Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. , livre ebook

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182 pages

English

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One key factor that differentiated World War I from all of the military conflicts that had gone before it was the widespread use of aircraft in battle. Acclaimed action-adventure novelist Percy F. Westerman takes advantage of this fact in Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S., which recounts the thrilling wartime exploits of one intrepid WWI airman and his crew.

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Children's

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 août 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776528448
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

BILLY BARCROFT, R.N.A.S.
A STORY OF THE GREAT WAR
* * *
PERCY F. WESTERMAN

*
Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. A Story of the Great War First published in 1917 ISBN 978-1-77652-844-8 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Preface Chapter I - "Your Bird!" Chapter II - A Price on His Head Chapter III - Concerning Peter Barcroft Chapter IV - When the Zeppelin was Out Chapter V - At Ladybird Fold Chapter VI - Kidnapped Chapter VII - The Raid Chapter VIII - 'Midst the Scene of Red Ruin Chapter IX - Betty Chapter X - The Seaplane's Quest Chapter XI - The Terrors of the Air Chapter XII - The Raider's Return Chapter XIII - Exit Seaplane No. 445b Chapter XIV - Butterfly Chapter XV - Recalled by Wire Chapter XVI - Captives in a Submarine Chapter XVII - The Middle Watch Chapter XVIII - An Ocean Duel Chapter XIX - Held Up in the North Sea Chapter XX - Investigations Chapter XXI - On the Trail Chapter XXII - The Struggle on the Cliffs Chapter XXIII - On the Rocks Chapter XXIV - Entwistle's Decision Chapter XXV - The Bombing Expedition Chapter XXVI - A Futile Rescue Chapter XXVII - Fugitives Chapter XXVIII - Tracked Chapter XXIX - Gassed Chapter XXX - The Barn by the River Chapter XXXI - The Frontier Chapter XXXII - An Averted Catastrophe Chapter XXXIII - Von Eitelwurmer's Opportunity Chapter XXXIV - Kirkwood's Windfall Chapter XXXV - One Cartridge Left Chapter XXXVI - The Elusive Objective Chapter XXXVII - "The Great Strafe" Chapter XXXVIII - Snatched from Her Pursuers Chapter XXXIX - And Last
Preface
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THE GREAT WAR OF 1914 opened the floodgates of hatred between thenations which took part and this stirring story, written whenfeelings were at their highest, conveys a true impression of theattitude adopted towards our enemies. No epithet was considered toostrong for a German and whilst the narrative thus conveys the realatmosphere and conditions under which the tragic event was foughtout it should be borne in mind that the animosities engendered bywar are now happily a thing of the past, Therefore, the reader,whilst enjoying to the full this thrilling tale, will do well toremember that old enmities have passed away and that we are nowreconciled to the Central Powers who were opposed to us.
Chapter I - "Your Bird!"
*
Two Bells of the First Dog Watch somewhere in the North Sea.
To be a little more definite it was bordering that part of the NorthSea that merges into the narrow Straits of Dover and almost withinrange of the German shore batteries of Zeebrugge.
It was mid-October. The equinoctial gales had not yet arrived toconvert the placid surface of the sea into a regular turmoil ofshort, broken waves. Hardly a ripple ruffled the long gentleundulations. Not a cloud obscured the sky. The slanting rays of thesun played uninterruptedly upon the sloping deck of H.M. SeaplaneCarrier "Hippodrome" as she forged slowly ahead, surrounded by anescort of long, lean destroyers.
Her day's work was apparently over. The operations against theZeebrugge defences—operations of almost a daily occurrence—hadbeen carried out according to orders. The observation "kite" balloonhad been hauled down and stowed in the "Hippodrome's" after-well;her brood of seaplanes had, save one, returned from their task of"spotting" for the guns of the monitors, and everything had beenmade snug for the run back to her base. She awaited only thereappearance of the stray "duckling" to increase speed for homewaters.
"Billy's getting properly strafed, I fancy," remarkedFlight-Lieutenant John Fuller as the distant growl of innumerable"antis" reverberated in the still air. "Wonder what the deuce he'sdoing? When we swung about over Position 445 he was heading almostdue east."
"Billy won't suffer from cold feet," rejoined his companion—"aregular glutton for work. Give him a chance for a stunt (bombingraid) and he's all there. For a mere youngster, I say, he's—"
Further remarks concerning the rashness of Billy—otherwiseFlight-sub-lieutenant Barcroft—were postponed by the appearance ofyet another member of the "Hippodrome's" flying-officers.
"Young Barcroft's just tick-tocked through," he announced. "He's onhis way back. Cool cheek, by Jove! Keeping the crowd of us waitingwhile he's joy-riding somewhere in the direction of Berlin. Wonderhow far he went?"
From where they stood, just abaft the starboard funnel-casing, theofficers scanned the horizon. The "Hippodrome," like most of hersisters, had at one time been a liner, but the building up of alaunching-platform for seaplanes had resulted in considerablealterations to her external and internal appearance. Amongst otherthings she now had two funnels abreast and far apart in place of heroriginal foremost one, in order to give full scope to the inclinedplane that extended from her bows to within a few feet of thenavigation bridge—a piece of new construction perched at least 150feet further aft than the old bridge and chart-room of pre-war days.
The clank of a steam winch and the swinging overhead of a long steelderrick announced the fact that preparations were being made towelcome home the "stray bird." Although a seaplane could be launchedwith ease from the sloping platform, on her return she would have toalight in the water and "taxi" alongside her parent ship. Hence thenecessity for a long and powerful derrick to swing the seaplane,with its broad expanse of wings, clear of the ship's side anddeposit it carefully upon deck.
"Here he comes!" exclaimed Fuller, indicating a faint object in theeastern sky.
Rapidly it resolved itself into a large biplane with triple floatsin place of the three landing wheels that form a necessary adjunctto army aeroplanes. Then the polished wood propeller, glinting inthe oblique rays of the sun, could be discerned as it slowed downpreparatory to the seaplane commencing a thousand feet glide.
With a succession of splashes the biplane took the water, "bringingup" with admirable judgment at a distance of less than fifty yardsfrom the starboard quarter of the parent ship.
The seaplane carried a crew of two. The pilot pushing up a pair ofgoggles revealed a fresh-looking, clean-cut face that gave one theimpression of a public school boy. Billy Barcroft was still in histeens. He had just another month to enter into his twentieth year.In height he was a fraction under five feet ten inches; weight—animportant consideration from an airman's point of view—was "tenseven." Supple and active, he carried not an ounce of superfluousflesh. Standing up and lightly grasping a stay, he swayed naturallyto the slight lift of the seaplane—the personification of thatproduct of the Twentieth Century, the airman.
His companion, who had just completed the "winding in" of thetrailing aerial, raised his head above the coaming surrounding theobserver's seat. In appearance he resembled Barcroft sostrongly-that the pair might have been taken for twin-brothers. Butno relationship, save the ties of friendship and duty, existedbetwixt Billy Barcroft and his observer, Bobby Kirkwood. The latterwas an Assistant Paymaster, who, deserting the ship's office for thefreedom of the air, had already mastered the intricacies of"wireless" and other qualifications necessary for the responsibleduties of observer.
"You've been a jolly long time, you belated bird!" shouted Fuller inmock reproof. "What's the stunt?"
"Couldn't help it," replied Barcroft with a broad grin. "If you werein my place and saw a crowd of Hun Staff officers pushing along inmotor-cars wouldn't your idea of courtesy lead you to pay them alittle attention? Kirkwood gave 'em a couple of plums and a wholedrum. Result—a slight increase in the Hun death-rate."
Barcroft had, in fact, gone well inland over the German batteries,on a sort of informal joy-ride. From a height of 5,000 feet theobserver had spotted what appeared to be a motor convoy bowlingalong the road between Zeebrugge and Bruges. With a daring borderingon recklessness the pilot had vol-planed down to within two hundredfeet, greatly to the consternation of the grey-cloaked German Staffofficers, who, leaving the shelter of their steelroofed cars,scurried with loss of dignity for the safety that was denied most ofthem. For with admirable precision Kirkwood had dropped two bombsfairly into the line of cars, following up the attack by firing awhole drum of ammunition from the Lewis gun into the fleeing Huns.
Deftly the flexible steel wire from the outswung derrick engaged thelifting hooks of the seaplane. The machine was just clear of thewater when the order came "Avast heaving." Simultaneously a bugleblared. It was the call for Flying Officers.
Leaping into the stern sheets of a boat in attendance, Barcroft andKirkwood were taken to the side of the "Hippodrome," where theygained the deck of the ship. Already Fuller and the rest of theairmen had gone aft. Something was literally in the air.
The signal commander held up a leaf torn from a signal pad.
"A wireless has just come through," he announced in clear deliberatetones. "A hostile plane has made a raid over parts of Kent. She isnow on her way back, apparently heading for Ostend. Machines fromEastchurch have started in pursuit, but the Hun has a useful lead.Now, gentlemen, a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse: we arebetween the raider and his base."
The assembly dispersed like magic, the airmen hurriedly donningleather jackets and flying helmets and giving peremptory orders