1917 Eagles Fall (17 page)

The telephone rang. We listed as Randolph spoke to Headquarters. “Excellent news, thanks James!”

He turned to us. Charlie said, “What’s the news Randolph?  The Germans given up?”

“Not quite but the new Bristols will be here in a few days. We only have a couple more days to fly the Gunbus!”

Charlie looked excited.  “And about time too!”

We went back to our rooms to prepare for the next day.  I wrote letters home.  I was mindful of my words to Bert. I could not be a hypocrite and I wrote five letters.  I know our Kath had not written me very much but she was my sister after all. Charlie came along as I was finishing my last letter.

“Still writing Bill?” I held up the four letters I had already sealed. He laughed.  “I just have two: one to mum and dad and one to Alice.” He held them up and I could see how bulky the one to Alice was. “I’ll pop them in the post.  See you in the mess.”

I finished my letter to Beattie.  I had so much to tell her. I knew that she would worry especially as there would be the Arras casualties arriving now. There was no getting around this. We were luckier than most.  Since Tom and John had gone in the early days of the war we had had no telegraphs for the family.  Even the squadron had been spared, recently, the decimation of its pilots and gunners.

The conversation after dinner that night was the performance of the Bristols.  The new pilots and the Gunbus pilots were excited about the prospect of flying a real fighter. Our only bug bear was the lack of a second Vickers. Poor Percy Richardson had been inundated with requests from the Bristol pilots for a second Vickers. He had pleaded with Archie, “The problem we have, Major Leach, is the interrupter gear.  It works for the one gun but the boffins haven’t made it work for two.  We’ll have to wait until someone back in England devises one.”

We had discussed mounting a second on top of the wing but that would not have helped.  The pilot could only fire one at a time and the compass on the Bristol would be affected. We would have to continue with the one gun.

We were lucky the next morning.  We took off on an airfield which was still hard from a late frost. The Gunbuses lumbered up the field.  The fighters, circling in above watched the east.  We had heard rumours of the bold Germans attacking airfields. As Charlie and his flight took formation below us I wondered if this would be the last time they would do so. If the Bristols arrived then we could match the Germans in the area and wrest back some degree of air power.

When we neared our patrol area we started to climb.  Charlie waved at me cheerfully.  He and his Gunbuses would be the rock on which we hoped the Germans would break. I watched the crews as they cocked their Lewis guns.  I wondered if they all carried Mills bombs as Lumpy had.

I checked my mirror and Freddie and Johnny were both in position.  We were a small flight but we worked as a team and I could not ask for a better pair of wingmen. I looked below and saw that the land below me was being reclaimed by British and Canadian troops.  It confirmed that our soldiers had achieved their objectives. We now had to protect them so that it would not have been in vain.

We headed to the Arras to Cambrai road. The offensive had moved east of there and we could expect to find German fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aeroplanes in that vicinity. It was a dull grey day which made it difficult to see approaching aeroplanes.  The visibility was not helped by smoke swirling across the battlefield.

We met the Germans closer to Cambrai than Arras. There appeared to be twelve in the formation and they were high. They were far closer to us than I would have liked. Our two sets of fighters began to move away from the Gunbuses as we had planned and, sure enough the Germans copied so that they formed three lines of six.  It meant that the Pups had odds of two to one but it would not be for long. We were steadily ascending to meet them although the Gunbuses were a little slower to rise.

As we drew closer I saw that they were the Albatros D.III.  They had more power and more guns.  However we had drubbed the Albatros D.II without loss and now had more aeroplanes and experience. We went steadfastly on. There was a noticeable gap opening up now between the three uneven columns and, worryingly we were leaving the FE 2s behind and below us. I was happy that Major Leach was guarding the rear of the Gunbuses.  There was none better.  With him at the rear and Charlie at the front the young pilots in between had a chance.

At a thousand yards I fired and then banked to starboard as though we were fleeing. It had worked well twice before. I noticed that the Albatros I fired at had a red propeller.  It made a clear target. Although my bullets missed I hoped they would have alarmed the pilot. Freddie and Johnny fired as they approached. . As soon as I heard Johnny fire I began to bank to port.  I levelled out and I expected to see the six Albatros flying parallel to us. To my horror there was clear sky.  There was no target for us.  Even worse, as we turned I saw the whole Jasta, all eighteen of them converging on the Gunbuses. Ted’s column was, like me, out of position and too far away to give immediate support to the Gunbuses. The lumbering beasts didn’t stand a chance. 

Charlie and his gunner were struck by the two Spandau machine guns of the first two Albatros. They could not miss the unprotected cockpit.  I saw it all unfolding before me.  The first shock of bullets hit the gunner and he looked like he had St.Vitus’ Dance.  I saw Charlie hit as he tried to turn.  Then he was hit by the force of a total of eighteen hundred bullets a minute.  In ten seconds his body was riddled by three hundred steel jacketed 9mm bullets.  They tore through Charlie and into the Rolls Royce engine. The Gunbus simply fell from the sky.  Charlie, my old shy and industrious gunner Charlie, and the love of my sister’s life would have known little about it. They would have been killed instantly. The two flanking columns converged and, by the time we were in range, five Gunbuses were falling to earth their crews dead.  We had the living to worry about for the Huns were targeting Archie. He began to pull a loop as I opened fire on the rear Albatros. I was lucky, his rudder disintegrated and he began to drop to a lower altitude to escape us. 

We had no time to finish them off for we had to get to Archie. Freddie and Johnny had banked inside me and we were flying towards the unprotected side of the formation as a line of three. We could not miss.  We all opened fire without return.  The three of them were all hit and they pulled out of formation.  It took the pressure off Archie but the remaining, vengeful Germans banked to come directly at us. They were flying head on at the three of us. The double Spandau spat a wall of bullets directly at me.  I jinked left and right and waited for my shot. Bullets whizzed by me but I seemed to bear a charmed life. As the propeller came into my sights I fired one long burst.  I shredded his propeller and hit his engine. His nose began to dip and I fired another burst directly at the pilot.  I saw his head disintegrate like a ripe plum. That had been pure revenge for Charlie. I could have let the pilot live for his aeroplane was already doomed.

I glanced in my mirror and saw two Albatros behind me. They were closing rapidly side by side.  If I tried to turn one of them would have me. I threw the Pup into a loop.  When I reached the top I banked to port to take me closer to one of the Albatros. Frighteningly he had anticipated my move and he and I were on a collision course. Unless one of us blinked we would crash into each other.  I knew that if I moved his wingman would have me and I resolved not to blink. I only had one choice fly straight and hope he moved. I held down the trigger and poured the .303 into the Hun. His bullets smacked into my engine and my undercarriage but we flew on. He had missed everything vital. He blinked and, as he raise the nose of his aeroplane to fly over me my bullets struck his belly. He dropped from the sky like a stone. I knew that I had few bullets left and I jinked the other way just as more bullets thudded into my fuselage. The Pup suddenly felt sluggish.

I levelled out and looked in my mirror.  The sky behind was clear. I looked ahead and realised that I was flying east and the Huns were coming west. I banked as quickly as the damaged Pup would allow. Coming carefully around I saw the remnants of the squadron heading west.  I was alone except for the German aeroplanes which had my wounded Pup at their mercy.

I dropped the nose and headed for the ground. If I had to crash land I wanted to be as close to the earth as I could. In my mirror I could see the faster Albatros fighters hurtling after me. My manoeuvrability had gone.  I could no longer wriggle. I could barely rise and fall. They would catch me and shoot me down.  It was inevitable. I would have been a goner had I not flown over a support trench close to Fleuchy, the Tommies and Canadians there opened up with every machine gun and rifle as I zoomed over them.  In my mirror I saw one Albatros pouring smoke and the others climbing to avoid the hornet’s nest they had disturbed.

I had survived but I had no idea which of my fellows had. It had been a disaster.  My plans had gone awry and been neatly unpicked by the Germans.  It had cost Charlie his life and my sister her happiness. I saw a cluster of medical orderlies around Archie’s Bristol.  Freddie and Johnny both appeared to be safe and they waved to me as I landed.

They both rushed to me, “I say, sir, a bit of a sorry mess eh?”

Freddie looked really upset.  “Poor Captain Sharp.  They didn’t stand a chance… any of them.”

I nodded. “A whole flight gone in the blink of an eye. Ten of our comrades.  What a waste!”

I saw that Ted had his arm in a sling while Gordy had a bandage around his head. Ted shook his head, “Lucky Bill again!”

I pointed to my bullet riddled Pup.  “You think so? If it hadn’t been for the foot sloggers I would be lying out there with Charlie and the others.” I pointed to Archie.  “How is he?”

“His gunner is fine but he took a couple of slugs in the shoulder. They are having the devil’s own job to get him out.”

Senior Flight Sergeant Lowery walked over and his face was drawn.  “Is it true sir, about Mr Sharp?”

“I am afraid so Flight. The only consolation is he wouldn’t have felt a thing.”

He gave me a sad look, “I am not sure I would take that as consolation.  He was telling me about his young lady, your sister, and the plans they had made for the future. I shall miss him.  He was, begging your pardon sir, the nicest officer in the squadron.  He always had a cheerful word and a smile. He had so much to live for. ” 

“I think, Flight, that the future is a luxury we can’t afford.”

As I trudged to the office I wondered how to tell her.  She was not next of kin and would not receive a telegram.  I would have to write to her. I suddenly remembered the letters Charlie had written and I ran to the office.  Freddie and Johnny stared after me in amazement. “Has the mail gone, Flight?”

“Yes sir, sorry, did you want a letter to go?”

“No, Flight, I wanted to stop a letter. I was trying to ease some pain.” I could see that he had no idea what I was talking about. I looked up as Randolph appeared.  “I’ll do my report later, Randolph.  I have an important letter to write.”

He nodded, “I understand.  Take all the time in the world.” He hesitated, “I am terribly sorry about this Bill.  I knew you were close and … well your sister….”

I looked at him, bleakly, “That is the letter I have to write.”

Bates was waiting for me.  “Your bath is drawn sir.  There is a drink on the dresser.”

I shook my head, “I have a letter to write to my sister.”

“The letter can wait sir, until you have had a bath and a drink.  The letter to your sister needs thought and right now, well I can see how upset you are.” He put his arm around me. “Come along sir, I’ll help you.” He suddenly looked old, “I have done this before.”

He was right; I would not even be able to write a letter which would be coherent.  I needed to get the emotion from my head.  I lay in the bath sipping the whisky. Charlie was dead and it was my stupid fault.  It had been my clever plan to trick the Germans; Charlie and the others had paid the price. I found myself sobbing.  I had no idea why; I couldn’t remember the last time I had cried but I was so angry and frustrated and full of self loathing that it just erupted from me.

When I stepped from the bath Bates was there with a warm towel. His words told me that he had guarded the door while I had bathed. “The body works in funny ways, sir.  Those tears will help to clear your mind now.”

“Aye they have done that all right and shown me that the entire disaster is my fault.  I came up with the plan of attack and Charlie Sharp is dead.”

He stood in front of me and wagged his finger like an admonishing schoolmaster. “Now listen here, sir. Mr Sharp thought the world of you and he thought your plan was a brilliant one.  It went wrong. If it had gone right would that have made the plan different?  No, it would just have meant it succeeded. If every plan of battle worked then wars would be over in days and not years. Plans go wrong. You are a clever man, sir.  Come up with another.”

And that telling off put everything in perspective.  I nodded and, after dressing, we composed a thoughtful letter to Alice.  John knew the right words and he changed my mawkish sentimentality for something which would make Alice feel better. I doubted that she would ever be happy but John had managed to elicit from me the memories which Alice could cherish.

By the time I reached the office it was getting on towards late afternoon. Ted and Gordy were seated with Randolph and the whisky was open. I suddenly remembered Archie.  “How is Archie?”

“Doc has gone with him to the hospital at Arras.  He will make it but it will take a good surgeon to save his arm. Doc Brennan said something about the nerves being affected.”

“But he will live.”

Gordy nodded, “I think so Bill.” He handed me a whisky.

Randolph looked at the other two and said, “Which makes you, for the time being at least, the Squadron Leader of Number 41 Squadron.”