1916 Angels over the Somme (British Ace Book 3) (10 page)

“I think I hit the ammunition, sir.”

“Well done.  Let’s go and pick up the boys and machine gun them on the way home.”

After collecting the three Gunbuses we dived down to attack the woods.  The explosion had cleared some of the ancient trees and there were fires burning. We came in at a shallower angle.  I fired straight ahead while Hutton sprayed to the right. There was no return fire.  We had shaken them a little. It was good for the young pilots to have such an easy target. No one was firing back at them.  They could concentrate on hitting their targets.

I kept us low as we zoomed over the front line.  I risked a waggle of the wings and a wave.  I knew that they would have heard the explosions in the woods and I wanted their morale boosting. Out visit had made me realise how important were such tiny victories.  We would have no Waterloo in this war!

We landed and awaited the others. Lieutenant Dunston looked a little happier. “I say, sir, that was fun.” Sergeant Hutton had just checked over the aeroplane and he nodded as he came by. “Sir, where did your Sergeant get the bombs he dropped?”

I smiled, “I never ask.  It seems wiser that way.”

Lumpy looked at the young lieutenant, “Why sir? Do you fancy dropping a couple yourself?”

He grinned, “Perhaps my gunner eh?”

“I’ll have a word sir.”

“Thanks, Sergeant Hutton.”

After he had wandered off Dunston said, “When those guns opened up I became worried.”

“Why is that?”

“Well they seemed like artillery pieces and I was worried what would happen if they hit us.”

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that, Peter.”

He brightened, “Why not sir?”

“Because if they hit you then you would know nothing about it for you would be dead.” I mimed an explosion, “Boom!”

As I made my way to the headquarters I noticed that there appeared to be a crowd outside and the ambulance we normally used for injured pilots and gunners was parked there. I looked around but could not see any damaged aeroplanes. In fact, even as I looked, I heard the hum of the rest of the squadron returning.

When I reached the office I said to Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery, “What’s up Flight?”

He looked distraught, “It’s the Colonel, sir, Doc Brennan says he has had a heart attack.” I made to go into his office but Lowery restrained me, “I think he has all the people he needs in there right now, sir.”

“You are right.”

Archie joined me and I filled him in before he asked. “I thought the old boy wasn’t looking too clever lately.  He spends too long worrying about us all. It must be hard sending young lads off every day and watching them get killed.”

“And it will remind him of his son.”

“Aye, I’d forgotten.”

“He seemed a little pensive the other day when we went to the trenches.  I put it down to the emotion of the place but perhaps he was unwell then.”

Randolph came out. “Well he is not at death’s door any more but Doctor Brennan wants to send him back to Blighty. I think the Colonel’s war just ended. It looks like you will be in charge, Major Leach.”

We were still sat in the colonel’s office an hour after he had been taken away in an ambulance.  Doc Brennan had spoken to us briefly but he accompanied the colonel to the base hospital.  “I am afraid that I am more used to dealing with wounds than heart disease but I think I did enough to give him a chance.  I don’t think he will be returning, certainly not in the near future.”

Archie summed it up best, “He deserves some time in the sun.  He owes this country nothing.  God Bless him.”

We had toasted the colonel with the last of his own whisky.  It seemed appropriate somehow.  We knew that the rest of the squadron was on tenterhooks.  They had only seen the ambulance drive away and knew nothing of the events.

Captain Marshall addressed Major Leach, “Sir, I think, until Headquarters gets in touch that you should assume command.”

“Aye, well I suppose that won’t be a problem.”

“Will you still fly, sir?”

I thought he was going to explode. “Too bloody right I will! You don’t think I am past it, too, do you?”

“No,” said Captain Marshall, patiently, “but the day to day running of the squadron needs more than just me.”

“Sorry, Randolph you are right.” He sipped his whisky, “We will need another Flight Commander.  Anybody in mind?”

“It’s a frightening thought sir but the most experienced are Holt, Sharp and Carrick.”

“Good God you are right. Who would you suggest? You know the three of them better than anybody.”

I thought back to the conversations I had had recently with Johnny and Freddy.  They were still too idealistic. “Charlie Sharp would be the best choice.  He knows the Gunbus inside out and he never flaps.”

“You are right.  Since he has been my wingman I have had no worries about being jumped. What about the other two?”

“If you move Johnny Holt to your A Flight he will be a good number two for Charlie and I will keep young Peter.”

“Seems a good idea.”

Randolph coughed, “Sir, without being too Machiavellian, it strikes me that if we promoted either Ted or Gordy to Captain then it would pre-empt an appointment by Headquarters. The last time they dumped Garrington-Jones on us.”

He looked at me and I thought that he was going to ask my opinion again.  I would have had to decline had he asked me.  They were both good friends of mine.  I could not choose. “Gordy, I think and you can have Ted’s flight with yours.  It will balance things out.”

We all nodded and I breathed a sigh of relief.  I think it was the correct decision but I was just pleased that I did not have to make it.

“And now sir, you had better tell Headquarters?”

“Quite right, Bill, go and tell the squadron what has happened to the colonel and then bring in Hewitt, Sharp and Thomas.  We might as well keep them in the picture.”

It was a pleasant late afternoon and most of the pilots and sergeants had eschewed the messes and were lounging on the grass. When I came out most of them stood.

“Can I have your attention please?” They looked at me expectantly. “The Colonel has had a heart attack and Doctor Brennan has taken him to the base hospital.  He looks as though he will survive.” There was a cheer which I allowed to subside, “However he will not be returning in the near future.  We will carry on as normal in his absence.”

There was another cheer.

“Major Archibald would like to see Lieutenant Sharp, Thomas and Hewitt in the office now please.”

I smiled as I saw the confused looks on their faces.  Sharp looked like a naughty boy who has been sent to the Headmaster. I let them all wonder what this was about.

I tapped on the Colonel’s door, “Come!” We entered. “Sit, down.  Get a chair from Randolph’s office if there aren’t enough.”

I sat down and waited for Archie to begin. “I have just been on the telephone and spoken with Brigadier General Trenchard. He sends his commiserations to Colonel Pemberton-Smythe.  He has confirmed me as commander of this squadron.”

“Well done, Archie!”

“Thank you, Bill. It seems the reputation of 41 Squadron means that they do not wish to rock the boat. They are also keen to build on our success.  The general is sending someone tomorrow to chat to me about operational procedures for the rest of the offensive.  We are getting another eight pilots and Gunbuses by the end of the week.”

Everyone looked pleased at that.  “Now that will mean some reorganisation. Lieutenants Hewitt and Thomas, you have both been promoted to Captain.” He must have seen my expression.  “It was the general, Bill.  He thought we needed more officers of the rank of Captain if we were to have more aeroplanes.”

“Don’t get me wrong sir, I am delighted.”

I could see that Charlie looked confused. Archie soon put him out of his misery.  “Lieutenant Sharp you will be the new Flight Commander for A Flight. You are now First Lieutenant.  Better get the other pip on your shoulder. Eventually you will be promoted to captain.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t thank me, it was Captain Harsker’s suggestion.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You deserve it Charlie.”

“I will continue to fly but my second in command will be Bill here. Until we hear from this base wallah tomorrow we will assume we carry on the same as before.”

“You realise, Major, that you will not be able to fly tomorrow.  You will have to meet this colonel.”

“Dammit, Randolph, you are right. Well, Bill, it looks like you lead tomorrow. Well you chaps had better go and tell your men. Oh Charlie, Lieutenant Holt will be joining A Flight.  You had better tell him.”

“Sir.”

It was a hectic hour I spent with the Major and Captain Marshall. I had far more to think about than I had when I had taken off that morning. Our mission the next day was another bomb run, escorting the new Martinsyde bomber. It was, at least, faster than the BE 2. This time, however, we would be flying further.  Our target was the marshalling yards around Bapuame. It was deemed to be more cost effective than trying to bomb the road crossings.

That evening at dinner, we talked shop. I made sure I was sat with the other Flight Commanders.  “It should be easier tomorrow.  The Martinsyde can get out of there quicker than a BE 2.”

Charlie looked as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t.  “Come on Charlie, spit it out.”

“Well sir, it’s just that we will be travelling further over enemy lines. They will jump us and with their increased speed then we might struggle.”

“A good point.  How about this, we use the stack system.  If we keep one aeroplane as low to the ground as the pilot can manage then the Hun can’t come from underneath us.  Well not without risking a crash.”

Ted stubbed out his cigarette and said, “That takes good and steady flying.  Who do we get to do that?”

“Why us, of course!  If our flights are stacked up in front of us then they will have to take us on first.  We are the best four pilots in the squadrons and I know that our gunners are red hot.  The advantage we have is that we will be flying over flat ground and most of the trees have gone.”

“We still have ground fire to contend with.”

“I know Ted but I want every aeroplane to carry a couple of Mills bombs.  Make sure they have long fuses for when we drop them over the German lines.  If the leading aeroplanes drop them then by the time we four are over the gunners they should be keeping their heads down.”

They seemed happy enough but I now began to have serious doubts. In my head it had seemed like a workable plan but when I gave it voice it didn’t.

You would have thought that the promotion had been given to Sergeant Hutton from his walk to the aeroplane.  He just said to me, “No more’n you deserve, sir. Now we’ll show them!”

“Let’s just do what we always do Lumpy and try to get through the day.”

“You’ll see, sir.”

I was at the rendezvous early. I needed to make sure that everyone was in position. Charlie had a great deal of responsibility.  He had four aeroplanes under his command.  I hoped he would not become daunted by the task.

The Martinsyde Elephant was a fine aeroplane but there was no gunner.  The pilot had a machine gun just behind his right shoulder.  I could see why they needed an escort. They might be faster than we were but they were even more vulnerable to an attack from the rear.

We took up our positions.  I was to the south and Gordy took the north. He would have more aeroplanes at his disposal but I would have the more experienced pilots. I knew that Charlie was extremely nervous. I saw him constantly looking around at his new charges. In contrast Lumpy was humming and singing all the time.  My elevation to second in command appeared to have had an effect on him. 

The Germans had positioned more anti-aircraft guns behind their lines and they put up a fierce barrage.  One of the bombers exploded, I suspect the bombs themselves were hit, while a second was forced to turn back when it suffered a major hit to its wing.  The closer we got to the railway the worse it was.  The Martinsydes were flying as high as they dared but it must have been terrifying for the pilots to endure that wall of steel through which they flew.

The marshalling yards were a bigger target than the crossroads and they went in three lines to maximise their effect and minimise their time over the target. Even so when Lumpy spotted the Fokker biplanes I knew that this time would not be as easy as the first escort duty.

“Arm your weapon.  We’ll take them on now rather than waiting for them to get here.” I signalled to Ted who flew his flight next to mine.

“Sir, it looks like there are two squadrons of them!”

I was going to have a baptism of fire. Young Dunston would have to fend for himself.  We would have no time to watch over the combat virgin. This time the Germans had come prepared.  They were higher than we were and they were in four arrows.  We were outnumbered. What we would not do was flinch.  We would meet them head on. I cocked my Lewis.  Idly I thought that I might ask the armourer to fit a second Lewis for me. I was not sure how it would affect the weight but the firepower would give us a distinct advantage.