1917 Eagles Fall by Griff Hosker Read Free Book Online Page A

still here but take no chances!”
    Bearing in mind what Lord Burscough had said I had no intention of poking the sleeping dog.  I would let it lie.
    Flight Sergeant Hutton had had a shorter leave but he was pleased to see me.  “I spent some time with Senior Flight Lowery We managed to get a few more revs out of the engine.  From what I have seen we will need all the speed we can get and then some.”
    “We have been told to keep a low profile.  I don’t think there will be too much action over Christmas.”
    “How is the arm, sir?”
    “A little tender but not too bad.”
    I asked Charlie to be adjutant for the next two weeks.  It was mainly paperwork and it would help me to find out what really went on between him and Alice.  I did not want to see him retreat back into his shell. And, in addition, it would make him a better pilot for he would see the bigger picture.
    I sat with Gordy and Ted in the mess.  Charlie was busy writing a letter to Alice and I needed to work out a strategy for the next two weeks which would keep us safe and yet watch over the men in the trenches.
    “Well, if the weather stays the same as it is now then we won’t be flying!”
    Ted was right.  There were gales and the remnants of an Atlantic hurricane.  We would be safe for the next few days. “But once the storm passes then we know it will be calm. How should we approach this?”
    “We only have six aeroplanes. We have too many chiefs and not enough Indians.”
    Gordy had hit the nail on the head. I looked at my two friends and came up with an idea. “Well how about this? You two fly as one flight.  Between you there is more experience in the air than the rest of us put together. I will fly with Freddie. Charlie and Johnny can be another flight.  We will fly a one hour patrol so that we have all six aeroplanes in the air during one day. It will make the Hun think we have a full squadron at the field.”
    “You think they may try to take advantage?”
    “Archie and Randolph told me that the new German squadron are brightly coloured but one aeroplane in particular has a distinctive red liver. That sounds like someone trying to make a name for themselves. With the new aeroplanes they have they know they can knock us out of the air anytime they like.  If I was their squadron leader I would try to give us a bloody nose over Christmas so that in the New Year we will be nervous.”
    “I am bloody nervous already and no mistake. But I think you have made the best of a bad job.  You are the boss.  We will go with your idea… sir!”
    “Ted, I prefer the miserable old sod! You are unnerving me with this optimism!”
    Three days later I took Freddie on the first patrol. I have to admit that I, too, was nervous.  I was not certain how my broken arm would cope with the rigours of a two hour patrol.  Although we would only be over the front for one hour it would take us thirty minutes to get there and thirty to get back.  I think all of the ground crew were worried too for they fussed over the engine and the guns right until take off. I felt happy with Freddie behind me.  He had developed into a sound pilot and he and his gunner had a good relationship. I climbed higher than normal. Perhaps it was nerves. Once we reached the Somme River I slowed the engine down and engaged in a simple patrol along our lines. 
    Lumpy had a camera for headquarters wanted photographs of the front.  We had been told to get as many as we could along the length of our patrol area.  It did not take a genius to work out that there would be an offensive in the spring.
    My decision was vindicated when we saw the three old Fokker IIs as they headed for our lines. I had dreaded running into the deadly Albatros D.III.  The three had not seen us and were flying over our lines.  I saw the men in the trenches popping away ineffectually with small arms.
    I heard Lumpy’s voice in my ear.  “Well, sir, are we doing owt about them or are we going to let