1915 Fokker Scourge (British Ace Book 2) (16 page)

“Excellent. That was a good hit today.  It boosted morale.”

“It was lucky. They are whittling us down.  We need fighters like the Fokker with a mechanism for firing through the propellers.”

“I think they have chaps back in England working on it but it will take some time. What we need is to capture an aeroplane and examine it.”

I laughed, “We are damned lucky to hit the buggers! Capturing one is a pipe dream.”

The colonel came out of the inner tent. “Good news about Sharp.  Captain Marshall, we had better get a new gunner, temporary of course, for Captain
Harsker.”

“I am surprised you get any volunteers to be gunners in a Gunbus.  It seems to me that with these new monoplanes and their gun a gunner does not have great odds for survival.”

The colonel shook his head.  “We have no problem with volunteers.  Where is that copy of The Times that the General sent over?”

“Here sir.”

Captain Marshall proffered the news paper to me. “There you are, Bill.  Read that and you will see why we have no problems with volunteers.”

The newspaper had been folded so that there was one story visible.  I began to read.

British Gunner Becomes A Hero

Sergeant William Harsker RFC has shown us all what it takes to defeat the Huns. After bravely serving in the Yeomanry and fighting at the Marne, this plucky farm worker volunteered for the RFC where his skill as an air gunner has resulted in many downed German Aeroplanes.

Newly promoted to Lieutenant and a pilot Lieutenant Harsker has five downed German aeroplanes to his name.  He is an inspiration to all and an example of British pluck and determination.

I handed the newspaper back. “But why an article about me sir?  Gordy and Ted did the same.”

“Propaganda dear boy, propaganda. This was written after you were vindicated in the court martial. It was seen as a way of attracting volunteers for the RFC. You are right, they could have chosen anyone but I think your story of having served in another unit was the one they were looking for. The General told me that there are hundreds of men in the infantry and the cavalry volunteering for the RFC. If they have fought over here, like you, then they will be better airmen. So you see, you are making a difference and we will be getting volunteers. A new batch is due any day now.  By the time your aeroplane is repaired we will have another gunner for you.”

I went in to see Sergeant Sharp as soon as he was awake. There was a tent of sheets over his damaged leg and he looked pale. He smiled at me when I approached. “I am to be sent home then sir.”

“Yes Charlie. You enjoy the rest.”

“How is the bus sir?”

“Don’t you worry about
the aeroplane.  She’ll be fine.  That cardboard looks to have saved both of us.”

“Yes sir.  The doc reckons another inch either way and I would have lost my leg.”

“Is there anything you need?”

“No sir, the other sergeants have sorted my tent out and packed for me.  When the new batch of replacements
arrive, those invalided out will be sent back in their lorries.”

It never ceased to amaze me how caring soldiers could be for their comrades.  They might argue, fall out, even fight but when the chips were down they rallied to help each other.

“Well if there is anything you need then just let me know.”

“I will do
, sir, and I will try to get well as soon as I can.  Tell the new chap he is just keeping my seat warm for me.”

“Of course!”

I felt a little better when I went to the mess for breakfast. Charlie would not lose his leg and it looked as though he had not lost his nerve either. Captain Marshall had shown the newspaper article to Gordy and Ted. They could not resist mocking me. As I sat down Gordy nudged Ted.  “We are honoured today Ted.  We have a real hero with us.” He knuckled his forehead and Ted chuckled.

“You can cut that out for a start.”

They jumped to their feet grinning and gave me a backwards left hand salute. “Sir, yes sir!”

The young lieutenants laughed and I shook my head.  “I should have known you pair would take the Mickey.  I didn’t write the bloody thing!”

Gordy smiled and said, “We know and we couldn’t resist. It is good for the RFC.”

“I told the colonel that the story could have been about any of us.”

“No, it couldn’t. You served in the first battles.  Some people at home think that the RFC is full of people like Major Hamilton-Grant.  Your story shows them that anyone can become an officer.  It is not like the old days.” Gordy was a thinker. If he stayed in the Corps then he could attain a much higher rank.

“Aye well
, the replacements arrive today. Will the major be taking a patrol up?”

Ted gestured with his thumb.  “He came to see us last night. We are going up a little later than yesterday.  He wants the Germans to think that they frightened us off.”

Gordy pointed to Johnny and Freddy who were sat by themselves.  “Your flight is stood down. I think he wants you to go out tomorrow but I daresay he will tell you himself. It will probably be for the best.  Young Carrick was shaken up and you only have one gunner between the three of you.”

“Well if you are up today, watch out for that turn.”

“I’ll tell you something Bill that takes some nerve to almost stall the aeroplane like that.”

I too, had thought that.  We would all have to become better pilots to counter the German threat.  We had ruled the skies and
dominated the Germans now we feared them and tiptoed around the clouds.

Sergeant Sharp got a good send off.  The sergeants who were on
patrol had given those who remained a number of gifts for him.  There were cigarettes and tins of sweets as well as letters for him to post in England. It was one way to beat the censor.  No one would give any information away but I knew that the men did not like the idea of an officer reading their affectionate letters to loved ones.  I suspect they also did not like the idea of their English being judged. The replacements looked at the stretchers as they were loaded and I think they wondered what they were getting into. After the lorries had departed I sought out Lieutenant Holt and Lieutenant Carrick as well as Holt’s sergeant.

“We are getting our replacements soon.” I saw the nervous look on Freddy’s face.  It would take a lot of effort to get him through this trauma.  Having nearly lost Sharp I felt that I understood him a little better. “We will have no time to train them for Major Leach has told me that we will be patrolling tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow sir! Isn’t that too soon?” I saw fear on Freddy’s face.  He had fallen from his mount twice but he had to get up a third time or he would never get back up at all.

“It might be
, Lieutenant Carrick, but the war does not stop because we both lose a gunner.  We have to get on with it and do our duty.”

“Sir.” I saw his backbone stiffen.  He might make it.

“Sergeant White, you will need to tell the new gunners what to expect. Give them the truth. Show them my aeroplane and Lieutenant Carrick’s they might as well see the dangers and then the three of you can repair the two buses.  You will have the rest of the mechanics to help you so use them. The major work on the engines has been done.  Now it is down to fabric and wood.”

“Yes sir.”

“Oh and have a look at Sharp’s cardboard.  It looked to have helped a little although he did find it a little cramped.”

“I know sir.  He told me about it
.  It sounded daft but I have seen the front of the aeroplane and something must have saved him.”

“Well you cut along to the aeroplanes and we will bring the replacements when they arrive.” I turned to the other two.  “The colonel knows we have had a rough time lately. All we have to do tomorrow is to discourage the Aviatiks.  At the first sign of the monoplanes we run.  Until we have worked out how to stop the Fokker we are wary.  No heroics.  And remember that turn we saw yesterday.  It
has been created to attack a Gunbus.  It brings the monoplane into the perfect position below and behind us.”

My new gunner was Airman Hutton. He was a tubby little chap with a wide grin.  He saluted
cheerfully and said, “Airman Hutton.  Me mates call me Lumpy!”

I was intrigued.  “Why Lumpy?”

He shrugged, “I have no idea sir but the name has stuck!”

He was a likeable chap, “Welcome Airman.  This will only be a temporary pos
ting until Sergeant Sharp recovers from his wounds.”

“No problem sir.  I just want to do my bit and kick the Hun, sir.” He smiled, “I read about you sir, in the Daily Herald. Can I say it is an honour to serve with you?  When I write to me mam and dad they will be over the moon.”

I detected his accent when he said mam and dad. “Are you from the north east then, Airman Hutton?”

“Aye sir, a little pit village close to Durham. I was in the Engineers, tunnelling but after I read about you I fancied a bit of fresh air.”

It is strange the way that fate works.  My little brother was in the engineers, tunnelling and this son of a miner was in the RFC. “So you have never flown before?”

“No sir.  We were given a course in the Lewis, how to start the engine and so forth but they had no time to get us up.” He grinned, “It looks like good fun, sir!”

Lieutenant Carrick had an older gunner. He snapped to attention smartly, “Airman Jack Laithwaite, sir.”

He looked to have served before.  “And did you join the Corps directly or were you in the services before?”

“Like you, sir, I was in the cavalry.” He shook his head, “I didn’t like to see the poor animals slaughtered like they were and I transferred.”

“I know what you mean.
What regiment?”

“The 17
th
Hussars.”

I smiled, “A proper regiment then not like the Yeomanry in which I served.”

He had a wise old head on his shoulders.  “It didn’t seem to make a difference to the machine guns whether you wore a fancy uniform or not, sir.”

“Quite right.  Well let me take you to the aeroplanes and we can set you to work.  We fly in the morning so I am afraid you will not have much time to adjust to life at the front.”

Lumpy grinned, “Suits me sir.  The sooner we are in the air the sooner I can start shooting down these Germans.  You know sir, they shelled Hartlepool and killed women and bairns! It’s not right!”

His indignation made me smile.  “Right then, Lieutenant Holt
, take them to your sergeant eh?”

Left alone with Freddy I said, “I think you have dropped lucky Freddy.  Here is a man who has served.  I think you will make a good team.”

“I hope so sir, I hope so.” He looked marginally less fearful than he had been.  I prayed for an easy patrol.

I spent the next hour with Captain Marshall going over the maps. The Captain had been adding information from our reports and we had a detailed map now of the front. We also had an idea of where the German airfields were.  That was important as it gave us the likely direction from which they would come.  The Aviatik had a longer range and their airfields were further away.  The closeness of the Fokker fields meant they could reach us quickly.

After we had finished we both lit our pipes.  “You know, Randolph I think we ought to have a go at bombing their airfield. We know it hurt us when they destroyed those aeroplanes on the ground.”

“Isn’t that a risk?  Suppose they
are waiting?”

“I thought about that. If we attacked after they had patrolled, when they were landing then they would not be fuelled and armed.  We could catch them with their trousers down, so to speak.”

“Ah so you would use six aeroplanes to keep them occupied and have six in reserve?”

“That’s about it.  If half the squadron took off forty five minutes or so after the first half then the combat should be over.  They wouldn’t have to engage closely just get them to use up their fuel and
let them chase our lads back here.  We would follow and bomb the field just after they had landed.”

He smiled, “From
the word ‘we’ I assume that you would lead?”

I grinned back, “My idea.”

“Well I think it is a good one.  I will mention to the Colonel and the Major.  It would be good to take the initiative. I hate this defensive posture.  It does morale no good at all. Speaking of morale, how is Lieutenant Carrick?”

“Tougher than he looks sir. Yesterday was a bad time for him but I think the new gunner will do him the world of good
. Just in case I have Johnny keeping an eye on him.  He is turning into a good pilot.”

“And that reflects well on you, Bill.  You have trained them well.”

“I just copied Lord Burscough’s methods, they seemed to work.”

“It is Colonel Burscough now. He has two squadrons under him.”

“So he has stopped flying?”

“You know the man; do you think he could sit behind a desk? No, he flies
but he has a new Nieuport. A nippy little thing by all accounts.”