1915 Fokker Scourge (British Ace Book 2) (34 page)

I had fought against them enough times to know what they would do.  It would be a head on attack and then a turn to get on our tails and hit us where we were most vulnerable.

“Lumpy, when we have passed the last aeroplane get on the rear Lewis.”

“Will do sir.” I noticed that, now that it was almost June, he
was wearing less layers and he had lost a little weight.  He would be more mobile. We all learned at the front.  It was adapt or die. I was also more confident about my wingmen.  They were no longer the raw and naïve young pilots who had first joined me. They were as good as any pilots in the squadron.  Soon they would be promoted to Second Lieutenant and, perhaps given flights of their own.  They were more than capable.

I cocked my Lewis and kept my eye on the middle aeroplane.  They outnumbered us but their formation gave us the edge. We would be facing three aeroplanes and have six machine guns at our disposal. I looked down the sight of the Lewis and saw the monoplane we would attack. I had been told of some Gunbuses which had twin Lewis guns for the pilot. With two machine guns I would face odds of three to one.  The one I had would have to suffice
for the moment.

There was always a danger in these attacks of doing what you had always done.  We expected the Germans to do the same as on previous occasions.  This time they did not. Three of the Fokkers on their left peeled off and banked to attack Johnny from the flank.

Two others peeled off to do the same with Freddy. That left three Fokkers in line astern coming for me. They had effectively eliminated the chance for all three gunners to concentrate their fire on one aeroplane. Once again I had to focus on my task; fight three German monoplanes.  My two wingmen would have to learn how to do the same.

Lumpy held his fire, even though the first fighter opened fire as soon as we came in range.  When he did fire he could not miss and the propeller and engine
of the first Fokker were struck by half a magazine from the Lewis. It did not try to fly over or under us, it banked with smoke pouring from the engine.  Lumpy fired another short burst and the pilot slumped dead in his cockpit.

There was no time for self congratulation; the next monoplane was firing.  Lumpy finished his magazine and held up his hand to tell me he was reloading. I felt the German’s bullets striking our aeroplane and I gave
him a short burst. As we closed I fired a second time and struck his wing.  The Fokkers used wing warping and any damage to the wing made them less manoeuvrable. As the pilot struggled to control the aeroplane, which began to yaw, I fired a second burst and hit his propeller.  He began to spin out of control.

Then the third Fokker fired.  Perhaps he was aiming for me or perhaps my luck had run out.  The bullets struck my Lewis gun and I felt a thump in my shoulder.  I knew, without looking that I had been hit. The bullets continued to hit us. The Lewis gun stand before me was severed and the gun plummeted over the side to fall to earth. Lumpy emptied the whole magazine at this zealous young German. He had concentrated so hard on hitting me that he was almost within touching distance when Sergeant Hutton fired. He hit the engine and then the pilot.  As he slumped forward the aeroplane dived vertically to earth.

“Three of them sir! That must be a record.”

I could feel the blood dripping down from my wound.  I glanced at the floor.  There was a small puddle gathering. I had to get down or poor Lumpy would die with me. “I am hit
, Sergeant Hutton, I will try to get you back. It has been an honour to serve with you.”

I did not want to die without the Sergeant knowing how I felt about him. He looked around, his normally happy face ashen. When he saw the wound he could not hide his shock.  “You’ll be all right, sir.”

I shook my head.  “I will try to get you back to the base but keep the Very pistol handy to warn them.” I coughed and it hurt my chest. “This may be a bumpy landing.”

I swung the aeroplane around and the sky was empty.  I had no idea where the others were. 
I checked the compass and made sure that I was on course. As we flew over the river I saw that the bridge had been destroyed.  The bombers had done their job and I could die happy.  I had protected my comrades. I did a quick count in my head.  I had destroyed a total of sixteen German aeroplanes.  That was not a bad haul for a boy who had expected to grow up looking after horses.  I had made Captain and won two medals.  I hoped that my family would be proud.

Oddly the wound had stopped hurting but I began to f
eel a little lightheaded. I saw Lumpy looking around.  Suddenly he stood and faced me.  He was not a tall man but by putting his feet on the edge of the cockpit he could reach me.

He had removed his speaking tube.  “Now you just fly her straight Captain Harsker and I will try to stop this bleeding.” He had a field dressing and he jammed it beneath my flying jacket.
He had a bandage and he sort of threw it around my back.  “Lift your arm up sir. Your good one.” I managed that and he tied and tightened the bandage to hold the dressing in place. It hurt and I winced.  “Sorry sir.  I am a clumsy bugger. There that might slow the bleeding down.” He reached into his flying coat and pulled out a small hip flask.  “Don’t tell the colonel about this but I find a nip keeps the cold out. I reckon you need it more than me.  Here sir.  Have a swig.”

He held the flask to my mouth and I swallowed a mouthful of the fiery rum. I coughed and Hutton dabbed at my mouth with his scarf.  I saw it came away red. “Thanks
, Lumpy, now you had better sit down so that I can see where we are going.”

He did so and I saw the German trenches and No-Man’s Land ahead. I could not risk climbing.  I needed to be as close to the ground as I could.  I expected to pass out at any time.
The lower I was the more chance Lumpy would have of surviving. The crack and rattle from below us told us that they were firing at this foolish Englishman who was close enough to hit with their rifles. I heard pops and cracks and saw holes appearing in the lower wing.  It could not be helped. And then the firing stopped as we crossed the British lines. I was finding it hard to use my right arm. Landing would be difficult with one arm.  I was so low that if I passed out the Gunbus might not be totally wrecked when we hit the earth.  The sergeant might survive. I saw the windsock in the distance and then heard the crack of the Very pistol.

The ground seemed to be coming at us really rapidly. I slowed down as much as I could.  I did not want to stall and cartwheel.  I had to do my Sunday best landing.  It would be my last. As the nose wheel touched I prayed that I had the correct angle or we would tip.  As soon as the mai
n wheels hit the ground I cut the power. I heard Lumpy shouting, “Hang on sir!” Through a red mist I saw Doc Brennan and his orderlies racing towards us and then it all went black.

I have heard that, when you are dying
, you see a long tunnel and there is a light at the other end. I didn’t see any light.  I was in the dark and I could hear voices all around.  They were the voices of my comrades from the cavalry.  There was a sudden flash of light and I saw Caesar, my horse.  I heard machine guns and saw horses and riders tumbling to their deaths. I heard crying and realised it was a baby. It was my nephew William. Then Tom and John appeared.  They seemed hazy but they were wearing uniforms.  I head Tom say, “Come on our kid.  You can make it.”

They disappeared and mum was rocking in her rocking chair and knitting. She suddenly stopped and gave a small
scream, I saw dad rush to her side. And then I was in the air. I was rising on a thermal.  The Gunbus seemed to float.  All was well again.  Then the engine cut and I was spinning to earth.  I tried to pull back on the stick but my arms would not work.  I was heading for the ground. It was spinning closer and closer. I saw the trenches and the faces of the soldiers and then it all went black.

I wondered if this was death; this inky blackness in which I seemed to be floating. I felt no pain and so death seemed, to me, to be what I was experiencing.  I had expected to see Tom and John.  Then I remembered that I had seen them just before it all went black. Perhaps they would reappear. Were they to be my guides?

I heard voices.  They seemed to be from far away.  I was about to speak when I realised that the voices were not John and Tom. I recognised the Scottish tones of Major Leach.  Was he dead too?

“Why has he not come to?”

“It is the anaesthetic. The bullet had gone through but I had a lot of stitching to do.”

“He will live though.”

“He should do.  He is a strong young man with a hearty constitution.”

“When will he be fit again?”

I heard a snort of derision.  “You are not asking much are you?”

“Come on Doc, you know how they all feel about the laddie here.  He is like a lucky charm.  If he is in the air then they feel safer.”

“He will need maybe three weeks to recuperate.  That is in a hospital back in Blighty, mind.  If he is here then I cannot promise anything. Then another week or so and he should be able to fly again.”

“Well that is something.”

I forced my eyes open.  It was bright. I opened my mouth to speak and I found I couldn’t.  It was a sort of half cough.  Archie’s face lit up and Doc Brennan lifted my head and held a glass of water for me to drink.

“You had us worried, Bill. There was so much blood in the cockpit I wondered if you had any left.”

“If it hadn’t been for Lumpy I wouldn’t have made it.  He stopped the bleeding.  He saved my life.”

“Aye he is a good lad. He will be mentioned in despatches.”

It struck me unfair that if it had been me then I would have had a medal but the enlisted men just received a mention in despatches.

“How long have I been out?”

“It was yesterday you were shot.”

“What happened to the rest of my flight?”

His face clouded over, “Lieutenant Carrick and Sergeant Laithwaite were shot about a bit but they managed to escape without a wound.  Johnny Holt’s gunner, Sergeant White, bought it and Johnny was barely able to land his aeroplane.  The three of you did a heroic service.  We were able to bomb the bridge without any losses.”

I closed my eyes.  That was something at least.
“They tried something different this time, sir.  They didn’t come head on they tried to attack from three sides.  It nearly worked.”

“I know, your two lieutenants told us.
But I think the day of the Fokker Scourge is over. Your old friend Colonel Burscough has made mincemeat of them with his squadron of DH 4s. There are rumours we might get a couple.”

“I think I would miss my gunner. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Sergeant Hutton.”

Doc Brennan shook his head, “That is enough.  He needs rest.  No more visitors until tomorrow. And then he is off to England!” He smiled as he said it, “You will have some convalescence and you need it Captain Harsker.”

I did need the sleep.  When I awoke
it felt as though I had gone twelve rounds with a heavyweight.  Perhaps the drugs had worn off, I don’t know but I now knew I had a wound. Gordy, Ted and my two lieutenants were the first to visit me.  I saw, through my half open eyes the look of worry on their faces.  As I fully opened them they donned a mask of joy and relief.

“You had us worried there, Bill. You had a hole in you so big I c
ould have put my fist in it.”

Gordy shook his head and clipped Ted on the back of the head.  “What a wonderful bedside manner you have! Never mind him
, Bill. You look much better now and you will be off to a hospital in England. Do you know which one yet?”

I shook my head. “The Doc said I would find out later this morning.  He reckoned it would be in London somewhere.”

Gordy brightened. “You’ll be there for a while.  I’ll write to Mary and ask her to visit you.”

“I would like to meet her.”

For some reason the fact that I would be meeting the future Mrs Hewitt filled Gordy with pleasure.  His grin stretched from ear to ear. I looked at Freddy and Johnny, “You two did very well the other day.  I am proud of you.”

Freddy nodded.  “I think I had the easier task sir.  I just had two to contend with.  We shot one down and the other cleared off. They made a mess of the aeroplane but they didn’t hit anything vital.”

I looked at Holt.  “Sorry about your sergeant.”

He nodded, “We had been together since the start.  Now I know how Freddy felt.” He brightened a little.  “The
Major has given me Sergeant Hutton until you are fit to fly again.”

“Then you are in safe hands.  If it wasn’t for him I would be pushing up daisies by now.”

Doc Brennan came in to the room. “Now that is enough. Sergeant Hutton and Sharp have been waiting and I don’t want to tire our patient out.  He leaves this afternoon.”

“Where to Doc?”

“Imperial Order Of The Daughters Of The Empire Hospital.”

Gordy asked, “Where is that, sir?  I was going to get my young lady to visit him.”

“Hyde Park Place, London.”

“I will write to her now, Bill just so long as you promise not to steal her from me.”

I laughed, “That depends how pretty she is.”