FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0065.PDF
JANUARY 20, 1916. fined, and for which it is specially adapted on account of its high speed. It is not allowed to expose itself by venturing across our lines on reconnaissance work. " In contrast to the arrangements of our airplanes, the machine- gun on the Fokker is immovably fixed in front of the pilot, with barrel straight to the front—the correct aim of the gun being ensured by manipulation of the whole machine, just as the correct aim of a torpedo from a submarine is contrived only by manipulation of the boat itself. The Fokker's machine-gun, being fixed, and fixed on the same plane as the body of the machine, fires through the propeller. Such bullets as miss the propeller naturally carry straight to the front; while such as are intercepted by its blades are dispelled by angled and bullet-proof 'deviators' attached to the back face of these blades. The Fokker, when in action, seeks by the exercise of its superior speed and climbing powers to attain a position above its adversary, and then, by diving at a steep angle, to bring the machine-gun to bear upon him by correct alignment. "As a result of the machine-gun fire of the six Fokkers our escorting machine was immediately shot down, but its occupants seemed to reach the ground safely, so landing as to effect intentionally the destruction of their machine without injury to themselves. It was followed to the ground by two of the Fokkers. Our remaining machine succeeded in driving off and apparently in seriously injuring by its fire the first Fokker which had attacked it. It was out of control when last seen, and was nose-diving with every prospect of injury or death to its occupants. " Our machine was then attacked by the three other Fokkers, which it fought for 15 minutes, and then, its machine-guns being temporarily out of action, its pilot decided that escape could only be sought by a very risky dive to within 20 ft. of the ground—risky in that it necessitated a descent by very steep spirals at a speed of quite 100 miles an hour, with little room to recover. Only very delicate and confident handling could ensure the success of this manoeuvre, which only the absence of other means of escape could justify. It was prompted by two other considerations. In the first place, a Fokker, being less handy, would not dare to pursue within 20 ft. of the ground, the margin for recovery after the nose diving being so very restricted ; and, secondly, if our machine was once more to reach friendly territory in safety, it was desirable that it should conceal from armed enemies to be surmounted in its front its nationality as displayed by the rings painted on the lower surface of its planes, and this it could only do by skimming over the ground at as low an elevation as possible. " Skimming along just above the ground, as skims a grouse under a hawk, our machine, hard pressed, turned westward for home, whereupon one of the German machines, all of which had main tained an elevation of I,OCX) ft., swooped towards it, but was promptly driven off by rapid fire, one gun by that time having been repaired. "The fight continued half-way to the British lines, when two Fokkers gave it up. The British pilot and observer at once started climbing to attack the single remaining Fokker, but this brought back the two companions, and our machine resumed its original elevation. The three German machines ultimately turned back, giving up the chase when about a mile from the German lines, before crossing which the British pilot naturally sought to climb ; but, our aeroplane being unable to rise higher than 800 ft. owing to the engine having been hit in the fight, pilot and observer were subjected to very heavy rifle, machine gun, and field artillery fire, which the machine fortunately survived, although its planes and spars were damaged, and more than one of its staves nearly severed. " The anxieties of the position had for long been greatly increased by the knowledge that only sufficient petrol remained in the tank to bring the machine just within the friendly lines if a direct course was pursued, so that to be driven in any degree out of that course would have been fatal. Early in the engagement the oil feed had been shot away, and, with an engine injured by rifle fire, the chances of ever reaching home had seemed remote, but an expiring effort landed the machine jus-t within the French lines south-west of Arras. Pilot and observer alike can congratulate themselves on a fine performance." The Daily Mail correspondent at Salonica, writing under date January nth, says :— " German aeroplanes fly every day over the camp at Zeitenlik and drop bombs. To-day there were eleven wounded." The Ghent correspondent of Van Dias agency, in a message on January 13th dealing with reports and rumours as to great supplies of ammunition and supplies being sent by the Germans from Ghent to the front in Northern France, says :— " The Allies are well informed of all these movements, and their [fyGHT] artillery is seriously impeding the Germans' military programme. The French and British aviators in particular are doing splendid work." An Exchange message from Athens, dated January 13th, says :— " A squadron of French aviators bombarded the Bulgarian first- line trenches on Tuesday in the Strumnitza region. According to observations the bombs wrecked several trenches and killed and wounded a number of soldiers. The French air service is perfectly organised." The Daily Mail correspondent at Salonica, writing on January 13th, says :— " Thirty-five French aeroplanes yesterday bombarded several points of the enemy's camps, and started fires, and destroyed hut ments. There were numerous victims." The Daily Mail correspondent in Paris, writing under date January 14th, says :— "Few stories of the prowess of French airmen compel more sincere admiration than the last flight of Captain Sallier and Lieutenant Legall, who met their deaths during the recent fighting in Champagne. They were on a reconnoitring expedition, Legall acting as observer. " While their biplane was over the German lines they were sur prised by a Fokker (one of the new mono-battleplanes), which darted out of a cloud and began firing at them with a machine gun. An explosive bullet struck the Frenchman's petrol tank, and the aeroplane was immediately enveloped in flames. Its occupants realised that certain death awaited them, but with supreme courage they divided between them the maps and important documents in their possession, and tore them in small pieces as the blazing aero plane fell to earth. '' Some scorched fragments were blown by the wind into the French lines, and in this way their brother-officers learned of the heroic conduct of their comrades. " Next day a German airman flew over the French trenches and dropped a letter containing a tribute to the gallant Frenchmen, stating that they had been buried with military honours and that their grave had been decorated in the same way as the graves of German officers." Reuter's correspondent at the British Headquarters in Macedonia says :— " Aviators report an important concentration at Dorian, Ghevgeli, Kuprulu, and Uskub, while quantities of munitions and stores are being accumulated near the frontier. "Meanwhileall is quiet on the frontier with the exception of air duels and raids, which are of daily occurrence." Reuter's correspondent at Salonica on Sunday reports :— "British guns brought down a German aeroplane which was flying over the Allies' lines this afternoon. The machine fell within the occupied zone. It caught fire in falling and was destroyed. Both airmen were killed." «• In the "Wireless" news sent out from Berlin on Monday there appears the following :— " Sofia : It is reported from Kambana that German aeroplanes bombarded the railway statiou at Kilindir, which had been occupied by the French. A petrol dep6t was destroyed by fire, and two French aeroplanes were destroyed in aerial battle. The German aeroplanes returned undamaged." Mr. James Dunn, writing to the Daily Mail from Rotterdam on Monday, says :— " At Oostburg, on the Dutch frontier, the guns were heard all day. Twelve Allied aeroplanes were reconnoitring between Cadzand and Zeebrugge, despite a heavy bombardment by anti aircraft guns laid in pits in the dunes." ® ® ® ® Zeppelins and Mine-Laying. IN a message from Copenhagen on January I2th the Daily Mail correspondent says :— " Three large Zeppelins of the latest type left Schleswig yesterday and went in a north-easterly direction. They were observed from several coast towns and by steamers to be exchanging flashlight signals with German warships in the Belt. " At the same time a big flotilla of German mine-layers was observed, evidently guided by the Zeppelins."
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
