Conningsby was one of those war time aerodromes that had undergone continuous expansion so now its buildings were a hotchpotch of different styles and eras. It had grown into itself, and its aircraft recognised this. There were the state of the art fast jet fighters in hangers alongside the more stately vintage aircraft. The big four engined bomber over shadowing its modern counterparts.
I was here for the vintage aircraft, my interests in them ridiculed as I was a young female, but it gave me pleasure, so what the hell? Right now I was stood in a hangar, trailing behind a guided tour as I marvelled up at the black skinned behemoth towering over me, her sleek lines silent and still like a hunter.
"You'll miss the tour," a man said quietly.
Glancing after the tour in the far distance of the hangar, I shrugged and turned a smile on the man. "I'll catch them up," I said with a shrug. "I was just admiring the Lanc." And him. He was tall and cute and that Scottish accent of his was divine.
"She is quite something," he said as he turned to look up with me. "A wonderful ride."
"You've been up in her?" I asked in jealous awe.
He raised his eyebrows then looked pointedly down at his arm where the airman's insignia were sewn to the flight overalls. "I'm the Gunner."
"You lucky bastard," I breathed as I gazed up at the Lanc again.
"True," he admitted with a rueful grin. "The tour has just left the hangar."
"Oh!" I turned to look at the door as it swung shut and blushed. "I really must catch them up." Not that I wanted to.
"Well," he said slowly. "I could give you a closer look at the lady herself, then get you back to the visitor centre in time."
I looked after the tour, then made a fast decision. "OK," I agreed with a dazzling smile. "I'm in your hands."
His eyes glittered at that, but I pretended to ignore it and followed his tall frame towards the covered wheels. Running my fingers over the struts, a gentle sigh passed my lips as I gazed up at the wing over my head.
"Sounds like you are enjoying this," he said as he watched me closely.
"She's beautiful," I answered with a flash of a smile. "You are so lucky."
"I am," he agreed as he glanced up at the cockpit. "Come look at this." Leading me towards the tail, he swung open the entrance hatch and waved me forward.
Resting my hands on the edge, I leaned forward on tiptoe to look up into the fuselage. "Want to swap lives?" I asked seriously
"No thanks," he laughed. Wrapping his hands quickly around my waist, I barely had time to draw breath for a scream before he lifted me off my feet and into the hatchway. "Budge up," he ordered as he braced his hands to either side and pulled himself up behind me.
"Should we be in here?" I asked nervously.
"Hell no," he laughed. "But I'm in charge of shutting up shop today and the door is locked behind us."
"Wow," I breathed. Turning around, I looked up the fuselage, everywhere painted a pale grey. "No-one will ever believe this."
"I should hope not," he said as he squeezed past and began to make his way up towards the nose. "This ever gets out I'm busted out the service."
"My lips are sealed," I promised as I followed him. There was a curious smell of leather, oil and something quite metallic as I made my way deeper into the belly of the bomber. Clambering over the main spar, I tumbled into his hands as he caught my balance. Smiling nervously, I shivered at his touch and prayed my suddenly hard nipples didn't show through my T-shirt.
"This is where the Radio Operator sits," he explained as he clambered up under the pilots position and into a small cubicle.
"I'm impressed," I said as I surveyed the nerve centre of the bomber. "How many flights have you done up to now?"
"A few," he said with a frown. "Would have to check my flight logs to be sure."
