November 15th 1916.
The CO. of 52 Sq was in a right strop, which was unusual for him as he was normally a very placid man. At the end of a very trying period during the Somme offensive, he had just been informed that Fredrick Kyte, his Senior Flight leader, had been retained by Home Establishment for another Month. Now fully recovered from his wounds, he was to accompany Cpt. Albert Ball on a morale raising tour around the aircraft construction works in England before returning to active duty next month.
Then a call for all squadron aircraft to go on some hair brained OP, when all the front line aircraft were in various stages of repair was the last straw.
He concluded his briefing with a testy remark, and the glad tidings that the now obsolete DH's would have to be used for this OP. and also the only remaining Gunbus to make up a full squadron.
"In Kyte's absence, McKendrick will be acting Senior Flight Leader, and his place as B Flight Leader will be filled by van Der Maren with Bumble as his wingman. That is all gentlemen." With that the CO spun around on his wooden leg, and stumped out of the Briefing Room back to his Office.
By the time Piet van der Maren got B Flight airborne, one of the DHs had failed to start, and another was wrapped around a small tree in the boundary hedge, having failed to gain enough height to clear it.
Things steadily went downhill from there.
Well over the lines into enemy territory the pair of aircraft broke through cloud cover, to discover the rest of the Squadron in a life and death confrontation with an overwhelming number of superior enemy machines.
Two DHs were going down on fire, and the Gunbus was already a blazing wreck on the ground.
Deciding to give the beleaguered Bulldogs some respite, the South African waggled his wings at "Buzz" Bumble and then fired a red very light. The signal to break off the attack and head for home.
As one,the two DH's immediately Immeled and headed away from the melee.
As he had hoped, looking over his shoulder van der Maren saw about half a dozen enemy aircraft break away to follow them.
With the enemy in hot pursuit, he headed for the nearest cloud-bank, drawing the Huns even further away from the main action.
Both DH's entered the cloud just before the enemy got within striking range.
As the enemy followed through the cloud, Piet and buzz cleared the far side performed a banking turn and headed back towards the unsighted enemy.
The ploy was even more effective than Piet could have hoped for as the Enemy ploughed onwards unsighted, and they caught a lone straggling Halberstadt trying to keep up with its swifter brethren.
Ripping into the Halberstadt from both flanks the destroyed half of its control surfaces and set it on fire at the first pass.
Buzz took some rudder damage in return, but round one certainly went to the DH2s.
Unaware of the damage to Buzz's aircraft, Piet now banked away from the burning Halberstadt and was hoist by his own petard when another German plane emerged from a cloud and chewed up his rear end.
Van der Maren took sanctuary in another cloud and rapidly changed his drum of ammo, whilst the rest of the enemy searched in vain for the elusive pair of Britishers.
Behind them Buzz re emerged and crept up on the Halberstadt which was still burning and twisting about trying to put out the fire.
He was, however, attacked from the side by another cream coloured Halb, which although taking some damage set Buzz on fire.
At that very moment both pilots guns jammed.
Piet was also in trouble as the superior numbers of the Germans started to tell.
With two machines on his tail he was very luck that one got far too close and the second still concerned with the fire failed to get a decent bead on the DH and fired wide.
Following instructions, and on fire, Buzz made for the lines in a series of side swings to try and keep the flames from consuming the doped canvas of his aircraft.
The Halberstadt was also still on fire.
van der Maren now had a stroke of luck. Coming out of a pre planned Immelmann turn he caught the blazing Halb head on.
Piet's machine gun barked, and the pilot already wounded, collapsed over his joystick. The now faltering engine took his aircraft down to earth in an ever steepening dive.
Seconds later and Piet was faced by the second Halb. Another quick burst was all it took to send him down to join his comrade.
As he turned away Piet was caught by a long shot from a marauding Albatros which jammed his steering for a few minutes.
Jinking across No man's Land, still burning Buzz attracted the attention of the German flack batteries stationed along the front lines.
Unluckily for him he took a near miss which wounded him in the neck.
He was able to just regain the Allied side of the lines before the fire finally brought his machine down.
The accumulative toll on Piet's DH had also been severe, so as yet another Albatros homed in upon him he ducked into another cloud.
The enemy followed him in.
He did not shake his pursuer, but by judicious use of an overdive at least he was to far below it for it to be able to fire at him. He also dodged the German Archie who had fired far too high.
As the Albatros pilot dived after him, van de Maren skilfully banked out of reach of the German's guns once more.
It was now the Hun's turn to come under fire from the British Archie.
Two near misses which damaged his engine made him think twice about following the DH into Allied territory.
He swung around in a last ditch attempt to bring Pete under his guns.
Still at one altitude of range difference he was unable to get a shot off.
His labouring engine now prevented him from closing on the DH any further.
Reluctantly he gave up the chase, and made for his lines accompanied by a final salute from the British Archie batteries.
Reluctantly Piet nursed his stricken aircraft back to base, wondering if Kiwi Buzz had made it, and if he would himself live to greet Kyte on his return in a month's time. Lord only knew what he would have to say about the loss of his DH. He did not think that McKendric, would be very enthusiastic about the condition of his own machine, which he had loaned to Piet for the mission.
The Butcher's Bill.
52 Sq. Bulldogs.
2nd Lt. Peter van der Maren. RTB. two kills. Aircraft one hp remaining.
2nd Lt. George "Buzz" Bumble. FLM WIA FT.
Kaiser's Eagles.
Two SD. Four RTB.
Rob.
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