Sebtoombs

Great start AlbertTross - big boots to fill! love the Scottish background! Hasse Wind: It may be the setting I'm on? My PC is pretty ancient (upgrade due but way too expensive at the moment) so I've got the medium regional air activity and medium forced encounters in worship (as recommended by epower)? Paroni - love the new start! Or maybe Seb could strategically place pictures of her around the plane to keep his head turning at all intervals. Hahaha! Salute!

Oh trustworthykebab I'm so sorry - It was a million to one shot that just might have worked. I hope your next pilot continues in the same courageous way - it was a highly entertaining chapter!

Paroni: Like epower I hope you recover really soon my friend! Thinking of you. Mfair: I continue to really enjoy Sgt. Elijah Gallagher's story and feel his pain as he grieves his friend! Loved the catapult 'kill' Raine: As I was once told many years ago, "Football is a gentlemen's game played by thugs". "Rugby is a thugs' game played by gentlemen". I continue to enjoy the details. _________ Flight Lieutenant Theodore Aloysius Andrews (AKA 'Runt) RNAS-1 St. Pol-sur-Mer Missions flown: 40 Hours: B.E.2c 37, Morane Saulnier 20 Claims confirmed:5 Claims Unconfirmed:2 10th September 1915 Having Simon Ackart in the squadron has put a real dampener on things at St Pol-Sur-Mer that only Monique (bless her soul) can lift. Shortly after our first meeting in the mess we had a more uncomfortable encounter, with no witnesses - just the way Ackart likes it. While walking to my basher, enjoying the stars and a last cigarette for the evening, out of nowhere I heard Simon's slimy drawl, "Better watch the guy ropes Squeak" at that moment my cane was knocked from under me, by I swear his boot, and I went flying (not in a good way). I landed heavily, my cigarette flying in a glowing arc, I heard sniggering as I dusted myself off, collected my cane and walked, chin up, with as much dignity as I could to my tent. Monique, however, continues to put a smile on my face and has plans for my birthday on the 13th. I can't wait! She has a special walk planned to her favourite tree followed by a meal that she will cook. Bliss. Despite Ackart my flying career continues well, though the night after my fall I was very stiff and found flying less easy, however, as if to make up for the tensions in the Squadron I have become a 'Star Turn' or as the French like to call it an 'Ace'. Five confirmed air combat victories. Honestly, I have never flown better than since I met Monique - I carry her picture with me next to my heart - her angelic presence watching over me. On the first of the month, I bagged two Aviatiks who had been harassing our home airfield in one patrol. They were lower than normal attacking trucks - on approaching them they started to flee north to the sea and a chase quickly ensued. Wonderfully enough I was with Davies again (CO had a 48-hour pass) We must have hit the fuel tank of the first one pretty quickly on our first pass as it started to leak vapour and ditched quite comfortably on the sea. The second Hun was a bit more tricky, no trouble for Davies, who shot off his wingtip then proceeded to take potshots at his engine, causing him to nose dive and have a very ugly crash into the briny sea. Second Hun plunges to the sea Just debris and oil marked their final resting place The first Aviatik ditched safely and was picked up by a Navy vessel My fifth victory happened just a week later over Mene. We were on patrol when we spotted two Aviatiks in formation near the lines. Davies (who has still yet to be summoned back to the CO) and I flew towards them and once again Davies let 'em have it. Very quickly the engine of one exploded and burst into flames. The poor chaps plummeted about 5000 feet in a burning plane. Davies and I felt very sombre flying home, agreeing that this was a truly horrific way to die. We actually shared a prayer together for them and their families. The rest of the Squadron weren't close by so I couldn't call anyone as a witness. Both of us had low expectations of confirmation. However, much to our surprise it was confirmed! A terrible way to die Much to my satisfaction, Ackhart has been very quiet about my victories, what's more, he has got something of a name for himself at getting lost and lagging behind the rest of the squadron. If at some point I receive a medal for these last three and a half months I shall have great delight in rubbing his ugly face in it. Ungentlemanly I know, quite honestly I am surprised by the person I am becoming. But I suppose war changes a chap in surprising ways. My childhood bully "...prone to getting lost". Finally, to our dismay this afternoon we ran into two German monoplanes. We all thought they were light green Moranes - they looked exactly the same. Almost too late we saw big German crosses on the wings Davies got off a few rounds as did a couple of the other chaps, they dived away, unwilling to take on a formation of 5 Moranes and we left them alone. On our return to the airfield, we realised we'd taken a few rounds. The Skies are looking slightly more dangerous tonight. To be continued ...

oh no ... So sorry Paroni!

Brilliant! Thank you ...

Haha!!! Brilliant made me laugh out loud. I think Gallagher's rough and ready consequences be damned attitude is brilliant! These farmers from the colonies have a lot to teach us. Thank you too for the kind words about my latest instalment, and Monique!!!

Albrecht: how beautifully written absolutely delightful. Thank you! Hesse: I continue to very much enjoy the adventures of Auguste Besson. Paroni: I like your screenies! - I wonder if you are as fed up with the Morane as I am! So slow in climbing ... Raine: Superb - I'm enjoying the social comment in each chapter. This war, I think, changed so much of British society - more women at work - a slight move towards a more classless society that would find fulfilment after the Second World War. Maeran: Looking forward to this week's instalment - don't leave me hanging! ---------------------------- Flight Lieutenant Theodore Aloysius Andrews (AKA 'Runt) RNAS-1 St. Pol-sur-Mer Missions flown: 34 Hours: B.E.2c 37, Morane Saulnier 14 Claims confirmed:2 Claims Unconfirmed:2 August has whizzed by us at St.Pol-sur-Mer. With my promotion came a new aircraft and a number of different observers with who I have yet to make a firm bond. Sadly, Davies is now flying with the C.O. After his excellent shooting skills came to light the Boss nabbed him forwith for himself. Our only injuries to date have been one flying accident which hospitalised a couple of chaps for a few days. They were soon back laughing and joking about the excellent grub and the nurses. They are not the only ones to have had some success with the fairer sex, I too have met a quite delightful young lady. Davies and I, though not flying together have become, odd, but firm friends, and what's more, we've both taken to the local Dunkirk coffee like ducks to water. Our favorite coffee shop is 'Le P'tit Dupont' a charming family-run cafe that will often run to food if we are starving after a long day and fancy getting out of the mess. The owners, Monsieur and Madame Fountaine, are charming, attentive and friendly. But their daughter, perhaps a year or two younger than myself is beauty personified. She is called Monique. She and I have been secretly stepping out with one another for a couple of weeks now and it is bliss. She is absolutely stunning, awfully kind and speaks some English and Latin pretty well. With my French and Latin, we can talk about most things. Though I tend to make her laugh a lot when I'm attempting to speak French - which makes me blush terribly, which makes her laugh all the more. I don't mind, with her the war is very far away. Monique Fountaine However, it has not all been a bed of roses. Even worse than the Hun a chap I was a school with has been assigned to our squadron. Many of my schoolmates (being as we lived in Plymouth) joined the Navy, but few have found their way into the Royal Navy Air Service - a relief if I'm honest - as my school years were not the happiest years of my life. Simon Ackhart was in the year above me and was a shocking brag and bully who delighted in picking on me due to my size and slightly late development. To say I couldn't stand him would be an understatement. He joined the Navy before me and has been stationed at NAS Calshot since September 1914, flying among other things the Short Type 827 and thankfully until the 13th of August (a Friday) our paths had never crossed. I returned back from a long dawn patrol to find him sitting in the long hut we call the mess, smoking a cigar and holding court, eager chaps crowding around him as he boasted of his travels, experience and general prowess. On seeing me, limp into the mess with my stick for support, he yelled out with a huge ugly grin, "Squeak, what the hell you doing here! I thought the women folk weren't allowed anywhere near the front line." I was silent. "Grab me a cup of char Squeak, and some for the other chaps too - You'll at least make a good tea girl if you could lose your ruddy stick" Short Type 827 The mess at once went deadly quiet, the relaxed atmosphere changed in a heartbeat. It was Jefferson who acted first. He got right up close to Ackhart's face, and with a swipe removed the cigar from his smug lips. "Now then Old Boy, I don't think that is the way any of us want to speak to one another in here. Is it?" There was a deep menace behind the words. "You're new - we will make allowances - once. But we are sailors, we live as one, and, we fight as one. And that right there" he growled, pointing at me, "is Flight Lieutenant Theo Andrews. A damn fine pilot with two confirmed Hun planes to his name and a couple more probable - so you just watch yourself, my lad" The mess was silent as a pre-war night. Jefferson, having said his bit, stood slowly upright and stalked to his piano (we'd taken to calling it his) and started thumping on the keys. It was bawdy classic, "Three German officers crossed the Rhine" by the time we got to the chorus "Inky-dinky parlez-vous" the mess was in uproar singing and cheering. A couple of the chaps gathered around me, one lit me a cigarette and spoke up - "Tell us more Squeak!" ... Dawn Patrol A Hun we chased off The archie getting Hot The sheer beauty of the sky To be continued ...