Take off

Take off

Poem about crews preparing for flight and taking off watched by station commander and off duty WAAFs.

One page handwritten document

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SReidK473650v20002

Take Off

I look down
From the high windows
Of Flying Control
Peering through
The evening mists
That roll
Around the loaded
Aircraft below.
As if to keep them
Safely Earthbound.
By their planes
The Aircrews
Mothers sons
Who did not give
Them birth for this
Tensely wait
Talking, smoking
Some standing apart
The Green Very light Signals
[deleted] Signals it is time [/deleted]
[deleted] To go [/deleted] It is time to [deleted] go [/deleted] [inserted] depart [/inserted]
[deleted] Sign [/deleted]
Encumbered with flying gear
Slowly they climb the steps
Into their planes
Some perchance pause
And give a backward glance
As if loath to leave
The earth they love
Then the 20 [deleted] laden [/deleted] [inserted] heavily laden [/inserted] planes
Wind slowly round the peri’ track
The Group Captain
Surrounded by a few
Off duty WAAFS and ground crew
Salutes them as they pass
Then as the Merlins roars
And lifts you
Into the dusky
Evening Air
We who watch you go
Give a silent prayer

Are you listening
You up there?