Mission 13 The Hunter in the skies. 52 Sq Bulldogs.
For once in his life Kyte was uncomfortable in his cockpit. The Sopwith Triplane, which he had been trialling for several weeks, had now been returned to the RNAS workshops for a complete overhaul and refit.
He had resumed flying in his now repainted Spad, which he did not mind too much until his friend Howard de Havilland of 30 Squadron had suggested retro fitting a Lewis to the top wing for extra firepower just as he had done on his own machine.
This was the first time that he had flown the modified Spad, and he was finding a definite deterioration in the way it answered to the controls. Moreover, it was sluggish in the climb, which was going to prove decidedly detrimental in a dog fight. Just as well he was testing it out well behind the lines he mused to himself.
Twenty minutes later, as he was just about to turn for home, he took a final glance around the sky, and was amazed to see another aircraft bearing down on him from the rear and just out of range.
Not waiting to discover if it was friend or foe, he pulled back on the joystick, kicked on the rudder bar and started a turning climb to port.
This sudden manoeuvre brought Kyte face to face with his adversary, for it was indeed none other than the much feared and merciless German Ace Erich von Stalhein, in his new Albatros DIII, looking for another rookie Englander to add to his tally.
However, Kyte's instinctive move caught the German off guard and the sudden exchange of fire was very one sided. von Stalhein cursed as not only did his bullets go wide, but his twin Spandaus stuttered to a stop on this first exchange.
However, one smart smack upon the butt end cleared the problem, just too late to get off another close range shot as the two aircraft sped past each other, so closely that Kyte could see the pure animal hatred written on the face of the man that stared back at him.
Once again Kyte was quicker on the turn, but this time his shots went wide.
Nevertheless, as he closed upon the rear of the Albatros, he got in one telling burst of fire which punctured oil feed pipe. The oil seeping out splashed onto the hot manifold and started smoking.
The furious Von Stalhein now got the drop on Kyte who was so close to the rear of the German’s aircraft that the smoke temporally blinded him.
Banking away the pilot took feigned refuge in a nearby cloud bank.
Re emerging almost immediately, he caught Kyte broadside on and peppered his fuselage before his guns again jammed, more seriously this time.
Attempting to minimise his disadvantage, and intimidate his opponent whom he still took for a rookie, and therefore easy meat, he turned towards Kyte’s direction of attack. Unfortunately for him, Kyte also turned, and thus obtained a prime firing position, raking the side of the Albatros as they passed.
The chase was now on.
Von Stalhein once again utilised the cloud bank to mask him from the Spad’s approach.
By the time that Kyte cleared the cloud von Stalhein had Immelmanned and was racing off in the opposite direction.
Kyte threw his aircraft into a steep turn, wondering if the vibrating wings would take the strain.
At the very limit of the aircraft's structural integrity, he gradually brought the fleeing Albatros back under his guns.
One quick burst, just enough to damage von Stalhein's rudder control was all he managed, before the Ace shook him off once more.
Like a cornered panther the German spun around and catching Kyte on the turn stitched a line of holes along the side of his Spad.
Fortunately for Kyte his turn marched them away from the cockpit rather than the converse.
Both aircraft now broke away, and Kyte took the opportunity to pull down his Lewis and change the drum which was almost exhausted.
Several more minutes of jockeying for an advantage then ensued.
von Stalhein reflecting on the fact that this English pilot was not in fact the Rookie that he had hoped for, decided to try and out fly him, luring him back towards no man's land.
Eventually Kyte managed to cut the chord of the circling protagonists and sent in a devastating fire, only to watch his adversary flick roll out of the stream of bullets without seemingly sustaining any damage.
"Lucky so and so!" How did he achieve that wondered Kyte, as he continued to chase his acrobatic enemy?
“What do I need to do to bring this aircraft down?” he asked himself as yet more rounds missed, and the Albatros slipped into yet another cloud in a genuine attempt by von Stalhein to escape Kyte's relentless onslaught.
This time as he emerged Kyte was not taken by surprise, guessing the Albatros's position correctly, he pounced like a cat after a mouse.
A few rounds entered the Albatros before von Stalhein could react.
Finally the realization that he was in serious trouble brought a cold sweat to the German's brow, and he desperately threw his machine into a steep turn to try and escape.
Kyte was not to be deprived of his prey so easily this time, and Immelmanned instantly.
This brought his guns to bear once more, A few shots more, and even before he had time to remark the jam which had occurred to his guns, the Albatros finally succumbed to his attentions, nosed over gently, and descended into a nearby field catching fire as it did so.
The last Kyte saw as he overflew the wreck, was his erstwhile nemesis being pursued across the field by several farmhands waving pitchforks.
Maybe this Spad is not as bad as I thought he mused. He grinned to himself as he flew back towards the airfield and a welcome G&T.
The Butcher’s Bill.
52 Sq. Bulldogs.
Lt. F.O. Kyte. RTB. One kill.
The Kaiser’s Eagles
Erich von Stalhein. SD. On the run behind enemy lines.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?
If so please contact Col. Raymond Intelligence Division G.H.Q.
Rob.
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The planes looked great and the commentary was exceptional . Nice one Rob and Lt Kyte
Originally Posted by flash
Thats probably even better than "Old age & treachery"! 
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