The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare by Damien Lewis

Author:Damien Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Special Forces
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2015-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

At Kastelli Airbase, all was fiery chaos and confusion, too. Lassen and Jones were still very much alive, but only just. As their comrades headed for the hills, they had made a mad dash back through the hole in the fence. But even as they’d squirmed through, they could see that the way ahead was blocked. A phalanx of German troops was pouring onto the runway to hunt for whoever was blowing their airbase to smithereens.

Lassen made a snap decision. Signaling Jones to wait, he ripped off his hat, so exposing his white hair, pulled out his Luger, and stepped into the open.

“Over there! Over there! Intruders!” Lassen yelled in German, shooting into the darkness.

The German soldiers followed his lead, firing into the night, after which Lassen dashed off after the imaginary intruders, drawing the German soldiers with him. Jones took the cue and dropped into the cover of a drainage ditch from where he could see how Lassen was faring and how he might be able to help.

A fire truck came tearing across the runway. Men wielding hoses began pouring water onto a stricken Ju-88. But just as Lassen and Jones had hoped, the blistering heat from the burning aircraft proved too intense for the German fire crew. In an instant, the next sleek fighter-bomber in line burst into flames, the force of the blast throwing the fire engine halfway across the runway.

As further Schnellbombers were caught in the seething firestorm, Lassen seized his chance and slipped away from the phalanx of German soldiers that he had been “commanding.” He strode toward the main gate to try to bluff his way through, but the gate guards were immediately suspicious. Guns were raised.

“I’m with you, fools!” Lassen barked. “Partisans all over the place! We need more men! They’re hitting the barracks!”

Several of the guards leapt into action, and Jones watched in disbelief as, for a second time, Lassen led a group of German soldiers into the thick of things. And then came the big one: to the eastern side of the airstrip the ammunition dump went up like a mininuke, and in an instant the entire base was lit up by a series of long, searing blasts.

Ammunition cooked off—powerful, juddering explosions ripping the night apart and rendering the sky above the airbase one huge firework display. In the searing light the guard nearest Lassen must have finally got a proper look at his face and uniform. Lassen noticed the immediate change in his demeanor. As the German barked a yell of alarm, Lassen decided there were too many for him to take on. He made a break for it, dashing into the shadows.

Bullets whined and snarled after him as the Germans gave chase. Lassen found himself running for his life, and he and Jones sprinted back toward the fence and safety. After the months of Atlit training they were fitter than the enemy, but they were also exhausted from the rigors of the long trek into the target. It was

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