大象传媒

This sory was submitted to the People's War site by Emma Hart from the AGC Museum, on behalf of Mrs Joyce Brooke and has added to the sitenwith her permission. Mrs Brookefully undertsands the site's terms and conditions.

Laddie Lucas has compiled a book entitled "Out of the Blue". It tells the stories of so many of the aircrew of all nationalities and the part played by "luck". I think the following true story an excellent example, although of a signals officer, NOT aircrew. It is the story of what happened to me and my future husband.

In 1941, on a fighter station on the Isle of Man, called Andreas, I was an ACW2, working and living in the local school in Ramsey, which had been turned into the Ops room. I had a 'date' with a young flight Lieutenant, the signals officer on the base. I was a young innocent girl, aged 19, and he was 21 years old, but of course, in those days, Officers and ther ranks were not allowed to mix in any way. one afternoon, we had a secret date, but to my horror, he did not turn up, and I was due to go on duty in the Ops room at 5o'clock. I used a telephone box and phoned the Officers Mess, and to my surprise, he atually answered the telephone. His excuse for not meeting me was ' he was duty stooge', having lunch and drinks in the Mess, with the Commnading Officer and his Wife, Wing Commander Mrs Knowles, and his friend Major Waite, and was just going to the airfied with them, as the CO wanted to take up a plane which had landed at Andreas in an emergency, having lost the Glider it was towing over the Irish Sea.

I went on duty in the Ops Room where I was told to take over 'Ops A'. The Ontroller told us to ignore the lone plane taking off from the runway, as it was just the CO having a flight around, so we got on with or usual work. The telephone rang, and when I answered I was told the plane the CO was taking off had crashed on take-off. 'List of Dea' - Wing COmmander Knowles, Mrs Knowles, Major Waite and sveral other names, but no F/Lt Brooke. I could only repeat the message to the Controller, and hide what I was feeling.

Then about half an hour later, F/Lt Brooke, who as a Signals Officer, came into the Ops room, and walked around so that I could see that he was still alive. In due course I heard the whole story.

After a good lunch, and drinks, they were leaving the Mess to drive to the Airfield for takeoff. When the telephone rang, just as they were leaving. As Duty Stooge, F/Lt Brooke answered it, and of course, it was me, grumbling that he had not turned up for our rendevous. by the time he put the phone down, and went outside the Mess door, they had all already left for the airfield. He was going to follow them in his own car, but decided he couldnt be boethred, and went back into the Mess. And so I saved the life of my future husband

In the tiny little village church graveyard, the bodies are buried. the viallge was very near the airfield, when War broke out, and the Church had a steeple, which had to be taken down so that the Spitfires could takeoff and land safely. When the War was over, the MOD offered to replace the Steeple, but instead the Church asked for the money for an organ, so this tiny village church has a magnificent organ, and the sory is written on the wall inside.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.