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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0445.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 13, 1932 Handing up a camera to the observer. (FLIGHT Photo.) enemy formations into the position he desired, and then smite them with the minimum of loss to his own side. No leader on either side was ever better beloved by the pilots who followed him and the mechanics who worked for him. One of his principles was that it was the duty of the flying corps to kill the enemy pilots—not merely to fight chival rous duels and let an enemy escape because his bravery had aroused your own admiration. Every enemy pilot who escaped was capable of doing harm to the Allied cause another day. Maj. Tilney was also a great organiser of success. Under him the squadron engaged in a number of carefully planned attacks on enemy balloons. To raw pilots it was a common delusion that a balloon was an easy victim. Actually an attack on a balloon was an exceedingly dangerous affair. There was usually a deadly barrage of machine guns and " Archies " waiting to catch the rash pilot who ventured near a balloon. Maj. Tilney schemed, and practised his schemes with meticulous care before he led his pilots to the attack. Then on May 2 he led his flights over the lines. One flight flew high to attract the attention of the observers in the balloons and the gunners. As they approached, the balloons were hauled down. Meantime another flight was approaching, hedge-hopping at a height of 50 ft., and the dark khaki of the top planes quite escaped the notice of the Ger mans. As the balloons were being hauled down, these Nieuports climbed suddenly and opened fire at them from down below. The surprise was complete, and four balloons were destroyed, while a fifth only escaped through one of our guns jambing. Three days later, on May 5, Lt. H. E. A. Ellis had a good fight. He attacked three Albatros fighters, who dived away from him. At 500 ft. one of them side-slipped and crashed. Another came down on its nose on Douai aerodrome and turned over, while the third made a safe landing. Then another German attacked Ellis, who had no machine-gun ammunition left. Nothing dis mayed, he manoeuvred close to the enemy and fired seven rounds from a Colt automatic pistol. The German machine broke up in the air and was destroyed. On August 9, 1917, another successful balloon attack was undertaken. The balloons were on the La Bass6-Arras front. This time the low-flying Nieu ports kept even lower, some fly ing at 10 to 20 ft. As a result, the patrol had some some un usual adventures on its journey. 2nd Lt. J. H. Tudhope hit some German telegraph wires with his undercarriage, but came to no harm. Then he passed over some Germans sitting beside a pond, and fired at them, whereupon the Germans all dived into the water. 2nd Lt. W. MacLanachan flew over a troop of German cavalry, and his undercarriage hit the officer who was leading the troop. Whether that officer was brained or merely escaped with a headache is not on record, but a burst from the pilot's machine gun speedily scattered the astonished troop. 2nd Lt. G. T. Pettigrew was fired at by a machine gun, but he attacked it and flew on unharmed He also came across some German cyclists, and saw at least one drop as he sprayed them. The squadron claimed five balloons destroyed on that day. On August 15, 1917, another brilliant pilot joined No. 40 Squadron, namely, Lt. G. E. H. McElroy, a Canadian who won the M.C. and two bars, and also the D.F.C. and bar. In his brief career he destroyed 46 enemy aeroplanes and three balloons. He was soon promoted to flight com mander, but then was posted to No. 24 Squadron He returned to No. 40 in June, 1918, and his presence and his influence had an immediate effect on the whole squadron. On July 31, 1918, he was reported missing. On March 15, 1918, Maj. R. S. Dallas, D.S.O., D.S.C., and two bars, took over command of No. 40. He was a magnificent pilot and a most daring and scientific air fighter. He is believed to have accounted for 50 enemy The Airmen of No. 40 (Bomber) Squadron. 413 (FLIGHT Photo.) B 2
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