1917 Eagles Fall

by Griff Hosker

  “That was headquarters on the telephone. Number 48 squadron had a patrol on our side of the lines. The Red Baron and his squadron jumped them. Four were shot down and the other two barely made it home. One of the missing is the VC, Captain Robinson.” He held up his glass for a refill. “They were flying the new Bristol!”

  It was as though the heavens had opened and rain had poured down. The high spirits evaporated. We ate in silence. It was broken by Charlie, “They might not have flown them properly.”

  Gordy shook his head, “How can you fly them badly? The man was a V.C.”

  “Freddie here said it, you need to fly the Bristol like a Pup and not a Gunbus.” He waved his arm around the assembled pilots. “If we take Bill out of the equation then most of us flew, or in my case, fly, the Gunbus for the benefit of a gunner. You don’t loop, you keep a stable platform and you get your gunner into a position where he can fire. The Bristol is like the Pup. You can throw it around and the gunner won’t fall out. The gunner just defends and it is the pilot who attacks. With the Gunbus we are chauffeurs and with the Bristol we are a fighter.”

  The mood lightened, especially when the others discovered that we would be getting two Bristols the next day.

  We were just two days away from Zero Hour and, the next day we launched our smallest patrol yet. There were just nine of us. Charlie had three Gunbuses with him and Ted and I had our five new fighters. Our mission was to prevent any Germans from flying over our lines. Bearing in mind what had happened the previous day there were nine very nervous pilots.

  The guns were still blasting away. I wondered how they had managed to manufacture so many shells. It seemed unlikely that the Germans would risk flying through the artillery barrage. I found that I was right; they flew around the barrage and they approached from the south. It was Ted’s rear gunner who saw them. He flashed his mirror to attract my attention as he headed south to engage them. There were eight of them. They were far faster and more manoeuvrable than the Gunbuses of Charlie’s flight. Before we had set off we had decided that Charlie would watch our back unless we were seriously outnumbered.

  The five of us would take the war to the Germans and get as close to them as we could. Once amongst them then the Bristols would come into their own. The rear gunner could cause havoc. He could fire to both sides and above him.

  I decided not to be as profligate with my ammunition. I would not run out again. They were above us and we went towards them in a line. We both had the same rate of climb. I cocked the Vickers and decided which one I would attack. These looked to be the Albatros D.II. They had a bulkier radiator than the D.III. To my horror I saw that they, too, had twin Spandau machine guns and these were a faster aeroplane than the D.III. It was too late to back out now. We would have to take our medicine and hope for the best.

  I tried my usual gambit. I lowered my nose as though I was going to fly beneath him and when the leading pilot corrected I came up and opened fire. It worked and the double machine guns spattered above my head. They were alarming but they missed. At a hundred and fifty yards I fired. I just brought the nose up and squeezed gently. The bullets struck the bottom of the propeller and, as I came up, his engine. I took my finger off the trigger and moved slightly to port. He had moved to starboard and my next burst struck his fuselage, close to the cockpit. My earlier bullets had damaged both his propeller and his engine. My last burst must have hit some cables. He lost power and began an irreversible dive to his death.

  I caught a glimpse of an Albatros in my rear view mirror. I banked to port and put the Pup on its side. Already a small target, it would become almost invisible to the German. His bullets whizzed in the space I had just vacated. I pulled hard to bring me round close to my pursuer. No matter how hard he tried he could not match my turn. I snap fired at his fuselage and saw my bullets stitch a line along it. I threw the Pup on to the other wing and banked in the opposite direction. I was acutely aware that we had left Charlie and his Gunbuses unprotected. I saw them above me and four of the Huns were trying to get around to their vulnerable rear.

  I straightened up and began to climb. I checked in my mirror. I had managed to lose my last pursuer. He had either gone after someone else or one of my colleagues had attacked him. The four Albatros were so intent on attacking the huge and slow moving Gunbuses that they neglected to watch for me. I raised my nose to climb as near vertically as I could manage and then I dipped it to fly the length of the four Albatros. I fired in short bursts when I was close to each Hun. I didn’t want my bullets to pass through and hit my fellows. My sudden attack caused panic amongst them and one of them flew directly in front of Charlie and his gunner. The Albatros was torn apart by the two Lewis guns firing at ridiculously short range.

  I followed an Albatros which had a yellow wavy line running its length. It was faster than I was and would eventually our run me but I kept after him as long as I could. My bullets continued to clatter into him no matter how much he jinked, banked and climbed. I was stuck to him like clue and the range of my Vickers meant that even while he was getting away from me I was still hitting him. Eventually he went to ground and landed behind our lines close to the spot I had met Bert. As I roared over the trenches I saw the guns from the Tommies waving in the air in celebration. I wondered how many of them would be alive a few days from now.

  I glanced up and saw the Gunbuses ponderously heading west. One or two were smoking but they were all there. I could not see the Pups and the Bristols. We fought our own fight. The Gunbuses relied on each other for protection.

  I landed at the same time as Ted and Harry. As I taxied I heard the two Pups as they landed. When Ted got out he shook his head, “That’s all we needed” The buggers have fitted a second Spandau to the D.II.”

  “I know. It is not as good an aeroplane as the D.III but it is faster and they have squadrons of them. How did you get on?”

  He grinned, “We managed to down one and damage two more.”

  “It looks like we did better than the boys yesterday then.”

  Gordy and Archie were already in the office. Both looked like little boys who have seen early Christmas presents. “We will be with you tomorrow in our Bristols! We took them up for a spin this afternoon. They are a joy!”

  Gordy was just full of it but Archie asked the more pertinent question. “How did you get on?”

  “We lost none and shot down at least four but,” I paused for effect, “they have armed their older Albatros with twin Spandaus. It is not going to be easy.”

  Charlie came in. “Thanks for that, Bill. I think we would have been a goner but for you. As it is we only have two Gunbuses fit for tomorrow.”

  “Then that decides it. We will just fly the Bristols and the Pups tomorrow. We will need the Gunbuses for Zero Hour the day after.”

  “I won’t deny that I will be glad for the rest but will you be able to manage with just seven aeroplanes? Remember what happened to Number 48 Squadron.”

  Archie spread his arms. “We have no choice; we are running out of aeroplanes. If the Germans see the preparation for the offensive they will be ready and thousands of our lads could die. It is a risk we will have to take. But at least we know that there is no barbed wire in No-Man’s Land. In fact I doubt if there is a single German left alive within a mile of the front.”

  Our flights across the front had shown the effect of the barrage which had crept further west as the days had gone on. Having seen what Bert and our lads had done I knew that there would be Germans who were living underground however what their nerves would be like was something else entirely.

  As it turned out there was a hiatus. We went up and we patrolled but we saw only a few distant reconnaissance aeroplanes which turned tail at the sight of us. We used it as an exercise in seeing how to fly in formation with the two different types of bus. Gordy was disappointed when we landed. “I was looking forward to having a pop with my new gun, and flying something which can actually climb and turn.” It became even worse w
hen we were told that Zero Hour would be delayed by one day. One of Randolph’s friends at headquarters told him it was because the French weren’t ready. All squadrons were told to ready themselves for the 9th of April. This time we were convinced that the Germans would be prepared.

  I don’t think many of us got much sleep the next day. The Germans would know that an attack was imminent as soon as the barrage stopped. It had gone on for days and days. The men in the trenches might be in no condition to fight but the artillery and air force would. We would have to stop them spotting and bombing.

  I was up before dawn. Bates must have heard me for he scurried along in his dressing gown. “Sir, is there a problem? You are up early.”

  “I couldn’t sleep. Go back to bed and I will see to myself.”

  “Sir! Do not even think that! I will get dressed.”

  “I’ll just go outside for a smoke then.”

  I put my dressing gown on and picked up my pipe, tobacco and matches. As I opened the door I could not believe my eyes. It was the 9th of April and it was snowing. There would be no attack that morning and we would not be flying either.

  I sat with Charlie in the mess. Gordy and Ted were busy out on the field talking about the new fighters. I knew that Charlie wanted to ask me something. He was smoking very nervously; lighting a cigarette and half smoking it before lighting another. I smiled and waited for him to get around to it.

  “Bill, are you going to marry Beattie?”

  “Of course you know that already.”

  “Yes, of course I do, no what I meant was how did you ask her? Did you build up to it or did it come just out of the blue?”

  I sipped my whisky. “That is a good question. I suppose we both knew that we wanted to be together. Besides you were there, at the Ritz when I actually proposed.”

  “That was your proposal? I thought you would have got on one knee. “He seemed relieved somehow.

  “We both understood that we wanted to be married and Beattie, she needed me to say it out loud. Women are different from men, Charlie. They need reassurance. I thought it was taken for granted that we would marry because we got on so well together but she needed it saying.” I think I knew then where he was leading with this but I let him get there in his own time.

  “I am going to ask Alice if we can get married on my next leave.” He smiled as though I would be delighted.

  “Now steady on, Charlie. You have missed out a stage.”

  He looked confused, “It’s just like you and Beattie.”

  “No it isn’t. It is one thing to say you will wed but to name a date is something else. What about Alice’s mum and dad?”

  “You mean they might not like me?” He looked appalled.

  “Don’t be daft, of course they will like you. But Alice isn’t twenty one yet. They need to be asked for permission and even if she was twenty one, well, they deserve to be asked.”

  “Oh,” he looked crestfallen, “I just wanted to write and tell her.”

  “Then write to her and say that you would like to visit with mum and dad to ask their permission. But remember you have to have the banns read. It’s not like going into a post office and buying a postal order is it? You need to do some planning. Our Alice will want to invite people and to get a nice dress… talk to Gordy. It took Mary a couple of months to organise theirs and that didn’t involve any parents.”

  I waved the orderly over and pointed to the glasses.

  Charlie stared at the table. Then he brightened. “Of course you are right. Your way is just as good. After the offensive I will put in for a leave. We can go to Burscough and then Alice can do like Mary did and organise the wedding. She will enjoy that.”

  “That’s the ticket. Now you are thinking straight. Women enjoy planning and anticipating.” I hated deceiving Charlie but there would be no leave for a long time. We would be lucky to see Blighty before October at the earliest. I did not regret the deception, not then anyway, for he looked happy once more.

  Chapter 17

  We were ready to fly before dawn. The weather people had told us it might be clear and we waited in the dark to see if the snow would come, having breakfasted early in anticipation. The attack was not signalled by a barrage but a hurricane. It was five minutes of the most intense noise I had ever heard. Every gun fired for five minutes and then, at five thirty the attack began.

  We were helpless. The snow still fell. As the morning drew on we became increasingly frustrated. Finally at eleven, it stopped. “Archie, let me take the Pups up and see how the attack is going.”

  He pointed to the field, it was covered in snow. “How can you take off in that? You’ll never get up.”

  “The Pup is the lightest fighter we have and needs the shortest runway. It is worth a shot. Then you can clear the field of snow.”

  I could see the debate going on in the Scotsman’s head. If the attack had started then we needed eyes in the sky to watch for the Hun. “Right but you try it first and if you think you can’t get up then abort. I won’t risk all three of you.”

  “You are a brick. Freddie, Johnny, let’s go.”

  I never had any doubt that I would get up but as the Pup skidded a little when I increased the power I began to wonder. I had to coax her up but she rose and, once in the air seemed to shake herself as though she was pleased to be free from the earthly shackles. Soon Freddie and Johnny joined me. I led them towards the Arras, Cambrai road. We knew it as major target for the offensive.

  The brown Tommies stood out against the white of the ground. I could see that they were well on their way east and the village of Fleuchy was close to being taken. I was about to lead the Pups down to strafe the village when I caught sight of six crosses in the distance. The white clouds made them stand out clearly. They were Germans.

  I banked to starboard and Freddie and Jonny followed. As we drew closer to them I saw that they were two old AEG bombers escorted by the Albatros D.II. This time we would not be taken by surprise. I pointed to Johnny and signalled for him to attack the bombers. Freddie and I would attack the fighters. We might be outnumbered but we could not afford for the Tommies to be bombed having made such impressive gains.

  Luckily we were flying high and we had the advantage of altitude. The fighters saw us and were drawn to us like moths to a flame. Johnny had learned to be cunning and he stayed with us until the German fighters were committed to the climb and then he banked and dived towards the two lumbering AEG bombers. They were well armed but Johnny could run rings around them.

  I did not worry about Johnny. Freddie and I would have four machine guns against each of us. I opened fire, with a short burst, at a thousand yards. I wanted them to think I was a novice and become overconfident. I edged away from Freddie. I wanted a gap so that I could use the manoeuvrability of the Pup to dive between them and make them hesitate. If we were close then they might not fire for fear of hitting one of their own. They held their fire. They outnumbered us. They were flying in two lines banked above each other. I kept edging to starboard while Freddie flew straight. I was drawing the two columns apart.

  I made as though I was going to bank to starboard and flee west. It was a severe manoeuvre which I quickly reversed as two Albatros fighters turned to follow me. As I roared towards them I snap fired at both of them. I fired four short bursts. My turn meant I had them briefly in my sights and I managed to strike both of them. If I had caused damage then that would be a bonus for I wanted Freddie and I to be able to fire at the other two.

  Freddie had already fired at both of them and was looping. They were climbing to try to hit him when I opened fire at the first Albatros. My bullets struck his wheels first, then his lower wing and finally his engine. I saw oil and smoke and he began to descend. The second tried to bank in my direction. As he did so Freddie completed his loop and fired a long burst into the cockpit. I was close enough to see the pilot die and the Albatros tumble from the sky. We let the wounded bird limp home while I banked. There were two Albatros f
ighters coming for us.

  Freddie fired at the two of them while I side slipped out of their cone of fire. I twisted and climbed to get above them. When I began to turn I saw that Freddie was looping again and Johnny having seen off the bombers was climbing to come to our aid. Freddie distracted them with his loop and I screamed down towards them both. I fired at four hundred yards and made it a longer burst. Freddie fired too and we both hit one of the Albatros fighters. The second struck Freddie and I saw smoke begin to come from his engine. I fired again and the Albatros we had both struck spiralled to earth. The last fighter had Freddie dead to rights. Johnny’s Vickers fired from a thousand yards and his bullets smashed into the rudder of the Hun. He fled east.

  I did not want to risk losing Freddie. Johnny and I escorted him back across our lines to our field. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that it was free from snow. Archie had had it cleared. I had no idea how much damage Freddie had suffered.

  When Freddie had safely landed Johnny and I followed him down. Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery and the mechanics crowded around the Pup. He shook his head as I approached. “I’m sorry gentlemen but this one will not be flying tomorrow or the day after. We will either have to get a new engine or rebuild this one. Either way it will take at least two days.”

  Freddie was downcast. “Sorry sir.”

  “Don’t be silly it was not your fault.”

  Archie and Gordy strode over to me. “Well?”

  “The troops have made great strides but there were German aeroplanes trying to bomb them. Johnny here drove off the bombers and we scattered the fighters.”

  Archie nodded, “Then it is a good job you went up. We will have to get as many up tomorrow as we can.”

  “Unless the state of the field improves, sir, then the Gunbuses will not get up.”

  “Dammit! Headquarters must get their finger our and deliver those Bristols. The new pilots and gunners arrived today. I hope to God they don’t send replacement Gunbuses. They might as well send the young lads a coffin. It means the same.”