Copyright 2002
FK Publications


“ Does everyone understand what’s expected of ‘em?”, ask Sergeant Harrison of the small group of men from the Royal Flying Corp, pointing a stick up at a map situated before the classroom of fighter pilots.

Raising his hand, a squadron leader, Matt, ask the man in front of the room, “ Sir…, do the Germans know of our mission…that we’re coming…, with all due respect, you remembered what happened last year, half our group got wiped out.”

“ From my information, Matt…, the Germans know nothing…or at least that’s what our intelligence tells us”

“ But what if…”

“ Matt…you got your orders…war’s a dangerous thing…lots of bullshit…, you know it and I know it…now get your men together and head out…I believe I’ve made every detail of this run over France clear…, correct?”

“ Yes sir…, quite clear.”

“ Good, now go and kill the Hun!”

“ Yes sir!”, replied Matthew as he stood up and said to his subordinates, “ Ok boys…time to go…, everything set?”

“ Yes sir, we’re ready.”, answered Paul, his gunner, always flying with him in the rear seat of the same single prop plane.

After leaving the building, Pilot Matthew, together with Ed, James, Joe, and Paul, strolled over to the hanger where they had their four planes. As the men got into the respective flying machines, Paul ask his boss, “ Matt…, you think the Kaiser’s gonna surrender pretty soon…I mean, I’ve heard talk that the war could be over this year, or perhaps next year?”

“ Well Paul…, let’s just hope that 1918 or 1919 sees the end of war all together…like they say…this is supposed to be the war that ends all wars…but I doubt it, human nature’ll start another…of that I’m sure.”

The engine started, all four W.W.I British planes slowly taxied to the run way where they finally took off into the sky, one after another. All dressed up in their head gear and goggles, the men flew South, eventually approaching the British Channel.

Looking at the white clouds and blue sky, Paul yelled to Matt over the sound of the engine, “ Sure is beautiful up here…feels like we’re at the gates of heaven!”

“ Yea…but in no time, it can turn into the gates of hell…just keep your eyes open…we’re just about over the beaches of France..the Germans could be anywhere now.”

“ But you heard Sergeant Harrison…he said…”

“ I don’t care…they say allot of things…it ain’t his ass that’s flying up here and getting shot at…!”

“ Yes sir…, sorry sir…!”

“ No problem…, just watch every corner of the sky.”

“ Yes sir.”

Twenty more minutes, the small squadron of planes where over France when they turned East and headed toward enemy territory.

Moving along, the four planes stayed in formation, gracefully staying on course, flying straight on through.

His hands on his gun, Paul remarked, “ Maybe the Sergeant’ll be right after all…I don’t see any German planes.”

“ Just keep looking.”

Relaxed somewhat, Paul leaned back in his seat and took a deep breath, taking in the clear and crisp air. Since he didn’t see any sign of the enemy yet, Paul began daydreaming a little, even forgetting about Matt’s strict and careful advice.

As his mind floated around almost like one of the clouds above and below him, he was suddenly ripped back to awareness by Matt’s screaming voice, “ Paul…, there, at three o’clock…see it…!”

“ Holy shit…I see him, man is he moving fast!”

“ All right Paul, he’s coming closer…fire…, shoot!”

Adrenaline in his veins now, Paul swung the mounted machine gun around and opened up, trying to hit the German craft as it came closer and closer. While firing away, Paul took note of the enemy plane, seeing its bright red color with the huge black German cross painted upon its wings and side.

“ Man, is he fast…!”, repeated Paul while he constantly missed, never able to catch up with the German plane, the thing acting like some phantom from hell.

“ Watch out…hang on!”, yelled Matt, taking his plane into a dive with the the enemy close on his tail.

His craft steady again, Matt screamed to himself and Paul. “ Oh…shit, look, the bastard’s going after Ed…oh no…, he got him, c’mon Ed…, bail out…!”

Less than five seconds later, Ed detached himself from the doomed plane and his parachute opened. However, while Ed thought he was safe, slowly floating downward, the super fast red thing turned around and headed straight toward Ed, maneuvering itself to avoid British fire.

“ That fucken creep…, man…, he just killed Ed…!”, hollered Paul.

“ I know…!”, replied Matt, “ Let’s give it to him…now!”

After Matt gave the appropriate hand commands and jesters to Joe and James, their planes a few hundred feet away, all three remaining British craft went toward the German machine, opening up at the Red Threat.

Despite their efforts, the enemy quickly ascended, hiding before the sun for a moment and then disappearing into a cloud.

“ Where the fuck is he?”

“ I don’t know, Matt…, can’t see him..he’s…, oh shit, Matt…there, to your right…here he comes!”

“ Hang on, Paul!”, yelled Matt, turning the plane, just missing a spray of German bullets by only inches.

Coming back around, Matt cried, “ Fuck…, he got James now…shit…!”

“ Matt…look, Joe’s on fire too…the bastard got ‘em both…how the hell did he do that…he must be one damn flyer!”

Petrified with fear, the two guys watched as the German plane quickly circled around and opened fire at the two helpless pilots as they slowly drifted downward with open chutes.

“ That murdering…doesn’t he know there’s rules even in war…you don’t keep after a man when he’s already down!”

“ What are we gonna do, sir?”

“ I’m gonna get the fucker…that’s what!”

“ Butt Matt…?”

“ Man your post and shut up!”

A second later, it came again, emerging from a nearby cloud.

“ There he is…, sir!”

“ I see him…, I see the mother fucker…!”, replied Matt, turning his plane around and going after the German.

To his dismay, however, the red thing quickly rotated itself over and went into a nose dive, made a U-turn and then accelerated upward toward the English plane, doing all this before Matt had a chance to react.

After hearing a burst of machine gun fire a short distance away, Matt felt a few bullets strike the underside of this craft, jolting him for a moment. Miraculously, he got his plane under control when he yelled, “ Paul, see him?