The story so far....
RFC
Sgt Ray Stokes P Sgt Billy Marshal Ob F2B 'Q'
2nd Lt Paul Garnet P Sgt Sam Burton Ob F2B 'R'
Lt Jonty Gresham( DGC1) Ace Spad
Eagles
Fwbl Gustav Schumm P Ltn Oswald Schroeder Obs Rumpler
Vzfwbl Alfred Luer P Ltn Franz Werner Obs Roland.
The ground crew gathered round the 2 giant bombers.
Final checks were made before the crew climbed aboard to begin their long flight across the Channel to their target. London.
Engines fired up and the 2 leviathans lumbered down the grassy runway eventualy gaining enough lift ,allowing them to climb slowly towards the waiting fighter escort.
With dawn breaking the 4 planes turned towards the French coastline hoping that the low cloud would hide them. However they had not counted on the new listening device the Boffins at HQ had come up with.
They were detected some 60 miles from the port of Calais.
The Bulldogs , or at least 6 of them were at the RFC replacement depot airfield at Boulogne , having driven there in Jonty's new set of wheels. Ron Curtis had flown there in his replacement Spad . A couple of new 2 seaters fighters that someone had given the nickname of 'Biff's' had been allocated to them and they were keen to try them out.
Shouting from the Main office made Jonty put down his glass and slowly walk towards the wooden shack. He could clearly hear the Captain as he approached.
"Bombers you say, German passing over Bethune that's only 30 miles away. Are they heading for us?"
" Don't think so Sir", came the reply " Looks like Calais or even England " the Corporal's voice trailed off.
Jonty spun around and dashed back to his car and fellow pilots.
" Time to try out those new crates chaps, Couple of big bombers heading for Calais or Blighty but if we get a move on we can cut them off here." He pressed his finger on the map "Saint Omer, Easy to spot with all those railway lines and only 20 mins away.
The flight needed no further encouragement as they headed for their planes..........................
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