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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1102.PDF
520 FLIGHT. MAY 16, 1935. in a burning aeroplane, and had to choose between death by fire and death by jumping out. The famous American pilot, Raoul Lufbery, always declared that if his machine were ever set on fire he would jump though he had no parachute, and he carried out his resolve. Major Mannock, V.C., declared that in similar circumstances he would shoot himself with a revolver, but whether he did so is not known. There were also numerous cases of a pilot of a two-seater being killed or wounded, and the observer being carried down helplessly to crash. Para chutes were used in kite baboons, and to drop agents behind the enemy's lines. If there is ever another war their use will be universal, and therefore it is not with out interest to study the question of attack on a man who has jumped with his parachute. The Aague Rules Rules of air warfare were drawn up by jurists at The Hague in 1923, and Article 20 reads as follows: "When an aircraft has been disabled, the occupants, when en deavouring to escape by parachute, must not be attacked in the course of their descent." The observer in a balloon usually jumps before"his aircraft has been set on fire, and, therefore, would seem to gain no immunity from this Article. In the case of aeroplanes, the crew rarely jump before the machine has been disabled, and it is more interesting to consider their case. Some people are too prone to say that no rules of war have now any value, but such statements are thoughtless. There must be rules of war, and the important thing is to see that they are sensibly framed and do not attempt to forbid too much. It is rules which attempt to hamper belli gerents and fighting men beyond reason which are sure to be disregarded in practice. This Hague rule attempts to forbid too much, and for that reason is not likely to harden into a practice in warfare. Fighting nowadays is carried out, not, a* in the days of Froissart, for the honour and glory of in dividual knights, but in order to defeat the enemy. It is usually more important to put the crew of an aero plane out of action than to destroy the aircraft itself. In war material is cheap, but trained pilots and air gunners are valuable. Putting the crew out of action does not necessarily mean killing them. It is sufficient to make them prisoners, and in all civilised warfare prisoners of war have definite rights. To allow enemy airmen to escape, to live to fight another day, would be a dere liction of duty on the part of the victor in the fight, however much it might conflict with his chivalrous in stincts to attack the helpless parachutists. The whole question, therefore, hinges on whether the parachutists are dropping on their own ground—where tney are likely to escape to their friends—or are almost certain to be taken prisoners when they reach the earth. In the latter case the victorious airman would have no right to attack them during their descent. If there were no well-defined trench lines, the victor might well be in doubt as to his duty, and whatever he did would probably be able to excuse his action. He must not forget that his duty is to his country, and his private inclinations must not be allowed to outweigh that duty. MAKING FRIENDS AT FELIXSTOWE: The new Supermarine " Mark V" flying boat (two "Pegasus III"), on test at Felixstowe last week. Her remarkable take-off is due in no small measure to the 775 h.p. available for that purpose from each of her engines. (Flight photograph.)
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