Lot Essay
INDENTSecond Lieutenant Alfred Amey joined 55 Squadron as Observer in September 1918. He saw his first action on 14th. of September when he and Johns took part in an attack on Ehrang, and the next day was in action again taking part in a raid against Stuttgart. On this occasion the aircraft was badly damaged and Amey ran out of ammunition. The twelve aircraft from the squadron suffered no casualties, despite being attacked by twenty enemy aircraft on the outward journey and several more on the return trip.
The next day, Monday, 16th September, twelve DH4's from 55 squadron took off for Mannheim, their target the Lanz works and railway yards. Johns was flying in number 5 position in the first formation when his aircraft was hit by "archie".
'"The trouble" Johns remembers "began near Saverne. I was watching a string of what appeared to be gaudy butterflies crawling along the ground: now and then the sun flashed on their wings. It was a full squadron of Fokker DVIIs trailing us and climbing fast. There was a bit of 'archie' about, nothing to worry us, but the odd chance came off. There was terrific explosion almost in my face, and a blast of air and smoke nearly turned my machine over. I tried the controls anxiously and all seemed well but a stink of petrol filled my nostrils and I glanced down: my cockpit was swimming with the stuff.
Johns switched over to his reserve tank, but it was empty. Amey passed over a scribbled note. 'Main tank gone'. Johns glanced around. The German aircraft were about two miles behind and some 4,000 feet below. Johns' altimeter registered 19,500 feet and he was sixty miles from home. The situation was grim. He pulled his bomb toggle and sent his bombs on their last journey. Relieved of their weight he tried to climb for the sun as Amey fired a green Very light to let Mackay know they were in trouble and leaving the formation. Afterwards Johns wondered why the flash from the Very pistol had not set the petrol-soaked machine on fire.
Five minutes later Amey's Lewis gun was in action as the leading Fokkers approached. Adjusting his compensator, which cut fuel and speed but also extended range, Johns tried to climb to 21,000 to get beyond the German fighters' height capabilities.
"The leader came in with a rush and I touched the rudder-bar to let his tracer go by. A bunch of them came up under my elevators and I kicked out my foot, slewing Amey round without losing height, to bring his guns to bear. The Fokkers came right in and I give them credit for facing Amey's music. One turned over, a second spun out of it, but another came right in to point-blank range; Amey raked him for and aft without stopping him. Others came down on us from above".
Johns' windscreen shattered and the instrument board shed glass and wood splinters. A bullet ripped his goggles off while another seared his hip painfully. Wiping the blood out of his eyes, Johns, peered round in time to see Amey sinking slowly to the to floor of his cockpit
('By Jove Biggles' by Peter Berresford Ellis and Piers Williams),
Johns survived the crash landing which followed, but Amey was already dead having been shot through the head and body. Johns was taken prisoner, and Amey's body accompanied him to Germany Army headquarters at Zaburn where it is presumed he is buried
The next day, Monday, 16th September, twelve DH4's from 55 squadron took off for Mannheim, their target the Lanz works and railway yards. Johns was flying in number 5 position in the first formation when his aircraft was hit by "archie".
'"The trouble" Johns remembers "began near Saverne. I was watching a string of what appeared to be gaudy butterflies crawling along the ground: now and then the sun flashed on their wings. It was a full squadron of Fokker DVIIs trailing us and climbing fast. There was a bit of 'archie' about, nothing to worry us, but the odd chance came off. There was terrific explosion almost in my face, and a blast of air and smoke nearly turned my machine over. I tried the controls anxiously and all seemed well but a stink of petrol filled my nostrils and I glanced down: my cockpit was swimming with the stuff.
Johns switched over to his reserve tank, but it was empty. Amey passed over a scribbled note. 'Main tank gone'. Johns glanced around. The German aircraft were about two miles behind and some 4,000 feet below. Johns' altimeter registered 19,500 feet and he was sixty miles from home. The situation was grim. He pulled his bomb toggle and sent his bombs on their last journey. Relieved of their weight he tried to climb for the sun as Amey fired a green Very light to let Mackay know they were in trouble and leaving the formation. Afterwards Johns wondered why the flash from the Very pistol had not set the petrol-soaked machine on fire.
Five minutes later Amey's Lewis gun was in action as the leading Fokkers approached. Adjusting his compensator, which cut fuel and speed but also extended range, Johns tried to climb to 21,000 to get beyond the German fighters' height capabilities.
"The leader came in with a rush and I touched the rudder-bar to let his tracer go by. A bunch of them came up under my elevators and I kicked out my foot, slewing Amey round without losing height, to bring his guns to bear. The Fokkers came right in and I give them credit for facing Amey's music. One turned over, a second spun out of it, but another came right in to point-blank range; Amey raked him for and aft without stopping him. Others came down on us from above".
Johns' windscreen shattered and the instrument board shed glass and wood splinters. A bullet ripped his goggles off while another seared his hip painfully. Wiping the blood out of his eyes, Johns, peered round in time to see Amey sinking slowly to the to floor of his cockpit
('By Jove Biggles' by Peter Berresford Ellis and Piers Williams),
Johns survived the crash landing which followed, but Amey was already dead having been shot through the head and body. Johns was taken prisoner, and Amey's body accompanied him to Germany Army headquarters at Zaburn where it is presumed he is buried