Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  About this time, Corporal Andy Hill, in civilian clothes, was at the front desk of the Station Hotel asking for a Mr Hamilton. The said person was in his room, receiving a telephone call advising him that the Brennan Transport vehicle was on its way and that a coded telex had been sent from the cleaning company in Manchester to the Russian Consulate. As he put the telephone down, he said to himself, “Next should be news of a telephone call to Rothbury Terrace in Heaton.” The telephone rang again. This time it was the reception advising that a Mr Hill was there to see him. Hamilton locked the door of his room as he left and headed down to the lobby to meet Andy Hill. He greeted Andy warmly and said, “This should be an interesting day. I think the bait has been taken. Let’s walk out to the car.” Once they were outside, Hamilton explained that Air Ministry and MI5 were setting a trap. They had good reason to believe that Russian sympathisers would try to steal the new klystron unit now on its way to Wensley Electronics. The plan was to capture all those involved. “Your colleagues made some major changes to the damaged klystron last night and it will be swopped for the genuine article en route to Newcastle. We expect the attempt will take place when the truck driver stops for a break. That will be at Scotch Corner. Most thefts from trucks take place at truck stops. We will be in the vicinity.” Hamilton unlocked the car and they both got in. Andy noticed that it was equipped with radio. He wondered what other surprises it might contain.

  Major Garasov made a telephone call to Rothbury Terrace in Heaton. The party member in Heaton then ‘phoned the driver of the Commer van and told him to call round with his two colleagues. They had stayed the night with the driver. Sean Byrne was excited. His colleague telephoned Wensley Electronics to say that Sean Byrne had been rather sick during the night and wouldn’t be in to work that day. They then headed out to the van. Major Garasov had also made a radio call to Captain Petrovsky on the trawler and told him to have the agent slip ashore by changing places with a person that would supply some spare parts for equipment on the trawler. Within minutes, a ships chandler’s van pulled up at the jetty and a person got out of the passenger side, went round to the back of the van and took out some boxes. He went on board the ship with the boxes. A few minutes later, a person dressed in the same clothes left the trawler and got into the passenger seat of the van which then drove off. As the van, with Sean Byrne in it, arrived at Rothbury Terrace, another pulled up and the passenger got out and went to the same address. The Communist Party member opened the front door of the house and the visitors went inside. Introductions were made all round and they all received their instructions. While the Brennan Transport drivers were in the cafe at Scotch Corner they were to break into the van and remove the crate labelled for Wensley Electronics. They were to drive back to the shed in Byker and the chandler’s van would be there. The crate would be re-labelled as spare parts for the trawler and put in the chandler’s van. Vasiliy, the agent, would go with that van back to the trawler. Sean Byrne was there to check the contents of the crate and make sure it was the right piece of equipment. Vasiliy was to be in charge and give the instructions. They estimated that the truck would be at Scotch Corner by 11 a.m. and that they should be back at Byker by 2 p.m. Heading out of the house they saw that the chandler’s van had gone. They boarded their van, two of them climbing into the back, and then drove off in the direction of the city to cross the river and head south on the A1.

  Heading out of Manchester from a different direction was a black Ford Consul. Its driver had received a call from Major Garasov to tell him which vehicle should be followed. They estimated that the vehicle would take a northern route through the Pennines rather than go over the top and the driver should be able to catch up with it. The driver’s role was to follow the Brennan’s truck and report back on its progress by the radio installed in the car. He would follow to Scotch Corner and watch and report back. He had a further instruction and that was to help a Russian agent called Vasiliy if he approached the car for help, otherwise he was not to get involved. Vasiliy had been given details of the car.

  Leaving Manchester and passing through Oldham, the Brennan Transport vehicle picked up speed. Evan Lewis pulled down the glove compartment cover and a radio unit slid out. He switched on and let it warm up. Once the ready light came on, he picked up the microphone and called the office. “Transport 05 calling. We are en route and just through Oldham, proceeding east. No sign of a tail yet but when we spot one, we’ll call in. Otherwise we’ll call in again in thirty minutes time. Over.”

  “Roger, 05. Received and understood. Out.” Evan switched off the radio and slid it back into the compartment.

  “Evan, check the weapons and make sure they are ready,” said Jack Simmonds. Evan reached down and slid a drawer open from under his seat and lifted out a tray with two .38 revolvers in it. He lifted each out in turn and checked their loading and action. Then he returned them to the tray and slid it back under the seat.

  “They’re fine, Jack,” he said. Taking a busy road across to Leeds and then the Wetherby Road to the A1 reduced the risk of anyone attempting anything.

  “We should be okay but it’s best to be prepared,” said Jack. The transport company was genuine enough but it had a ‘Special Contracts Division’ that had some interesting assignments and some interesting personnel. That division was effectively run by MI5 personnel. The company had been purchased by a government front organisation when Mr Brennan retired. Jack and Evan were two of its operatives. They drove on.

  Also driving south on the A1 were Hamilton and Andy Hill. From time to time, Hamilton used the radio to check on progress. Louden was shadowing the Commer van and they were ahead of Hamilton. Hamilton spoke to Andy. “That cleaning company in Manchester that upset you, tipped off the Russian consulate this morning. Shortly afterwards our communist friends in Heaton moved out in a Commer van and it’s heading south on the A1. It looks as if our hunch is correct. If they break into the carrier’s van and take the crate they are in for a surprise. As I mentioned before, your tech friends gutted the u/s klystron unit and installed superseded components last night. This is a precaution in case they get away with the unit. MI5 operatives will handle things but we are there to apprehend any who may succeed in getting away. Your particular skills may come in handy but we want them alive. Try to avoid a repeat of your last episode, please.” Hamilton made the last remark with a wry smile on his face.

  “I’ll do my best, sir,” replied Andy.

  “While we’re working together like this, you call me Iain. No need for formality. I understand you are Andy?”

  “Yes, sir. Sorry, Iain,” was Andy’s reply. “I’m curious. Why the informality? It isn’t the British way,” Andy asked.

  Hamilton responded, “When reflex action is needed in the situations we may experience, we need to be on equal terms and first names help that to happen. You should know that, Andy.” Immediately instances came to mind from his mountaineering experiences, when close team work was vital. Andy nodded his assent.

  Back at Wensley Electronics, part of the RAF technical team were in the canteen drinking strong coffee and eating sugary cakes to keep themselves awake. In his office, Flying Officer Goodhew was on the ‘phone to the CO at and giving him an up-to-date report via the scrambler. Squadron Leader Dawson asked him about progress on the factory trials. “We’re close to being ready to move down to West Sanby, sir. I would say that another three days should see us ready to accept the equipment from the manufacturer, provided that nothing else happens.”

  “Good,” replied Squadron Leader. Dawson. “I suggest that you stand the men down at 12.00 hours with an excuse that they have to attend a briefing at RAF Ouston. Once there, those that worked most of the night can head for bed. The others can do some work on the drafts for the maintenance manuals until the usual ‘cease work’ time. Hopefully, by this evening, we will have substantially reduced the problems we have been experiencing on this project. No doubt I’ll be given a report on events by tomorrow morning and
I’ll give you a briefing afterwards. Thank the men for their good work.”

  “Thank you, sir,” replied Flying Officer Goodhew and he put the ‘phone down. He gave a big sigh and thought that he would also have a sleep during the afternoon when they returned to Ouston. In another part of the factory, Sam Wilson had been re-assigned to help on a non-military contract on the grounds that the customer required the order more urgently. He was told that more men had to be put on the team to get it finished.

  It was now 10.15 hours and Brennan Transport 05 was nearing RAF Leeming. Jack Simmonds had noted that there were three vehicles that had been with them since leaving Leeds on the Wetherby Road. He had first noticed the black Ford Consul as they went through Roundhay in Leeds. The other two vehicles, one a Standard Vanguard Phase 2 and the other a Humber Super Snipe, had showed up on the Wetherby Road out of Leeds. All three could be innocent but Jack had Evan radio in the information. It was better to be safe than sorry. The A1 road was busy and, while the traffic slowed them down a bit, it meant that there was less risk of an attempted hijack. Arriving at RAF Leeming, they made a right turn into the access road and pulled up at the guard house. Jack handed in his papers and the duty RAF policeman telephoned the station equipment officer for confirmation. When he received it, he told Jack where to drive to. Jack let off the hand brake, let the clutch out and they rolled forward. In his mirror he noticed the black Ford Consul pulled up on the side of the A1. “Evan, radio in that the black Ford Consul is pulled up on the A1 opposite the access road.” Evan nodded his understanding and made the radio call. They pulled up outside a large brick building with a loading ramp. Evan jumped down and opened the pantechnicon doors before Jack reversed the vehicle up to the ramp. The stores sergeant came out with a couple of senior aircraftmen. Jack gave the sergeant his paperwork.

  “Right,” said the sergeant, “we are to take your crate out and swop the labels with the one we have to replace. Then we are to load a second crate for delivery to RAF Acklington.”

  “Fine,” said Jack. “How long will it take?”

  “About five minutes,” was the reply. As the crate from Argonaut Industries was unloaded, three RAF Regiment airmen arrived, led by a RAF Regiment flight lieutenant. Two of the men were carrying sten guns slung over their shoulders. When the re-labelling was completed, they took the Argonaut Industries crate through the building to the other side. They were accompanied by the equipment officer. As Jack signed as receiving an additional crate, it and the re-labelled crate were loaded into the pantechnicon. On the other side of the building, the original crate was loaded into a long wheelbase Landrover with RAF Regiment markings on it. The two men with the sten guns climbed into the back with the crate. The officer and the other airman climbed into the cab. It then drove away to another part of the base. Jack and Evan drove out of RAF Leeming and turned right onto the A1 and headed north. It was 10.40 hours. There was no sign of the black Ford Consul. They would be in Scotch Corner within fifteen minutes. Evan radioed in the latest update and was told to pull in beside a ‘Weston’s Removals’ large pantechnicon when they arrived at the HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) parking area of the transport cafe. He ‘rogered’ and switched off.

  Hamilton was also receiving up-to-date details and when the conversation had finished, he said, “When we pull in at Scotch Corner, look for a black Ford Consul and keep an eye on it. I suspect the driver will stay in the vehicle and pretend to read a paper or something. Our would-be thieves are in a Commer van. It will most likely pull up next to a ‘Brennan’s Transport’ vehicle. They are currently parked at the side of the A1 near the transport cafe and must be waiting for the other vehicle to arrive. We’ll go straight in when we get there.” Another call came in to say that the Commer van was on the move. Brennan’s Transport 05 had arrived. It was 10.53 hours. As they pulled into the transport cafe parking area, they noticed the Commer van parked as expected. One of the occupants had got out of the van and headed into the cafe. The Brennan’s crew had already gone in to play their part. They saw the black Ford Consul parked well away from the other vehicles but with a clear view of them. The yard was hard-packed cinder and stone. It was full of potholes filled with water from the recent rains. The ground was wet and slippery in places. As had been agreed, Andy got out and walked over to the cafe. He went in and bought a mug of tea, going back outside as though to drink it away from the smoke-laden air in the cafe. From there he could see the van and the Consul. The man from the Commer van came back out of the cafe and went to the back of the Commer van and opened its rear door. The area seemed quiet, apart from a ten-tonner pulling out of the parking area and turning onto the highway, belching black diesel fumes as it went. A man in overalls climbed out and went to the rear of the Brennan’s Transport pantechnicon. He appeared to open the padlock with a key but it would have been a tool for picking the lock. Andy pretended not to be watching. Iain Hamilton had ostensibly gone to the toilet and was walking back to his car without looking at what was happening. Louden had parked out of sight just off the highway and was close by. The man in overalls opened the pantechnicon door and dropped the tailgate. Two others climbed in and started pulling out the crate containing the dummy klystron. Still no action from anyone else. Having got it to the edge, they climbed out and lifted the crate and moved it across to the Commer van. The man in overalls quickly lifted the tailgate up and shut the doors of the pantechnicon. As he started to slide the bolt back, the parking lot erupted into action. Hamilton and Louden suddenly appeared on the scene. Two men sudden appeared out of the Weston’s Removals van. Simmonds and Evan came out at a run. The driver of the Commer van started the engine but before it fired the driver’s door was wrenched open and a hand holding a pistol appeared. It was Iain Hamilton. The two men with the crate turned in surprise, dropped the crate and tried to run. The man in the overalls was Vasiliy. As he was approached by an agent holding a gun, he turned and kicked the gun out of the man’s hand, swung round and chopped him in the neck. The man dropped to the ground and Vasiliy ran for the Ford Consul. Its driver had started the engine once the action started. Seeing what was happening, Andy raced towards Vasiliy and caught up with him before he reached the car. He dived forward and grabbed Vasiliy round the legs, bringing him crashing to the ground. Vasiliy reacted quickly and twisted as he was falling so that he hit the ground sideways. As Andy relaxed his grip to make his next move Vasiliy pulled a leg free and kicked Andy in the head. Andy rolled away, his head ringing, but he was on his feet almost as quickly as Vasiliy. In those moments Vasiliy aimed a kick at Andy’s chest. As it connected Andy grabbed the foot and twisted, throwing Vasiliy off balance. Both men fell to the ground again.

  Seeing what was happening, Hamilton called to Louden to take over from him and ran for the car. Intuition said that Vasiliy might get away.

  Andy was winded and rebounded slowly enough for Vasiliy to get up and turn toward the Consul. Andy caught up and grabbed Vasiliy’s arm but his foot went into a pothole and he lost his balance and his grip. Vasiliy reached the car door and yanked it open and jumped in. The Consul took off. Hamilton got the car started and moved forward to Andy, who was picking himself up feeling sore and bruised. As Hamilton pulled up beside him, Andy opened the door and climbed in. Then Hamilton let out the clutch and went after the Consul.

  Back in the lot, Sean Byrne and his two mates were put under arrest. By now, there were curious bystanders outside the cafe door watching what was happening. A black Wolseley car pulled into the car park and a police inspector in uniform got out. He went across to the bystanders and asked them to go back inside the cafe for safety reasons, explaining that plain clothes police had foiled a theft from the pantechnicon. Simmonds and Evan replaced the crate and locked the pantechnicon’s rear door. Meanwhile, the Weston’s Removals van had its rear doors opened and ramps put in place. The Commer van was driven up into the Weston’s van and the rear shut. Sean Byrne and his mate were handcuffed and put in the police car. One of the men from the
Weston’s van squeezed into the back with them and held a gun on them as the car drove off. The Commer driver was put in Louden’s car with the other Weston’s man guarding him. The driver from Weston’s Removals started up the vehicle and followed the police car out of the car park. Louden followed and the convoy headed north as though going to Darlington Police Station.

  In the cab of the Brennan’s Transport No.5, Evan was on the radio reporting events. They were told to proceed north on the A1 to their destination but not to exceed forty mph until they were joined by a RAF Regiment Landrover, registration 46AB32. It would travel in convoy with them to Wensley Electronics. They were to radio in when it had joined them. Evan ‘rogered’ out and passed the message on. Simmonds nodded and drove out of the HSV park onto the highway.

  When it left the car park, the Consul turned north up the A1. Vasiliy told the driver to get him to the North Shields Fish Quay as quickly as possible. Iain Hamilton was driving a Wolseley sedan with a supercharged engine and he accelerated rapidly up the A1. “We need to stop them before they get to Darlington. My guess is they will ditch the car there and get alternative transport,” he said.

  “Sorry I wasn’t able to hold that man,” said Andy. “I’ll make sure next time.”

  “It happens, Andy.” Just as he said it, he caught sight of the Consul overtaking a lorry. “They’re in our sights. We should be able to get them,” said Hamilton. Within a mile they had overtaken all the other vehicles and were closing rapidly on the Consul.