drsid
08-05-2013, 21:48
Excerpt from "Over the Trenches," doctoral dissertation of Ian Calloway, Ph.D. Candidate, Harvard University, 2012:
Aside from numerous training flights as a cadet, one of Singh's first missions appears to have arisen out of odd circumstances. Though he does not delve into details in his journal, it appears that Lt. Temple found himself ill on the day that he was tasked with a surveillance flight over St. Caronne. Though within German territory, it was expected to be a relatively simple mission. Photograph the village and return home. Rather than abandon the mission, it was somehow tasked to Singh. Captain Sharpe, commander of B Flight convinced Major Harper and Captain Wallace that Singh was up to the task.
According to Singh's journal, and archival records, the mission was eventually successful, but not as easy as was anticipated. Lt. Temple's Hanriot, prepped and ready was to be flown by Singh. It is unclear why he did not take his own plane, a Sopwith Camel. Though certified on the Hanriot, he would be much more comfortable in his own plane. Again, neither Singh nor available records address this issue. Needless to say, Singh took off from Hawking Aerodrome on that cool October morning. Using a dense layer of clouds as initial cover, he eventually left the the protective blanket and made way toward St. Caronne. Apparently, trouble arose to meet him rather quickly as he saw German fighters flying toward him. I would note that he colorfully refers to them in his journal as "Benchod Hun," which I will leave to the reader to translate. Notably, he does not focus on the specific planes flown by his adversaries, but records from the RFC archives indicate that he was engaged by a Fokker Dr.1 and an Albatros D.Va.
102600
Singh elaborates on his first encounter with the "Benchod Hun." He saw them in the distance, beyond the village of St. Caronne. His fingers reached for the trigger of his machine gun and one can imagine the toothy smile of anticipation on his face. This would be his first fight. His chance earn a kill. His thoughts, however, also went to the village below him. He had a specific task. Pictures of the the village. Realizing the enemy would have to wait, he dove toward the village straight as an arrow. With thoughts on the quickly approaching German patrol, he began his aerial reconnaissance.
His photography was interrupted by the chatter of machine gun fire and the tap-tap-tap against his wings and fuselage. In his journal, Singh quite poetically compares the tap of gunfire to the drops of monsoon rain on a metal shed in his native Indian. Of course, the poetry is juxtaposed by curses toward the Germans.
102601
Singh apparently realized that discretion was the better part of valor. Rather than attempt to engage the two Germans in a plane that was not his, Singh decided to make for the dense cloud cover. The "Benchod Hun" continued to follow, peppering his plane with more shots. In turn, Singh threw a few desultory shots their way, but remained focused on the objective: Home!
The Germans pursued him to the edge of the cloud cover. Their well-aimed shots tearing into wings and fuselage. Singh reported that he offered a prayer that his plane didn't catch fire as he finally made his way into the dense clouds. When he eventually emerged, he grinned to him self as he realized he had lost his advesaries. They were flying back toward the village, perhaps believing he would double back.
102602
Singh notes in his journal, and RFC records confirm, that he barely managed to land the devestated Hanriot at Hawkinge. The only saving grace ... the precious information he had managed to collect.
END.
OOC:
For a first mission this went fairly well, though, I wasn't sure Singh would make it home. He was torn about as he took pictures and on the return journey, while only managing a random shot himself. The focus was on getting the pictures and getting out.
Singh's Hanriot took 13 points of damage.
The Fokker took 0 damage.
The Albatros took 3 points of damage.
Aside from numerous training flights as a cadet, one of Singh's first missions appears to have arisen out of odd circumstances. Though he does not delve into details in his journal, it appears that Lt. Temple found himself ill on the day that he was tasked with a surveillance flight over St. Caronne. Though within German territory, it was expected to be a relatively simple mission. Photograph the village and return home. Rather than abandon the mission, it was somehow tasked to Singh. Captain Sharpe, commander of B Flight convinced Major Harper and Captain Wallace that Singh was up to the task.
According to Singh's journal, and archival records, the mission was eventually successful, but not as easy as was anticipated. Lt. Temple's Hanriot, prepped and ready was to be flown by Singh. It is unclear why he did not take his own plane, a Sopwith Camel. Though certified on the Hanriot, he would be much more comfortable in his own plane. Again, neither Singh nor available records address this issue. Needless to say, Singh took off from Hawking Aerodrome on that cool October morning. Using a dense layer of clouds as initial cover, he eventually left the the protective blanket and made way toward St. Caronne. Apparently, trouble arose to meet him rather quickly as he saw German fighters flying toward him. I would note that he colorfully refers to them in his journal as "Benchod Hun," which I will leave to the reader to translate. Notably, he does not focus on the specific planes flown by his adversaries, but records from the RFC archives indicate that he was engaged by a Fokker Dr.1 and an Albatros D.Va.
102600
Singh elaborates on his first encounter with the "Benchod Hun." He saw them in the distance, beyond the village of St. Caronne. His fingers reached for the trigger of his machine gun and one can imagine the toothy smile of anticipation on his face. This would be his first fight. His chance earn a kill. His thoughts, however, also went to the village below him. He had a specific task. Pictures of the the village. Realizing the enemy would have to wait, he dove toward the village straight as an arrow. With thoughts on the quickly approaching German patrol, he began his aerial reconnaissance.
His photography was interrupted by the chatter of machine gun fire and the tap-tap-tap against his wings and fuselage. In his journal, Singh quite poetically compares the tap of gunfire to the drops of monsoon rain on a metal shed in his native Indian. Of course, the poetry is juxtaposed by curses toward the Germans.
102601
Singh apparently realized that discretion was the better part of valor. Rather than attempt to engage the two Germans in a plane that was not his, Singh decided to make for the dense cloud cover. The "Benchod Hun" continued to follow, peppering his plane with more shots. In turn, Singh threw a few desultory shots their way, but remained focused on the objective: Home!
The Germans pursued him to the edge of the cloud cover. Their well-aimed shots tearing into wings and fuselage. Singh reported that he offered a prayer that his plane didn't catch fire as he finally made his way into the dense clouds. When he eventually emerged, he grinned to him self as he realized he had lost his advesaries. They were flying back toward the village, perhaps believing he would double back.
102602
Singh notes in his journal, and RFC records confirm, that he barely managed to land the devestated Hanriot at Hawkinge. The only saving grace ... the precious information he had managed to collect.
END.
OOC:
For a first mission this went fairly well, though, I wasn't sure Singh would make it home. He was torn about as he took pictures and on the return journey, while only managing a random shot himself. The focus was on getting the pictures and getting out.
Singh's Hanriot took 13 points of damage.
The Fokker took 0 damage.
The Albatros took 3 points of damage.