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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 1017.PDF
OCTOBER 9, 1914. fiMH AIRCRAFT WORK AT THE FRONT. THE following references to aircraft were made in the despatch from headquarters issued by the Press Bureau on the 2nd inst.:— " Further, the hostile artillery fire has decreased in volume and deteriorated both in control and direction. The first is probably due to a transfer of metal to other quarters, but the two latter may be a direct result of the activity of our aircraft, and their interference with the enemy's air reconnaissance and observation of fire. " Recently the Germans have been relying to some extent on observation from captive balloons sent up at some distance in rear of their first line, which method, whatever its cause, is a poor substitute for the direct overhead reconnaissance obtainable from aeroplanes. As a consequence, the damage being done to us is wholly disproportionate to the amount of ammunition expended by the enemy " In the hazy valleys, bathed in sunlight, not a man, not a horse, not a gun, nor even a trench was to be seen. There were only flashes, smoke, and noise. Above, against the blue sky, were several round white clouds hanging in the track of the only two visible human souls —represented by a glistening speck in the air. On high, also, were to be heard the more or less gentle reports of the bursts of the anti-aircraft projectiles. . . . " The troops in second line at certain spots pass the time by punting a football about on the village ' places.' It is rumoured that a German aviator who observed this sent in a report that the British forces were thoroughly disorganised and running about their post in blind panic." On the 2nd inst. the following record of the splendid work accomplished by the Royal Naval Air Service was issued by the Secretary of the Admiralty through the Press Bureau :— " During the course of the war the Royal Naval Air Service (Naval Wing of Royal Flying Corps) has not been idle, airships, aeroplanes, and seaplanes having proved their value in many undertakings. "While the Expeditionary Force was being moved abroad a strong patrol to the eastward of the Straits of Dover was undertaken by both seaplanes and airships of the Naval Air Service. The airships remained steadily patrolling between the French and English coasts, some times for twelve hours on end; while further to the east, with the assistance of the Belgian authorities, a temporary seaplane base was established at Ostend, and a patrol kept up with seaplanes between this place and the English coast opposite. " By this means it was impossible for the enemy's ships to approach the Straits without being seen for very many miles. " On one occasion, during one of the airship patrols, it became necessary to change a propeller blade of one of the engines. The captain feared it would be necessary to descend for this purpose, but two of the crew imme diately volunteered to carry out this difficult task in the air, and climbing out on to the bracket carrying the propeller shafting, they completed the hazardous work of changing the propeller's blade, 2,000 ft. above the sea. " On August 27th, when Ostend was occupied by a Mr. Beatty flying the Wright school biplane at Heodoa recently. IOI7
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