26 April, 1917 06:50 morning mission St. Pol-sur-Mer, Flanders Sector RNAS-2 SC Tobias Chester Mulberry VC, DSC&Bar, DSO&Bar, L d’H 11.4 confirmed kills
The Albatros Toby shot down has been confirmed but it only made up for the earful from Dobbs for mangling his plane’s rudder. His words were: mutilation. Mulberry still owed the Huns for McBride. Poor fellow crashed while attempting to land his damaged plane. This morning Fellowes sent them to attack Roulers junction. It was foggy and the clouds were present all around. Despite that Toby was able to find the railyard and drop all his bombs on target. The supplies on fire made for a nice warm contrast against the cold grey of the sky. Mulberry was on his way back and already on friendly side of the mud when he noticed Archie bursts in the distance. Enemy was about. He made the decision to avoid any scuffle in this weather and pointed his aircraft away from the bursts, but it was too late. He’d been spotted and now two bloodthirsty Huns were on his tail. His engine was singing, working like a dream (Dobbs’ words) but the Albatroses were gaining. He had no choice but to face them, otherwise they’d pick him apart during landing. He fired as they merged scattering them to four winds. He then continued straight and when far enough, came back at them. Again, firing at them as they came. Eventually one of them must have been hit and decided to withdraw. Toby followed him down looking out for the other Hun, but he couldn’t spot him. He concentrated on the one in front of him. Mulberry noticed a red “S” on the fuselage. Could it be the German pilot’s first letter of his surname? It was not a lucky charm in any case. The Boche spiralled to the ground and crashed into the trees. Toby let out a big sigh of relief. These Huns aren’t so easy to shoot down in a bomber.
"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."
