Page 46 - SAFFER 07

The Near Miss the voice at the other end to complete the
obligatory, formal greeting.
“Yes, I need you to send one of the men
across to my office, I have CO Tim Mc-
Nally here. He could do with someone
to take a stroll with him to their mess.
Casual, no marching required.”
He replaced the phone and turned his
attention to the waiting airman.
“Relax here until one of the duty ser-
geants arrives to meet you. I’ll ensure you
are asked no questions or expected to
respond to anyone other than me. Show-
er, take your time, freshen up and make
your way over to the officer’s mess. I’ll
leave instructions that I’m expecting you
in the Senior’s Lounge. I’ll have some-
thing ready to calm shaky nerves.”
Forty minutes later CO Tim McNally
presented himself to the colonel who
casually waved the young man to one of
the plush recliners. Tim momentarily
reflected on the comfort senior officers
expect and take for granted. In time, this
could be for him too. Yes, complete his
flying course and earn his commission…
the sky was the limit, as the old adage
went.
The colonel poured two drinks, asking if
Tim preferred his whiskey on the rocks
“Son… sit, calm yourself down.” “At me sir… right through me…” or with a dash of water. On the rocks
The fear and bewilderment in the young The young man slumped onto the couch, would do just fine, to settle the nerves,
man’s bloodshot eyes, testament to the whimpering, submissive… drained of the thanks. Tim admired the heavy lead
ordeal he was experiencing. residual adrenalin energy that had fuelled crystal glasses. He wondered what a toe
“But sir, I’m not lying… I swear on my his shaking body just minutes before. He would look like if one of these things
mother’s life… I saw the plane.” seemed calmer, yet the terror lingered in impacted a bare foot?
The agitated Candidate Officer stood his eyes. Those eyes, thought the colonel, The colonel glanced up. The lad seemed
shaking, barely able to control his body. have seen death and will never be the calm, even lifting the tumbler with a
His flying overall was drenched… the same again. steady hand. The massive initial shock
sweat still running down his forehead, “Good lad… you seem to be getting had subsided, he was sure he could con-
stinging his eyes. He tried, in vain, to your emotions under control. Could you tinue the conversation without unsettling
wipe the burning away but just as his describe this aircraft?” the lad any further.
shattered emotions were not allowing “Ye… yes sir, I think so. I’m not sure of “The aircraft you described is a de Havil-
him to think logically, his perspiration the name… but I’m convinced it was a land Vampire. Our air corps flew them in
kept flowing and stinging. He found it single seater… twin tail-booms, stubby the Korean War and a few other isolated
hard to swallow. He found it difficult to wings aft of the cockpit… seemed to have skirmishes around the world. The aircraft
speak yet he felt compelled to tell his tale. been a jet… no sign of a prop anywhere. were phased out here as long ago as the
“Sir… I’m not lying…” Twin vertical fins?” mid-sixties… almost sixty years ago.”
The colonel gestured for the young man Tim fell silent… thinking. His face Tim sat quietly, wondering why the
to sit down. The leather sofa was usually drained of all colour, his dark sweat-mat- colonel was chatting so casually. He was
a favourite destination for anyone lucky ted ringlets sticking to his head. He renowned as a very difficult man… who
enough to be invited to sit in the Officer needed a shower, thought the colonel. He didn’t suffer fools, or pupil pilots, kindly.
Commanding’s office, yet this young suggested as much. Either this was a hush up in the making
student couldn’t get himself to obey the “Tim, why don’t you go and clean up? or he had bad news coming. And, the
request. Then, come right back and we can only bad news he could think of was
“CO, I believe you…” discuss what you experienced. I’m sure being washed off the course for reporting
“It came at me… full-bore… directly at you’ll feel somewhat better after a shower an absurdity.
me!” and change of uniform – best you get out Tim tried to turn his mind around…
“Tim… Tim… TIM… I believe you. Sit of that flying suit.” it seemed all roads lead to trouble. He
down, it’s an order.” Colonel Richards reached for his desk hadn’t fully absorbed the events of the
phone and dialled. He paused, waiting for afternoon and now he was staring into

| 46