OTT Early Doors Mission 2 - Change of Tactics - Early February 1916 (WWIflyingace)
In was the dead of winter; many of the men were ill but we still had missions to fly. My aeroplane was in the hanger where Sergeant Moulton and company were busy adding a Foster mount for the Lewis gun. So it seemed logical to our CO to call on me to fly escort.
I was unfamiliar with the Vickers, but looked forward to the opportunity. A new comer to the squadron Jace Bradley was to be my gunner. Another pair of newcomers pilot Finn MacCoul and his gunner, Conlen Auandee, would be flying the other Vickers. The BE2 was being flown by my friends Job Runnells and John Alden.
After the brief we went to our aircraft. The newbies were jittery to say the least. Jace was the youngest of our band; that was the biggest reason I chose him to be my gunner. Also, Jace rhymed with Ace and I was feeling like a kid with a name like that was going to make me one.
“Well Jace, you ready to drop a Hun?”
“You sir!” came the quick, crisp reply.
I gave a thumb up sign to Runnells and Alden and they nodded in return. Then I stepped over to talk with Finn and Conlen.
“You two okay?”
“We’re fine sir; looking forward to the flight.”
I nodded, “Remember to keep your eyes open and stay in formation. Do that and we’ll all get home safely.”
“We will sir.”
We mounted our respective aircraft and were off.
The mission going in was flawless. We encountered a stay enemy scout here and there, but they weren’t up to tangling with three of us on their own. A few shots to ward them off proved more than enough to keep them at bay. We got our pictures and we on the way back home when things started to get interesting.
Jace yelled back to me, “I thought we’d be harder pressed sir. Those Eindeckers… I mean.”
“I know what you mean Jace, but the Eindeckers aren’t the scourge of the skies like some supposed. They really aren’t that good a machine; hence the ease at which we brushed them aside!”
Before Jace could reply I saw Runnells waving frantically our way then pointing. I looked and spied two Eindeckers vectoring in on our position.
“Get ready Jace we’ve company, and these guys look like the mean business.”
Jace cocked the Lewis and wheeled it towards the oncoming Fokkers. I noted that Finn was piloting his aircraft straight at the Fokkers.
We closed quickly.
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The fire from both sides was intense! Both Fokkers keyed on the BE2. Conlen, John and Jace all fired at the same time. I could see the bullet trails from Jace’s gun as it traced along the Fokker cutting the cables and causing its port wing to separate.
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The second Eindecker continued on past the BE2 straight at us. Jace continued to fire.
“Short aimed bursts!” I yelled.
Meanwhile Finn had turned and was coming in of the Eindecker’s starboard side. As close as we were I couldn’t help, but see the pilot riddled with bullets.
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He pulled an Immelman, trailing a thin whisp of smoke, in an attempt to escape. We flew side-by-side for a while. I tried to signal him to surrender, but he wasn’t having it.
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Finn continued his turn and Conlen riddled the poor German. The poor chap was dead before his plane started down.
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To say the least we had three plane loads of very happy men. Jace would not stop talking about how he took down the first Fokker shooting it wing off.
Once we landed I listened to Conlen go through his thoughts on the encounter.
"When that green devil flew past I just fire and then cranked the gun hard to starboard as he turned back toward us. It were a bit too easy."
I leaned toward Finn, "That was a nice piece of flying to set up that shot."
Finn smiled, "Thank you sir."
"Alright gentlemen, today you earned a round on me," I declared.
"Here, here came the hearty reply."
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Originally Posted by Teaticket
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