Battle of the Trips
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:27 pmIt was a cool spring morning, April 1917. I hopped into my brand new Sopwith Triplane for a dawn patrol accross the Western Front.
I started the powerful rotery engine. The plane gave a sharp jerk as the engine roared to life. I took off down the field and turned out towards the erie fields of Vimy Ridge. I could see small bursts of light off in the distance. "Machine gun fire" I thought to myself.
Suddenly and without warning, a German Fokker Triplane dived from out of the sun taking me by surprise.
I took quick evasive action to dodge the deadly bursts from his machine guns.
I lined him up in my sights and fired a few quick rounds into the Fokker. I must have hit something critical as he began to spiral out of control. He was on a direct trip towards the earth below.
Somehow, I managed to dodge death once again. I have seen many men killed in the last three years. These are the thoughts that keep me up at night. God willing this war will be over soon. I can only hope my children never have to go through such horror.
I started the powerful rotery engine. The plane gave a sharp jerk as the engine roared to life. I took off down the field and turned out towards the erie fields of Vimy Ridge. I could see small bursts of light off in the distance. "Machine gun fire" I thought to myself.
Suddenly and without warning, a German Fokker Triplane dived from out of the sun taking me by surprise.
I took quick evasive action to dodge the deadly bursts from his machine guns.
I lined him up in my sights and fired a few quick rounds into the Fokker. I must have hit something critical as he began to spiral out of control. He was on a direct trip towards the earth below.
Somehow, I managed to dodge death once again. I have seen many men killed in the last three years. These are the thoughts that keep me up at night. God willing this war will be over soon. I can only hope my children never have to go through such horror.
I've got both those tri-planes, aren't they a joy to fly? 