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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1204.PDF
SUPPLEMENT b l OJLV* i L * ;«w ' ^ >*•»' i * f "~'~><*s^i § ;. f ' f i • • ... la,*****tf* • „ «ae^J--T- ||. : Another view of the attack by the " Gauntlets," which shows still more clearly one fighter tackling the starboard bomber while two approach the port bomber. If their attacks are successful the leading " Hart " will be left alone to deal with all three fighters. The lower picture gives another view from the gunner's cockpit in the port " Hart." Note how the fighter pilots are shielded by their "Mercury" engines. Flight photographs.) bomber. "A man never shoots so straight," chuckled the fighter pilots, " when he is defending his pal as when he is defending himself." Naturally, it would be rather disappointing to shoot down the fighter which was attack ing your friend and immediately after to get a pattern of bullets through the soles of your feet from the other fighter which your friend had failed to shoot down. Methods of attack by fighters may be studied periodic ally at the Hendon Display, but they are varied from time to time. The photographs which accompany this article tell a story. In them the reader may see the " Gauntlets stalking up behind the flight of "Harts," hoping perhaps for a surprise, seeking the blind spot under the tail of the bomber, and sheltering themselves so far as possible behind the bomber's fin and rudder. In this case they have not come out of the sun (there would have been no photograph if they had) and the air gunners have spotted them. The bomber pilots drop their tails to give the gunners clear shots at the fighters, but the pilots of the latter are well protected by the mass of metal '' Mercury in front of them, and present but a tiny target. The bombers have two preoccupations, to fight and to hold their course ; the fighter has only one, namely, to fight. If the bombers are driven well off their course, the fighters have scored a point, even though they may not cause anv one of their opponents to qualify for the Caterpillar Club. When the weather is kind there are few more pleasant
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