by Griff Hosker
“Flight Lieutenant Cartwright I need you to command the Bristols. Can you manage that? Answer me honestly. There is no shame in admitting that you aren’t ready.”
He gave a thin smile, “No sir, the Squadron Leader’s death hit me hard but I can cope sir. Thank you for your patience.”
“We have all been there, Flight Lieutenant. Until we get a replacement you will be Acting Squadron Leader. It will look good on your record.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I was on the radio as soon as they left to inform Sir John of the events. He told me that he would be up to see me in the next day or so. It seemed a little ominous. However, he was able to confirm that Baghdad was now secure. We had broken the back of the revolt. Now we had to end the threat of the Turks.
I had seven Snipes to take to Mosul and five Ninaks. The rest would remain at Kirkuk. They would be repaired and could be used to patrol when they were ready. I had two days to find and destroy the aeroplanes which now posed a threat. A Vernon could be knocked from the sky by a Halberstadt!
We landed at noon. Woollett and Williams were awaiting me when I landed. I had told them that they should not take off before I got there.
“Henry, David, I want you to take your aeroplanes and clear the high ground and land as far as the river. Bomb the bridges if you have to. I don’t think the Halberstadt will bother you there but it doesn’t matter if they try. I shall be high in the sky waiting for them. It is Jack who is the bait. Five Ninaks will seem like a tasty morsel.”
Squadron Leader Williams said, “Sir, make sure you get the bastards. They killed four young men yesterday!”
“I will, don’t you worry. They will pay!”
As I led my six Snipes up into the sky I thought back to France. That was the last time we had done this. Then the enemy had been German pilots. They were good. These Turks had never fought in a dog fight. They would be overconfident, having attacked aeroplanes which could not fight back. I knew that the pilots would be itching to get back and repeat their success. I had worked out that they were using a radio in either Faysh Khabur or Kahnik. I suppose we could have gone over the river and bombed their field; it had to be close. However, I was aware of the trap that Squadron Leader Barnes had fallen into. They would have guns waiting. The Count knew the vulnerabilities of aeroplanes.
We climbed to ten thousand feet. It took over twelve minutes. We would descend much faster. Importantly we would be dots to the Halberstadt. They would not have the time to climb. I watched the Ninaks as they bombed first, Faysh Khabur and then Kahnik. Jack did a good job. After they had dropped their bombes he strafed them. I hoped he had hit the radio. I watched as he began to head home and I put the stick forward. I was gambling. I saw the seven Halberstadt as they raced from the north. They were well below us and the sun was behind us. The Turkish pilots would be keen to hit the Ninaks. The Turks were also using the sun. The difference was that Jack knew they were coming. His gunners would take out their Lee Enfields and give them a shock. There was little chance of them bringing one down but it would concentrate the attention of the Turks and they would not see us.
We flew in two lines of three with Acting Squadron Leader Ritchie as a backup in case we missed. I did not think that we would. Jack was leading the Turkish fighters towards Mosul. The Turks would expect that. It bought time for us to be able to attack. I saw the machine gun fire on the leading Halberstadt as he opened fire. He was lucky and one of the Ninaks was hit in the tail. They were a well-made aeroplane. I had told my pilots to hold their fire until they could not miss. I was the only one with dog fight experience. If they fired too soon they might run out of ammunition. We were travelling faster than the Snipe had ever flown. Dropping from ten thousand feet to almost ground level built up speed. The Snipe was very agile and responsive. I began to pull back on the stick and then I cocked both Vickers. I lined up on the rearmost Halberstadt.
The pilot made the error every new pilot made. He did not look in his mirror. Once you had been in combat you developed a tic, constantly flicking your eyes to the mirror. He did not move and I waited until I was a hundred feet from him and then I fired. I used a ten second burst. That was more than enough. My bullets stitched a line along the fuselage and then into the pilot. There was no armour behind his seat. The aeroplane plunged to the ground. The second Halberstadt had not seen the fate of his companion. I fired a longer burst and I shredded his rudder. He turned to see who had hit him as his aeroplane went into a death spiral. This time someone did see and the next two began to climb.
Simpkins took one and Marshall took the other. Their Snipes were much faster. They had seen me and they waited until they were just fifty feet from their target. It was their first kill and they could not have had an easier one. Simpkins’ bullets hit the fuel tank and one of them exploded. That left three Turkish aeroplanes. Their pilots had heard the explosion. They gave up all thoughts of taking out the Ninaks and they went in three different directions. I followed the leader. He was the best pilot. I saw the evidence of that as he climbed, banked and twisted at the same time. It was good flying but it was futile. My Snipe was both more manoeuvrable and faster. I had fought and killed better pilots. I closed with him as he headed back to Turkey. He made the mistake of trying to out climb me. I could reach five thousand feet in under five minutes. It would take him thirty-eight minutes to reach the same altitude. I waited until I knew that we were over Turkey and I was just thirty feet behind him. His twists and turns had been in vain. I had one Vickers which I had not fired. I opened fire and kept firing as two hundred and fifty rounds tore through his rudder, fuselage, pilot and engine. The Turkish aeroplane spiralled down. I, lazily, followed it. I saw that the fates had decided to take it home and I watched as it plummeted to crash in the middle of the Turkish airfield. I turned my Snipe and headed home. I saw that only Snipes were in the air. My pilots had destroyed the other two. The Halberstadt threat was over.
My pilots were waiting for me at the border. I pointed south and I led them back to Kirkuk. I got on the radio and spoke to Mosul. I told them that the Halberstadts were all destroyed and that I would be returning to Kirkuk. Jack came on the radio to tell me that all of his pilots and Ninaks were safe. He was heading home too. The Turks had abandoned Faysh Khabur. The invasion was over.
When I landed at Kirkuk word must have got around about our victory for every pilot, mechanic and rigger was there to applaud us. I had claimed another three victories but my men had destroyed the other four. That was the day when they realised they were fighter pilots. There was something different about shooting down an enemy aeroplane rather than dropping bombs on houses and strafing infantry.
Sergeant Major Hill looked more like a proud grandfather than a fearsome N.C.O. “Sir, can I salute you. Three aeroplanes destroyed in one engagement. I have never heard the like! You will be getting a bar for you V.C. I daresay!”
I shook my head, “They were Great War relics flown by fanatics.” I nodded towards Ritchie, Simpkins and Marshall who were being lauded by their peers. “But I wouldn’t say that in front of those lads. I was proud of them today. They followed orders. They were as good as any of the pilots I led in the big one.”
Sergeant Major Hill nodded, “Aye sir. They are the future but you showed them what us veterans can do!”
There was a party atmosphere in the mess that night. With Kirkuk safe, the Turks retreating and seven kills for the squadron, there was every reason for celebration. Jack sat with me after we had finished the meal and had broached the port. “You are still not happy, are you sir?”
“No, Jack. Sheikh Mahmud is still there and Count Yuri Fydorervich is still alive. I won’t be able to sleep nights until he is dead and the Sheikh is under lock and key. Until then this land is still not pacified.” I smiled, “But I am pleased that today worked out. You didn’t mind being bait?”
He laughed, “We were in no danger. My gunners still had a few rounds left and the Ninak is a tough bird sir. Between you and me I think
that the men in Squadron Leader Williams’ squadron panicked just a little when they were attacked. The Ninak is faster than the Halberstadt. Had they dropped to the deck and headed for the airfield they would have been safe. The squadron leader has more inexperienced men in his squadron than the rest of us. They will learn.”
“And we have a visit from the Air Vice Marshall in the next couple of days. I don’t think there is anything sinister in it but let’s make sure that he can find nothing wrong with the base.”
Jack shook his head, “Sir, this is not even your base! It was Squadron Leader Barnes’!”
“For all his faults, he was one of us. We owe it to Sergeant Major Hill, Sergeant Major Shaw, Acting Squadron Leader Cartwright and every man in the squadron to present them in the best light.”
“Yes sir.”
Chapter 15
To be fair everyone pulled their weight. Every aeroplane was repaired. All evidence of the battles around the airfield were eradicated. It was as though every man wanted to show our leader that we might have been bloodied but we had not been beaten. Sir John arrived three days after our aerial battle and he came in a Vernon. He was accompanied by a second Vernon. He had his staff with him. He beamed when he strode over to me, “Splendid victory. There are many at the Ministry who want to give you another gong!”
I shook my head, “There are others who deserve that sir.”
He nodded, “Mr Balfour said that you would say that. Make four or five recommendations and I will see that they are given medals. This could have been a shambles but thanks to you and your squadrons we came up smelling of roses.” He waved his hand around the airfield. “I know how hard this was. Lord Palmer was eulogising about you. If he had his way you would be knighted!”
“Sir!”
“I know, Harsker but that is what people are saying about you. Now we need to deal with this Sheikh Mahmud. That is why I am here. The Turks have given up. This was their last throw of the dice. His Majesty’s Government wishes to bring Sheikh Mahmud to book. We don’t want to lose more British soldiers to take Sulaimaniya and so we have devised a strategy.” He pointed to the second Vernon. “There are some delayed fuse bombs on board that and they are part of the plan.”
He had me intrigued. I wondered what they had in mind.
He turned, “I will inspect the field, they will expect that and then you and I will go and visit with Lord Palmer. He wishes us to dine with him. Tomorrow will be time enough for our briefing.”
That was fortuitous. I had known that Sir John was coming but I had not known when. He would have expected a decent meal. We could now give him one! A day later than might have been expected.
Sergeant Major Hill had accommodations for our guests. As we climbed into the cars the Resident had sent for us Sir John said, “Shame about Squadron Leader Barnes. Many people felt that he had potential. He was well connected you know?”
I nodded and did not voice a reply. He was wrong but he did not know the man. He was going on hearsay and what his friends had said about him. Professionals who knew him had seen his flaws. They had died with him but I wondered, as we headed through the bombed streets, how many more Barnes were out there.
Lord Palmer had had time to clear and clean the area around the Residence. It looked as though it had just had a little minor damage. I had seen it from the air with bullet holes and broken windows. He shook Sir John’s hand first. “Sir John, your arrival was timely. Were it not for you and your airmen then I think the League of Nations would have had a serious problem.” He turned to me and grasped my hand in his two, “And you, dear fellow! Those medals you wear were truly earned. My sister had no fears when things looked darkest for she knew you and your chaps were out there. Come along. Let us go inside where it is cooler!”
This time it was Sir John who was the guest of honour and he was placed between Lady Isabel and her brother. Colonel Pemberton was on the other side of Sir John. I guessed the three would discuss the strategy for holding on to Kirkuk. The doctor was to my right.
“How is the wound, Wing Commander?”
“It is Bill. You did a good job Doctor. I have picked up a few wounds in my time.”
Lady Isabel sipped her sherry, “You wouldn’t expect to get such a wound normally, Wing Commander.”
“No, Lady Isabel but aeroplanes are not always as reliable as you might think. They often break down. In the Great War that often meant landing behind enemy lines. That is why I always carry a range of weapons in my cockpit.”
She laughed, “You are a resilient and surprising man, Bill. Your wife is a lucky woman.”
“I don’t think she would agree with you there, your ladyship. She has to stay at home and look after two young children. I am missing them growing up. And, missing all the mischief they get up to.”
“You wouldn’t be able to have them posted here with you. That would be far too dangerous.”
“It would indeed, Doctor. How was it here before the Sikhs arrived?”
“You were right about them coming at night. None of us got any sleep. His lordship issued guns to everyone.”
Lady Isabel laughed, “I hadn’t fired a gun since I was a young woman back in the nineties. I have to say I found it fun. I am not certain I hit anything for we were firing in the dark but I felt I was doing something useful rather than just holding soldiers’ hands and saying, ‘there, there’.”
“Nothing wrong with that your ladyship. My wife was a nurse and it is how we met, in hospital in London.”
The meal, under the circumstances, was excellent. It was enlivened by our conversation. The Doctor was an interesting man and he was coming to the end of a career in which he had served the Empire in its far-flung outposts. He pointed to Colonel Pemberton, the commanding officer of the Sikhs. “I served with the Colonel when he was just a Captain on the North-West frontier.” He shook his head and laughed, “In those days he was as mad as a bucket full of frogs! He once dispersed a riot with his sword. Led a dozen chaps with bayonets fixed and charged two hundred Pathans. I don’t think they believed what they were seeing. Now he is someone who has dedicated his whole life to the Empire.”
Lady Isabel said, “As have you, John.”
“No, Lady Isabel. This is my last posting and I go back home next year to Yorkshire. I have a home there close to the Yorkshire Moors overlooking Whitby. The Colonel will go back to India. He won’t go back to England.”
“Why ever not?”
“He had a wife and children. They were stationed with him. While he was in the hills chasing Afghans, a flu epidemic swept through the fort and his family died. When his two brothers died at Ypres that was the end of any hopes or thoughts he had of returning home. He will die in India.”
I looked at the Colonel. When I had taken him up in the Ninak I had wondered at his fearlessness. Now I understood. The Colonel saw death in uniform as a vindication of his life.
In the car going back Sir John said, “You are a surprising man, Wing Commander. It was inspired to take the Colonel up in the Ninak. He is a bit of a dinosaur but you showed him the potential of the aeroplane. I think you breathed a little bit of life into him.”
“Nice chap sir.”
He nodded, “Now we have a plan to end this Sheikh Mahmud’s revolt, once and for all. We are going to give him one more chance to make peace with us. We have sent one of his chaps with an order to come to Baghdad peacefully.”
“One of his chaps, sir?”
He nodded, “That is why I was talking to the Colonel. The Sikhs captured forty or fifty Kurds the other day. One of them was the Sheikh’s nephew. We are sending him back with the order.”
I had a sudden thought, “Did the prisoners say anything about the Count?”
“You seem obsessed with this fellow but yes they did. Apparently, the night you bombed his home and car he was with Sheikh Mahmud at some sort of feast or orgy. I confess I didn’t go into too many details. Seemed a little sordid to me.”
We had rea
ched the airfield and I said, “Nightcap in the mess sir?”
“Good idea. I still have more to tell you.”
It was late and they were clearing the tables. However, the sight of two senior officers who wanted a drink halted that. The sergeant steward poured two large whiskies and his face told me that he hoped it would just be the one. “You can go off duty now Newton. I will turn off the lights.”
“Are you certain sir?”
I nodded, “Go on. I insist.”
Sir John held up his glass, “Cheers!”
“Cheers.”
“Just as well really. What I have to tell you is for your ears only. I personally do not expect Sheikh Mahmud to comply with our orders. I know London and Baghdad think he will but this fellow wants power. We are going to order him to come to Baghdad and account for his actions. He won’t turn up. What I want you and your wing to do is this. When he does not show up you will drop an ultimatum from your aeroplane. At the same time, we want your bombers to drop the delayed fuse bombs we brought around the town. They will go off at six hourly intervals. Twenty bombs will make him realise what will happen if he continues to refuse.”
I sipped my whisky, “And if that fails, sir?”
“You have even less faith in his word than I do.”
I shrugged, “If Count Yuri Fydorervich is still alive then he won’t allow the Sheikh to surrender himself. He is his meal ticket. I think we need a backup plan.”
“Which is?”
“If he does not respond to the bombing then I go back in and this time destroy his headquarters. I would have done it before but….”
“Orders. I know. Let us take it one step at a time. I will be off to Mosul tomorrow. The Sheikh’s nephew will need a couple of days to take his message to Sulaimaniya. I would like to see how things are in Mosul. I want you and your wing to scour the country and eliminate any pockets of Turks and Kurds who are still holding on. The Vernons will extract all the wounded and take them to Baghdad and bring back fresh troops. By then we should know if the Sheikh has agreed.”