Minerva by June Hirst

Author:June Hirst
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Military, Genre Fiction, War, Literature & Fiction
Published: 2014-08-02T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

After that first bombing raid, they all realized that the ‘phoney war’ was over and here was the real war right on their own doorstep. The new recruits were very subdued, because what had seemed like an exciting adventure was now dangerous reality. For days they all existed on tea and sandwiches, while the cookhouse was repaired. The dust and grit of the bomb blast seemed to be everywhere. Even so morale was high. There was an evil enemy to defeat and they were determined to go forward together and stand together to defeat him.

Minerva and Victoria had been detailed to an unpleasant duty after the raid, which had upset them. Minerva drove, accompanied by Victoria, to the undertakers in Malton, to fetch five plain wooden coffins. It was the first time the girls had been involved with death. The five ground staff airmen were the first on the base to be killed and the girls could not help but wonder who would be next.

As soon as the Medical Centre was thoroughly cleaned the new recruits had their inoculations and induction lectures. This time it was Minerva and Victoria who organized them. The two girls had not seen Ricky and Parky, since their love making had been interrupted, by the air raid siren and they were becoming anxious.

Vanessa and her helpers had cleaned the Officers Mess and removed the broken glass, so the bar was ready for reopening and Vanessa was on duty. There was no sign of Sunny, Ricky and Parky, but she kept her ears open for information.

The runway was repaired and the Airmen were now repairing the hangars. The precious bombers could now return. They had been saved. Vanessa saw Tommy arrive in the bar.

‘Hi Tommy, long time no see. Have you seen Sunny?’ she asked. Just then the roar of the Wellington bombers could be heard, as one by one, they circled and landed on the repaired runway. They were safe.

‘They should be back by tonight they flew off in the reccy planes and landed at R.A.F. Bilton. They have been operational from there,’ he replied. Vanessa handed him his usual pint of beer. ’Thanks I’m ready for this. It has been hard work this week repairing the runway, but we are back to normal and all the planes are saved, so I reckon that is victory to us.’

‘Well, yes apart from the five men who were killed,’ Vanessa replied.

‘I shot one of the buggers down. It made a mess of a corn field, but it made a bigger mess of the crew, Vanessa, Tommy announced.

‘Good! It serves them right. Are you seeing Angela tonight?’

‘Yes if she would like to see me.’

‘Course she would you softie, she thinks you’re Mr Wonderful,’ Vanessa told him and Tommy grinned and sipped his beer contentedly.

The same afternoon Sergeant Benson was looking for Minerva and Victoria She had been very impressed how they had organized and reassured the new recruits. They had even taken them for their first drilling exercise, thus releasing her to get on with administration.

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