homepage Forums Air Combat & Civil Aviation Wings: Over Flanders Fields Deep Immersion DiD campaign -- Player Instructions (UPDATED 28 Nov 2018)

Lou, they should dispense with the temporary and make it formal. Swany deserves it.
Carrick, another close one bud!

Sgt. Ainslie Harris
40 RFC
May 30th, 1917

Harris and B flight were returning to. Bruay following an uneventful afternoon patrol. He was the 1st one in the landing pattern. It was a beautiful day the best in over a week. As his Nieuport floated down to the field, some mechanics were running out on the field waving madly. Harris could not see anything amiss. At any rate, he was already too low and had cut his engine. The a Nieuport bounced once then settled into a roll. The next thing Harris knew he was jarred against his straps and hanging upside down in the crumpled machine. Mechanics were instantly on him pulling him out from under the Nieuport. Once free he got to his feet. One of the mechanics spoke excitedly, “We tried to Warn ye Sergeant. The Huns just put a hole in the field not five minutes ago!” Harris was a bit shaken but ok. “Well I found the sonofabitch!” He exclaimed.

At debrief the CO did not have kind words for Harris. Harris knew he should have looked over the field before landing. He swore never to make that mistake again.

May 31st.
B Flight had to wait for a flight of 23 squadrons Spads to take off before they took to the air. Another fine day. The new machine seemed to handle well. As the flight neared Menen, Harris spied two Albatros above them. Mannock signaled the attack at the same time. One came down on Harris but he was ready and they immediately went into a circle. Harris slowly gained the advantage and hit the Hun with a burst. As he tried to disengage Harris got no more than 30’ from his tail and let loose a long burst. He saw the pilot slump over and the Albatros took a nosedive to the earth. As he climbed up he saw his flight forming up and joined them for the rest of the patrol. No sooner had they resumed the patrol when two more Albatros fell on them. Harris got into a twisting fight with one. This fellow was good but a quartering head on pass let Harris spray him from stem to stern. As Harris turned around the Albatros was flying straight and level. He closed the distance and started firing in short bursts. Pieces flew from the Hun machine and soon it burst into flames. Harris pulled up. It looked like a falling torch. He saw his flight in the distance and joined back up. Again Mannock dove. Harris stayed high as he knew he was running short on ammunition. His flight made short work of the low flying enemy machine. They all rejoined and returned to Bruay. Harris was careful to make sure there were no pot holes to land in this time.

After an uneventful afternoon patrol the CO told Harris that only one of his claims was confirmed. “Well Sir, I reckon I’ll trade the unconfirmed one for the machine I messed up yesterday. Deal?” The CO’s eyes narrowed, “You are dismissed Sergeant.”