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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0314.PDF
quired, and which, can be locked in any desired position by the locking arrangement indicated in the -sketch of the general arrangement. In addition to .its circular movement integrally with the gun ring, Fig. 19.—So as to be out of the way when the gunner is firing from a standing position, the-seat on the Albalros Fighter is hinged and sprung as shown in this sketch. :he machine gun may be swung laterally on its pivot in the gun ring. Here also a locking device is provided in the shape of a split collar locked by an L bolt, as shown in one of the insets. The other inset in Fig. 18 shows the lever by means of which the gun ring is locked in any desired position. A MARCH 21, 1918. rocker arm composed of two steel strips is pivoted in its centre on a pillar projecting downwards from the gun ring. At one end this rocker arm carries a plate welded to the two steel strips of the rocker, and at the other it carries the hand lever which is so formed and pivoted as to give an eccentric move- ment when the lever is swung through an arc. The modus operandi will be clear from the sketch. When the gun ring has been swung around to the desired position, the hand lever is pushed down ; in so doing the eccentric forces the inner end of the rocker down, thus causing its outer end carrying the flat plate to move up against the fixed support for the gun ring and thereby locking it. A pull on the lever instantly releases the gun ring if it is desired to swing the gun around to another quarter. As presumably it frequently happens that the gunner wishes to fire from a standing position his seat has been so arranged as to swing into a vertical position as soon as it is relieved of his weight. This is accomplished by means of a spring under the seat, as shown in Fig.. 19, which is, we think, self-explana- tory. A strip of wood runs transversely under the seat and projects a short distance on either side. These projections rest, when the seat is in a horizontal position, in brackets secured to the sides of the fuselage. (To be continued.) TWO AGAINST FIVE. 3OME further particulars are now available regarding the five enemy seaplanes and opened fire on them. They rosenght between two British seaplanes and five enemy seaplanes and attempted to fly off in V formation ahead of °»r rnacmnes in the North Sea on March 12th recorded in the following but our men, continuing to descend.^overhaukd tteWimam Admiralty communique :— and poured a rapid fire Into them. Then the enemy changedOn March. 12th'two British seaplanes encountered and formation and manoeuvred in circles, apparently in order attacked five enemy aircraft in the southern part of the to gain height. They were closely followed by the British North Sea. An engagement took place, which lasted for seaplanes, which again and again dived at them. Again the 30 minutes. One enemy two-seater was shot down and enemy altered their formation to single file ahead, and turned destroyed, the observer of a second machine was killed, for home.and a third seaplane was driven down on the water. The Our machines by skilful manoeuvring broke up their line engagement terminated when the British seaplanes had ex- and compelled them to scatter, and then proceeded to attackpended all their ammunition. Both machines returned them individually. One twin-seater was shot down and safely." sent'erashing into the sea. The victor, overtaking a secondIt appears that this encounter was a sequel to an engage- machine, directed a continuous rapid fire upon her. Her ment which had taken place earlier in the day. Just before observer was hit and the machine driven down. Meanwhile, 9 a.m. three of our seaplanes engaged on patrol duty were the sister British seaplane had been busy with the thirdattacked near the North Hinder by five German seaplanes, German twin-seater. One of the pilots shot the German two of which were single-seaters and three two-seaters, gunner—he was seen to fall over the side of the fuselage.— Our machines, which were flying close together, were assailed and the machine dived to the water, unable to take further from the rear, and returned the enemy's fire with two of their part in the engagement. As an instance of the coolness of rear guns. While the fight was in progress an enemy sub- our airmen, it may be mentioned that in the height of the marine was seen directly ahead of our seaplanes, riding on action the wireless operator of our second machine was shot the surface, with three or four of the crew standing on the in the neck and collapsed, and one of the pilots and the engineer conning tower. One of our machines at once swooped down left their seats, climbed to the wounded man, administeredand turned a machine-gun on these men. They promptly first aid, and then returned to their guns. disappeared, and the submarine submerged. The aircraft Only two enemy scouts were left able to offer anyaction continued until five British trawlers were sighted, when resistance. The chase of these two was continued until, the enemy immediately broke off the engagement. One of with the exception of two trays for the rear guns, our menour machines had to "land " shortly afterwards owing to had used all their ammunition. On turning for home, the a broken petrol pipe, but all returned safely to their base. British machines kept up a running fight until the last cartridge Three hours later, while on patrol duty, two British was expended. Then the enemy were able to make a course seaplanes, the crews of which included some who had taken for their base. Both our seaplanes returned safely to theirs, part in the earlier fight, discovered the hostile formation the only casualty being the wireless operator, who was resting on the water. Our machines at once made for the wounded. .-..- .. .... • . "The Royal Air Force." THE following announcement appeared in the LondonGazette of March 15th :— " GEORGE THE FIFTH, by the Grace of God, of the UnitedKingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith,To all to whom these Presents shall come. Greeting ! " Whereas by the Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917,it is enacted that it shall be lawful for Us to raise and maintain a Force, to be called the Air Force, consisting of such numbersof officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men, as may from time to time be provided by Parliament: " Now know ye that it is Our Will and Pleasure that theAir Force to be established pursuant to the said Act shall be styled the " Royal Air Force." " Given at the Court at Saint James', the 7th day of March, 1918, in the Eighth Year of Our Reign. " By His Majesty's Command, " ROTHERMERE." The King at the Clement-Talbot Works. IT was announced in the Court Circular on March 14th, that the King and Queen, attended by the Dowager Countess of Airlie, Lieut.-Colonel Clive Wigram and Major Reginald Seymour, visited the works of Messrs. Clement-Talbot, Ltd., this morning, where their Majesties were received by the chairman (the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot), who presented the directors and staff. Major C. S. Paulet (representing the Ministry of Munitions) and Major C. Hirtzel, R.F.C. (representing the Air Ministry), were also in attendance upon the King and Queen. 310
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