Lou, I am glad Major Swanson will have a talk with C-flight regarding the escort duties. I’m afraid they only know the meaning as it relates to its origins rooted in Latin - from “es cort” meaning to have ran away.
MFair, a different title for Toby? How’bout Kaputt? Oh dear!
Carrick, drinking and singing. That’s the best combination.
The claim on the Albatros from yesterday has been denied. The sky was a monolith of heavy grey clouds, ready to unleash its wet load at any moment. It was the type of clouds imploring any pilots to stay on the ground and forget any notions of aerial combat. It was that type of weather Mulberry and his flight were ordered to brave and provide troop movements across the No-Man’s Land north of Ypres. Toby had a bad feeling they shouldn’t be here, at least not without an escort. The Hun presence in this area was growing steadily and without numerical superiority, he would present himself as a tasty morsel for some hotshot Boche. As soon as Mulberry arrived on station, an Albatros came down from the thick clouds and began the harassment. Toby’s fears became a reality. His flight was sent to slaughter like lambs without the comforting presence of a sheepdog. At least it wasn’t an entire Schwarm after him, but a solitary wolf looking for another feather in his cap. Well, this Hun was in for a surprise. This lamb wouldn’t go quietly down. It would go down kicking and screaming, and shooting. Toby kept the Boche in front of him at all times and fired at him every opportunity he got. After a twisting fight the German pilot decided he’d had enough. They then converted to a climbing pursuit with Toby still staying on his tail always at the edge of a stall. The Albatros’ tail was becoming a sieve as that was the only part of the plane Toby could reach, but finally smoke started to emanate from the engine and after a few more bursts it exploded mid-air.
Mulberry immediately noticed another Hun overhead and followed him, but soon realized he was the one being followed. There were two on his tail. He quickly turned around to meet them and latched on to one with a red fuselage. Could that be the Baron? He fought the Hun and was certain he hit the pilot. His machine went up and immediately began a spiral down into the ground.
Toby realized he was now too far behind the Frontlines and decided to turn back. He could see the large lake across the No-Man’s Land. It was De Blankaart and a great landmark to aim at. He was halfway across when he noticed another flight of Huns coming at him from above. One of them dove right behind the tired Airco and drew the first blood by perforating Toby’s wing. The rest of the Boche scouts looked on from above. Toby felt like he was an actor in a play, being examined by critics. He’d better put on a good show. Five scouts against one bomber always ended in tragedy but Toby preferred comedies. The few holes in the wing was all the German could manage. It was all Toby from then on. He stayed on the Huns tail throughout the reminder of the fight. They’ve been sparring for a while and the Albatros began to smoke from Mulberry’s gunfire. In the end his plane caught on fire and exploded quickly after.
Toby turned his plane west, De Blankaart in front of him, but the angry Huns would not let him go so easily. Another one swooped down to punish Mulberry for his transgressions. This time an all black plane with some red ribbon painted on the fuselage attacked, but it didn’t take long for Toby to have him burning and joining another column of smoke in No-Man’s Land.
Mulberry aimed his plane for the third time at De Blankaart, knowing well another one of the Boches will be along shortly, trying to knock him down. There he was. It had to be some young hare. Mulberry easily got on his rear and aimed. He squeezed the trigger, but his Vickers remained silent. Had he jammed it with that last salvo? He checked the belt. It was empty. Toby was out of ammo. This wasn’t good. Could he scare the young Hun away just by staying on his rear aiming his gun at him. Mulberry continued to track his target debating what to do next. It was all decided in the next few seconds. The young inexperienced Boche was running away, but in doing so, he was dragging Toby further into the Hunland and towards the other two remaining German planes. Toby made a split decision. Run! But it was too late. All tree Albatroses were now after him. He saw De Blankaart shimmering across the Front. It was not getting any closer. What was approaching at an alarming rate was the Hun behind. Toby was desperate. There was a full tray of ammo in the rear gun but he couldn’t count on his replacement gunner to hit anything. He was more of an observer than a gunner. The Hun fired as Mulberry pulled on the control stick, to loop his large Airco. The German couldn’t follow. Toby came out of the loop and at the back of the Hun. Another bank to port and he heard a terrible crack. Everything began to spin and then nothing. There was nothing.
"Take the cylinder out of my kidneys, The connecting rod out of my brain, my brain, From out of my arse take the camshaft, And assemble the engine again."
