HIGH
FLIERS
By Rosemary Clarke
Oh Danny Boy the pipes the pipes are
calling, they are to me, there won't be any 'after the war' for me Hun'll see
to that; those flaming onions!
It's just before dawn, lovely sky not a
cloud in it. I wonder what Paddy's doing; at least one of this family is
getting it right! Mum's drinking too much, didn't touch a drop before
this damn war now...I know it, the worry, the money how to keep things together
but I can't keep all of them!
After all that argument of the SE's I'm
flying one; hope the bugger doesn't fall to bits on me or the gun jam...no
parachutes still! How do we fight this thing if H.Q won't give us the
equipment! All I want is a quick death, no flamerinoes for me!
Good, pistol's in my pocket. They can laugh, Mick taking pot shots at the
Huns; Taffy and I know what it's really for.
The waiting for Kiwi seems endless...God
knows I'd love to see this place again, I'd even sit through one of those awful
plays they're always putting on. That dream said it though; death's the
only real rest you get from this bloody war!
Here comes Kiwi... they're so young now,
schoolboys really newly washed and ready for battle, well, I promised him his
first blood so here goes; I hope we'll be able to find an early flying
two-seater coming over.
Everything looks so bright today, so real as
though I'm coming out of a dream, waking up. The grass seems greener, wet
almost emerald with the sun coming up properly now.
I've told Kiwi to follow me up closely and
he'll get in a good position to give 'em a good burst. I don't feel I
shall last much longer, spent out but if I'm killed I'll be in good company.
McCudden, Rastas, Bond... Taffy's not done for
yet...might even meet the great Albert Bell himself, have a flying lesson.
Wonder how Piddles is; catching more mice or
curling up where he shouldn't be most likely. He'll last it out; cats
definately have nine lives!
Oh look at that a blackbird full of the joys
of life, singing his little heart out! I do love their yellow beaks; a
light shining in the darkness. I do believe he's wishing us luck!
Ten past 5 and still no sign of cloud.
The aircraft look new, glossy and shiny like new toys out of their boxes.
Davidge, Biggs...damn good mechanics... I'll never see these men again.
In and strap up! Be better up in the
air...no balloons as yet; come on old 1294 don't let me down!
Damned eye messing about as usual, no real
pain this time, used to it with one eye but that shrapnel; I'm lucky I'm flying
at all. Wonder if we'll see Hun or if it'll be like yesterday, or will I
get my 73rd as Davidge said.
They're lovely old buses some of those Hun
craft; red and yellow like brightly coloured bugs hovering and dipping in the
sky ...shame you have to shoot them down but it's war and they’re shooting at us.
Once round the block; hope Kiwi's keeping up. Nothing as yet, open the throttle
and up we go. Ah, that's better and here comes Kiwi.
Alright here's one coming towards the lines
...get East get East! God, he nearly had me! Kiwi's doing
well. Bang on! Flamerino sizzle... sizzle... wonk! It's like
moths to a flame, must see it go down...will I do that? Look at him
spin! He's done for, thumbs up to Kiwi there's one in the fire!
Down, down ...bang! All over for him.
The battlefield's covered with holes and
craters, looks like the beginning of Earth no lava though; little men running
about. It's a game isn't it, a huge game ... but who's playing it?
Bloody Hell Archies! Hard right, keep it
straight...come on you bastards make it easy for me!
God I wish this war would end! God
take me back to the boys, get this bus down, let it be alright...
Rudder's gone, looks like it's all over for
me... Kiwi's shot up badly too, fuel tank looks like. Oh God it's
happening! I'm burning on my right side still, I've got my pistol thank
God; told 'em I'm not being sizzled!
INTO THE MESS OR TO BETHUNE!
Copyright Rosemary Clarke
