Lack of Moral Fibre

Donald was talking to his son as they walked back from the town,

“When do you think the war will end dad? Its been four years now I was only five when it started?”

Donald replied as best he could,

“Well its 1943 we beat Hitler in the desert, good ole Montgomery! I think the tide has turned young Robert the Americans are bombing Germany by day we are bombing Germany by night they have to cave in! give it a year or so and I think this will all be over”

Robert nodded and took in every word his dad said. The Robert said,

“Can we walk home the long way dad please passed the RAF station we might get to see a Lancaster Bomber take off on a test flight!”

“Ok Rob sure lets cut up that lane it takes us passed the perimeter track we can see from there”

Donald and Rob walked with their brown paper bags up to RAF Church Fenton. The sound of Rolls Royce Merlin engines being run up echoed around the fields. Rob said excitedly,

“Dad I can hear the engines maybe one will go up in daylight we will see it”

Rob tugged at his fathers coat and hurried him along. They reached the perimeter fencing and looked at the huge black Lancaster Bombers parked on the concrete dispersal bays. One particular Lancaster had the cowlings off No2 engine and Aircraft Mechanics were listening to its beat.

A solitary RAF airman was cutting the grass by hand with shears near the perimeter track. The airman saw the two civilians and said,

“You two no pictures or you will be arrested this is an active RAF base you could be charged with treason! Now hop it!”

Donald didn’t like the tone of the Airman who did he think he was! Most of Donald’s taxes went on weapons of war and he fought in the First great War! Donald replied,

“In a minute chum take it easy the boy is obsessed with Aeroplanes were just looking”

The airman dropped his shears and approached the barbed wire topped fence and said,

“Look chum I’m just doing what I’m told the Sergeant said, cut the bloody grass by hand its going to take you weeks and tell anyone you see at the fences to bugger off! Just doing my job!”