New Britain herald., 1918-08-02
BATTLE FORMATION
 OF RIVAL AIRMEN
Duels in the Clouds Require
 Greatest Nerve and Skill

l mans in their air battles are graphi- 1 cally described in a communication to l the National Geogra phic society from l Captain Andre de Berroeta, of the l French Aviation Service. His de ] scription of the manner in which the l opposing forces are aligned above the 1 trenches Is made public by the socie~ 1 ty in the following war geogra phy l bulletin issued from it's Washington l headquarters:
 Tt will explain in few words the 1 methods of the pursuit or fighting 1 planes and the special duties which l the aviators of the pursuit squadrons have to perform. To understand the ] tactics of our machines you must be acquainted with the methods of the enemy-that is, with the formation l adopted by the Germans for the exc ] cution of their work.
 "1n normal times the German planes are disposed in three stories. the most elevated being also the farthest from the front
 '1. The spotting and infantry planes at a height of about $500 feet and at least half a mile from, the front. These are protected by:
 "2. defense (barrage) of two seaters, at a height of about 5000 feet and from two to three miles within their lines,
 8. Lastly by the Aces who, util- izing the best single-seat and 3 few two seat planes, hold themselves at 9 height of about 1000 feet. between three and four miles back of their lines.
 "In periods of crisis, when an at tack is believed imminent. or when photographs are to be taken within our lines, the Germans launch large groups of machines over the affected points. Tn particular, reconnaissance missions are executed at heights of 13,50O to t5.500 feet.
 ITO this rigid and defensive ar rangement we oppose 8 war of move ment by the employment of offensive cruisers, terraced like the enenays machines, which 1t is their duty to at tack.
 ''Our fighting machines are at pres ent swift single-seaters, flying from 1c5 to 40 miles per hour, each armed with one or two machine guns, rigidly fastened to the airplane and capable Of shooting only in the direction Of the axis of the machine, not pivoted like the guns on war vessels.
 me pilOC InuSI LnSTelOTe ny straight at the enemy in order to be able to fire at him. He must be skill ful in aiming and steering at the for firing the hostile plane will be In the sighting line of his machine gun. leave you to imagine the skill re- auired to attain this result when one attacks an enemy flying at an aver age velocity of 125 miles per hour. with his own machine going at an equal or greater speed.
 Various Modes of Attack.
 "The following are the principal cases of attack for fighting planes:
 q. The attack by an isolated sim gle-seater on a single ter likewise isolated--t this is the easiest. case. Above all, the effect of surprise is sought, either by taking advantage of fog. or by getting between the sun and the adversary or getting vertical ly over him. where he cannot see you. Having made successful ap- proach, you must get into a good fir ing position---a short distance below and behind your adversary while avoiding the wind from his prope1- Ter.
 ITO accomplish this. each pilot uses his individual methods, which vary in each particular case. One of the common naneuvers consists in diving from sufficient distance to about 300 feet behind the adversary, drop ping so feet lower and coming into position for firing by an upward dash.
 "If the enemy has suspected noth- ing, it is Assassination
 ''If he has seen you, he either fees or accepts combat.
 If he fees. fire after him "If he accepts battle, each adver- sary maneuvers 10 keep the upper po- sition In the air in order to be able to drop suddenly behind and below the other. It is a question of skill and quickness of eye. After 8 few passes, one of the two gets the upper hand. When. the boche feels himself beaten, he usually tries to escape by diving. If he dives in a, straight line. keep firing at him, as at a target. If he zigzags, you must keep close be- hind him, tacking every time he does. His only salvation then lies in the tail-spin or in turning over on the wing,
 e- How Aces Battle.
 'tOften the single-seaters prefer to operate in pairs. Tn this case they either both attack at the same time, in order to divide the attention of the German; or one attacks above, while the other guards the rear of the at tacking machine.
 70 Attack on a two-s scatter by a single-seater. To effect a surprise is always a first consideration The inn portancs of the attacking position is greatly increased by the presence, on the hostile plane, of a. machine-gun operated by the observer and often covering a large field. Before all, one must never get into the three quarters position--rear below, nor