FFftPP:My heart soars with the swallows

https://pixabay.com/en/fixed-wing-trainer-harvard-yellow-316707/

The sun was just rising as I walked across the runway towards her. She was a beauty, sleek nose, stubby wings, her colours spotless – factory fresh. Conditions were perfect, the air so still, it cradled my breath for an age before it slowly drifted away.

The swallows were back, dashing low over tin huts and props and cockpits, putting my own flying abilities to shame as they snatched an early breakfast.

The copper head of Sammy Newton appeared round the nose of the Spitfire. Such a nice lad – thank goodness he was on my ground crew for final checks. He looked up, his map of freckles shifting as he smiled.

‘Ready, then?’ he said.

I nodded, hardly able to speak, my stomach already doing barrel rolls.

‘Now, remember, Mary,’ he said, ‘no altimeter, no air speed indicator – only the gyro and the compass to stop you from dashing across the Channel and paying Hitler a visit.’ He wiped his hands on a rag. ‘You ready?’

It was as if the swallows had broken into my chest, beating their stiff wings against my ribs, plucking my heart out to soar with them.

‘I’ve waited years …’ I said.

He nodded. ‘Let’s take her up, then.’

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Written for Roger Shipp’s Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner. See the prompt, include the sentiment (This week – “I had waited years for this day…”) and scribble a tale.

This story was inspired by this pic if of a training plane used by the Allies towards the end of World War II and beyond. I remembered what I’d learned about WAAFs, especially the brave ladies of the the Royal Air Force’s Air Transpor Auxilliary who had moved planes (often very new and without their full compliment of controls) across the country during the War. They faced a lot of prejudice and whatever their skills, they had to wait longer than their male counterparts before they were allowed to fly bombers like the Lancaster or fighters like the Spitfire – which many fell in love with.

Sixteen of the female pilots died during the course of their duties.

Read more about them here.