Captain Harrisons Flight adventure

[bboelke]

An Aviation Tale of Captain Harrison
Prologue
In 1914 Arch-duke Franz Ferdinand wasn’t assassinated, Austria never threatened Serbia, Russia never fought Germany. The Great War never happened. Science progressed, due to the arms race between the large superpowers in Europe, Zeppelins and aircraft improved, technology changed and man moved into the air. The world increasing in violence provided a new market of opportunity for pirates, soldiers and guns-for-hire. Small conflicts were popping up in all the theaters of the world from Africa to the pacific islands. The world was on the edge of war.
Chapter 1: 1917
Large clouds rolled past the bow of the Indomitable. The sound of continuous droning of the twelve Rolls-Royce Merlin engines turning the twenty-four propellers on the bottom of the Indomitable pushing her through many skies around the world. Several S.E. 5 biplanes sat on the fight deck across from the hanger. In the hanger four Sopwith bombers sat while mechanics worked to keep them flying. On the bridge, a man with a clean shaven face wearing long, brown khakis and a large leather flight jacket lined with wool, and on his leg was a brown holster that held his Mauser Pistol. Then the man turned to the helmsman.
“Take us lower.” He ordered The Indomitable dropped below the clouds until it was invisible to any but those on her deck. The Indomitable was the peak of zeppelin technology. She was 320 meter in length and 60 meter wide. She had a flat top on which aircraft were launched, much like the aircraft carriers now appearing on the seas. Her deck was partially shadowed by the large hanger
“Good, hold your course from here. Lieutenant, you have the bridge.” Captain Harrison strolled out of his office and up into one of the main hangers where many planes sat. In front of a plane stood a table and three men, two were dressed in flying gear, while the other was wearing an officer’s uniform. The officer and one of the pilots were in a stiff argument.
“This isn’t a pirate base,” argued Will, the first pilot, “It’s to close to the German border.”
“Well then that makes it a perfect place, doesn’t it?” countered Commander Jackson, “It would be a safe site from all attacks unless it was a German attack or other pirates.”
“It isn’t just that,” Will replied, “there was a Bismarck Attack Zeppelin moored next to the field.”
“Well maybe the pirates stole it from the Germans.” Shouted Jackson
“Not a Bismarck Class Zeppelin, they are the pride of the German aerial fleet.” Will returned.
The other pilot, Jeffery, leaned in and said to Captain Harrison, “they have been having this row ever since we got back form our recon patrol. It’s about the base the British want us to destroy. Jackson doesn’t think that the British would lie about the base being German.”
“You’re right, this may be a trick to get us to attack a strongly fortified German outpost and destroy ourselves. I have served the British for six years ridding the world of all that had displeased the English Empire. After the Boer War England had gone on a conquest of all of it colonies, and restoring a rule with an iron fist. But the English aerial navy had been under equipped and undermanned. So at the beginning of the conquests Britain had relied on us mercenaries to help expand its influence. Now the Royal Air Force was the most powerful in the world only rivaled by Germany’s Luftwaffe. And lately it had been paying off and disbanding the other mercenaries it had once depended on. So it just may be that the British think we have outlived ourselves as mercenaries for them.” Harrison disliked thinking of the British that way since they had been the only ones that had wished to finance his crew and ship.
“Well Captain, do we attack anyway and risk the chance of being tricked and killed?” Jeffery asked.
“The British seemed to have thought that we may have outlived our usefulness,” Answered Harrison, “However we need to call London and ask if this is the correct place and if they are sure that it isn’t a German base. Meanwhile, send more planes out to see if it is truly is a German or pirate base.”
Jackson hurried out the door, while Will and Jeffery headed back out to their fueled and ready plane. Harrison watched them take off then headed back to the bridge.

“No, if the British want us to attack a base then we will. The island of Malta is the perfect place. The British garrison there is large but I know for a fact that half of the men there would keenly join our cause. The only ones that would fight are the British guards protecting the British Viceroy and his followers, the people two will fight for their freedom. I only wish to use it as a base of operation, not to rule the population as the imperialistic nations of the world. Well men, do you agree?” Harrison pulled up a chair and listened to his men’s answers.
Once each man had agreed with the plan he headed towards the bridge. Upon reaching the bridge he spoke to the Crew, “Men, We have been tricked. The British have decided that we have outlived our usefulness to them. They have told us of a pirate base in the Alps that needed our attention. Well it’s not a pirate base. The German base that they wanted use to attack was one of the most heavily armed bases in Europe. I have decided that we will attack a base. One base in the middle of the Mediterranean, on the small island of Malta, remember this will have to be a quick attack so I want to have the element of surprise when we attack. Is that understood?” the men on the bridge replied with a salute, sir and jumping to their stations.
“I want all of the officers, pilots and marines to be in the briefing room on the double and all of the airplanes need to be ready to launch here any second, and they are to be armed with both bombs and rockets.” Captain Harrison sent his head mechanic and crew chief scurrying to complete orders. Later, in the briefing room, Harrison began to lecture his men about the mission ahead.
“Right me, you have heard that the British think that we are no longer useful to them. They think that we need to be replaced; they no longer find us threatening. So I think that we should show them how dangerous it is to try and get rid of us. The hope is that many of the natives will try and throw off the shackles of imperialism. Most of the men used to be under my command and they would willingly join us and fight. They main thing is to surround the government building and get them to surrender. Only fight if necessary, and avoid all civilian casualties at all costs! Remember that the British built most of our weapons and planes so we know where they are weak. We will be mostly on the deck for this operation so be careful, the ground is unforgiving if you crash. The British pilots have trained for low altitude air combat, but so have we! The plan is to destroy as many planes on the airfield before they get aloft, once we have commenced our attack Lieutenant Jackson will bring the Indomitable in close to the ground to unload him and his marines to storm the airfield and take it. Once that is complete the Indomitable will land and unload the rest of the Marines to charge the government buildings while we protect the Indomitable. Remember, once she has landed she is helpless to most attacks. Remember to protect her as she shells the government buildings with her four inch guns. Once the government building is taken, it won’t be hard to get the rest of the soldiers on the island to surrender. Men, watch your backs and Godspeed to you. Dismissed!” As Captain Harrison finished the briefing the men hurried to their planes and positions to begin the preflight check.

to be Continued.

[bboelke]

Soon the sound of engines coughing to life filled the air as shouts of “Contact!” echoed across the flight deck. Harrison walked toward his dark green S.E. 5a biplane parked close to the end of the deck. Its nose was painted a vibrant red, with three Vickers machine guns mounted on the nose just in front of the pilot. Once in his plane he flipped the ignition switch and shouted “Contact!” The mechanic heaved on the propeller and it jerked, coughed and caught sending the propeller whirling. Harrison pushed the throttle forward and the little biplane began to trundle down the deck. Closing on the end of the flight deck the biplane began to climb towards the heavens.
As soon as Harrison was airborne he signaled to Jeffrey in his left wing. The whole flight began to form up in several V’s with Harrison’s plane leading. Harrison signaled to commence the attack. The flight dove towards the ground, each plane picking it target before commencing their attack. Harrison saw several planes gathered near a fuel truck. He winged his plane over and placed his crosshairs over the truck and pulled the triggers. Three Vickers spat lead, and tracers lanced into the side of the truck. A tremendous explosion ripped through the air as the truck combusted along with several planes sitting near it. Satisfied with his work he turned his plane to an enemy biplane being rolled out of a hanger by several men. Again his guns spat lead and tracers ripped through the soft fabric of the airplane sending the ground crew running for shelter. Harrison turns his plane to see three biplanes taking off of the runway. He maneuvered into the tall of the three planes and pulled the trigger. His tracers soon found the first plane, perforating it and causing it to perform a spectacular nosedive into the ground. The plane on the left tried to turn to escape Harrison’s bullets, but his wing caught the ground and sent his plane spinning while it tore apart. The third was lucky and began its ascension to the sky. Harrison caught it halfway up with several rounds into the engine before the plane began the decent to earth trailing a long cloud of dark smoke. Satisfied, Harrison turned his attention to the rest of the battle. The airfield was in ruins as many pillars of smoke curved gracefully on their way to heaven. His men had made short work of the field and had started on the motor pool. Harrison climbed towards the Indomitable and signaled for her to begin landing.
Harrison was ecstatic. The operation was working like clockwork. The British planes in there air were outnumbered while the solders on the ground were running for cover. Some anti-aircraft guns were firing, but they were not enough to stop the tide of airplanes. Something caught Harrison’s eye and he turn to see a large zeppelin brisling with guns, an many English fighters diving towards Harrison’s men. A shell fired from the incoming zeppelin smash into the side of the Indomitable. Something in Harrison’s heart cringed to see his ship roll and slid into the smoke while a large explosion made it seem that it had never existed. He despaired because he knew that it had been destroyed. He turned towards the Devonshire and dived on here, opening up with his guns and raked the deck in an act of defiance. He knew it was futile and soon a loudspeaker shouted at him and his men.
“Harrison and pilots, Land on the runway and surrender. Your ship is destroyed. You are traitors to the crown. Land and surrender or you will be destroyed!”
Harrison had no choice, he was forced to surrender or the last of his men would be killed and he couldn’t stand to have any more deaths on his conscience. Upon landing Harrison’s pilots were surrounded by several British soldiers pointing Lee-Enfield rifles at him and his men. He was crushed by his loss of all the men that were on the Indomitable. He was unanimated as the soldiers led him and his men towards the prison cells.

to be continued

[bboelke]

Chapter 3
Harrison was unchanging in the cell. Jeffrey had tried everything to help the mood improve. Nothing was working.
“Captain, maybe the Indomitable didn’t go down. Maybe she survived the sinking. You know your crew would do everything to keep here up. It their home as much as ours, and they would do every thing to keep her up.”
“Even if they did,” Harrison responded, “she is damaged beyond repair. They are probably on an island trying to get here or flying away if they didn’t crash.”
“So Pessimistic on our outlook captain?” said a voice from the door of the hut. It was Jackson and several of his marines, walking in through the door. He turned to the nearest two.
“Spring our pilots and Captain from the cell men,” Ordered Jackson, “we need to get a move on if we are going to get off this island.”
The Indomitable sat in the center of the field.
“We sunk in after dark sir,” Jackson explained to Harrison, “the soldiers were partying in the barracks and they surrendered as soon as we had them looking down their own rifles. And the Devonshire headed of to patrol the ocean on the other side of the Island. We have field to ourselves, sir.”
“Good, where are our airplanes?” asked Harrison
“On the runway to one side, my men have already fuelled and armed them.” answered Jackson
“To your planes men, we are leaving this island. Lieutenant, I want the Indomitable in the air as soon as possible.”
As Harrison was getting in his plane a siren went off and the Devonshire followed by its sister ship the Norfolk arrived over the airfield. Two full squadrons of Sopwith Camels soared overhead. Harrison knew that his goose was cooked. This much firepower would blow the Indomitable out of the sky and his planes on the ground stood to suffer the same. He turned and prepared to surrender. A British officer was walking across the field followed by some twenty armed men. Jackson’s marines stood and held their rifles in a ready position, for what Harrison had no idea.
“Harrison, I knew that I had to destroy your ship, it seems to be invincible unless you see it go down. I am Captain Roy Brown. Pleased to make your acquaintance Harrison. I am here to deliver you to the British Parliament to discuses your trial as a traitor, and now I have your whole crew and your ship with serve her majesties Royal navy quite well.” Brown Sneered.
“Not so,” Answered Jackson, “We have an ace up our sleeve.”
“What,” asked Brown seemingly amused by Jackson’s bravery. “Was it the Indomitable, because, if it moves it will be shot from the sky like a clay pigeon.”
“No, Brown it’s the Germans coming out of the sky above your ships. Our forces outnumber you now!”
As Jackson shouted this as two large Zeppelins, Deutschland and Leipzig, plowed through the night sky into the fray and came to a stop with their many guns trained on the Devonshire and the Norfolk. Many Fokker tri-planes filled the sky all surrounding the enemy Camels and a loudspeaker came to life, ordering the British to surrender.
Harrison was overjoyed, “Well Brown it looks as if I have won. You may tell your men to lay down their arms or they will be blown from the sky.”
“ Not so! We will fight to the death!” he said as he and his men opened fire and ran across the airfield to their planes.
A flight of three Fokker Tri-planes came to land close to the group of men. A tall Prussian military officer removed himself from the cockpit and walked over to the group of men. His swagger was detected by Harrison instantly. Baron Von Richthofen smiled as he shook hands with Harrison.
“Captain I find this to be a most pleasing sight. I need to talk to you Harrison. But I believe that we must see to these pesky Englanders. Good luck and godspeed to you.”
“And Godspeed to you Richthofen.” And the two pilots exchanged farewells they parted ways and turning Harrison addressed Jackson.
“Jackson, I think that the British are about to find out what happens to someone if they cross us. With two attack zeppelins they are going to never forget the meaning of traitor.” Harrison announced
From there the pilots rushed to there plane and took to the skies. Red Fokkers and Green S.E.5s flew against brown and green Sopwiths, tracers scored through the sky, and planes fell from the mealy smoking or burning. The Zeppelins began to turn and started to fire on one and another.
From there the pilots rushed to there plane and took to the skies. Red Fokkers and Green S.E.5s flew against brown and green Sopwiths, tracers scored through the sky, and planes fell from the mealy smoking or burning.
Harrison was on the tail of a Sopwith when tracer cut through his plane, several passing under his chair and tearing small holes in the wing and fuselage. He turned to see a Sopwith directly below him, the pilot closing in. Harrison went into a dive then a sharp turn to his right the again to his left trying to shake the plane on his rear. Another hail of bullets ripped into his wing as the Sopwith maneuvered behind him. Harrison dived again in hope to shake the pursuer, jinking to the left and the right, climbing and diving, turning and evading, as more bullets cut in to his plane. Then he remembered the stunt that Oswalt Boelke had pulled on him, the sudden stop. Harrison immediately pulled on the throttle, almost killing the engine and slowing his planes speed. The pilot tailing him shot past then turned to see where his prey had gone. Harrison pushed the throttle back and lined up his guns on the cockpit of his would be assassin. He unleashed the fire of his three Vickers Machine guns. Bullets slammed into the plane but this pilot Turned and avoided most of Harrison’s bullet barrage. Harrison, determined to get a kill stuck to the enemy plane, trying to get a shot in, but the pilot was very good and every time Harrison had the enemy in his sights he would jink, turn or dive. Harrison was becoming frustrated. Finally Harrison had a good shot and yet again he opened up, but two of the guns jam and the enemy pilot alerted turned out of the sights. Harrison cursed, two of his three guns had jammed and he couldn’t unjam them until he landed, he would just have to shot him down with one gun. He dove back onto the tail of the enemy pilot and continued to follow him, twisting and turning like a foreign dance. Yet again Harrison had the pilot in his sights and fired one long burst until he had empted the gun of all its ammo. Soon after the enemy plane began to smoke and plunged toward the ground. Harrison followed moving bullets from the other two jammed guns to the unjammed one. Almost before the plane hit the ground it recovered and began to fly along close to the ground with the engine sputtering and smoking. Harrison flew down beside it and singled the pilot to land.
Once the plane had landed Harrison’s men surrounded it, while Harrison turned back to the fray. Several Sopwiths were heading away form the fray while several were holding of the rest of the fighters in order for the rest to escape. Harrison knew that they didn’t have the range to have come from the main land so that must mean that there was an aircraft carrying ship or zeppelin, and if he found it then he could take it. Harrison flew towards one of his pilots and ordered the flight to follow him. Soon he and several aircraft were heading towards were the English fighters where headed. After passing through a cloudbank he saw a larger version of his own Indomitable He signaled the group to turn back and head for there own ships.
Back at the base the last of the English fighters were leaving but the Devonshire and the Norfolk were still putting up a fight. The Indomitable had not joined the fray but was heading that direction.

to be continued

[bboelke]

Harrison shot up a flare to signal that he needed to land immediately. Soon he was on the deck of the Indomitable and directing the battle from there. He also called Jackson onto the bridge.
“Jackson, I just found a large version of the Indomitable hiding in the clouds,” Stated Harrison, “And I intend to make it ours. Are the boarding teams ready?”
“Yes Sir, ready and waiting.” saluted Jackson.
“Good. Prepare to board at once.”
As Harrison directed the helmsman to where the other English Zeppelin was, Jackson was readying the best group of solders to board the enemy ship.
Through the clouds the Indomitable traveled, searching for the English ship. Harrison began to worry that it was on a different heading than he may have been lead to think.
“Captain, there is no sign of the enemy vessel.” The helmsman told Harrison, worry in his tone. “Are you sure you saw here?”
“Positive.” Harrison replies, “Without a doubt.”
The constant searching had all of the crew worried, but none doubted their fearless commander. And soon enough a shape appeared in the clouds.
“Captain, there is a ship dead ahead. What now sir?” the Helmsman questioned.
“Steer over her flight deck. Lieutenant, you have the Bridge. I will participate in the boarding action.” Harrison commanded as he left the room.
Soon he was down at the keel of the ship, in a large room where the men were waiting. Each one was next to a small gilder, hanging from rails that stretched the length of the roof heading to a large closed door in the center of the floor. Each Glider was built for two, one to drive the other shoot. Each man was double checking their equipment. Jackson was near one of the closes glider with no one else near. Harrison headed over to Jackson.
“Care if I join you?” Harrison asked
“Not at all Captain.” Jackson replied looking a little smug as he answered, “In fact I was expecting you.”
“Good. Now let’s get Airborne.”
The men sat down in the gliders as the floor opened up and one by one the gliders slide of the rails and soared into the sky. The enemy ships deck was right below them and the men had no problem landing on the deck. They regrouped and headed to there goals, some to the engine room, others to the barracks, more to the hangers and the rest with Harrison towards the bridge. As Harrison ran across the deck towards the bridge he saw several armed men come out of a hatch and begin to spread out on the deck. Harrison dropped to the ground and aimed his rifle at the first man he saw. He wore a cap and had several chevrons on his shoulder, indicating that he was an officer. Taking the safety off his gun he squeezed the trigger and felt the butt of the rifle dig into his arm as the bullet sped off towards the man. Harrison watched as he dropped down and didn’t move. He twisted the bolt on his rifle, ejecting the spent cartridge and moving the next bullet into the chamber. He squeezed two more shots of at the men on the deck, and two more men fell and didn’t rise again. More men began to exit up through the hatch, and those that were already out began to fire. Two of Harrison’s men towards the front fell from bullets and two men behind Harrison began to fire. More and more shots were being fired. Men around Harrison began to fall from the lead assassins flying through the air, while more men fell. Harrison reached the hatch leading to below decks. He wrenched open the hatch and began to travel into the bowels of the ship.
As he traveled down thought the gasbags towards the bridge, he spotted two men readying a machine gun on the axis catwalk in the center of the ship. Stopping he takes aim and squeezed the trigger. The first man screams as the bullet entered his chest, and the second tried to reach his rifle, but Harrison is faster and the second man dropped as a bullet took him out. Harrison continues towards the bridge swing onto the keel catwalk on the bottom of the ship. As he runs along the catwalk he comes to some stairs into the bridge of the enemy zeppelin. He dives down the stairs and begins to enter the control car. As he turns the corner to see the door block by chart table, he sees a machine gun set up behind the door. He gets behind the wall just in time as the hail of bullets ripped into the opposite wall; he could get through the door while the machine gun was still there.
Two of Harrison’s men came up behind him.
“Captain, several of the engines have been captured, also the hanger is ours. We haven’t been able to get into some of the crew quarters and two of the engine rooms; however we have full control of everything else.”
“Contact one of the German Zeppelins; have come to our position to help protect us from any other British ships in the area.” Harrison ordered.
“How are we going to get into the into the control car, sir?” asked one of the soldiers.
“We are going to the floor above this one and. we will repel into the bridge from the decks above. Get together some other soldiers so that we can take the bridge.” Harrison ordered.
Ten minutes later, twenty men were standing near windows above the bridge in a gun deck. All were wearing harnesses over their uniforms and had one end of a rope and in there other hands each held an odd assortment of pistols; a few American Colt .45 automatics, one or two German Luger .38 automatics, several English Webley .45 revolvers and one French Modele 35 pistol. Each man looked ready for battle. Harrison removed his Mauser from his holster and checked it. Then he cocked it and headed toward one window. Once at the window he nodded towards the other soldiers and jumped out the window. The rope caught and he began to repel until they were just above the bridge. Harrison stopped and waited for the others in his squad to assemble above the bridge. He shouted and jumped backwards and swung towards the large windows. He hit the windows and broke through, firing his Mauser. The Helmsman died on the spot and the radioman turned as two bullets hit him and he fell on his equipment, the second officer turned and was able to draw his gun when he was hit and fell like a puppet whose strings had been cut. The two machine gunners tried to turn but were cut down. And the captain turned and received two wounds to the arm and several to his upper chest, and several other crew were wounded. Two of Harrison’s men were shot, one wounded and one fell back out the window. Harrison walked toward the fallen captain.
“Do you surrender?” Harrison demanded of the captain.
“We do.” He replied.
“You are to have the rest of your sailors and soldiers surrender to our men and you and your men will be head back to England vie a steamship head that way. Your ship is now under our control.” Harrison turned as looked at his men.
to be contiued

[Willi Von Klugerman]

A very imaginative story bboelke!I love the idea of zeps as aircraft carriers!