by Griff Hosker
I pointed to the tents being erected by the airmen. “It will be cold showers for a while I am afraid, Bates.”
He had wandered off chuntering. We had more pressing problems. There were no air defences here at the new field. We were also closer to the front than we had been. If the Germans found out where we were they could make life very unpleasant for us. When Archie called us to the mess tent for a briefing I had a head full of questions and suggestions.
“We are here to stop the Germans spotting what we are up to. There will be an offensive and our job is to stop the Germans realising that. We have been brought in because we are a new factor. The Germans do not know where this field is and they do not know that we are here. They mainly have the BE 2 and Gunbus up here so, hopefully, your aeroplanes should come as a shock to them.” Randolph wandered around handing out maps. “Here are the maps of the area north east of Ypres where we will be patrolling. Passchendaele will be the area we are trying to take and so we need to have a perfect picture of the land around there.” He paused and took out his pipe. “Any questions?”
“Should we see if we can spot the German fields; unless someone has already done that?”
Archie and Randolph looked at each other, “That may tip the enemy that we are around.”
“Begging your pardon, Major, but if we are flying over Passchendaele then they are going to know that they have new neighbours. I was just thinking of finding out where their fields are and then we would be less likely to be surprised.”
I could see the two of them were struggling for an argument against that. “I could just take the Camels over for a look see. We are fast, we can fly high and they may take us for Pups.”
He had no argument for that. “Very well, Bill and Ted can take the rest of the squadron over the land to the north east of Ypres and photograph it.”
I took Freddie and Johnny to the corner of the airfield so that we could pore over the maps in relative peace. “When Lumpy and I escaped through northern France last year we passed to the east of here. We saw airfields between us and Ypres. I think that means that they will be as close to Ypres as we are.”
Freddie nodded. “If we come from the south then they may think that we are from a different sector. If we come from the west they will look for our airfield.”
“That’s a good idea. We have two and a half hours endurance. If we fly south for fifteen minutes to gain altitude and then cross east and head north we should be able to reach sixteen thousand feet and just be dots in the sky.”
“How will we see the airfield then?”
“Simple Johnny. There will either be parked aeroplanes or buildings and tents with a runway between them. Basically we look for green!”
The three Camels left before dawn. I had no doubt that there would be German listening posts along the front and they would report aeroplane engines heading south. I used the compass and my watch, now replete with a secured lock of Beattie’s hair, to navigate. After fifteen minutes I turned east and flew for two minutes. We had managed to climb to the correct height and the guns which fired at the sounds from the German trenches were ineffectual. I suppose it made them feel better having shot at an enemy.
We turned north and I saw a faint glimmer in the east. It was dawn. There was little point in peering beneath us for it was still too dark to see. Our height gave us protection but also hid the ground from our eyes. Had we been a regular observation flight we would have been a failure but we were not. We were looking for one target and I estimated that it lay five or ten minutes ahead.
At this time of year dawn came quickly and, as I glanced down, I saw that I could see the fields and buildings which lay to the south and east of Ypres. I risked descending a little. The other two were behind me a little and to my left and right to give us the best opportunity of spotting any fields. On my lap I had a map and a pencil was jammed into my helmet. As soon as I saw something below which corresponded with the map I put a dot on the map. I knew that the other two would be doing the same.
I could see, to the west, Ypres. The ground below had nothing big enough for an airfield. Then the houses began to thin quite quickly and I saw an open space. We were too high to make it out and we had to descend. I had hoped to make the sighting from altitude but the light was too poor for that. I took out my watch as we descended; we had been on this course for sixteen minutes. We were north of our field. I smiled when my fingers brushed the lock of hair. Somehow it made me feel safer. It was silly I know but it helped.
When we reached three thousand feet I saw that it was, indeed, an airfield. There were huts and there were aeroplanes. It looked to be a double Jasta. I marked it with a double X. I raised the nose and continued north. I intended to see what there was further north. If the new German organisation had been put in place here then there should be another double Jasta. Three minutes later we saw it. It was much easier to spot because we were lower. Another double X went on the map. I knew we probably wouldn’t see another field but I continued north for ten minutes. It was more a ploy to deceive the Germans. After I had reached that leg I turned west and towards the coast for five minutes before I was able to turn south and head for the field.
After we had landed I went to the tent which Randolph was using. I had the three precious maps. By cross referencing all three of them we were able to place the position of the two German fields and the four Jastas accurately. Archie shook his head, “I don’t like that one bit, Bill. Four to one are not good odds.”
“There are four more squadrons of our own close by.”
Archie shook his head, “They are either reconnaissance aeroplanes or Gunbuses. The Germans will have them on toast.”
“Then we will have to be the eagles and hunt them. The Germans did that with us. Let’s turn the tables.”
Archie began to fill his pipe. “Go on.”
“If Randolph can find out the targets for the observers then we can wait closer to the German airfields and attack them before they attack us.”
“We have to escort the spotters.”
“We use A Flight for that and the other three flights are hunters.”
“You are still talking about odds of four to one.”
“No, because there are just two Jastas on each field. That is two to one. Add in the altitude advantage and the nimble Camel and we might just cause them trouble. They like to get into formation before they launch their attack; they will be over their own lines. Add that together and it means we can cause some damage. They are Teutonic and like to do things in an organised way. We use that as a weapon against them and strike before they are ready. We would be limiting their ability to get into the air the next day. We have the edge over the Albatros. All that we need is for the Gunbus to hold its own. We did that didn’t we?”
Archie was convinced. “Randolph and I will go to Headquarters. I don’t think we can manage a sortie today. Besides the senior warrant officers are still organising the camp.”
“I would put up a flight as an umbrella, Archie. If the Germans decide to investigate where we came from they may come over here.”
“Good idea. Organise it.”
I sent Harry and his flight up first. After they had taken off I said, “Gordy, you go up when he lands and then you, Ted. Let’s try to keep our presence disguised.”
I went for breakfast with Freddie and Johnny. Johnny pointed to the canvas walls of our new mess. “I don’t like this.”
“It is only a couple of weeks.”
“Why just a couple of weeks?”
“I am guessing that the High Command wanted to draw some Germans away from the French sector. The troops around Arras and the Somme have had a tough time of it. This has been a quiet sector for a while and they did blow that hill up and kill ten thousand Germans. It might convince them that this is a major offensive.”
Even Freddie was shocked, “You mean that British soldiers will die and it is for no good purpose?”
I put down my knife and fork and took out my pipe. “T
he generals are different folk from us. They don’t see their fellows having their heads blown off or suffering crippling wounds like Lumpy. They see the bigger picture. It’s like when you were kids playing with your lead soldiers. It didn’t matter how many fell so long as you won. You picked them up after the battle and started all over again.”
“But that is lead soldiers!”
“I know Johnny but the families at home continue to make lead soldiers and the lead soldiers keep volunteering. The generals will keep on using them.”
“God, that is depressing!”
“However the good news is that we make a difference. Not a huge one in the scheme of things but I have visited the chaps in the trenches twice now and I can tell you that their morale goes up when we fight above them and shoot down the German aeroplanes.” I struck a match and drew on my pipe. “It is why I didn’t run when those two Jasta appeared. Always remember when you fight in the air; you have an audience and they are on your side.” I pointed with the stem of my pipe at Johnny, “It is like when you played for the first eleven with the whole school watching.”
He nodded, seriously, “Then I shall make sure I have a damned good innings.”
“Good, just one thing though.”
“Sir?”
“Make it ‘not out’ eh?”
I sought out Flight Sergeant Lowery. “We are a little exposed here Flight. Have the mechanics push the buses closer to the hedgerows and the trees. Let’s try to hide them.”
“Good idea sir. I’ll get Mr Doyle to get some canvas netting to cover them too.”
We wandered over to the resourceful Quartermaster who, like a magician pulled back the flap of a tent and said, “Voila!”
“Where did you get it from?”
He tapped the side of his nose. We had some spare bully beef and I swapped it with some engineers. I thought it might come in handy.”
“Brilliant!”
I watched the mechanics and riggers as they pushed the Bristols out of sight and began to cover them with the netting. “Don’t cover the Camels yet. My flight is cover in case anyone comes over.”
Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery shook his head, “We would have to be extremely unlucky for that to happen. We only arrived yesterday!”
After I had written a couple of letters home I went out to the field to watch Harry land. He had no sooner landed than Gordy and his flight took off.
I strode over to meet him, “See anything?”
“A couple of spotters started west but turned back when they saw us.”
I nodded, “Then we can expect visitors. Get some food.”
“Do you think they will come over?”
“I hope not. We have no defences yet but I think they will need to find us first. It is why I wanted you up in the air. But for you those spotters would have been over here and we would have company.”
I found Ted and told him the news. “Then we had better be ready to get up quickly.”
“It wouldn’t hurt.”
He summoned his pilots and they lined their aeroplanes up on the field ready to take off. I ordered the mechanics to stand by. We could expect Gordy back in two hours. I decided I would send Ted up fifteen minutes before that.
The sound of the squadron car made me turn. Randolph and Archie came towards me. “It seems we are to patrol the Passchendaele area. The Gunbus squadron will also act as fighter cover.” Archie smiled at me, “They did not know that there were four Jastas so close to the front. Well done, Bill”
I shrugged, “If they had sent Gunbuses over to find them then they would have all perished. We know that.” I told them Harry’s news. “Ted will take off in an hour. We should be safe then until morning.”
“The camera buses will be leaving at dawn tomorrow.”
“Then we will need to leave before dawn. I’ll get the cooks to do an early breakfast.”
“And we have been promised another four Camels.”
That news actually made me smile, “Great news sir. I think we should use the best pilots for those. The experienced gunners can help out the replacement pilots.”
“Why?”
“The camel has a few idiosyncrasies and we don’t want new pilots crashing our best buses do we?”
“He’s right Archie. We have lost too many Camels due to pilot error. One of the chums I met at HQ told me that. Most squadrons want the SE 5. It is more stable.”
“Very well. We will ask the others who they recommend.”
We turned quickly as we heard gunfire in the air. I could see a dogfight some three miles away. I heard Ted and his flight start their engines. “Freddie, Johnny, get your flying gear!”
I only had my tunic on but my goggles and helmet were in the Camel. I hoped that they had been rearmed and refuelled. Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery was there himself. “I thought you might want to go up, sir. She’s all ready.”
“Thanks.” By the time I was kitted out Ted and his flight were airborne. “Contact!”
“Contact!”
She fired first time and I roared down the airfield. The other two would need to catch me when they could. I could see that Gordy and his flight were surrounded by swarms of German aeroplanes. Ted and his flight were climbing to their aid. I decided to keep low and gain ground as quickly as I could. I soon found myself below B Flight which was still a mile or so away from contact. I began my climb. I saw a Bristol with flames pouring from its engine as it tried to evade two Albatros. I headed for them. The two Germans were below the Bristol and the gunner did not have a shot. The Bristols were neither as nimble nor as agile as an Albatros and this one was like a fish wriggling on a line.
I was nimble and I was faster than both of them. I opened fire at two hundred yards. I fired a long burst which tracked along the fuselage of first one and then the second Albatros. I saw them peel apart to come after me. They were trying to flank me. I had no doubt they had seen the horse and wished to bag an ace. As I began a loop I saw the wounded Bristol descend and limp back to the airfield.
My two opponents were trying to outflank me and were coming from my port and starboard. When I reached the top of the loop I banked to port and screamed down at one of the Albatros fighters. My extra speed and my small profile made me harder to hit. I side slipped across his front and gave a long burst. I hit his lower wing, then his engine and finally his undercarriage. I continued my turn. He, too, tried to turn towards me but I must have damaged his engine for he had little power.
The second German was heading directly for me. I had one Albatros to my port rear and one directly ahead of me. I started to turn to starboard. The Albatros corrected himself to match me. I flicked the Camel to port and opened fire when he came across my front. He was not expecting that and when he fired it was into empty sky. I felt bullets from the damaged Albatros hit my fuselage and I banked to starboard. The other fighter turned and came at me. I raised the nose and started to climb as he fired. His bullets missed me but ploughed into his colleague. The Albatros fell from the sky.
As I flew over the Albatros I gave a half turn and my airspeed dropped dramatically. The stall speed of the Camel was forty nine miles an hour. I prayed that I was above it as I attempted my first Immelmann turn. It worked and I found myself directly behind and above the Albatros. I was but forty yards from his tail and catching him rapidly. I gave a burst which went from his rudder to his engine. Some of the bullets must have caught him in his back. He slumped forward and the stick sent the aeroplane into a terminal dive.
As I scanned the skies I could see Ted and his flight chasing the remnants of the raid east. I turned the Camel around and headed home.
Chapter 31
Another of Gordy’s pilots had been shot down. It was on our side of the lines and so we recovered the bodies and the aeroplanes. Jim Jenson had not been with us for long but Gordy had had high hopes for him. However two Albatros were more than enough for a seasoned pilot let alone someone with just twenty five hours flying time. We had wounded pil
ots too as well as damaged aeroplanes. As Archie said, when we had all landed safely, “If they had bombed the buses on the ground then we could have lost everything.”
“Gordy, do you think that they saw the airfield?”
He shook his head. All that you could see was a field with white tents around. I couldn’t see any buses.”
“Then the camouflage worked. I think we can expect a hot reception tomorrow.” I turned to Randolph. “How long until the offensive begins?”
“Zero Hour is 3.45 on the 31st of July.”
Archie unrolled a map he had under his arm. He pointed to a spot on the map. “Apparently the offensive began here at Messines Ridge on the 7th of June. It has been consolidated. Now they are going to push here towards Passchendaele. Our job is to stop Germans snooping too close.”
Ted shook his head, “Easier said than done. Today they had two squadrons up… what about tomorrow?”
He was right and we all had an early night to prepare for what we knew would be a hard day. We would need to be on station before the spotters arrived. I had no doubt that the Germans would be there too. We would have to try out my new theory. I just prayed that it would work.
As we took off the following morning I was acutely aware that we did not know this area well. The landmarks we would use were unfamiliar. We had to learn quickly- it was merely days to the offensive. We circled above Ypres while we waited for the two flights of RE 8 aeroplanes which would take the photographs. Although a newer aeroplane than the hapless BE 2 it was still very slow and did not manoeuvre well. As dawn broke, the two seaters arrived. Their leader gave a cheery wave. He was a braver man than I was. If the Germans broke our defensive umbrella then he had little hope of survival. He could try to flee but the Albatros and Fokker fighters we had seen would soon catch him.
My squadron began to climb to a better altitude. There were some annoying clumps of cloud ahead. They made wonderful hiding places for aeroplanes. We had our new formation and Harry and his flight were behind and below us. Behind them were the spotters. So long as they were quick then they might be able to take the photographs the brass wanted. Surprisingly we reached Passchendaele without being attacked and I began to fly a loop above the camera buses. I had taken photographs and I knew how long it could take to satisfy Headquarters. If you did not take the right ones then they sent you back out. You took them until you were chased off.