1914 (British Ace) (27 page)

Once again we had been given the role of attacking.  The three of us had a reputation for steadiness which the major appreciated.  He knew we would not deviate from
our line and would hold our nerve. The Germans were always quick learners and they had mobile machine guns which they hurriedly set up.  As we roared across the treetops we were met by machine and rifle fire which was most unnerving. Standing at the front to the Gunbus, you felt dreadfully exposed.  Short bursts were not effective and I held down the trigger until the bullets had all been used.  When the captain saw me change the magazine he pulled the nose up to get us out of the line of fire while I reloaded.  The third pass would allow him to fire his fixed machine gun.  I had the advantage that I could traverse my gun through a hundred and eighty degrees he could only fire at whatever was in line with the front of the Gunbus.  As we flew for our second pass I saw a mobile machine gun to the right.  I fired a steady stream and saw the crew cut down and the gun knocked over.  I hoped I had damaged it enough to stop it firing at the other aircraft in the flight. I finished off the magazine by firing at the motor car which was on the roadside.  I reasoned that it would have officers, probably high ranking, on board and their loss was worth more than their men.

When I had emptied the Lewis Captain Burscough began to fire his fixed machine gun
. I took out my Lee Enfield and aimed at those who looked to be in command. I was not certain if I hit any but I knew it would have an effect. Soaring into the sky and the relative safety of the higher altitude I saw that one of the other aircraft was pouring smoke from its engine.  Lieutenant Hanson would be lucky to get back to the airfield.  We went into a defensive formation as we headed back to our lines. 

I turned to
cock the rear Lewis and watch behind us.  I could see the major with his surviving aeroplanes spread out in a thin screen as they, too, made their way home.  Then I saw black dots appear.  They were being attacked by German aeroplanes.  We could do nothing about it; they were behind and above us.  We had to escort our damaged comrade back home and besides that we were all getting low on fuel. This was not a steady flight at the same altitude.  We had climbed and dived numerous times.  Running out of fuel behind enemy lines was not an option.

It was with some relief that we saw the damaged aeroplane land safely.  The mechanics raced across to deal with the small fire and then we all landed. There were just four of us left from the original five.  The major, I feared, had fared worse.

After we had climbed from the cockpits I noticed a colonel walking towards us. I did not recognise him but his lordship did.  He snapped a smart salute, “Colonel Sykes, sir.” We all stood to attention and saluted. He pointed to the black dots approaching the field. “Is the squadron commander with those aeroplanes?”

“The major is on his way, sir.
That is his flight.”

The colonel’s features changed and he smiled easily.  “Don’t panic
, Lord Burscough. I am not here to chew you out but rather to find out some facts.”

I saw the relief in his face as the captain said
to us, “I think you chaps can check the aeroplanes over.  I am not sure what damage we suffered back there.”

“Sir!”

Even though we were curious as to know why we had been visited we knew that we had to work on the aeroplanes.  The battle was not over; that much we knew from the number of reinforcements being rushed to the front.  We would be in action again the next day.  I worried about my Gunbus.  It took punishment day about day and we repaired the canvas and wood every day.  Soon it would be no longer original but an aeroplane of repaired parts.

As usual we had suffered the most damage.  We had been at the centre.  I left the mechanic, Joe, to check the engine and refill the oil while I began to assess the parts which need
ed replacing and the ones which needed mending. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the major’s flight land. The colonel and Captain Burscough whisked him away and we were left alone on the field.  We would be lucky to have five serviceable aeroplanes for the next day.

It was almost time for food by the time we had repaired the three aircraft from our flight.  They would all fly the following day but only the major and Captain Brown would be able to fly
from the rest. Some of the ones which had returned would only be fit for spares. From twelve aircraft we now had just five; such was life in the R.F.C.

After we had washed up we piled into the mess for food.  Now that we had a wooden building it felt cleaner and it was certainly warmer.  There was a fug of hot food and cigarette smoke as we trudged in. Flight Sergeant Lowery waved us over to sit with him at his table. We were now the four senior flying
sergeants in the squadron and there was a bond between us.  Sometimes the armourer and quartermaster would join us but that night both were busy ordering spares and repairing guns.

“You know that big wig
who was waiting for the major?”

“You mean the colonel?”

“That’s right.  Well he is second in command to General Henderson, he’s the bloke in charge of the Flying Corps.”

“Phew.  Are we in bother then?”

“Nah, just the opposite. They were talking while I was in the outer office. The door was open and I heard every word.”

H
e waited expectantly.  Gordy shook his head, “What are you waiting for? A round of applause.”

He looked miffed, “Just building up the tension.”

“Don’t worry, pal, we have had more than our share of tension lately.”

“Well it seems we are the only squadron who send out the planes as a squadron.  The rest just send one or two out or a flight at most. We have had the most success and, until today, the least casualties and damaged aeroplanes.”

“Are we getting a bonus then?”

“Ted, you never fail to amaze me.  When did the army every pay you for doing something well? The officers might get promoted but we will get bugger all.”

Raymond looked at me, “They want his lordship to start a new squadron and use the same tactics. Those Germans you two managed to shoot down make him one of the most successful British pilots on the whole western front.  You could well be leaving.”

I don’t know why but that disappointed me.  I was happy here and comfortable. I did not relish the thought of starting afresh.  It would be especially bad as we would be seen to be bringing new ideas and I knew that a lot of the men would like to see us fail. “When does he leave?”

“Not for a couple of weeks.  The major said he couldn’t afford to lose his most experienced pilot in the middle of an offensive. Besides we have still a job to do here.”

The captain did not say a word as the five of us took off the next day. I heard his first words when he told me of our task that day.  “Right, Flight, we are heading back for the road and then the railway. We will machine
gun any infantry and then harass anyone trying to repair the railway line.”

I had a bad feeling about the whole thing.  This would be the fourth day we had done exactly the same thing and the Germans were many things but stupid was not one of them.  As we crossed into German territory we were jumped by a number of aeroplanes. They swooped down like hawks.  Luckily we saw them before they opened fire but we were slow beasts and the Gunbus took forever to climb I fired at the
Aviatik which was attacking the major’s plane.  I didn’t hit it but I forced it to climb and Major Brack was able to continue to evade the enemy. I felt the floor judder as the undercarriage was hit by bullets from an Albatros heading at our starboard side.  I swung the Lewis around and gave him a short burst.  I saw pieces fly from his propeller.  The fragments must have struck the pilot for he suddenly fell back, jerking the joystick as he did so. Alarmingly the Albatros began to climb above us. I grabbed my Lee Enfield and, as it appeared above us I fired five bullets into its underbelly.  I saw flames appear and begin to spread down the aeroplane. Even as it climbed I knew that it was doomed.  Sixty feet above us the fuel tank exploded and we were all shifted in the air by the concussion.

There was no time for self congratulation.  The captain’s Lewis suddenly opened fire.  It was always worrying when that happened as it was right next to my head. I saw that he had seen an Aviatik turning in front of us and he managed to hit the tail.  I fired the last of my magazine and saw my bullets stitch a line towards the cockpit. The whole aircraft wobbled.  Between us we had hit some of the control wires. Captain Brown’s aeroplane had been hit and I saw him heading to the ground in an attempt to land.  I hoped he landed on the correct side of the front.

I changed the magazine and fired at an Albatros which was firing at Gordy’s engine.  I saw smoke begin to pour from the back of Gordy’s Gunbus and I held my fingers on the trigger.  The observer gunner slumped forward as my bullets struck him and the Albatros took evasive action.

In my ear I heard, “Time to go Flight.  We are the last
bird in the air.”

I looked around and saw that the rest of our aeroplanes were heading west and the surviving Germans were limping east.

“Righto sir. We have ridden our luck again.”

“I know, I know.”

We allowed the others to land before us.  We watched as Captain Devries tried to land the damaged Gunbus.  He made a valiant attempt but one of the wing tips caught the ground and, to my horror I saw the aeroplane cartwheel. There was a cloud of smoke and I could not see anything.  I hoped that Gordy had survived but the one who normally died in such a crash was the observer. I felt sick to my stomach as we taxied by the smoking shell of the Gunbus.

As we stopped I shouted.  “I’m going to see how Gordy is.”

When I reached the scene and the doctor I was amazed to see Gordy smoking a cigarette.  There was a sheet covering something. Gordy pointed with his cigarette.  “Captain Devries.  He caught one when they hit the engine.  He must have landed it and died or landed it already dead.”

“How did you survive?”

He pointed at the pole holding the rear facing Lewis gun. “That stopped me from breaking my neck and the seat belt actually held. If we hadn’t had your device then I would be dead now.” As they took the body of the young officer away I reflected that he had grown up as a pilot at the front but it had still not saved him from a premature death.

It was decided that we didn’t have enough aeroplanes to operate the next day which was a relief to us all.  I was busy repairing the
bus when the major and Captain Burscough wandered up.  I wondered if they were going to tell me about the new squadron but they surprised me.  The major said, “I thought you wanted to try out as a pilot, Flight Sergeant Harsker?”

“I did sir but we have been so busy.”

He nodded, “You aren’t busy now are you?”

“Not really sir.”

“Good.  The Avro is fuelled and ready to go.“

I ran to my tent to get my flying gear.  When I reached the Avro the captain said, quietly, “You can do this
, Bill. You are a natural.”

I was not so sure but I climbed into the cockpit anyway.  It had been some time since I had flown and I hoped I would remember what to do.  At least I had an idea what would be required of me as I had seen Gordy’s test.

As soon as the engine fired I focussed. I heard the major’s voice in my ear. “Take off whenever you are ready and fly a circuit of the field at two hundred feet.”

“Sir.”

The test was like a blur.  Even as I performed the various manoeuvres I couldn’t remember the last one I had done.  It made no difference that I had seen Gordy do the same thing.  Everything just blended into one huge blank. When he said, “You can land now,” I breathed a sigh of relief. The ordeal would soon be over.

I waited until the major had climbed out and then I joined him.
Captain Burscough walked slowly towards us.  The major had a very serious face. “Flight Sergeant Harsker did you know that Captain Burscough is going to be given the command of a new squadron?”

There was no point in lying.  I nodded, “Yes sir, I heard a rumour.” I knew what was coming now.  I had failed the test and I would be going with the captain as his gunner.

“His new squadron will not be flying the Gunbus but a new single seater fighter, the Bristol.  Now, as a new pilot, which would you rather fly?” It took me a moment to hear his words and realise that I had passed my test.  I hesitated and I saw the major smile, “Well?”

“I think I would like to stay with this squadron sir.”

There was palpable relief on the major’s face.  “I hoped that you would say that.” He turned to the captain.  “Sorry James, he wants to stay here.”

To be fair to his lordship his smile was genuine. “No hard feelings Flight
, and well done.  I shall miss you but I understand why you want to stay. I was tempted to refuse the colonel.” He suddenly looked like a boy again as he grinned, “I held out for a majority!”

“Congratulations to you,
Major Burscough. When do you leave?”

The grin went.
“Tomorrow.  Back to Blighty.  I have to go to the factory.  I need to find out about this new aeroplane before my new pilots arrive!”

The two majors went over to the mess.  I suspected they would be celebrating.  Gordy and Ted ran over to me, “Well!”