‘Purple, CHECK?’
And then after a five second pause, it came,
‘Red, Blue……..Green…………..Yellow all aboard.’
All aboard told Todd that the entire formation of fourteen aircraft was still with him. His relief was palpable.
‘Roger, all loud & clear. Be advised that Purple lead has suffered a serious lightning strike and is currently assessing the damage and preparing to return to base. Blue lead, can you inform the ground control that the flypast rehearsal is likely to be cancelled due to our potential unserviceability. Transmit on the reserve frequency whilst I check the rest of the formation. Before you switch, can you confirm that you are fully serviceable?’
Blue replied almost immediately. And it wasn’t what Todd wanted to hear.
‘Negative Purple lead, we have also suffered a strike, but the aircraft is still flying – just about!’
Todd needed to think.
‘Standby, Blue.’
This was now looking bad. The formation could not now continue. The safety of the crews and aircraft were far more important that the bloody flypast. He needed to recover the aircraft to the home base as soon as possible and in one piece, and get them ready for tomorrow. However, before that he must check the serviceability of his team . It was more than likely that other aircraft had suffered a similar fate.
‘Purple, check serviceability, by formation and individually, direct to Purple lead, on this frequency’
The crews checked in.
‘Red Two – also suffered lightning strike – appear to be serviceable.’
‘Red Three – likewise.’
‘Red Four – roger, us too.’
And so it continued through the formation until Yellow Five gave the final call.
‘Yellow Five, lightning strike – two casualties up the back – two airmen not strapped in. One dead, one unconscious.’
Todd could hardly believe his ears. One dead…………….
‘Yellow Five, put the Air Marshal on.’
‘Roger, wilco,’ answered Yellow Five.
Fifteen seconds later Todd’s father came on the radio.
‘Purple lead, how do you read?’
‘Loud & clear, Yellow Five. Is it true? Is one of the airmen really dead?’
‘I’m afraid so, son. But don’t blame yourself – it was my responsibility and I’ll carry the can.’
Todd snapped back – he was seething:
‘That’s not the point, tell it to his family! A man is dead because of your bloody display – this conversation is now over, the Flypast is cancelled and we’re all going back to Marham.’
‘Roger, Purple lead – it's your decision now.’
Todd held his breath, counted to ten to calm himself, but couldn’t prevent his hand shaking as he hit the radio transmit button.
‘Marham, Purple lead.’
Nothing
‘Marham, Purple lead, do you read.’
Silence.
‘Blue One, this is Purple – how do you read?’
‘Loud and clear, Purple.’
Todd tried again.
‘Marham, Purple lead, do you READ?’
More silence.
Todd thought quickly and efficiently as he was trained to do.
‘Purple formation switch to three-one-two decimal nine, GO!’
Todd waited five seconds for the formation to switch to the back-up frequency for Marham radar control.
‘Purple Check?’
‘Red, Blue, Green, Yellow – all aboard’
‘Roger;
And then after a five second pause, it came,
‘Red, Blue……..Green…………..Yellow all aboard.’
All aboard told Todd that the entire formation of fourteen aircraft was still with him. His relief was palpable.
‘Roger, all loud & clear. Be advised that Purple lead has suffered a serious lightning strike and is currently assessing the damage and preparing to return to base. Blue lead, can you inform the ground control that the flypast rehearsal is likely to be cancelled due to our potential unserviceability. Transmit on the reserve frequency whilst I check the rest of the formation. Before you switch, can you confirm that you are fully serviceable?’
Blue replied almost immediately. And it wasn’t what Todd wanted to hear.
‘Negative Purple lead, we have also suffered a strike, but the aircraft is still flying – just about!’
Todd needed to think.
‘Standby, Blue.’
This was now looking bad. The formation could not now continue. The safety of the crews and aircraft were far more important that the bloody flypast. He needed to recover the aircraft to the home base as soon as possible and in one piece, and get them ready for tomorrow. However, before that he must check the serviceability of his team . It was more than likely that other aircraft had suffered a similar fate.
‘Purple, check serviceability, by formation and individually, direct to Purple lead, on this frequency’
The crews checked in.
‘Red Two – also suffered lightning strike – appear to be serviceable.’
‘Red Three – likewise.’
‘Red Four – roger, us too.’
And so it continued through the formation until Yellow Five gave the final call.
‘Yellow Five, lightning strike – two casualties up the back – two airmen not strapped in. One dead, one unconscious.’
Todd could hardly believe his ears. One dead…………….
‘Yellow Five, put the Air Marshal on.’
‘Roger, wilco,’ answered Yellow Five.
Fifteen seconds later Todd’s father came on the radio.
‘Purple lead, how do you read?’
‘Loud & clear, Yellow Five. Is it true? Is one of the airmen really dead?’
‘I’m afraid so, son. But don’t blame yourself – it was my responsibility and I’ll carry the can.’
Todd snapped back – he was seething:
‘That’s not the point, tell it to his family! A man is dead because of your bloody display – this conversation is now over, the Flypast is cancelled and we’re all going back to Marham.’
‘Roger, Purple lead – it's your decision now.’
Todd held his breath, counted to ten to calm himself, but couldn’t prevent his hand shaking as he hit the radio transmit button.
‘Marham, Purple lead.’
Nothing
‘Marham, Purple lead, do you read.’
Silence.
‘Blue One, this is Purple – how do you read?’
‘Loud and clear, Purple.’
Todd tried again.
‘Marham, Purple lead, do you READ?’
More silence.
Todd thought quickly and efficiently as he was trained to do.
‘Purple formation switch to three-one-two decimal nine, GO!’
Todd waited five seconds for the formation to switch to the back-up frequency for Marham radar control.
‘Purple Check?’
‘Red, Blue, Green, Yellow – all aboard’
‘Roger;
Similar Books
