大象传媒

One grey morning in October 1944 as the North Luffenham children made their way to the railway station, excitement mounted as we noticed a Waco (Hadrian) glider in the large field that lies opposite the Newtown cottages. Its position was to the north a few hundred yards level with the hollow on the Station Road. Around it were a few vehicles and several American servicemen. The glider of course interested us but the GIs meant chewing gum and 鈥榗andy鈥�, so as one we swarmed over the fence and up to the scene. I chewed my gum and asked a GI if they would dismantle the glider and transport it back to Spanhoe by lorry. Quite casually he replied, 鈥淣o, an aircraft will fly over and snatch it off the ground.鈥� It was my impression that the other lads didn鈥檛 believe that such a feat was possible, but I remembered that my Mother had told me of a former neighbour in London, now a pilot in Burma, who had actually done it. I pondered the possibilities.

Soon smoke appeared in the valley to the east signalling to us that our train was drawing near. Most boys now well stocked with sweets and cigarettes ran off to catch it, but intrigued by the prospect of witnessing something that, even at twelve, I realised would not be likely again, along with brother Bill, chose truancy.

The whole operation was set up by sweat, toil and rule of thumb. After deciding on the best route out, the glider was pushed to face SE, then the rope was attached and pulled out ahead and in the line of intended take off. What happened next surprised me: two very slender, almost willowy, poles were erected and a loop at the end of the tow rope was placed over them rather like a rabbit snare, then removed, leaving them clear. They were certainly less than twenty feet high. After what seemed an eternity a Dakota flew over the area.

To appreciate the impending performance the reader should know that the Waco, unladen, weighed over three and one quarter tons, the Dakota seven and one half. I still cannot imagine how the aircraft could possibly snatch an object almost half its weight off the ground and not be dragged down itself.

The Dakota came in very, very low, and swept between the posts. To enable the pilot to judge his line of approach a Sgt placed a line of white painted steel helmets and adjusted them after each swoop until he was satisfied all was well. To engage the hook into the loop it was necessary to continue a gradual descent until the catch device went between the posts and to assist the Sgt put an addition white helmet extending the row of guides. The climb would begin as the last marker went out of sight of the pilot from beneath his view. Eventually all was well and the loop was again placed over the post and the plane flew in again, this time with serious intent. I was spellbound as it roared at almost hedge height. The hook caught the loop; the glider went nose down, tail vertical, and C-R-A-C-K!! the rope had broken.

The plane flew off and the whole process was repeated. This of course took time and I became concerned that the school train would soon return and those with less spirit who had cowardly gone to school were now likely to be back in time to see the action after all. The Dakota made its 鈥榮natch鈥� run as the train was level with the Settings farm. This time all went well, the glider went nose down, tail up and after slithering for several yards it shot skywards making a rapid ascent, disappearing towards Ketton as the train pulled into the station, and I was really pleased about that!

A few years ago I made enquiries about the mechanics of this exercise and a Dakota fan explained the system and sent me a copy of the drawings of the winch. To absorb the shock the hook was attached to a spring-like torsion bar wound not dissimilar to that in an old clockwork watch.

My brother disagrees with me and says that the other lads stayed along with us. I would love to hear from any who did.

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