Ares Games

Lt. S.Kafloc

Chapter 5: Revenge for the fallen

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Chapter 5: Revenge for the fallen

Major Mullen explained to Captain Maclaren the importance of the reconnaissance photographs that Corps Hq required again. “Now Captain, Corps need those photographs as they are suspicious of activity reported by the French just to our south. They have information that the Hun is building up supplies in their rear area just behind the front line opposite Corps area”.
“I know sir, but we’ve had this before and its turned out to be a red herring”.
“Not this time. Any way Corps has ordered a photographic recon mission and it’s our turn. Now if I know you’re unhappy with young Howell being replaced by Uncle but he’s no novice at taking pictures you know. Been there, done that and got the gong to prove it. Now off you go and no dilly dallying, see you in the mess when you get back. I’ll ask the mess steward to keep some bacon and eggs back and they’ll be nice and fresh for your return”. With nothing more to be said Captain Maclaren saluted and left the Co’s office.
As usual Biggles was there to see his friend off. “Good hunting Mac”. “See you when I get back Biggles and make sure you leave some bangers for our return!” With a wry smile Mac proceeded to the hangar to complete his pre-flight checks and to make sure ‘Thirty’ understood exactly what their mission was. He didn’t want this young fire-eater getting himself into trouble. He was to fly over the target areas low, straight and level so ‘Uncle’ could take the photographs that Corps needed. ‘Thirty’ nodded in agreement and ‘Uncle’ gave him a gentle tap on the shoulder and with a wink they climbed into the ‘Harry Tate’ as Mac climbed into his camel. Thumbs up, ‘contact’ and both engines roared into life. Smoke and vapour from the cold engines clouding into the cool February air. Mac thought to himself this was a good morning to fly, cool, crisp and no rain.
They climbed to 12,000 feet and headed south away from the target area. Mac would signal when they would make their turn over the German rear area and slowly descend to take their photographs. Mac would remain above and behind to provide cover if need be. It would be a long flight over enemy territory but in the event of an overwhelming attack both planes would dive for the cover of the allied lines, circle and try and repeat the process until ‘Uncle’ was satisfied.
Back at the airfield Biggles was worried about his friend. He had flown a lot of missions during the last month and the strain was beginning to tell. He would have a word with the CO to try and get Mac a spot of leave, a break would do him the world of good. Little did Biggles know but the CO was worried about all 4 of his flight commanders, they all needed a break!
Mac waggled the wings of the camel and turned left. The RE8 banked with him if a little slower. ‘Uncle’ waved back at Mac by holding his arms out and waggling them, imitating Mac; Mac waved and smiled and pointed down. ‘Thirty’ was slowly losing altitude as they crossed the German lines whilst ‘Uncle’ prepared his glass plates.
10 minutes later they were approaching the sector Corps wanted photographs of. ‘Uncle’ had already studied his map and pointed in the direction he wanted ‘Thirty’ to fly. Mac eased his throttle back and settled in, to the rear and a good 1,000 feet higher.
What Mac hadn’t seen until it was nearly too late, were the two Albatross scouts diving out of the sun towards them.
‘Uncle’ and ‘Thirty’ were unaware of the drama unfolding behind them and continued with their task. ‘Thirty’ throttled back as ‘Uncle’ tapped him on the shoulder. Deftly changing plates ‘Uncle’ had taken 3 when he tapped ‘Thirty’ again, the signal to go faster to the next target. ‘Uncle wondered why ‘Thirty’ hadn’t turned round but thought he must be concentrating on looking for the landmarks.
The archie round exploded without warning right under the nose of the ‘Harry Tate’, pitching the aircraft violently upward. ‘Thirty’ gave ‘Uncle’ the thumbs up. Everything was ok but neither of them had spotted the enemy anti-aircraft battery.
Mac threw his camel in to a tight right turn and took the two Albatross’ head on.
OberLeutnant Hans Wiencke and his wingman Feldwebel Alfred Ulmer were pleased with themselves. They had the two allied planes were they wanted. They were surprised with the sudden turn of the camel as the pilot had given no prior warning that he had spotted them. Perhaps the morning sun was not bright enough to have hid them from view totally. Wiencke had already committed himself to an overdive to attack the 2 seater. Ulmer nodded and made ready to engage the camel.
Mac had to use the excellent turning radius of the camel to bring his plane around behind both of the Hun planes. Both Albtross’ were concentrating on the RE8.
Mac, throttle to the full, opened up from long range.
The Albtross turned quickly and gave Mac a long burst. Mac watched in horror as flames started licking alongside his cockpit, immediately threw his plane into an over dive to put out the flames. Meanwhile ‘Uncle’ was busy taking a lead on an Albatross as he watched it close in from behind.
Ulmer could feel more bullets ripping through the wooden framework of his plane as the camel, flames shooting along its length dived past him.
‘Thirty’ was still keeping to the plan, weaving from one target to the next, happy that ‘Uncle’ was doing the business of taking pictures and keeping the enemy off his tail. ‘Thirty’ could see Captain Maclaren hurtle past in his over dive.
Mac saw a shadow pass over his diving aircraft and a quick glance upwards revealed an Albtross going after his charge.
The RE8 rocked again as two archie blasts exploded near to the aircraft but caused no damage. ‘Thirty’ smiled, things were going ok.
‘Thirty’ could hear the lewis in action as he tried to hold steady for ‘Uncle’ but not too steady to give the Hun pilots a clear shot. He could feel enemy bullets thudding into the RE8 airframe behind him.
Mac, the flames now out, had turned quickly and climbed. He could see the Albatross fire into the RE8 as he engaged from long range but his bullets missed.
The two German pilots had lost sight of each other and both collided with each other causing minor damage.
Having sorted themselves out the two Germans entered the attack again. Mac closing in from the rear was able to fire another burst into the blue Albatross. He could see ‘Uncle’ firing from the RE8 but then his lewis stopped but to Mac’s amazement just slumped down and did not attempt to unjam or reload. Perhaps he was getting ready for the next photograph run.
Mac’s plane rocked as it was buffeted by 3 explosions. From different directions he had been targeted by hidden archie batteries. There were two large holes in his port upper and lower wing surfaces and smoke was belching out of his engine cowling.
‘Thirty’ had banked the RE8 away from the Albtross scouts and Mac fired at the blue Albatross again.
The two Albatross were now closing the range as Mac threw the camel round to keep them off the RE8.
Mac watched in horror as the red Albatross hammered round after round into the rear of the RE8. The fuselage around the rear compartment was shredded. ‘Thirty’ was thrown forward banging his head on the airframe. Blood was pouring down his head and shoulders. Although he couldn’t feel it he knew he was badly wounded, blood was everywhere. He decided to cut and run and dive for home.
Mac watched his bullets slamming into the red Albatross with relish.
Mac could only watch as the two Albtross lined up for the kill as ‘Thirty’ had banked left and headed for the safety of the allied lines. Suddenly out of nowhere an SE5 burst into the closing formation and the Hun scouts were unable to fire at the RE8. Mac and the Se5 pilot fired together and the blue Albatross spun earthward.
Mac opened up at the red Albatross and flames burst out of the engine cowling. The SE5 not happy to let the RE8 be fired on again had banked across its tail. The tracer from the red Albatross found their mark and smoke began to trail from the SE5’s engine.
The red Albatross veered off the right and the SE5 signalled to let it go and concentrate on getting the RE8 home.
Biggles watched the camel from a distance. He could also see an SE5 flying next to it, keeping parallel. The camel was in trouble, very badly damaged from the look of the flapping canvas on the wing surfaces. “Get the doc, get fire extinguishers”. Biggles roared to his ground crew as he ran to the landing field. The SE5, with less damage, landed first with 1 bump and rolled to a stop. The pilot leapt out of the cockpit and ran to watch the ailing camel struggle to clear the boundary hedge. The camel just folded. Biggles watched in horror as the plane flown by his friend just folded up and ploughed into the ground. No fire, no explosion just a cloud of dust and debris then silence. Everyone had stopped to look then their training took over as they sprinted to the end of the landing field. Mac was still strapped in his chin on his chest but Biggles could see he was still breathing, shallow, but breathing nonetheless. Major Mullen brought the doctor in the squadron car.
It was some 10 minutes before the doctor was satisfied it was safe to move Captain Maclaren. “He’ll live sir. But he’s broken both his legs and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has cracked some ribs.” Major Mullen nodded, then turned to the SE5 pilot. Before he could speak Biggles introduced him s Captain Wilkinson of 287 squadron. “You know him then Biggles?” “Yes sir Wilky did you see an RE8? Mac and the RE8 were on patrol together”. Captain Wilkinson relayed to the gathering crowd what had happened since he came to the rescue of the RE8. When he finished he turned round and was surprised to see ‘Thirty’ standing in front of him. “I thought it would be alright, sir. Mac and ‘Uncle’ would look after him and he was a good pilot, wasn’t he, sir?” Biggles didn’t say anything. He walked to the mess and shut the door. He walked over to the mess members board. “Will they be wanting their breakfast now their back sir? Heard the engines, eggs are nearly done and I’ve put an extra rasher of bacon on for them”. Biggles didn’t hear. He removed the name cards of 2nd Lieutenant John Howell and Captain Roger ‘Uncle’ Harris and put them in his pocket. The mess manager was still inquiring as to whether he should serve breakfast or not as Biggles left the mess.
Captain Roger Harris 1877-1917.
Born in Lancaster in 1877. Roger’s parents, Hetty and Graham owned a bookshop in Lancaster and helped their only son through University not a stone throw from their modest house. Roger took up a minor teaching job in Lancaster before being drafted into the army in 1914. He was selected for officer training and re-joined his regiment, XXth of foot The Lancashire Fusiliers in January 1915. He fought bravely in the trenches until he volunteered and was accepted as a pilot/observer in the Royal Flying Corps. He was promoted to Captain in July 1917, after being mentioned in dispatches 3 times, and being awarded the Military Cross.
2nd Lieutenant John Howell 1899-1917
John was born in Oldham. The eldest of 4 children, he volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps after seeing a flying display at Manchester. A friend commented that John said he would rather fly into battle than walk as he had bad feet. For guiding his crippled aircraft back over friendly lines and trying, unsuccessfully due to wounds, to land safely John was awarded the military medal posthumously.

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Updated 10-20-2015 at 15:15 by Lt. S.Kafloc

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