South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-25
AIR PILOT TELLS
OF AERIAL FIGHTS
Says Initiative, Speed and
Daring Are Needed in
Plane Battles.

LONDON. May 25.-Writing IN a
London newspaper. British AIR
pilot today gives the following &C
count OF the swift daring stratagem
of air battles
CLOSING into conflict. the primary
idea of the pilot of each air craft IS
10 obtain the best strategical posi-
ton; that is with both the machines
travelling down wind and in the
same direction. The best strategical
position is above the other machine.
there 10 be able 10 take IT with ma
chine gun IRE, or, If needed, To drop
bombs on it,
Having attained the strategical
position the three qualities most re-
quired are initiative, speed, and dar-
ing: initiative. because ii is the un-
expected move that always wins the
aerial combat: speed. 20 be able to
climb faster than the other machine;
and daring, 10 accomplish that
which the enemy fears TO essay.
pilots in the stress and excite
ment OF a hot tight repeatedly per
form evolutions that they admit
would be impossible TO them in their
saner moments. for the strain on the
machine is enormous.
With the greater number Of
aeropIancs the machine gun fires
through the blades of the propeller.
This means that at least five percent
OF the bullets will be DETECTED.
With only the pilot aboard it is
"A matter of extreme difficulty TO
manoeuVre the gun and the plane
at one and the same time.
With some types Of machine it is
impossible.
Wind Influences Fight.
The direction of the wind influ-
ences the combat TO a very large ex-
tent. Let us take as an example two
aeroplanes. A and r. both with a
speed of so miles per hour. APP
preaching one another. A is flying
down wind with the wind) and a
wind of ! 3 miles behind it. A there
fore has an actual speed of 90 miles
per hour. Il, on the other hand,
travelling against the same wind. has
only a speed of 60 miles. Therefore
A has an advantage in speed of 90
miles
Before November. 1915, enemy
airmeN were loath 10 give light at
any price The Fokker. with its SUI
perior engine power. made its APP
pearance and the German airmen
became not only willing but anxious.
The lighting aeroplane, or. to
give it its officials title. the battle
plane. is a machine of an entirely
different type from those used for
reconnaissance and gun spotting'
work. Its main duty is to convoy
the bomb-drOppers on raiding expe-
ditions and 10 beat off any attacks
that may be made upon them.
1T is essential that it shall be
able TO climb rapidly and that it has
a powerful engine, in order that if
it be out-numbered it can get away
by means of superior speed.
The preferable types Of machine
for this class OF work are those of
the 'pusher' propeller behind) and
double engine variety.
Wider Field of Fire.
by removing the propeller blades
from the fOrepart of the fuselage /
(bOdy). the gunner is given at least I
an so percent wider field of fire.
When the firing is through the |
propeller the accuracy entirely de- |
ponds on the skill of the pilot in /
the machine into the /
required position-that is with the /
nose pointing directly towari ne /
other machine.
Thus il will be seen that with /
each movement OF the attacked the .
attacker must Immediately follow
suit. and the probability is that if
he be not wary enough he will be
led into a trap over the enemy guns.
Another most important matter
is a suitable mounting for the gun
This must allow the largest possible
area of elevation and depression.
THE best direction in which TO
fire the gun depends on the type of
machine With some the best di-