Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-19

In particular. reconnaissance missions are executed at heights of 13,5eo to 800 feet
 ITO this rigid and defensive arrange ment we oppose a war of movement by the employment of offensive crui- sers, terraced like the enemy's ma chimes which it is their duty to at- tack
 Our fighting machines are at pres ent swift single -seaters, flying from 125 to 140 miles per hour, each armed l with one or two nachin- 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.
 The pilot must therefore fly straight at the enemy in order to be able to fire at him. He must be skillful in aiming and steering at the same time so that at the moment for firing the hostile plane vii. be in the sighting l line of his machine gun. I leave you to imagine the skill required to attain 1 this result. when one attacks an enemy i flying at an average velocity of 125 miles per hour with his own machine going at an equal or greater speed.
 The Various Modes of Attack.
 ''The following are the principal cases of attack for fighting planes:
 "1. The attack by an isolated single
 scatter on single scatter likewise iso- 1 lsted.-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 vertically over him, where he cannot see you. Having
 made a successful approach, you must
 get into good firing position-a short
 distance below and behind your ad
 versary while avoiding the wind from
 his propeller
 ITO accomplish this, each pilot uses
 his individual methods, which vary in each particular case. One of the
 common Tnanouvers consists in alvin g
 from a sufficient distance to about 300 feet behind the adversary, dropping i about 60 feet lower and coming into position fUT' 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 to keep the upper position in the air in order to be able to drop suddenly behind and held the
 other It is a question of skill and
 quickness of eye. Alter few pauses
 one of the two gets the upper hand - When the boche feels himself beaten c he usually tries to escape by diving 4 If he dives in straight line, keer = firing at him. as at a target. If he e zigzags. you must keep close behind him tacking every time he does. Hi: l only salvation then lies in the tail spin or in turning over on the wing
 Often the single-seaters perfer tC l operate in pairs. In 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.
 n "2. Attack on a two-seater by [
 single scatter. To effect a surprise i A always a first consideration. The i'm = portance of the attacking position i a greatly increased by the presence. ol
 the hostile plane. of machine gun
 operated by the observer and oftel = covering a large field. Before all, on
 must never get into the -quarte
 position-rear. below, nor especial.
 above-for he would certainly receiF e some bullets.
 'f "The best position is either in frcn = and a little below, or under the tai = If he is coming from three-quarter Q front on the same level. he opens fir n at about ninety feet and if the boch le veers to give the field to his observer J. he takes advantage of this move | '- get under his tail. le 8. Attack on a hostile group by single -ssater.--The object Of the frs ! maneuver is to isolate one of the air . planes so as to attack it separatel,
 He drops into the midst of the grou " while keeping little above and fir iS ing at all his adversaries, so as ,iI force them to maneuVer. It is Seldor la that one of the enemy in his excite H Hie ment, does not detach himself by turn 'e ing to the right while the others tur ie to the left. It is upon the forme that our fighter precipitates himsel
 "4. Battle of a group of single seat ps CTS against a hostile group.-Th st group. consisting of four or five ma m chimes hold itself at a high altitud
 The V formation of fiyink is adopte IS The leader files at the point of the at the others being terraced behind hin ii The planes leave about 450 feet be
 tween them in terraces, the lead' o. being the lowest.
 et 'The Germans fly likewise in V fol in nation or single file, in steps; bu
 with them, the last plane is the low z- est. the leader being the highest. ,ty ''This results in the following for at of attack The French leader al an nounces that he is about to attac air bv balancing twice, and dives at u
 last German plane, which is the lov cJk est. The other boches make a hal E turn and fall upon him. The remain nr ing F'renchmen then attack them, wit ms all the trl{fnps in their own hand ts the one upparInost in the air haviT eo'