death of an Ace

[evolution]

On the 8/8/18, the allied armys launched an attack all along the western front, the war was now moving into the battles of the last 100 days.
The 148th were no classed as fully trained and were moved from the 10th to the 5th army brgd, and moved to a airfield at Allonville, known as horseshoe woods, just out side the airfield was the grave of "The Red Baron" Richthofen, and the pilots of the 148th made a pilgramige to the grave side. After he was shot down the RFC recorvered the body and buried him with full military honours, his grave was was outlined with white stones, and a 4 bladed propeler cut into the shape of a cross stood at its head, a copper plate had been fixed to it, with his name, war record and a short epitath engraved onit. Such was his fame that every day you wou,d see 20-30 soldiers and civilians stood by it, but not everyone came to pay there respects, in the closing weeks of the war this cross was stolen.
On the 15th, George was part of a observation patrol with A flt, north of Roye, flying at 5,000ft, when they sighted a group of 6 enemy aircraft approaching from the east, there were 4 Halberstadt 2 seaters and 2 of the new Fokker DVII biplanes, it had been quickly reconised that this aircraft had the edge in every department to any thing the allies had, and it was not long that stark, square rigged outline became an object of foreboding for the RFC, cases of turning away and avoiding contact, guns jamming or engine failure came to be recorded frequency.
the markings of the diffrent jasters were diverse and colourfull. The 148th by now knew by these colours who they were up against, these had blue tails, and were more formidable than the blood red of the flying circus.
George and the rest of A flt turned north, to give the Germans the impresion they had not been seen, then using a bank of cumulus fair weather clouds banked around, they emerged in clear air and caught fritz completely by surprise. George not in his usual camel but D8203, selected 1 of the Fokkers that had begun to dive to get away and fired 150 rounds into it from 50 yrds it immediatly went out of control and crashed. It is very proberbal that this aircraft was flown by the brother of the red baron, Staffelfuhrer Lother von Richtofen, him self a ace with a record of over 40 kills, he survived the crash but flew no more combat flts. On returning to the airfield George filled in his combat report, form 3348, combats in the air, and it was stamped DECISIVE AMERICA, and his 1st kill was confermed.

[evolution]

Next day he failed to return to base and was listed as missing in action, but the next day a message arrived from a infantry unit, reporting he had suffered a engine failure, and had to make a dead stick landing but was lucky to do it just inside British lines. Two days later , on the 15th A flt was again on observation patrol east of Chaulnes, and this time George was in his usul Camel D9516, flying at 11,000ft, giving top cover to B flt below them. The weather and visibility was excelent and at 4-30 that afternoon 12 Fokker DVIIs attacked the lower flt. Waggling his wings Field Kindley led A flt into a power on dive, George attacked 1 fokker firing about 200 rounds into it, it went into a spin, and he followed it down, putting in another 100, at 8,000 ft he became aware of 2 Fokkers chasing him, he avoided them by climbing in the sun back to 11,000ft, banking around he then attacked another that was lurking on the edge of the scrap, by now the sky was full of aircraft, twisting, banking, looping, diving and climbing as each tryed to get the edge, he was immediatly again attacked by 2 of them again, "I turned up at them and 1 turned east the other flew above me as close as 25 ft, I hit him with about 75-100 rounds, he then did a series of stall turns and turned over, dropping down from side to side, I followed him, and hit him with another 75, as he stalled down" Georges pressure pump then failed, and he was able to glide over the front lines, but he saw the aircraft crash, on returning to base he claimed 2 kills, and both were confermed

[evolution]

With the British pushing the Germans back, on the 17/8/18 was time for another move, this time to a newly captured German airfield at Remaisnil 6 miles n/west of Doullens, although all the buildings had been reduced to matchwood so everyone was housed in bell tents. The 148th were now attached to the 3rd brigade, events were now moving very fast, after so much static warfare things had opened up.
The SQN had now been operational for 6 weeks, and some of them could now look forward to some leave, it was an enticing prospect, but 1 that seemed to heighten the dangers of every combat mission.
The 148ths new patrol area was on the front between Arras and Albert in prep[aration for the Battle of Bapaume, and the British advance on Cambrai. Now they were flying over the Somme wastelands. If you have ever seen pictures of this battle field taken from an aircraft then multiply that picture many thousamds of times, 30 miles wide much much more in both directions, over lapping shell holes plastered evry where, torn up trenchlines and barbwire, as far as the eye could see a rolling plane totaly torn and smashed, nothing but the havoc of war, that has never been seen since. As the new offensive began on the old killing grounds of the Somme began, the 148ths role was changed, they were now switched to ground attack, low work and the most dangourous of any, and a expensive buisness on aircraft and pilots, it was also a severer test than most fighting of a pilots stamina and skill, and of the rigging and fitting of his machine. The casualty rates amongst pilots was terrifing, and General hugh Trenchard, commander of the newly named RAF, had ordered a attack at all costs policy, and that the British and American pilots had 1 policey, 1 method of fighting, to go and find the Hun and MAKE him fight! This led from now on, most of the dogfighting taking place over German terratory, so if they were shot down and survived (most did not) then the Germans now captured the pilot and machine. Trenchards policey of the offensive at all cost, willing agreed by the fighting pilots who so far had needed restraint rather than urging resulted in patrols neglecting the protection of those aircraft that were given the job of ground attack, seeking enemy aircraft too far afield, leaving there charges almost defenceless, espec in conditions of cumulus cloud cover. Of the 1,437 pilots sent to France between july and november, only 11% were still serving at the armistice, and it has been claimed that pilots lasted barely 3 WEEKS during heavy fighting!! One SQN lost its entire flying strengh almost 6 timews in the space of 2 YEARS and 4 months, 206 being killed, wounded or missing from its flying strengh of 36!!! Even the official historean of the RFC critisised Trenchards policy,"whether or not the air casualties on the westerfront would have been fewer had the policy been diffrent is a matter that can be argued" Others were less restrained "Most leading German pilots were generous in there appreciation of the spirit of the RFC, few could refrain from commenting adversly on its policy, nor should the good affect on German moral at the daily evidence of the numerouse crashed British aircraft be discounted" Single minded and stubbon and seldom able to admit himself in error, it was a tragic irony that Trenchards fixed idea on air warfare should have been aided and abetted by those of whom so many were its victims.

[evolution]

The appalling casualty rates were even higher among st those operating the ground attack role. Bombs had to be released well under a thousand ft to achieve any chance of hitting anything, and flying at such low levels bombing and strafing brought them into range of the infantry, but left them wide open to attack from above. But with the roads and back areas so heavily congested with Germans retreating and reinforcements trying to push forward , these targets could not be ignored. ground attacks were carried out with out cessation, any thing that moved was attacked, and troops spotted in trench's were attacked. The impact on the German ground forces was substantial, and caused bitter comments about the increasingly outnumbered German air force "They fly so low that it is a wonder they do not reach down and pull us out of the trench's"
The 148th would now go out in pairs or even alone 3 or 4 times a day, sometimes another SQN would provide top cover, but often they went unescorted, praying they could hit there target and avoid the Fokker DVIIs prowling the Sky's above them. A modified camel appeared the TF1 (trench fighter 1) fitted with Armour and down facing lewis guns, it proved unsatisfactory so only a few were issued, a square plate of steel was fitted below the pilots seat.
The new offensive was launched on the 21st, with a fierce surprise bombardment, and an advance by a massive force of tanks, and Australian, British and American infantry, supported by 10 SQNs. A heavy mist settled over the battlefield as it started at 4.55am, which kept the SQNs grounded till11am, the 148th and the rest then flew sortie after sortie only to land refuel rearm and take off again. by the end of the day the advance had broken the German lines and in places had advanced 3 miles. Next day Thursday the 22nd the day rose bright and sunny, and the 148th were in the air by 4.55am. The 148th were again heavy engaged attacking ground targets, it continued on the 23rd, the 24th started with mist and rain which kept the sqns grounded till mid day, again the 148th were attacking ground targets and George shot down 2 Drachens(artillery observation balloons) these were dangerous targets surrounded by AAA. the 25th was much the same but on this day George got his next confirmed kill. They were bombing and strafing around bapume, the 148th reported that the air in this area was full of German aircraft, he brought down another balloon and at 10 past 6 pm south of Haplincourt he spotted a Hannoveraner another feared aircraft, "the flt below us dived on a flt of 2 seater's, i dived down on a all back fighter, and hit him with about 500 rounds he dived toward the town and crashed into the road, I then turned back toward the flt and attacked a grayish 2 seater hitting him quite heavily he dived and I followed him, but was unable to finish him as my ammo was all gone.
It was his 4th kill in the space of 12 days and a RAF report covering the 1st-25th August cited him for distinguished service, only 1 other pilot had achieved this many kills in the same period, 1 more kill and George would be given AIR ACE status, though that term did now win acceptance among British and American pilots till much later, and that the German practice of starring their airman was a matter of mockery in the RFC-RAF!