Carrick – Your new man is doing well. Keep up the good work.

Fullofit – Ziggy continues to amaze. What was Toby's final score? Ziggy looks to be set to pass him. By the way, the expression on that German soldier receiving his Christmas parcel makes me wonder if it is not his new supply of kiddie porn. Creepy!

Lou – Thank you for the DSC and for your wonderful Christmas posts.

Wulfe – I was very saddened to see Bill go so soon. I really hope that you will dive back in after Christmas. We all love your story so much.

MFair – Good to see you dropping in. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all the best in the New Year.

Buckeye – Thanks for the good wishes and stay tuned for 1918.

Epower – Warm wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year for you and SWMBO!


War Journal of Flight Sub-Lieutenant George Ewan MacAlister, DSC

8 Squadron, RNAS
Mont-St-Eloi, France

Part 11


[Linked Image]
"I turned for a second pass and this time saw the Hun machine – a Hannover – catch fire."

We had a couple of days of filthy weather followed by an escort patrol down the lines with no Huns about. At last, on Saturday 22 December, we were dispatched north towards Ypres to chase off some Hun machines that had the idea they could spot for artillery over our positions. They must have heard we were coming for they were gone when we arrived. I lead the flight, which included our squadron commander, on a circuit of the salient. There was a good view of the battlefields around Passchendaele where the Canadians had finally consolidated positions on the ridge. The frozen landscape was marked by shell crater on top of shell crater with broken threads of duckboard winding among the pockmarks. Each hole was filled with water which was now turning to ice and fringed with snow. The PBI must have given thanks for the coming of this dreadful weather. Now they could stand on the water that filled their trenches rather than wade in the mud.

After nearly ninety minutes we turned toward home, but almost immediately encountered a group of Pfalz scouts. The fight began slowly as machines lunged at each other’s formations in twos and threes. It it reminded me of a boxer testing his opponent in the early stages of a prize fight. The wind was from the northwest and blew us towards the River Lys. There the engagement became general and I found myself behind a Hun who had Jordan in his sights. My first burst sent him down out of control and eyesight him crash just forward of our own lines. Moments later, another Hun dived at me. I was able to roll out of his view and let him overshoot. After two bursts the right upper wing of the Pfalz broke away and the machine fell to earth. Then I was alone and returned to Mont-St-Eloi without seeing another machine. We all returned safely and my two Pfalzes were confirmed, bringing my bag to twenty-two.

From there to Christmas there was only occasional flying and nothing exciting to report. The RFC padre visited us and told us of a family in the village that was struggling. The father had been killed at Verdun, leaving the mother with two young girls and a boy. He asked if we could do something to help them out and we put together a parcel of gifts for the children and a basket of treats for the mother. Then we prepared a goose and piled into our tender to visit the household. The experience was heartwarming and the poor woman, whose name was Janine, was in tears. The village doctor was there to see one of the little girls and was effusive in his thanks on behalf of the people there. He left us with Janine for several minutes and returned with two bottles of Norman apple brandy and we had a good singsong. The young boy is named Stephane and he was quick to pick up a few words of English – all the wrong ones, of course. Johns taught him to address Squadron Commander Draper as the “workhouse master.” By the end of the afternoon we had convinced Janine to allow Stephane to work at the aerodrome and we planned to teach him to be an orderly.

On 27 December we were fitted with bombs to drop on the Hun aerodrome at Aniche. I claimed an albatross on the ground but credit ended up with Dennett, whose bomb scored a direct hit just after mine. Unfortunately we did not do enough damage to satisfy headquarters and were sent back the next day. I say unfortunately because Aniche is nearly thirty miles over the lines and low work that far over is a bit dicey. We shot the place up well this time and I finally signalled for us to regroup. The Hun aerodrome at Emerchicourt was just ahead of me and I spotted a fat two-seater sitting in the middle of the field. On my first pass I sent the air century packing and hit the two-seater. I turned for a second pass and this time saw the Hun machine – a Hannover – catch fire. Colton had joined up by this time and confirmed my claim for number twenty-three.

Attached Files Kill 22.jpg