1917 Eagles Fall Read online

  As we descended from the clouds to get our bearings I saw a Jasta as they headed for the Gunbuses below us. I waggled my wings and dived. I could see that amongst the Fokker and Albatros aeroplanes there were a couple of LVGs. They were a two seater reconnaissance aeroplane. They would be spotting for the German artillery. I would let the Gunbuses deal with those. Our priority was the eighteen fighters escorting them.

  I signalled with my arm to indicate that Freddie and Johnny should flank me. Ted and Harry would add their firepower behind us. We fell upon them like five hunting eagles. The rear gunner on the LVG spotted us and I saw his arm waving as he tried to attract the attention of the fighters. The Fokkers were diving toward the Gunbuses. I opened fire at five hundred feet. I caught the pilot of an Albatros unawares and he looked around in panic for this unseen attacker. The other aeroplanes all began to climb to meet this new threat. The two LVG headed east as fast as their aeroplanes would take them. No matter what happened now we had prevented them from spotting.

  These were the Albatros D.III or at least some of them were. I saw the twin Spandaus. I gritted my teeth as I fired at the Albatros which was still wiggling like an insect on a pin. He must have been new. He was flying too straight. I kept raising and lowering my nose and banking to port and starboard. A fighter pilot needed lightning reflexes. I fired a third burst and saw the bullets as they struck the pilot and the cockpit. The Albatros went into a steep dive. I glanced in my mirror and saw Ted and Harry diving too. I banked to port. Flying in a straight line when Albatros D.III fighters were around was foolish. Bullets whizzed past my head. I had taken evasive action just in time. I put the stick over the other way and, as an aeroplane came into my sights, I fired my Vickers. The green tailed aeroplane was gone before I could fire another burst.

  I pushed the stick down and then looped. As I came up I saw the same aeroplane. He was trying to loop inside me. The Pup could turn on a sixpence and I gradually began to get the upper hand. The Le Rhone engine was screaming but it pulled the tiny fuselage around and when I saw his tail in my sights I fired a long burst. I was so close I could not miss and his green rudder and the top of his tail disappeared. He was a good pilot and he straightened up and headed east while I was finishing my loop.

  I followed him. He was faster than me but I was still close enough to fire. My bullets struck his fuselage and he dipped the nose to escape across the German lines. As soon as the German machine guns on the ground began to fire I started to climb. I had damaged him enough to keep him out of the air for a day or two. I headed west. My fuel gauges told me to get back to the field.

  Despite our plans and our best efforts two new pilots and buses had been shot down by the Hun. We had stopped them spotting and I had managed to shoot down a new Albatros but we were losing the war in the air. The four flight commanders trudged wearily into the office. I don’t know what the others were thinking but I was thinking that this was the first day of our Arras Offensive. The ground attack had not started. The Somme offensive had lasted months. At this rate the squadron would cease to exist by the middle of April!

  Randolph put the bottle of whisky on the table as we gave our reports. I asked, “What happened to Jameson and Murphy?”

  Charlie and Gordy looked at each other and shook their heads. Archie poured himself a glass of whisky. “They panicked and crashed into each other.”

  “They weren’t even shot down?”

  “No. We were just getting into the circle and their wings touched.” He downed the whisky. “I know, it happens all the time and we don’t crash but they both turned the wrong way.”

  Ted rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to worry you, sir, but when we get the Bristol fighter for everyone then there is still going to be a problem. They are almost as big as the Gunbus but they are faster and the engine is at the front. I know Bill mentioned it but it takes some getting used to a propeller in front of you when you are used to a Gunbus.”

  “The Pup is only small but we have had some close calls and Freddie and Johnny are really experienced. Sir, we need to make sure that the pilots know what they are doing before they go up.”

  Before he could speak Randolph said, “We have to patrol and the other squadrons are suffering more than we are.”

  “Then why not just patrol with the new aeroplanes. At the moment the Gunbuses are just bait. When the next batch of Fokker fodder arrives spend a couple of days flying as many hours as you can over our own lines. Technically we are still patrolling. Ted and I have the newer buses; we hold the fort.”

  Randolph went to the map. “He might have something, sir. Look at today. We were here.” He pointed to a spot on the map. “That was just over our lines and the Hun came to us. They are getting more aggressive. Having the Gunbuses a little further back might actually help and, at the moment, we are not needed for spotting. We just need to stop them spotting and the five new buses are the best equipped for that.”

  Archie looked at me. “Well Bill, how do you feel about that?”

  “It was my idea. I think it will work and I would rather have a full squadron later in the offensive.” I turned to Randolph. “And you need to keep on at Headquarters to get us the new Bristols.”

  He shook his head, sadly, “I do, Bill, every day.”

  I told my young lads what we would be about. They were surprisingly sanguine about the whole thing. “It’s only fair, sir. We have the best and newest aeroplanes so we should take on theirs.”

  “The trouble is Johnny, their aeroplanes are better than the Pup. They are faster, better armed and have a better rate of climb.”

  “I know sir but we are small enough to be annoying. We have watched you sir. You fly like a scrum half wriggling through tackles. The big boys are grabbing at fresh air. Staying close to them works.”

  Ted was listening to us. “Well we don’t have the same advantage but at least I have a sting in my tail.” He actually smiled, “I don’t worry about the Hun in the sun so much these days.”

  I laughed, “Ted Thomas is becoming an optimist. You never know there may be some hope left for us after all.”

  The five of us left first, the next day. We were well wrapped up because we were flying high and there seemed to be a cold front coming in. The air felt too cold for April. We flew at five thousand feet to give ourselves plenty of room. We had no Gunbuses to worry about. I realised I missed chatting to Lumpy as we flew along the lines looking east for the enemy. I nearly missed them for they were flying high. They had adopted our technique of a high approach and then dropping down to a lower altitude to spot. I waggled my wings and we began to climb. I cocked my Vickers and tried to identify them. They had two of the LVG’s they had used the previous day. Each one was protected by five Fokker D.IIs. I frowned. They had had more the previous day. Had we damaged them or was this a trap? Sometimes you could over think.

  We were more evenly matched this time. As we had a slightly faster rate of climb than Ted I headed for the southernmost Huns. The LVG bravely assumed its position while the protecting fighters headed for us. I knew that the LVG would relay its information back quickly but we had to destroy or at least discourage the Fokkers.

  They had the advantage of speed as they roared down towards us. I raised my nose and then dipped it. I feinted to port and then to starboard. I wanted to make me as difficult to hit as possible. One advantage I had was that there were five of them and Johnny and Freddie were far enough away for me to have air room. I side slipped to starboard as the first Fokker fired and then I jinked to port so that I attacked him from the side. He could not fire at me and his neighbour had to turn. I waited until I was two hundred feet away and as the Fokker tried to turn to meet me I gave a ten second burst. The .303 struck him along the cockpit and he slumped dead. His aeroplane was undamaged and it continued its turn to port. I banked and climbed to my left.

  The second Fokker which had tried to turn to follow me suddenly smacked into the pilotless bird. They exploded in a fiery ball. I banke
d to starboard. I would leave the three Fokkers who remained for Freddie and Johnny. I dived after the LVG. His observer saw me and the Spandau began to bark. Perhaps he was lucky or I was careless but he struck my propeller. I noticed the change in pitch. I fired a long burst at him as he fled east. I hit his fuselage and, when I saw his gunner slump in his seat I knew that they would take no more photographs.

  I turned west. There was little point in going on with a damaged propeller. Although still flying the little Pup did not feel right and I was relieved to see the empty airfield. For once I was the first to return.

  Flight Sergeant Lowery raced over. He knew our buses better than we did. “There’s something wrong with her sir. Have you been hit?”

  “Yes, Flight Sergeant Lowery. The propeller.”

  He walked to the front as I descended. There was a hole on one side and an ugly crack along its length. As he touched it a whole piece fell from it. He shook his head. “You are lucky sir. Well that means you won’t be flying for a couple of days. We will have to send for a spare.”

  For some reason, that did not please me. I liked to share the dangers with my pilots and I hated the inactivity of just watching.

  Chapter 14

  Randolph was philosophical when he heard about my damaged propeller. “It is a reasonable trade off, Bill. You destroyed one aeroplane and stopped their spotting. You will be out of the war for one perhaps two days at the most. It also works out for we needed a pilot to go to the front. General Trenchard wants one of us to make a courtesy visit and jolly the troops up at the front.”

  I was confused, “But why?”

  “For some reason we are seen as the positive side of the war. I know that we see the Hun winning but, by and large, the lads on the ground see us winning. It will just be one day.”

  I remembered when the Colonel and I had visited with the Liverpool Pals battalion. It had seemed to make a difference to morale. I just felt a cheat. I swanned in, shook a few hands and then swanned back to a comfortable billet. The poor Tommies had lice, mud and rats to contend with.

  “Very well, Randolph.”

  “Take Bates with you.”

  “Why?”

  “If you go on your own then it looks like you have been sent because you have nothing better to do. If you take Bates it looks planned. He can be your driver. It will look more official.”

  “But I am going because I am a spare part.”

  He shrugged, “They don’t need to know that do they? You can take the major’s car. I’ll get the directions for you later.”

  I was the only casualty from the morning’s patrol and the rest of the squadron were in high spirits. That evening, as we sat in the mess, Freddie looked at me nervously. “Come on Freddie, spit it out.”

  “Well, sir, Johnny and I had a suggestion for Captain Thomas but it seemed impertinent to mention it.”

  I saw Ted’s eyes flicker as he heard his name mentioned. “I am sure Captain Thomas would take any advice; especially as you have now shot down more Huns than he has.”

  I said that loud enough for him to hear and he chuckled as he said, “Cheeky bugger! It’s only because I spend all my time running a kindergarten. Come on then what is this idea?”

  “Well, sir, your Bristol is as fast as our Pup but you were flying it today as though it was a Gunbus.” I saw Ted’s eyes narrow. “No sir, what I mean is you can climb faster than a Gunbus and throw it around in the air. It isn’t as though the gunner can fall out of the front like they can in a Gunbus is it sir? And I think it will bank and turn far better than a Gunbus. In addition you have a good machine gun. Don’t just get into a position for the gunner to get a good shot. He is there to watch your back. The Bristol is made for fighting. It’s worth a try isn’t it sir?”

  “You are talking as though it is a fighter!”

  Charlie smiled, “Actually Ted, it is a two seater fighter. In many ways it is better than a Pup as it has rear protection.”

  “You’ve been doing your homework Charlie.”

  “I can’t wait to get one. It will be good to have something which can hold its own against an Albatros. I am fed up of being target practice.”

  He really had matured over the past months. I didn’t recognise him as the shy and nervous gunner I had first met. He would make a good Flight Commander when we did get our Bristols.

  “Anyway let me know how it goes. I shall be in the trenches tomorrow.”

  Ted shook his head, “I’d rather be in the air. I tell you what, young Carrick, I will give it a go tomorrow. You two will be flying on my wing anyway. We might as well use the same tactics. Just remember the Bristol is a wee bit bigger than those toys of yours.”

  They had taken off by the time that Bates and I headed up to Arras. Bates drove and he chattered away like a budgie all the way north. The town of Arras was full of military vehicles. There were columns of men marching north. I heard the throb of Rolls Royce engines above and saw a squadron of Gunbuses preventing Germans from bombing the busy town. I followed the directions and found myself at a checkpoint where a Redcap held up his hand. “This is as far as you can take a car sir. It’s on foot from now on.”

  “Thank you sergeant. Where can we leave it where it won’t be in the way?”

  “Just over there sir, against the side of that building.”

  The building he pointed to was a wall. The rest had been destroyed by artillery. I hoped I would not come back and find a car shrouded in rubble! I had been to the trenches before and Bates and I donned our tin lids. As we headed along a support trench I sensed the nervousness from Bates. “You can stay at the car if you like, John. I know that this must be difficult for you.”

  “No sir. I have to get back on the horse. Besides this is just a visit. It isn’t as though I have to sleep in a mud tomb is it?”

  That brought home to me what the Tommies had to endure. They dug their own graves and then had to sleep in them. We were to meet with a Colonel Roger DeVere who was keen to meet some fliers. When we met him I discovered why. He had his own ideas about flying and aerial warfare.

  “Jolly glad to meet you.” He pointed to my medals. “M.C. eh? How many of the Boche have you shot down then?”

  I hated this game of numbers but whatever answer I gave it could be taken the wrong way. “Oh, thirty or so.”

  “Jolly good. That makes you an ace.” He turned to the other officers in the dugout. They all looked hollow eyed and grey and the assault had not even started. “This is an ace chaps.” He shook my hand, “You know I would love to be a pilot.”

  “You ought to train then sir. We are always short of them.”

  He took my arm and led me down the trenches. “The thing is there is a tradition in my family of serving in the Army. The old chap was colonel of this regiment before me. Still, after the war I think I’ll learn. It isn’t hard is it?”

  “A little harder than it looks but, yes sir, you could learn.”

  That seemed to satisfy him. “Good. Now I wanted someone from the Royal Flying Corps to gee up morale. As you probably know Zero Hour is in a few days and if they see a hero.” He tapped my tunic, “Well it helps them.”

  He kept stopping to introduce me to huddles of soldiers. I tried to be as cheerful and optimistic as I could despite the fact that I knew we were outgunned in the skies. We now had as much chance of dying as these young men who would have to march across mud, through machine guns and over barbed wire.

  He stopped at what I thought was another bunker. “We’ll have to stop here. The Engineers are in there.”

  Just then two Engineers came out of the tunnel. One of them said, “Captain Harsker! You haven’t joined the infantry have you, sir?”

  I vaguely recognised him as a comrade of Bert’s but I couldn’t have named him. I shook his hand, “No, just a visit. How is Bert?”

  “I’ll go and get him.” Like the White Rabbit he disappeared down the hole.

  “Sorry about this, sir. My little brother is a sergea
nt in the Tunnellers.”

  He smiled, “Don’t apologise. They have done sterling work and they will save lives. I wouldn’t like to do what they do.” He shuddered, “I hate confined spaces.”

  “Then you would not like my aeroplane, sir. It is very cramped and hard to get in and out of.”

  Bert came out looking like a coal miner. He grinned and his teeth looked shockingly white. “Nice to see you Bill!”

  The colonel laughed for Bert was now very broad; digging had built up his muscles. “He is you little brother?”

  “He was until he started digging your tunnels.”

  “I’ll go back to headquarters. Get some tea or something on. You can find your own way can you?”

  Bert saluted, “I’ll bring him sir. I am due a half hour off anyway.”

  I saw him looking at a bemused Bates. “This is Airman Bates, my servant.”

  Bert raised his eyebrows but made no comment. “What are you doing here then? Checking up on me?”

  “No, although mam did wonder why she hasn’t heard from you lately.”

  “I never seem to have the time besides it is you they all want to write to. You are the hero.”

  “Don’t you start too! I just do my job.”

  “I am not having a go. All the lads are envious of me having an ace for a brother.”

  I shook my head. “Have you had a leave lately?”

  “Nah. We have been here since October. Us and the New Zealanders. They are such nice chaps. They are tough too. I think I would like to go there after the war. It seems a place where you can make something of yourself.”

  “Speaking of that, our Alice is doing really well. She designs dresses.” I suddenly realised he might not know the news. “Did you hear about Lord Burscough?”