(or Nigel's last mission?)
It was very strange to Nigel standing as he was in front of Major Kyte's desk.
Not strange to be standing there as he had on many occasions before, but in the fact that in the chair that for two years had been graced by Major Kyte's posterior, sat Captain Hawkwood. Freshly returned from his Blighty wound leave, and Acting Squadron C.O. since Kyte's promotion to GHQ. he was keen to prove his leadership qualities.
Nigel snapped off a salute. " Good to have you back sir." he said with feeling.
"Thanks' Nigel. It's good to be back. Do take a seat old chap."
So being in command has not gone to his head mused Nigel as he sat down opposite his old friend.
"I take it that you have heard about this Hun Heavy that has been terrorizing the Red Tabs in the Back areas for the last few evenings by knocking seven bells out of HQ." Ginger began.
"Well they have got the bally wind up, and think it might hit something important one of these nights like the local Bordello or the Hunting stables, so they are asking the Bulldogs to put a stop to Fritz and his pranks.
What I want is for you to take up the Bristol Night Fighter that has just arrived from the pool. I will get it up gunned for you as you like it. You are the only chap with experience of night work because of your secondment to that Night Fighter Squadron when you were back in Blighty."
"Leave it with me then sir, I'll give it a go" replied Nigel.
In the pitch darkness over the front he was not so sure that it had been such a good idea.
As the odd searchlight probed the night sky it seemed like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.
He was just about to call it a night when he spotted a vague silhouette in the gloom.
Turning toward it , he was sure that he could see a giant Gotha looming up before him.
Just as swiftly it vanished as if it had never been there. Maybe it hadn't he reflected. Straining your eyes at night could easily play tricks on the retina.
Even the searchlight battery seemed to have given it up for the night.
Just as he was about to give up for a second time for no apparent reason that he could understand, first one searchlight sprang back into life and probed the sky nowhere near to where he thought he had seen the enemy bomber.
As it scanned the heavens it suddenly fixed upon what he had been seeking all evening.
Within seconds a second light bracketed the monster and held it in its beam.
Banking like a madman Nigel sped towards the Gotha at full revs.
As soon as he was within range and fearful that the bomber would give him the slip he opened up on it.
The bomber simply ploughed sedately on in the full glare of the searchlights.
It was not until his third shot that Nigel registered any success and by this time he was receiving return fire from the Huns forward gunner.
As Nigel swung behind the enemy, Chips Woodhead in the observers seat got a few rounds off and was repaid in kind by the rear gunner of the Gotha.
At that precise moment the searchlights went out and both the crew of the "Biff" and the Bomber were temporarily night blinded.
Picking up where they left off desultory fire was exchanged between the two protagonists without either getting a clear idea poof the others position.
Finally Nigel to his consternation found that he was almost up the bombers chuff, and opened up just as the enemy rear gunner replied. This time Nigel's fire was telling and a small lick of flame wrapped itself around one of the engine pods of the Gotha.
No need for searchlights now Nigel surmised as the flames illuminated the bulk of the aircraft before him.
The down side was that in avoiding a crash into the tail of the Gotha he had now over flown his target.
As the Gotha continued to burn rather fitfully, he stalled the Bristol in order to fall back into an attacking position again.
Meanwhile Chips continued to pump away and succeeded in wounding both the pilot and forward gunner. Also the fire started to smoke.
In the dark Nigel's stall almost caused the bomber to collide with his tail this time.
Incoming rounds from the Gotha now damaged the Bristol and the controls went haywire, before the German's gun jammed. Chips' return was also cut short by an empty drum as he returned fire to no real noticeable effect in the dark.
Pulling an Immelmann, Nigel almost lost Chips over side as he struggled to reload his gun, but pulling up managed to draw a bead on the Hun and get off another few rounds before he again swept past.
Then suddenly the Gotha found the clouds. For an instant Nigel could see a spark from the burning engine, but that too seemed to have extinguished itself. The chase was over as swiftly as it had begun.
Quest as he might he could not re make contact with the Giant, and as his fuel started to run out he switched onto his reserve tank and made his way back to the Drome.
What he could not know, was that with two crew including himself wounded, and his engine badly damaged by fire, the Gotha was on its last legs anyway.
In order to get it home, the pilot had to jettison his bombs and nurse his ailing aircraft gently back to its airfield. one Giant that would take to the skies no more.
The Butcher's Bill.
Nothing at all this time.
Rob.
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