Bursting Balloons by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Electronic Book Company
Published: 2017-07-15T23:00:00+00:00

They flew and attacked little clouds, taking position on them rather easily. Then they chased each other, which wasn’t so simple. On the third day both squadrons took off, separated to the south and west, well behind the lines, and then hunted each other; they landed each convinced that they had utterly destroyed the opposition.

“All guns to be loaded at all times from now onwards, Lieutenant Moffat. The squadrons are now operational.”

They told George to telephone HQ and ask for orders. He came into the Mess half an hour later.

“Orders are to patrol, both squadrons together. Go north towards the Belgian sector in the first instance. The squadrons will be assigned to a Wing ‘very soon’.”

Tommy shrugged, made the old response.

“This year, next year…”

“Sometime, never,” Noah finished.

“Dawn patrol, Noah?”

“Four o’clock in the morning? Sod that!”

In the absence of a colonel to tell them otherwise, they announced breakfast for the civilised hour of seven o’clock, patrol to take off at eight-thirty. They assured each other that Jerry would not be in the air first thing in the morning, for knowing that there was no local opposition.

“What heights, Noah?”

“Twelve thousand and eight, at a guess. Most of the observation work is done even lower than eight thousand, so there’s a good chance Jerry will be hunting RE8s and BEs at around eight thou’ to dive down on them. One of us to mix it first, the other to do the Assyrian on them when they’re busy.”

“I haven’t Assyrianed since I was a very little boy. Nurse said it was nasty.”

“’The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold’, you illiterate peasant.”

“Of course.”

“Byron?”

“Who does he play for?”

“I give up! Ask Monkey.”

“She knows nothing about sport.”

“Neither do you.”

“I knew we were well-matched.”

Noah drew a deep breath, was thankful they had no audience.

“What I was suggesting was that you will swan along with Ninety-Six at eight thousand feet in the hope of discovering Jerry up to no good. You having drawn his attention, I shall bring my lot in a dive through the middle, picking off everything loose, and then come back into the general fight.”

“Sounds good. Why didn’t you say so? Vice versa in the afternoon?”

“You’re on. Be interesting to see what the result is. Must remember to remind my lot to cock their guns as soon as we’re up.”

“My lot are so bloody green they’re more likely to gun their cocks! I shall explain exactly what is meant.”

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