1914 British Ace

by Griff Hosker

  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.

  Chapter 23

  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 peeled 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 Albatrosses 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?”

  With the help of our observers we told the major the sequence of events. We did not ascribe blame and we spoke factually but I could see the major becoming more and more angry. When I had finished I said, somewhat to my own surprise, “But he is a damned good pilot, sir. I think only you or his lordship could have brought that aeroplane back.”

  “The difference is that neither of us nor you two would have put ourselves in that position. You did well.” He forced a smile, “Your first kill Mr Murray, congratulations.”

  After he had gone I added my own congratulations. He shook his head, “It doesn’t feel like I should be celebrating, that poor observer is dead.”

  “And we could do nothing about it. If anyone should feel responsible it is me. Obviously I didn’t train him well enough.”

  “He hadn’t been with us long enough. Don’t blame yourself.”

  Gordy was waiting for us in the mess. “I heard about today. I know that you are thinking it is your fault. I can see it on your face but you are not. When we are in our aeroplanes we are our own masters. I hope the boss throws the book at him.”

  As we sat down to our meal I said, “The trouble is we can’t afford to throw away good pilots. We’ll have to make him better than he is.”

  We looked up as Lieutenant Campbell walked in. Every eye was on him. Every officer had heard what had happened and there was no sympathy for the man. He kept his head down, collected his food and sat as far away from everyone as he could. Major Brack and Captain Marshall joined us. The Major looked tired. No one said a word as the two men ate. After they had finished they both lit their pipes and Major Hewitt closed his eyes for a moment.

  “I suppose you are wondering what we are going to do about the careless Mr Campbell.” We all remained silent and he gave a dry, humourless laugh. “It is written all over your faces. Well I am not going to do what I intended when I first heard what happened. I am not going to court martial him. It would not do morale any good and it would be a waste of time. Lieutenant Harsker, you said he is a good pilot and God knows we need them. I intend to use him as a gunner on my bus for a week and let him experience the front from the sharp end. Hopefully he w
ill pick up some good ideas and rid himself of this notion that he is a knight on a white charger and that this is some noble form of war.” He shook his head and relit his pipe. “You know why he went towards those Germans?” We shook our heads. He thought he could out fly them and it was dishonourable to leave without, at least, firing his guns. Can you believe it?”

  Captain Marshall asked, “Where did he get such ridiculous ideas from?”

  “The damned newspapers at home. Apparently because there are so many of the upper classes in the Flying Corps and the German Air Force the newspapers have got it in their heads that we are like knights jousting. There was some cartoon about it.”

  The others shook their heads in disbelief. I could believe it. “I suppose, sir, that it is easier to make up a lie like that rather than admit how many thousands are being slaughtered in the trenches. We have lost far fewer men since the war began than the infantry do in the first two minutes of battle.”

  The major tapped his pipe on the table and then looked seriously at me. “I keep forgetting that, alone out of any of us, you have experienced the horror of that war. Ah well…” He pocketed his pipe, “It will just be the two of you for a week but you will need tomorrow to sort out your buses.”

  John and I stood and saluted, “Sir.”

  “And get some rest. You both did damn well today.”

  Captain Marshall made his apologies and left. There were just the three of us at our table. It was the first chance I had had to speak with Gordy in some while. “How is your flight working out then?”

  He gestured across the room, “Compared with him? They are superb. In reality they still need work.”

  “We ran into the Fokker Eindecker today. They are very nimble and fast. They can fly rings around us you know.”

  Gordy shook his head, “That’s all we need. Someone told me that there is a French monoplane which has a gun firing through the propeller. Once the Germans get that then we will be like dead meat.”

  “There may be a weakness with the monoplane.”

  I looked at John. He was the quiet type who rarely said too much. “What do you mean?”

  “The reason we have two wings is for stability and strength. I wonder how they would cope with an inverted loop. We know we can do it but I wonder if they could.”

  “You might be right.”

  Gordy suddenly burst out. “Did I hear right? You fired the rear Lewis over Sharp’s head?”

  I nodded, “It gave us a better angle. The lower one has the same trajectory as the observer’s gun. It just means you have a better chance of hitting something.”

  “How did you work that out?”

  I confess, I didn’t know and I just shrugged, “It just seemed to make sense to me.”

  Gordy nodded, “Well I may try that.”

  I noticed something else today. “When we landed I saw that the German bullets had gone through metal. They are steel jacketed. It explains why we suffer so much engine damage. We will have to watch out for the attacks from the stern. We need to keep the Germans in front. If we do then we have a slight chance that we might actually win.”

  Chapter 24

  The last week in April was, mercifully, quiet. Perhaps we had hurt them more than we knew for we observed unhindered by the enemy. I heard that the Germans had launched an attack towards Ypres but we were not involved. That would come later. Lieutenant Campbell did his penance and he did see some action when the major was asked to patrol further south, towards the French Sector. I saw the bullet holes in the aeroplane. When he climbed down from the front cockpit I saw him running his fingers over them. He now knew what a gunner had to do.

  Contrary to what the major believed the mechanics managed to repair the F.E. 2. We had many spares from previously wrecked aeroplanes. When the replacements arrived I was summoned, along with Lieutenant Campbell to the major’s office. I had never seen the major as serious as that day.

  “Lieutenant Campbell, you will never know how close you came to a court martial. Your actions were reckless. In addition you disobeyed orders. I am of a mind to let you fly with Lieutenant Harsker again but before I do so I need assurances from you that you will obey orders but, more importantly, I need to know if the lieutenant will fly with you.”

  I saw the look of horror on Campbell’s face. His eyes pleaded with me. In all conscience I could not refuse. How could I, a groom’s son from Lancashire, ruin the career of an obviously gifted airman?

  “He can fly with me sir, if he obeys orders.”

  The relief was pitiful, “Oh I promise I will obey orders, thank you both.”

  The major nodded. “Then get a good night’s sleep. You have the dawn patrol.”

  As we headed back to our quarters he was like a puppy which had been naughty. “I know you were right sir and when…” He stopped me and faced me. “I thought we had enough firepower to destroy them. I had heard that you have shot down balloons and aeroplanes….”

  “And if a sergeant could do it then a gifted pilot like you would be able to shoot down even more.”

  He hung his head, “Captain Dixon said that you were an uncanny shot and the coolest gunner he had ever met.”

  “That is very kind of the captain but remember this, Lieutenant Campbell, our job is easy compared with the poor sods down there around Ypres. They have to advance through mud and barbed wire and face many more machine guns. Our job is to win the war and make life easier for them. It is not to put little marks on a blackboard. This is not a public school and you are not going for the headmaster’s prize!”

  I went into my room without another word. I had said enough.

  The quiet ended the next day. The major summoned all of us to the briefing room. “Gentlemen, the Germans are attacking Ypres and they have used poison gas!”

  We all gasped. When I had been in the cavalry we had laughed at the thought of having to wear gas masks. I still remembered trying to get Caesar’s mask on. I was grateful he had been spared a gas attack. Now the unthinkable had happened the Boche had used that despicable weapon. It was not war it was murder.

  He waved his hands to quieten us. “As you might expect they have made advances against both the French and ourselves. Tomorrow morning we are going on a bombing raid against their lines of communication. Unlike our last raid we will not be flying as a squadron but as flights. We need to cause as much disruption behind their lines as possible.” His gaze seemed to settle on Lieutenant Campbell. “You will have no protection from enemy aeroplanes. When you have dropped your bombs then use your guns to disrupt the reinforcements the Germans will be sending up. I do not need to tell you of the importance of Ypres. Enough brave Englishmen and Canadians have died there already. Let us not waste their efforts. The armourer is taking the bombs out to your craft as we speak. Your Flight Commanders have all used them before.” Again he looked at Lieutenant Campbell. “Listen to them and heed their advice about how to use them effectively.”

  As we were walking out I turned to my two wing men. “They will be affixed to the outside of you aeroplanes. Your observer will throw them from the aeroplane towards the target. Now we only have four each and we should not waste them. Follow me in but wait to see the effect of my bombs. If mine have not done the job then you drop yours. Hold your bullets until the bombs are gone unless, of course, we are attacked by German aeroplanes.” I could see the intense concentration on both of their faces. I smiled. “It is not as hard as it sounds. You do not need to dive to release the bombs but your observer needs a good eye to hit the target. The railway lines are the easiest target. If we destroy the rails then they cannot reinforce the front. It is as simple as that.”

  I realised that Charlie was also a virgin when it came to bombing. I had an idea that he might be quite good at that. He had a mathematical mind and that helped. He was looking in some trepidation at the bombs being fitted.

  “Don’t worry Sergeant Sharp, you can get rid of them over the German lines.” The armourer grinned as he w
ent to John’s aeroplane. I went to the rack and pulled the first bomb from its mounting. “See, just give it a tug and it comes off.” I fitted the deadly projectile snugly back into place. “Here are the maps.” I had circled the first target in red and written number one next to it. The others were similarly marked. “That is the order we will strike them.” He nodded but still looked worried. “I have done this before. So long as you have us lined up over the railway I can tell you when to drop the bomb.”

  He looked a little more relieved. “Right sir.”

  It took time to fit all of the bombs but I was pleased that both observers and pilots watched with rapt attention. Gordy and I left to wander back to the mess. “I have heard we have some mail!”

  “Excellent.” That brightened my day. It had been some time since we had had letters and it was always good to hear from home. My letters always made me feel more secure as though the world was still as I had remembered it. Mother in the cottage and my sisters all working at the big house. I could picture my dad quietly seeing to the horses and it made all the death and destruction somehow worthwhile.

  Gordy had two letters and I had two. We sat in silence and read them.

  The first one was a short one from my mother.

  February 1914

  Dear Bill,

  Just a short letter I am afraid. Your dad was over the moon with his pipe and tobacco. He was really touched. It came a fortnight ago. Thank you for my photograph of Princess Mary. Your dad made a frame for it and it is over the fire with the photograph of you in your uniform.

  The reason it will be a short letter is that our Alice has come down with something and I have to look after her. Albert is still desperate to join up but he is listening to your dad and still working for his lordship.

  I pray that God continues to watch over you.

  Your loving mother,

  xxx

  It was short but welcome for all that. The fact that they appreciated the presents was not a surprise. I did not know she had a copy of the photograph. Major Burscough must have given it to her. He had had the photograph taken when we had first arrived in France. I was secretly pleased. I like the way I had looked in the photograph.