FIGHTING IN THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 13

FIGHTING IN THE AIR.

DIFFICULT ARTS AND . MANOEUVRES. FORMATION FLI".. O. Recent news from the various battle fronts tells of great aerial activit3'. This is usually the prelude to important offensives; but just at present it may mean no mure tliuu the carrying out of laid* on enemy aerodromes, dumps, railway stations, and so forth — t!ie weather conditions not being favourable for infantry movements.

Air-fighting has a fascination for most peoplej but probably very few realise the difficulties and dangers which the pilots, observers and bomb-droppers have to encounter. Our illustrations may serve to give some idea of these, while the following remarks on " Formation Flying," by a War Pilot, present a vivid picture of the duties of aerial fighters.

"War Pilot" writes:—One of the many things we have taught the Hun is ''formation flying"—the art of flying in groups like ducks.

Machines suitable for heavy bombdropping are necessarily slow compared with thorough-going lighters- To lift the bomb 5, a great spread of wing-sur-face is needed, and powerful engines. This makes the machines heavy to handle.

One bomb-dropper setting out alone nowadays would not get far. Half a dozen small and asiile scouts would soon be on his tail and under his tail, and diving on his forward "' blind spots" "where the wing comes between the pilot and the attacker.

The only method is to send either an escort of scouts or several bomb-drop-pers flying in formation.

The objection to sending scouts is that they do not ordinarily carry enough petrol to enable them to carry out the long " shows " that are usually the lot of the bomb-dropper.

On the other hand, formation flying provides mutual protection against aerial attack. No hostile machine can approach without coming under the fire of at least two other machines. "Blind spots" are practically eliminated.

Suppose A, a hostile machine, attacks B, the left-hand rear machine of the formation. He is immediately sprayed with bullets by .15, C and D. An excellent plan!

The only remedy is to break up the formation either by anti-aircraft or by aerial tactics. This the formation will most strenuously resist, for

'The strength of the pack is the wolf. Hut the strength of the wolf is the pack.

Individual machines which drop out of place, stand, more chance -ei-. fa-Uing -a prey to more agile foes.

Formation flying needs much practice. It is not an easy art to learn or to carry out neatly.

At first you are sent out in small groups, with orders to keep well away from thj lines.

When yon set off, each man climbs to the stated preliminary height and tries to pick up his position. This is not always easy. The leader is circling round and round the aerodrome, and there is not much spare room. Other machines are trying to get permission or are coming up from below, and careful manoeuvring is needed to avoid collisions. Every now and then you will strike the " backwash" of another machine, and get thro.m all over the place. Besides this, all machines are different, even machines of the same type. Some will climb, and others will not. One pilot may be beautifully in position from one point of view, but a thousand feet too low, and round and round goes the formation until he is in place." It is no use expecting him to pick up his place once the formation has really started away.

Another pilot may be too high, another too far behind and putting others out.

Later you learn how to manoeuvre as a formation, turning to the right and left without losing position. The outer ones-must cut the corners and the inner ones hold up and almost " stall." At first it is enough merely to fly straight and keep height and position. One pilot, although experienced, after practising fighting in formation for the lirst time, came down quite shaken •up. 'That is the most dangerous thing I ever tried," he said: "I'd sooner go over the lines alone any day." It takes time to produce team work. But when it is learnt, it is a fine sight to see the machines go off. They all stand out in rows in the aerodrome. Busy mechanics suround them. The pilotg clamber in—they have already looked their machines over. One by one, close after each other, away they go. They climb and pick up their positions.

The signal is given, the formation is correct. Off it goes, climbing, climbing up to the height at which it is to travel.

And then comes the long trip. There is the dodging among "Archies," wJien every machine in the squadron goes sliding right and left.

As you cross the lines the shrapnel ■will be bursting around you in groups of six, and at your level, even though you fly at a different height every day. Yet the squadron as a whole must keep its formation or be destroyed piecemeal.

Then there is the time when eacn must aid the other to ueat off aerial attack, and still not get enticed off on individual " stunts." If anyone does, he will be singled out as prey for several, and will leave others exposed. It is difficult work-

" The strength of the wolf is the pack."