23 Attachment(s)
Mission Nine "Gun Ho" 52 Sq.(The Bulldogs).
The whisper ran through the hanger where the mechanics were gathered, even before the Staff car bearing away Ernest Able had passed through the perimeter gates.
"Kytey and some Red Tab are back from HQ with some new secret orders for the Squadron."
Yes! The Squadron grapevine was still in full working order.
MISSION 9 OVER THE TRENCHES.
GUN HO!
For once Major Kyte’s blackboard was conspicuously absent of names as we trooped into the briefing hut that morning. Not even the names of pilots due for that morning’s duty were to be seen on its surface.
Kyte began immediately the last pilot entered the hut.
“Right chaps I have a very important mission for you today. I have received orders directly from General Trenchard’s A.D.C. that we are to scrub all patrols until further notice. What I am about to tell you is strictly hush hush and must not go beyond these walls.
The Allies are about to make a big push in the Gullet Forest area, but somewhere behind their support trenches the Germans have established a large howitzer which is playing havoc with our supply lines.
Our squadron’s job is to identify the position of this gun by photograph, and then send in a couple of bombers to knock it out. In order to cover more ground each flight will take a sector each to investigate. The forward observation posts have narrowed down the areas in each sector to four possible positions. Your job is to escort a Harry Tate which will photograph these areas and then return to HQ. so that the back room bods can identify the actual position of the Big Bertha. The Harry’s will then arm up and go back and bomb the cr*p out of the area.
I will now hand you over to Captain Darling from GHQ. Who will brief you more fully on our options.”
“Good morning gentlemen!
We have a series of decisions to make about this mission. As we have only two RE8s available, do we A. Leave the photographs out of the equation, and take no rear gunners along so as to be able to carry enough bombs to hit all four targets with the element of surprise. Or B do we carry out HQ’s suggestion and do a photo recon first, thus alerting the Huns to the fact that we are about to mount a raid. If this latter, you can be assured that they will either attempt to get the gun away, or beef up the defences before we arrive.
Knowing that the Eagles Jasta is in the area, we can expect them to field at least one more aircraft than we can get into the air, plus a couple of Archie batteries for the actual bombing run.
If you opt to recon first, you will need to decide how many aircraft to use. Remember that two RE’s can do the work with less exposure over enemy territory, but may be hard hit in the process. Although any superficial damage can be repaired between raids whilst the photos are developed and aircraft are re arming, there will not be time to repair any special damage if we are to get back with our bombs before the Huns can re-deploy the gun elsewhere.
So if you send both RE’s on the first mission you may not have any serviceable machine for the second. Although I only expect minimal ground fire on the recon, we know that they have two Archie batteries at the very least in the vicinity which they can have in action by the time the bombing run starts.
The Jasta will undoubtedly be in the air whatever decision you make.
To this end you will each have a Scout aircraft assigned to escort each of the RE’s. In the event of a Scout being lost on the first mission, a replacement will be found from another squadron for the bombing raid.
Any questions?"
"No!
That is all then gentlemen. Good day."
OPERATION BIG BERTHA or GUN HO!
The reconnaissance.
The three aircraft approached the lines with Hawkwood leading the two RE8s. And almost immediately they had to lose altitude as they neared the first objective.
Attachment 52951
Unbeknown to the two crews of the Harry Tates they had already been spotted by a flight of four aircraft from Jasta Raban who were covering the lines for just this eventuality.
Attachment 52952
Just as the first of the photographs were taken the four Hun machines dropped onto the sixes of the Harrys. Hawkwood was too far in advance to help and both observers were busy taking photographs to man their guns.
Attachment 52953
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Fortuitously the first fusillade from the Germans Spandaus did no damage,
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and by the time shots were starting to tell Hawkwood had performed an Immelmann and was meeting the aggressors head on with both guns spitting lead, whilst the Harrys were attempting to sideslip out of the line of fire from the Huns, and the observers were starting to return the compliment.
Attachment 52956
The first ranging shot jamming the ailerons of an unknown Jasta 18 pilot who’s guns had already jammed in the first exchange.
Meanwhile in an attempt to get to grips with Hawkwood, Kurt Monnington collided with another unknown member of the Jasta.
Attachment 52957
Whilst Ginger inflicted severe engine damage and set on fire the Pfalz of Hans Muller.
Attachment 52958
The first of the RE8s, meanwhile, was taking his second photograph completely unmolested by any enemy aircraft.
Attachment 52959
Having completed his part of the mission he banked and turned for home only to run directly into the path of two enemy scouts at once.
Attachment 52960
Things now started to happen thick and fast.
His forward fire ignited the engine of the D.V. with the gun jam whilst the incoming fire from the second D.V. caused its guns to jam as well.
Hawkwood now delivered the coup de grace to Monnington by falling upon his tail and sending him down with a well placed burst.
Attachment 52961
The Harry now took some fire from the burning D.V. in front of it as they passed.
Attachment 52962
And its return fire wounded the pilot.
Attachment 52963
After another burst from Hawkwood it went down blazing.
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Hawkwood and his cohort now dodged any last desperate fire from the Jasta and made for the lines with three successful photographs taken.
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A last desperate attack from the furious blazing machine of Jasta 18 wounded the tail gunner even as he returned fire and damaged the engine of the perusing Hun.
Attachment 52969
As they crossed the lines they recoiled in horror as the fire finally took down their daring adversary, who wounded by the fire leapt from his blazing coffin rather than be consumed in the conflagration.
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The outcome of the mission would be determined once the photographs had been developed.
The Butcher’s bill so far.
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Attachment 52973
Hawkwood. Two enemy aircraft despatched. No wounds. Returned to drome.
Nigel Bouncer- Smythe. Two photographs. Woodhead wounded. Returned to drome with no serious damage. One enemy aircraft crashed in tail chase shot down by "Chips" Woodhead.. Unknown pilot killed.
Lt Farmer and Dodgeson. One photograph. Returned to Drome with no serious damage.
Kyte.
