To reaching its height, a two man
French crew took flight; their
mission
To destroy an enemy railway
station.
Within a cloudy sky, the French
craft
Was to come face to face with a
German
Aircraft, formed of a
substantial size.
This a double engine air Cruiser in
fast
Flight undaunted them who set to
engage -
French bullets rattled across the
space
Between them - when the gun jammed.
The observer shouted to the pilot
To dive - equally adept and
instantly
The German also spiralled after them.
The French observer was hindered
By 90mm bombs – knowing that
If need to crash land they would
blow -
He hurriedly removed the fuses.
On taking out the last one, a
bullet
Hit him in the back - then another
Cut his wrist, as part of a
propeller
Hit his eye - the observer held on.
Then the craft under assault, jerked
As the pilot shouted he had been
Hit in the stomach - he collapsed.
The observer took to the controls -
Managing to level off he saw
Sunlight shine on helmets below -
Were they falling to enemy lines?
The pilot called out, beneath them
Were French lines - in safety they
Hit ground - badly hurt both men
Were advised for Legion of honour.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. French Airman's Pluck - Fight
With Big Aeroplane. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 13 October. P.7. Col.3. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11922630/Daily-Telegraph-October-13-1915.html
[Accessed: 14 October 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 14 October 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1French
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