was new and exciting, bringing uncertainty and also a sense of adventure as they started to explore their feelings while talking to each other. Alice was relaxed as she talked of her day and reminisced about the previous day; Andy was a little nervous but feeling very happy. Self-assured in many ways, this was a different experience and he wasn’t so sure of himself. He explained that he was due to leave in a couple of days and head south but when he was able to get leave, he would be back. Alice was happy at that and said that they could write to each other and talk on the ‘phone until they could meet again. He ran out of coins so they agreed to talk again before he left and they hung up. Andy walked back to the NAAFI and found Lance in the writing room busy writing to Anne. He had already written several pages on his Basildon Bond writing pad. He had a new Parker fountain pen that took ink cartridges instead of having to have a bottle of ink and he was proud of it. Dan was sitting at another table reading, and got up and joined them both. They chatted about the girls and the Waltons, wondering when they could join John for some shooting. All expressed a desire to drive his old Sunbeam Special.

  ***

  As the three corporals chatted in the NAAFI, over in the Officers’ Mess, Flying Officer Goodhew received a ‘phone call from the Unit CO with some unusual instructions. At the same time Air Vice- Marshall Denby was talking to the Station CO (who was at home) and put a ‘Service request’ to him. At the end of the ‘phone call the Station CO telephoned the duty officer with some orders and then told his wife he had to go back to the office and not to wait up for him.

  At the Russian Consulate in Manchester, Major Garasov was on the secure line to Moscow. He was discussing how it was planned to obtain the spare klystron being taken to Newcastle from Argonaut Industries in the morning. When he had finished, he telephoned a number in Heaton, Newcastle, to advise that there would be more instructions early the next morning. On the Russian trawler, Captain Petrovsky had received instructions for the agent he was carrying and also to be ready to leave the next day.

  Back at RAF Ouston, Flying Officer Goodhew was talking with Sarge after having called him at the Sergeants’ Mess. After the call, Sarge went looking for his corporals. He found them in the NAAFI. “There’s a flap on. We have to go to Wensley Electronics tonight and pick up the blown klystron. While we are there you boys will need to pick up your tool kits. I’ll meet you outside the MT section in fifteen minutes.”

  Andy asked, “Can I be of any help?”

  “Who knows. You might as well come along too.” At the same time the managing director of Wensley Electronics was telephoning the night security at the factory and telling them to co-operate with the RAF team that would arrive that evening. He explained that Flying Officer Goodhew and others would be arriving within the hour.

  The three corporals arrived at the MT Section to find Sarge in the cab passenger seat of a one-tonner and young Higgins at the wheel. They piled into the back of the truck and it took off in a hurry. Flying Officer Goodhew had already left for Wensley Electronics, driving the Vanguard. Meanwhile, the station CO had arrived at the base and headed out to the airfield. He found the duty officer in the hangar with the ground crew readying the ‘Anson’ aircraft for a flight. Also, seats were being removed from the latter part of the cabin to allow cargo to be stowed.

  The RAF truck rolled up to the gates of Wensley Electronics to find night security and Flying Officer Goodhew waiting for them. A security officer waved to the driver to follow him and they headed to a loading dock in the secure area of the factory. After opening up, the security officer led the RAF team into the factory to collect the klystron and pick up their tool kits. Andy went with them to give a hand. They loaded the klystron and their toolboxes onto a trolley and wheeled it out to the loading dock. They secured the unit and their toolboxes and the truck moved off to the gate. While this had been going on, Flying Officer Goodhew had gone to his office and was talking to the managing director (MD) on the telephone. It was clear that some action needed to be taken to resolve the problem of missing spares and the blown klystron. The MD agreed to transfer Sam Wilson off the project and out of the secure area. He would work out an excuse to make the move urgently and avoid the risk of a disruption at the factory. The security staff were told not to discuss the night visit by the RAF with anyone. The truck rolled out and headed for RAF Ouston followed by Flying Officer Goodhew in the Vanguard. This time, Sarge travelled back with Goodhew and Andy was in the cab of the truck while the other two stayed in the back with the equipment.

  Arriving at RAF Ouston, the RAF policeman told them to go straight to the hangar. There they found preparations had been going on. A small hoist was there and a trolley with a crate and packing material. The klystron was lifted out and packed into the crate. Flying Officer Goodhew then called the three corporals over to talk with them. “Corporals Williams and Brennan, you will go with the sergeant and your toolkits and the klystron in the Anson. It will take you to RAF Leeming. There you will be taken to a workshop with facilities to remove the main components from the klystron frame and replace them with out-of-date radar components. There will be a team of techs to help you do this quickly. The Anson will wait for you to complete the change and then bring you all back to Ouston before dawn. The modified unit and other parts will stay at Leeming. Unfortunately, you will have to go to Wensley Electronics in the morning as normal so that suspicions are not aroused. Corporal Hill, you are not left out of the action. You will be ready to leave at 07.30 hours but you are to be in your civilian clothes. The CO has told me that you are to work with Hamilton of MI5. Meet me at the MT Section and I’ll drop you off at the Station Hotel in the morning before I go on to Wensley Electronics.”

  “Very good, sir,” replied Andy. A SAC (Senior Aircraftman) from the parachute section issued the three ‘techs’ with a parachute each. They signed for them and headed for the aircraft. Its engines were already warming up and the klystron and their tools had already been loaded and stowed. As they climbed in, they were handed meal packs and a flask of tea. They strapped their parachutes on and used them as cushions to sit on in the seats of the Anson. Then they each fastened the safety harness and gave thumbs up to the pilot who was in the cockpit and watching them. He had already completed his pre-flight checks and as he revved the engines, he released the brake and the aircraft rolled forward.

  As the aircraft taxied down to the end of the runway for take-off, Andy had a sense of excitement. It was now about 23.00 hours.
The night sky was clear and away from the city he could see plenty of stars. It was easy to pick out the Plough and the North Star. Being mid-September, it was cool but not really cold. The Anson had reached the end of the runway and, turning, its engines roared and it picked up speed going down the runway. It was a dark shadow flashing past the runway lights and then it rose into the air and became silhouetted against the sky, its navigation light winking in the darkness. Andy turned and saw that Goodhew was talking with the station CO. Higgins offered to drop him off at the barrack block on his way to returning the truck to the MT Section and Andy gratefully climbed into the cab. He knew that he would have to ‘switch off’ to get some necessary sleep ready for tomorrow’s activity.

  Forty minutes later, the RAF Anson was turning into circuit to land at RAF Leeming. The team had eaten some supper and then dozed for the rest of the flight. They woke to the sound of the pilot talking to the control tower. The pilot then wound down the landing gear. The plane levelled up on the runway and gently dropped down onto it, the pilot revving the engines and then cutting them back to a gentle ‘feather’ as he taxied off the runway and headed to the dispersal. An airman with illuminated batons signalled the pilot in and when he crossed the batons the pilot applied the brake and came to a halt. He cut the engines and nodded to ‘Sarge’ to open the door. A small truck pulled up and a couple of ‘techs’ got out and waited for them all to emerge. The orderly officer then arrived in a Landrover and told Sarge they were expected and workshop facilities made available. The klystron crate was loaded into the truck. Sarge joined the orderly officer in the Landrover and the corporals climbed into the truck with the toolkits. The two vehicles headed over to one of the hangers that was brightly lit. Two delta-winged Gloster Javelin AW fighters taxied past toward the end of the runway as they prepared to go out on a night patrol. Another one out on the pan was being worked on by engine fitters and prepared for a ground run. This was an operational fighter base. Lance and Sean were wide awake and taking a real interest in all the activity. They pulled up outside the electronics workshop at the side of the hangar and the two techs unloaded the crate and took it into the workshop. Sarge and the two corporals followed with their toolkits. Inside they found the senior technical officer and a flight sergeant waiting for them. They came to attention and saluted. He returned the salute and told them to relax. “I understand you know what you have to do, Sergeant?” and Sarg’ gave a “Yessir” in reply. “Good. This is Flight Sergeant Hemsley. He’s in charge of the electronics maintenance and will help you with what you want. Okay, Flight, I’ll leave you to it and call back a little later.” He then went off with the Orderly Officer.

  Sarge turned and said, “Nice to meet you, Flight. I don’t know what you’ve been told. We have to gut the klystron unit we brought with us and install some older equipment into the casing that I’m told you have in your stores. We then have to seal it up in the crate ready to be picked up in the morning.”

  Hemsley replied, “The parts are already here for you.”

  “Okay,’ said Sarge, “let’s get into it.” Sean and Lance set their toolkits up while one of the local techs opened up the crate. They put the unit on the bench and started to take the covers off. ‘Sarge’ and Hemsley were examining the spare parts that had been allocated and assessing what modifications would have to be made. The key components were removed, as were the cards containing the transistors. Fortunately, the cards and slots from the older units were the same size as the new klystron unit but it was clear that they would have to do some wiring to make it look good. It was clear that the main unit wouldn’t fit and they would have to modify the frame to take it. As Lance and Sean stripped the klystron unit down, the two SNCOs (senior non-commissioned officers) were busy sketching up the modifications needed. Hemsley told one of his techs to get some aluminium plate and set up the bench drill. When it arrived, he and ‘Sarge’ set to work to cut and drill the connecting plates needed to fit the older design into the newer klystron unit. Lance and Sean worked on the cabling, soldering new leads into the plugs that would screw into the sockets. While they were working on it the senior technical officer returned and watched with interest as they all worked. Outside, a refueller driver was refuelling the Anson and an airframe fitter was checking the aircraft over in readiness for its return flight. The pilot was at the Officers’ Mess having a quick sleep while the technical work was being carried out.

  Two hours after landing, the job was finished and they were packing up their tools. The pilot was brought from the Officers’ Mess and he ran through his pre-flight checks. A vehicle was called to pick them up and take them to the aircraft. Sarge thanked Hemsley and his two techs for their help. He and Lance and Sean picked up their toolboxes and headed for the transport. They drove past the Gloster Javelin having a ground run done on it. The noise was deafening. It was as if the engine fitters wanted to wake up everyone on the base and the nearby farms. Soon they were climbing into the Anson and settling down into their seats. The door was closed, Sarge nodded to the pilot, he released the brake and the aircraft rolled onto the taxiway. They had to wait while a Javelin came in to land, the beams of its wing lights cutting through the night as it dropped towards the runway. It touched down and the whine of its engines turned to a roar as the pilot braked and rolled on down to dispersal. Soon the Anson was racing down the runway and heading skywards and back to RAF Ouston. Meanwhile Flight Sergeant Hemsley and his two techs were packing and sealing another crate ready to be collected in the morning. They knew something was going on but as usual they were denied the full story because it was ‘on a need to know’ basis and they didn’t need to know. That wasn’t to say that they didn’t want to know but they had learned to restrain their curiosity.

  It was about 3.00 a.m. and Andy stirred and awoke as he heard an aircraft coming in to land. It sounded like the Anson returning. Fifteen minutes later, Lance and Sean crept into the barrack room, undressed and climbed into their beds. They wouldn’t have long to sleep. Andy rolled over and went back to sleep.

  Reveille was at 6.30 a.m. (Tuesday 27th) and Andy was already up, and in the ablutions, having a shave and shower. Going back into the barrack room, he found Lance and Dan still sound asleep and shook them awake. For them it was not going to be an easy day. Andy dressed in his civilian clothes and then wrote a short letter to Alice while waiting for the other two to get ready. The three of them headed to the mess for breakfast. Nothing was said about the activities of the previous night. They were all aware of the risk of any loose talk.

  While they were having breakfast a small pantechnicon from the Brennan Transport Company arrived at the gates of Argonaut Industries in Manchester. The driver presented his papers which showed that he had to pick up a crate and take it to Wensley Electronics in Newcastle upon Tyne. The security officer told them to pull in and wait while he checked the details. The address and telephone number of the transport company were for Crown Point in Leeds and the driver’s name was Jack Simmonds. He found that an authorisation had come in from the RAF on the telex machine during the night. He then dialled the telephone number and got a male voice answering, “Brennan Transport. Can I help you?” The Argonaut security man explained the purpose of the call. “The driver should be Jack Simmonds and his mate should be Evan Lewis,” came the reply. “We often do work for the MoD (Ministry of Defence), like delivering spare parts to the RAF from suppliers.” The security man thanked him and put the ‘phone down. He then went and gave the driver instructions as to where to go to pick up the crate, giving them an internal pass to be handed in when they left. He noted that both were clean-shaven and wore clean dustcoats with the Brennan name on them. Jack Simmonds backed the truck into the loading bay. Evan Lewis jumped out of the cab and went round to the rear of the pantechnicon and opened the rear doors, then Jack backed the vehicle the rest of the way to the loading ramp. The paperwork was checked, the spare klystron unit, in a crate, was loaded and signed for, then the pantechnicon doors c
losed and locked. Evan climbed back into the cab and they headed back to the main gate. The security guard kept a copy of the Argonaut form and he was given back the internal security pass.

  “How long will the trip take you?” he asked Jack Simmonds.

  “Four to five hours, I think. We’ve got another pick-up at Leeming, then we’ll break at Scotch Corner. Be in Newcastle for lunch and home for tea,” was the reply. The Brennan Transport truck turned north to eventually head out through the Pennines. The security officer on duty had arranged to exchange a shift so that he could be on that morning. He had received instructions through the cleaning company to do so. As Corporal Andy Hill walked down to the MT section, a cleaner’s van was leaving Argonaut Industries after routine early cleaning. The security officer gave the driver an envelope as he checked the vehicle out. At 8 a.m., a telex message was sent to the Russian Embassy in Manchester. While it appeared to refer to arrangements for a cleaning contract it contained a coded message advising the name and registration number of the Brennan Transport vehicle and the likely driver’s stop. The Russian cipher clerk quickly relayed the information to Major Garasov. He smiled grimly and reached for the telephone.