'The Shepherd' (1958) by Frederick Forsyth

'The Shepherd' is a haunting and atmospheric novella set on Christmas Eve in 1957. The story follows a young Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot flying a solo mission from Germany to England in his de Havilland Vampire jet. As he crosses the North Sea, disaster strikes when his plane suffers a complete electrical failure, leaving him without navigation instruments, radio contact, or a clear way to find his destination in the foggy night sky.

Stranded and running low on fuel, the pilot’s situation grows increasingly desperate. Just as he is on the verge of giving up hope, a World War II-era de Havilland Mosquito appears out of nowhere. The Mosquito’s pilot signals the Vampire and leads it safely to a small, abandoned airfield in England. Upon landing, the young pilot attempts to find and thank the mysterious aviator, but he learns that no other planes were flying that night, and the airfield had been decommissioned years ago.

The tale concludes with a chilling revelation, as the young pilot discovers the identity of his enigmatic savior: a wartime hero who died during a mission years earlier. The Shepherd is a masterfully crafted ghost story, combining suspense, aviation detail, and a poignant holiday atmosphere to deliver a timeless tale of mystery and hope.