Captain Kevin Carroll, MC, DFC
41 Squadron
Conteville

44 confirmed kills

8th July 1918

Morning sortie

Kevin took the morning briefing and confirmed that 'B' flight would be heading towards the lines between Bethune and Lens. 'A' flight had already set off escorting some RE8's down to Arras earlier on.

The weather was good although some sizeable clouds remained behind which dangers could lurk.

Kevin and the others took off, Fred McCall was on Kevin's left shoulder and Captain Hemming on his right, Bill Shields, Stan Puffer, Harry Watson and Lieutenant Gilly making up the rest of the flight.

They formed up and headed east, reaching 14000 feet on the way. They'd been gone about 30 minutes and were approaching the lines when Kevin saw another formation coming through clouds ahead. He signalled and carried on, then he saw the other formation nose up and head towards 'B' flight.

Kevin signalled to attack and nosed down. He now saw they were up against a flight of Albatros scouts and headed straight into the centre of their formation, scattering them to hell.

He swung around and selected a target. The rest of 'B' flight had now joined him. He went after a hun who was ahead and circling. Kevin fired and the Albatros rolled and dived. Kevin was just about to go with him when he saw another formation of aircraft entering the fight.....Fokkers.

Now suddenly the Huns had the advantage, 2 to 1 in terms of aircraft.

He carried on after the Albatros but kept a keen eye on his six.

The German turned and Kevin went with him, a series of turns ensued but Kevin was winning. The Albatros rolled out and tried to dive again but Kevin blasted him as he came out of his own turn.

The Albatros nosed down and went straight into the ground.

Kevin checked his six which was clear but he saw a Fokker coming down towards him from the right. Kevin had good speed and zoom climbed up towards the foe and fired. The Fokker panicked and rolled away. Kevin followed although now he was much slower.

He changed his lewis gun drum and turned after the Hun. The Fokker climbed up and came around over Kevin's right shoulder so Kevin half rolled and dived down and underneath. He came up directly behind the German. He blasted the Hun hard. Another burst was tearing chunks out of the Fokker who was now spewing thick smoke.

A final burst went straight into the pilot who fell forward and the Fokker nosed down into the ground.

Kevin now took stock, several battles were still going on. He saw another Fokker trying to get on the tail of a fleeing SE. He throttled up and raced after him.

He nosed down and fired at the Hun at maximum range but it did the trick, the Fokker rolled left and climbed. Kevin went with him as the other SE continued his escape.

The Fokker continued turning and a ducking and weaving set of scissors ensued. Kevin was always the aggressor though.

He finally got a bead on the enemy aircraft and poured both barrels into the Hun. The Fokker had smoke pouring from his engine as Kevin put another lewis gun drum in. He caught the Hun up and blasted him. The Fokker burst into flames and went straight down into the ground.

Kevin checked around and could see two SE's nearby and formed up with them.

Together they headed home. On landing Kevin learned seven enemy aircraft had been downed but an SE was lost and Captain Hemming confirmed that the way it went into the ground, there was little hope Lieutenant Gilly was still alive.

Kevin was shaken for a moment, his thoughts flitted back to his previous encounters with Gilly, he could suddenly see every freckle, every contour. He pulled himself together and went to make his report.


Afternoon sortie (awaiting three confirmations)

After lunch, Major Bowman took the briefing and confirmed the whole squadron would be heading back towards the lines in front of Lens. Kevin would again be leading 'B' flight.

The weather was still pretty good as both flights took off and headed out east towards the lines.

Kevin kept checking around as they approached the lines. As the formation turned north Kevin saw a large formation of aircraft ahead and a bit above 'B' flight.

He was about to signal when the other formation turned towards 'B' flight and headed down towards them.

'B' flight nosed up and met the attack. It was a whole Jasta of Fokkers. An enemy aircraft whistled past Kevin so closely he could see the other pilots face. Kevin turned to follow but at that moment bullets ripped into his wing.

Kevin rolled away but more bullets followed, damaging his aileron. It still worked but was sluggish rolling right now.

Kevin dived and nervously checked the left wing hoping it held out. It did and he looked back at the Fokker now scrambling for his tail.

He turned left and held it, the damaged aileron pushed his nose down and only a touch of rudder corrected it which slowed him down.

The Fokker closed in again and Kevin feared the worst, so he tried something, he throttled right back. The impatient hun flew past Kevin. Who lined up and blasted the Hun. The Hun dived down and raced for his own lines. Kevin nosed down "No way, not this time Fritz" said Kevin to himself.

He caught the German up and blasted a long burst into the Fokker.

The German spiralled down and down and Kevin watched as it smashed into the trees.

Kevin realised he was now over German lines in a damaged aircraft. He started back for home keeping tabs on the skies around as he did.

He managed to fly level with a touch of rudder and stick and eventually made it back home. He landed safely by which time the rest of the squadron had already returned.

He made his damage report and went in to clean up.

Later on he learned five Fokkers had been downed although another SE had been lost. 2nd Lieutenant Will Marshall was dead as was Lieutenant Gilly as confirmation had been received. Marshall, from Staines in Surrey had been with the squadron since May.

Kevin was in Major Bowman's office. The Major had confirmed two of Kevin's claims. The Albatros and the Fokker in the afternoon couldn't be confirmed. Kevin wasn't surprised by the Fokker seeing as it was over the lines.

That brought Kevin to 46 confirmed kills.

"Well done today Captain, it was a tough day but we came through it. There will be many more of those before this war is won believe me" said the Major.

"Thank you sir, I feel for our losses. Poor Gilly, I thought he'd finally got himself sorted" said Kevin.

"This war is no place for learners Kevin, it's kill or be killed. You of all people know that" said the Major.

"I know sir, but it is still a hard pill to swallow" said Kevin.

"It's one you're going to have to get used to if you want your own squadron my friend." said Bowman.