1918 We will remember them

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Book: Read 1918 We will remember them for Free Online
Authors: Griiff Hosker
Tags: Historical fiction, Historical, Literature & Fiction, Military, Genre Fiction, War
been quiet in this sector for a few weeks and that normally means that they are planning something.”
    Archie was right. I filled my pipe and the others stared at the walls for inspiration. Suddenly Randolph smacked his hand on the desk. “This saboteur is a clever fellow; are we agreed?” We nodded.  “He has not been spotted by the mechanics which means he is doing this when the mechanics are not around.  I know that Lowery keeps the same mechanics on the same buses.  They all protect their own aeroplanes very jealously. The times when they can get to the buses are after the mechanics finish and before they begin again.”
    “That would be any time between six in the evening and four in the morning when they do the pre flight checks.”
    Randolph shook his head. “No we can narrow it down even further.  I think even the doziest sentry would see someone when there was daylight.  That means it is between eight at night and three in the morning. Between dusk and dawn.”
    “Then I have an idea.  Tomorrow we work on my bus and say we have a special mission over the German lines.  As it is a long flight it will explain why Flight Sergeant Lowery has to flush out the tank to make sure that we have the maximum range.”
    “And what happens then?”
    “I spend the night in the cockpit.”
    “Suppose the saboteur is from outside the camp?”
    “Then the extra guards will spot them.”
    “Suppose it is one of the guards?  How will you get into the bus?”
    “That is easy. Sergeant Wilson parades the guards before they begin their duty and explains that there have been rumours of German soldiers attacking bases at night.  It will put them on their toes.”
    I saw agreement forming on the faces of the others.  Freddie nodded and said, “It would make more sense if it was two buses.  I normally fly as your wingman anyway. I will spend the night in my bus too. It will not seem unusual.”
    Before I could disagree Archie said, “Capital idea and I am happier with two pairs of eyes and ears.”
    “I will start to go through the records of all the men in the squadron.  There may be clues in their background.”
    Ted shook his head, “I can’t believe it is one of our blokes.  I reckon it is more likely to be someone coming through the hedgerow.”
    I was not so sure. Whoever it was knew aeroplanes and knew how to damage aeroplanes and make it hard to detect. “Well I will get an early night.  I asked Flight Sergeant Lowery to meet us here after breakfast.  We can explain my plan to him then.”
    I lay in bed, unable to sleep.  It was earlier than I normally retired but, more than that, my mind was filled with the horrific thought that we had a traitor in our midst. I could hardly contemplate it.  We were a tight team and fought as one, ground and air crew together. I began to doubt everyone.  Who could I trust?
    I was bad tempered from the moment I woke up.  I snapped at Bates.  Amazingly he smiled at me as though he had expected it.  When the war was over we could tour the music halls with his mind reading act. I sat sullenly through breakfast.  I was tired and I did not like the thought of a traitor in our midst.
    We explained our ideas to Flight Sergeant Lowery who nodded approvingly. “We need this weasel winkling out sir.  If the lads knew we had a saboteur...” Shaking his head he said, “I think they would string the bugger up from the nearest tree.” He rose, “Well I shall get the buses sorted.” He paused, “Do you think it might be a saboteur from outside the base?”
    I shook my head, “Personally I don’t think so. We don’t always park the buses in the same place and only someone who knew aeroplanes would know where the fuel tank was. I reckon the odds are that it is someone on the field but Sergeant Wilson and his chaps will be on their toes tonight.”
    Freddie and I took ourselves out to the buses to watch the mechanics working on the Camels. I studied every face for

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