Free 1917 Eagles Fall by Griff Hosker Page A

D and B with bombs.  Charlie and I would act as aerial cover.  The major joined us so that we had twenty one aeroplanes.  I had never flown such a large operation. Just before the engines started Lumpy sounded the bugle and the cavalry charge.  There was a cheer over the airfield.  I have no idea what Major General Trenchard would have made of it but it improved the morale of the squadron no end.
    We headed across No-Man’s Land.  There was cloud cover but it was not low cover.” The German fighters could fly at a much higher altitude than our Gunbuses. “Flight Sergeant, keep your eyes peeled.”
    “Sir.”
    “Have you got your Mills bombs handy?”
    “Always sir. You know I will have to think of a job for after the war where I can throw something.  I seem to have a knack for it.”
    “Don’t worry, Hutton, you will do well after the war.  You have the ability to adapt to any situation.  I will probably end up working for you!”
    “In which case I will make sure you are well paid, sir.”
    As we crossed No-Man’s Land we both cocked our weapons. The Major and the bombing buses were a thousand feet below us.  They would see the targets sooner than we would. I saw the line of water snaking north.  It was the Canal De Saint Quentain. I watched as Archie banked.  He had seen a target.
    “What is the name of that village, Lumpy?”
    “Masnières, sir.”
    “Mark it then.  I think the Major is going to attack.”
    I banked, too, so that we were flying north to south.  That way we could watch to the east. I glanced down as the Major led the buses down.  It looked like barges had moored for the night.  Even moving they would still be an easy target. They were confined to a narrow canal. I did not have the luxury to be an observer.  I looked east. The secret was to move your head slowly and examine each piece of the sky. We heard the crump of the bombs as they struck.  There was one loud explosion which sounded as though we had hit ammunition. Lumpy and I had to focus on the skies.
    There was a lull below us as we turned at the end of the leg and headed north again.  The Gunbuses would be beginning their second run. I hoped they would only use two runs.  We were pushing our luck as it was. Lumpy saw them as soon as I did. I recognised them as a mixture of Fokker D.III and D.II.  The D.III had the twin machine guns. They were heading in two V formations directly for the Major and the rest of the squadron.  We had the advantage of altitude.  It was our only advantage and I was about to throw it away when we dived.
    “Here we go.  Usual procedure, Lumpy, I’ll go for the Hun ahead and you enjoy yourself.”
    “Very kind of you sir.”
    I hoped that I would be able to change my magazine for I knew that we would need it. As we dived down I saw six Fokkers peel off and rise towards us. They formed two lines. The bad news was that these were D.III.  We were in for a world of pain. I decided to burst through the middle of them. We were so big that we would break up their formation. It also meant that the two flights would be able to bring all our guns to bear. The leading pilot made the mistake of firing too soon. He barely missed us; one bullet pinged off the stanchion holding the rear firing Lewis. You have to assume that the bullets will miss you.  If you flinched you might be dead.  I had to keep us as stable as possible. I opened fire as did Lumpy.  I saw my bullets arc and I corrected our descent until I saw them strike his engine.  I had no propeller in front of me.
    They rose above us and the last of my magazine was emptied into his belly as he soared above me.  I quickly tried to change the magazine as the next Fokker flight rose towards us. My arm had healed up but it seemed to take an age.  Hutton was firing for he had changed his magazine already. I had just changed it when the Hun’s bullets ripped into the front cockpit.  I heard a scream as Hutton was hit.  I opened fire and