As a pale, watery dawn stretched itself across the flat fields, they went back to the control tower to await the returning aircraft.

‘I’ll be on the roof, Kate,’ he told her, ‘but do you mind taking one of the buses out to meet the crews? One of the other drivers has gone off sick.’

‘Of course,’ she agreed.

She had often driven the airmen out to their aircraft, but this was the first time she had met their return. When the first plane landed and she drove the bus as near as she could to pick up the crew she was shocked by the sight of them. The laughing, joking boys who had departed now returned exhausted, dirty and silent. Their faces were streaked with grime, their eyes wide with tiredness and they climbed unsteadily into the bus as if every bone in their bodies ached to lie down and rest. Now there was no laughter, no joking, no flirting. They didn’t speak to her, didn’t even look at her.

Silently she drove them straight to de-briefing and returned to meet another aircraft. By the time the day was fully light, the sky was silent. All the aircraft were back; all, except one.

T-Tommy did not return.

Later that day she drove Philip to Group HQ. As they pulled up outside, he leaned forward from the back seat.

‘Kate, I’m sorry about Sandy. I know I have no right to tell you how to run your life but . . .’

‘No, you haven’t . . .’ she began and then, turning to look at him, she saw the tender expression in his eyes, his forehead furrowed with anxiety for her, and her retort died.

His voice was low and hoarse as he added, ‘I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Kate.’

His concern for her brought a lump to her throat. All she could do was nod.

‘Was – was there anything between you and Sandy? I – I overheard him ask you out.’

She shook her head and said flatly, ‘No, no there wasn’t.’ Silently, in her own mind she added sadly, ‘There wasn’t time.’

She was surprised to see the look of relief that crossed her Commanding Officer’s face at her denial of an involvement with the young airman. Thoughtfully, she watched him stride into the building with almost a spring in his step.

Weeks had gone by and she had heard nothing from Danny. Since the loss of Sandy Petersen’s aircraft, Kate had become even more aware of just how vulnerable Danny was. Their own aircraft were on ops night after night; East Markham would be no different.

‘I’m going to ring East Markham and find out if he’s all right!’

Mavis gasped. ‘You can’t do that, Kate.’

‘Why not?’