THE RESCUE FLIGHT

by Captain W. E. Johns

VIII. A RACE FOR LIFE (Pages 100 – 110)

“But in this he was not quite correct. He was to learn what many other British pilots had already learned – sometimes to their cost – that a return journey from enemy country could take a good deal longer than the outward trip because of the wind, which in northern France almost invariably blows from west to east, retarding the speed of a plane in direct ratio to its force”. Biggles points out a more southerly course in order to avoid some distant enemy aircraft but they are seen and pursued. Thirty looks round at his brother. “Forty was leaning idly against the rear gun mounting, staring down at the enemy scouts with an expression of bored indifference. The sight did a lot to restore Thirty’s confidence”. The planes are near enough to be recognised as Albatros scouts. Ahead is thick cloud and suddenly five scarlet-painted Triplanes burst out of the cloud and bear down on them. The three British machines are caught “between two fires”. The British planes bear down on the Triplanes who break formation rather than have a head on collision and the British machines plunge into an aerial chasm in the clouds. “Even at that desperate moment he (Thirty) found time to marvel on it, for it was a scene such as not even Dante could have imagined. It was unreal; a fantasy. Below lay a colossal pit, the base of which was lost in blue mist. On either side, ice-blue walls towered up to the paler blue of heaven. Billows of gleaming white, so bright that they dazzled the eyes, flecked the sun-drenched rim of this stupendous cavity, the bottom and sides of which were as intangible as the atmosphere through which they roared”. Biggles signals to Thirty to go on as they are now within sight of the Lines then Biggles and Algy turn back to fight the German aircraft which are almost upon them. Four more Camels arrive and Thirty recognises Mahoney from his red, yellow and blue streamers. Thirty turns back to lead the new Camels to Biggles and Algy. Thirty sees a red Triplane plunge down in flames. Another Triplane comes out gliding with a dead propeller and goes into a spin and Thirty sees Algy’s Camel nearby. The British planes dive for home and Thirty lands back at their aerodrome. “Stiffly, he climbed out on to the wing and jumped to the ground”.