Brisbane, Queensland—April 1943

Ellie O’Sullivan lay on the tarmac, shaded by the wing of the Lockheed Lodestar. She tightened the wheel bolt, happy this was her last task for the day that had started at 4 am. She adored her engineering work at Qantas Empire Airways but realising her dream had come at a cost with this war that had torn her family—and countless others—apart.

Ellie stood, placed her hand on the wing and sent a silent prayer, just like she did every time she finished working on one of these beautiful metal birds. She hoped this simple act kept the aircrew safe on the flight to New Guinea to drop medical supplies and food to the Allied troops.

The midday glare hit her eyes and she shaded them with her hand. A man dressed in a navy blue suit and dark grey hat walked with purpose towards her. He exuded the same air of confidence he had the previous two days.

‘Good afternoon, Miss O’Sullivan.’

‘Hello, Mr Andrews.’ Ellie wiped her hands with the rag and shoved it in the back pocket of her overalls. ‘Today’s not the day.’

‘I really hope it is, Miss O’Sullivan. As much as I enjoy getting out of the office, I do not wish to spend time on a hot tarmac.’

‘Until you can give me a decent reason as to why I should go with you, then you’ll have to keep up the visits.’ She glanced over at Kat Arnold, her co-worker and roommate, who watched from the edge of the hangar…

Continue reading the extract here…