1914 (British Ace) (31 page)

Once they were beyond us their rear guns began to fire. We dived below the gun
s’ trajectory.  Walter and Charlie were in the front with a full magazine each.  Their two guns rattled a destructive tattoo and I saw holes and smoke appear from the three aeroplanes. They limped away, now being fired upon by our infantry from the trenches.  We had not shot any down but there were three aircraft which would need a lot of work before they flew again.

Back at the aerodrome
the lieutenant and his gunner positively bounced from their aircraft. “Did you see that?  Two against three and they ran!”

I pointed to his wings, “Yes, John but we did not escape unscathed.  We have repairs to do but you are right; it was a successful mission.” I turned to Charlie, “Give me your maps and drawings and I’ll take them to the adjutant.”

I left the three of them congratulating each other as though they had downed the three rather than just winging them.  It was a start.

The major was with Captain Marshall.  The major asked, “Well?  How did it go?”

“Better than we could have hoped sir.  We were jumped by three Albatros and we damaged them all.”

“Well done! I shall see if I can do as well this afternoon. Is Hewitt not back yet?”

“He hadn’t landed when I came over sir.” I handed the maps and the sketches to the captain.

He nodded approvingly, “These sketches are excellent.  They are almost as good as a photograph.”

I smiled and said slyly, “Yes sir.  It’s a shame he is just a private.”

“You want him made up to Flight Sergeant?”
This was the first time I had exercised my authority and I felt Major Brack’s searching gaze upon me.

“Yes sir, I think he deserves it
.”

He smiled, “Good, so do I. Captain Marshall see to the paperwork.  I’ll let you tell him, Lieutenant.”

As I walked back I reflected that Charlie was a far better observer and mechanic than I was but I knew his skills with a machine gun were not as honed as mine were. I was, by nature, a hunter.  It did make us a good team. When I told him of his promotion he was both excited and embarrassed.  “Thank you sir.  I’ll try to live up to your expectations of me.”

I shook my head, “Don’t worry, you have earned it.” I smiled at Walter.  “And there is a target for you, private.  See if you can get promoted as quickly as Charlie here eh?”

“Yes sir!”

The replacements arrived the next day and I met Lieutenant Campbell
,

for the first time. The impression I gained of him was not a good one. He reminded me, in his manner, more than a little of Lieutenant Ramsden.  In voice and in looks he could have passed for Lord Burscough. After we were introduced I wondered if he would be the grit in the machine which would make it break down.

The major introduced us as Flight Commanders.  It seems none of the new pilots were familiar with either the term of the concept. The major was always quick on the uptake and he explained.

“We have a reputation, in this squadron, of having a high rate of success combined with a low number of losses.  We have devised the flight system to continue that.  Each Flight Commander is in charge of three aircraft.  They may operate as a flight or in conjunction with another flight.  It gives us flexibility. You will all fly when your Flight Commander deems that you are ready.”

My first warning sign came with the scowl which passed over Lieutenant Campbell’s face.  He was not happy. I decided that a trip to the village would not work with this one and so I led him, along with John, to the three aeroplanes. I let Charlie and Walter take his gunner, Private
Fletcher, to be given the run down on their duties.  I trusted Charlie now. His promotion had enabled me to have a chain of command.

“How many hours do you have in an F.E.2 Lieutenant Campbell?”

“Today was my first time so just from Dartford to here. To be honest with you I was rather disappointed.  I had hoped for one of the new Bristol Fighters.  The Gunbus is too old and slow.”

I had never heard such an attitude.  It was like a cavalryman criticising his own horse.  I saw John frown. “I think you will find it a good aeroplane and it certainly has the beating of the Albatros and Aviatik aeroplanes we come up against.”

“The thing is, I have been told that this squadron does a great number of flights to observe.  Quite frankly I want a little more action.” He grinned in what I think he thought was an engaging manner but it left me cold.

“We are here to win a war
, Lieutenant Campbell, not to win glory.” I saw his face fall. “Anyway we have no time to waste in debate you are in C Flight and that means we fly my way.  John here flies astern of me and you astern of him….” I gave the same talk I had done in the village but I knew that I was being less considerate and understanding.  He had got under my skin.

When I had finished he looked unhappy, “You mean I can’t attack an enemy without your permission?  I have to fly behind Lieutenant Murray here.” He smiled at John, “No offence but I may be a better pilot than you are.”

I saw John redden.  I had this man’s measure now. “In which case being the last man in the flight is the most important and requires the best pilot. For you protect us from an attack in the rear. Until we got these rear facing Lewis guns we lost too many aeroplanes. Of course that means that you have to fly straight and level even if the enemy are firing at you. Erratic flying will result in the death of your observer and then you.”

He laughed, “I don’t think I am dependent on my observer.”

This was getting worse and I felt myself losing my temper. “John, explain to him what happened to Lieutenant Cox and his observer.”

John had been there and had also been a close friend of the dead pilot.  His words were far more powerful than anything I could have said.  It appeared to have little effect.  “Well, dashed sorry and all that but this Lieutenant Cox sounds like a poor pilot.  Believe me I am very good.  I was top of my class at flight school. That’s another reason why I can’t understand them sending me here.  I am wasted in a Gunbus.”

I snapped, “Let’s see how you do in a week of patrolling in a line and then we will see.  Check your aeroplane. We fly at dawn and we will be observing.”

I turned and began walking to the office.  I didn’t know if we were scheduled to fly the next day but I would press for us to do so. This arrogant young peacock needed his feathers plucking.
When I reached the office Captain Marshall had a strange smile on his face. “Problem Lieutenant Harsker?”

I forced myself to calm down. 
“It’s that arrogant young prig.  He thinks he is too good for a Gunbus.  I want to take my flight up at dawn.”

He laughed, “That is not a problem.” He picked up a file and threw it across.  “This is interesting reading.  He was the top pilot
in the training school but the instructor suggested that he be sent here as he did not like his attitude.”

“That sounds like a good instructor.”

The captain nodded, “He is and you know him. It was Captain Dixon. He recommended he work with us here to, as he said in his letter to the major, ‘
teach him how to do the job properly’
.”

As I left with the maps for the following morning’s patrol I thought of what a small world it was. Captain Dixon had nearly caused my death and now he was sending us men to make real pilots of them.

The sector we were to patrol was closer to Ypres than we had been for some time. I knew that I could rely on Charlie to observe accurately and, with an extra aeroplane we should be somewhat safer. As we went to the field I pulled John to one side.  “Look John, Charlie can observe for all three aircraft.  Use Walter to keep his eyes peel
ed behind and to the sides. This is Lieutenant Campbell’s first flight. It may be a little more traumatic than he expects.”

John’s face darkened, “He had no right to say what he did about David.  He was not a bad pilot!”

“And I know that. But we both know that everyone pays a heavy price for any kind of mistake here. So no mistakes, eh?”

“Yes, I won’t let you down
, Flight.”

As I climbed into the cockpit I reflected that I was still Flight, despite my promotion.
Except now I was Flight Commander. I checked my two weapons and then the Lewis.  I did not expect to have to use any of them but it was a routine which, so far, had worked.

I led the three aeroplanes to the take off point.  I would have liked to watch my new pilot take off but I would have to rely on others for that.  I knew that the major, Gordy and Ted would all be watching.  I would get a report later on.
Both of my pilots knew that we would get to a high altitude first.  It used more fuel but it was safer in the long run. The day that someone invented heavy guns capable of shooting down high flying aeroplanes would be the day that aeroplanes would no longer be any use in war. I knew that they were far too flimsy to be able to stand up to shells exploding near them.  I was just grateful that machine guns had such limited range.

I tapped Charlie on the head and gave him the signal to look astern.  He took off his glove and held up three fingers and then moved the hand up and down.  I nodded and he sat down. Our perfect pilot was not keeping station! As we had not been in this sector for a while I was cautious and we spiralled slowly down to our allotted patrol. The balloons were all down by the time we reached five hundred feet. I flew due north while Charlie beavered away
with his maps, notebooks and pencils.  I felt happier knowing that there were two observers who were scanning the skies for enemies.

The Germans fired their weapons in the air but they had little chance of hitting us. I risked a glance astern and saw that Lieutenant Campbell had taken his aeroplane up another hundred feet. I had no way of communicating with him and I just became angry. We turned at the end of the first leg and I banked to come south.  As I did so I waved the errant aeroplane to get back in
formation.  I was ignored and he stayed at the same height.

I was the one
who saw the German aeroplanes.  This time there were five of them and two of them looked like the French monoplane, the Morane-Saulnier.  It had to be a pair of Fokker Eindecker aeroplanes.  I had never come up against them but I knew they were good. They were highly manoeuvrable and fast. I signalled to go for home.  I tapped Sharp on the head and pointed to the Germans. He nodded, put his maps and drawings in the pocket of his greatcoat and then cocked the rear facing Lewis.

His face fell and
he pointed urgently behind me. I saw that Lieutenant Campbell was heading for the five Germans. As much as I wanted to, I could not leave him alone. I began to climb and signalled for John to follow me. Charlie resumed his position on the forward facing Lewis.

I watched as
Lieutenant Campbell’s gunner made the cardinal error of firing too early.  His bullets were wasted. The three Albatrosses flew down either side of the Gunbus and I saw bullets stitch along the side of the aeroplane.  As smoke began to drift from the engine the agile monoplanes headed for the vulnerable rear of the Gunbus.  We were drawing ever closer but we would not reach it in time.  I wondered why his observer was not manning the rear gun when I saw him slumped in his cockpit.  He had been hit.

I aimed the Gunbus at
the rear monoplane.  Charlie opened fire and I stood and used my knees to keep the joystick steady.  I turned the rear facing Lewis until it was facing forward and I, too, opened fire.  Chunks flew from the tail and the pilot dived, whether out of control or in fear I do not know. The F.E.2 continued to fly straight and Charlie and I repeated our attack.  This time I saw the pilot fall forward and the aeroplane dived straight into the ground.

One of the Albatros
ses poured bullets into the side of Campbell’s aeroplane and then I saw the German being struck from below by Lieutenant Murray’s aircraft. I had just dropped to my seat, having emptied the magazine when the fuel tank of the Albatros exploded.  The concussion blew all five remaining aeroplanes away from the explosion.  Lieutenant Campbell might have been an arrogant fool but he could fly.  He managed to control the stricken aeroplane and turn towards home.  I swung the front of our aeroplane across the remaining two Albatrosses and Sharp fired on both of them.  They were discouraged enough to return east.

I signalled to John to cover Lieutenant Campbell’s port side while I watched his starboard. I could see no signs of life in the observer and it was a miracle that the aeroplane was still flying.  The engine was coughing and spluttering.  I could see oil dripping from the engine and smoke coming from the propeller. He would be lucky to land it. When I saw the aerodrome I fired a flare.  It might be too late for the gunner but I knew that the doctor and his team would try.

John and I stayed aloft as the aeroplane touched down. If it had been the Avro it would have turned over for the wheels caught in the mud.  Luckily the Gunbus has a third nose wheel and it bounced him back upright.  As soon as it had stopped moving we began our approach.  They had emptied the aircraft by the time we landed.  The major was there looking very serious.

“His observer is dead and I think his aeroplane might be our first write off.  What happened?”