Free 1917 Eagles Fall by Griff Hosker

have done it before.  Fit bombs to your buses and harass their rear areas. If this Red Baron fellow turns up then you have my permission to run.  You have shown here at 41 Squadron, that you have the ability to achieve more with the Gunbus than anyone other squadron on the Western Front. I want you to buy me a month to get the new aeroplanes out to the squadrons.” He lowered his voice. “By March we will be preparing for a new offensive and you will be operating behind German lines.  Hopefully when we reach spring you should have three new aeroplanes, perhaps more.”
    We waved him off and then Archie shook his head. “I think yon general has just signed the death warrant for most of the young laddies in this squadron Bill.”
    “We’ll just have to do our best then.  We can use the old technique of two flights bombing and two escorting and watching out for fighters.”
    He laughed, “The glass is always half full with you, isn’t it Bill?”
    Surprisingly enough the general’s surprise visit made us more optimistic.  We knew that we were in trouble but the fact that we were considered so good gave us hope.  The gossip permeated the whole squadron and evening saw us in high spirits.  Part of it was due to the fact that the storms had not abated and we would not be flying the next day but the rest was down to the general.
    Charlie also showed a different side to himself. He had really come out of his shell since meeting Alice. He had had a little too much to drink, but then we all had. He began to tell us about some of the shows he had seen in London with Alice.
    “We saw this marvellous chap from the north east, Mark Sheridan.  He’s getting on a little bit but he sang some wonderful songs.”
    Gordy winked at Ted, “Sing us one!”
    “I haven’t got a voice, I …”
    Ted started clucking like a chicken and the young pilots began to chant, “Sing, Sing, Sing.”
    Red faced he said, “Very well then.” He took off his jacket and struck a pose.  When he began to sing I couldn’t believe what a good voice he had.
    “ Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
I do like to be beside the sea!
I do like to stroll along the Prom, Prom, Prom!
Where the brass bands play:
"Tiddely-om-pom-pom!"
So just let me be beside the seaside
I'll be beside myself with glee
And there's lots of girls beside,
I should like to be beside
Beside the seaside!
Beside the sea!”
    The mess exploded.  It was like a release of tension and emotion.  He had to perform it a second and a third time.  Ted and Gordy disappeared during the third rendition and emerged with tea towels on their heads and aprons around their waists.  They vamped it up as women next to Charlie and performed it a fourth and fifth time. I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my cheeks.
    The rest of the evening was joyous.  Archie took me to one side.  “I think your sister has done more for morale than a hundred Christmas tins from the king.”
    The exuberant atmosphere continued into February.  Partly that was because we had few missions to fly and the Red Baron and Jasta 11 could not slaughter anymore of our comrades. Two things happened quite quickly: the weather cleared and the first of the three Pups promised to us arrived.
    Although I was keen to try the new beastie out, Flight Sergeant Lowery and Major Leach were adamant that the mechanics and armourer should examine them first now that they had finally arrived.  Bearing in mind what had happened to Lieutenant Kay when he flew a factory fresh fighter I concurred. It would only mean a delay of a day or two and then I would have to allocate Lumpy to another pilot.  I knew that he would be unhappy.  I immediately thought of Ted. They would make a good team. One was dour and one was ebullient.  Nothing ever got Flight Sergeant Hutton down.
     

Chapter 8
    We were up before dawn.  We checked the guns and the buses twice.  We needed no jammed guns this time. We fitted flights