GIMPERS AND GOOPHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 262, 2 November 1918, Page 15

GIMPERS AND GOOPHERS.

THE GRADUATES OF FLIGHT. WHAT THE EGO ALMS FOR. We have learned what an "ace" is, ane many of us have so far progressed in the Woat'u-what of modern aviation that we could po'nt out the difference between an Lmmeluiann turn and a vol pique. Now comes a considerable appendix of flyin; slang. including «unh piquant terms as "gimper," "egg," "vulture." and "goopbi-r." The new terms seem to be of strictly American maniifaclure. They are explained by Lieut. Kddie Rlchenbai-ker, all-American ace and former speed king in the autoracing world. Klrbenbacker downed hW five Germans in less than two months, and became the second all-American trained ace. In his escadrlllp they call him •■Head Gimper," because he is a natural leader, and the life of the unit. The escadrlll* is known ac the "Gimper Squadron." and was the first, group of Ainerican-tralnrd airflghters to take the air against the German fighters. He explains, through the columns of the New York "Evening Sun":— 'HOW TO TELL A GLMPER. "A gimper is a bird who would stick by yon through anything. If you wexe up in the air and ran into a dozen Boehes, am! were getting the worst of it, perhaps, unrt the fpJlow wit.h you stuck with you ,md gave It to them until the Heinies -went ba-ck into Honlnnd, you'd know he was a gimper. "If he didn't have motor trouble, and his prun didn't jam. or ho didn't accept any one of a dozen good excuses for zooming off home and leaving you to do the same if yon could get aiway, he'd be a simper all rtghtA gimper is a scout who does everything Juet a little better than he has to. I "We call thin the <iimper Squadron because every man has to prove himseLf a gimper by his actions. Wnen a new chap arrives he's an egg. All good soon bej come vulturee. and they're promoted to I goopher standing. Then Is when they have ,to prove themselves gimpers, and they 11 |A man who isn't :i cimper can't stay wltn the squadron—tt'fi z»»oin for him back to the w.K.da. i "Gimper means a lot to us. It means more than g<x>d scont. or pal. or comrade. I got the word from a mechanic I had when I was in the racing game. He was a gimper. and I knew when he finished with! a motor she would run. In this man's life there were two kinds of people—gimpers and bums. THE GROOP SPIRIT. "Thte pursuit and fighting part of aviation requires a type of aviator who wlllj etick, especially the way we fly in groups. To do your beat work, you must have a' mutual feeling of confidence in the gimper flying beside you that is unequalled any-; where else. If you have a gimper with you. yon know he won't nmke a mistake In Judgment or lose his nerve at the critical time. He cooWn't do that—lf he k*it his nerve Just once he'd never be a gimper again. "I don't mean he will always pique into ■ a crowd of Huns, no matter their iiumtoer. | He knows when to fight and when not to' (tent. If he hasn't a chance he draws off. | flies around until he Bets his altitude, ana then drops on the Helnies. A Riaiperj doesn't need to be foolhardy. He watches' his chances, but never gives up when another is being strafed. "When you're flying around op there over Germany, followed by a string of black] puffs from the G«rman Archies, and hear them exploding around you, and then e»ee some German planes off to one side of you. !t is the easiest thing in the world to pretend you don't see rhem, and keep straight ahead until you pass them. Usually the Germans are willing to do that too. unless you attack them. But a gimper never lets himself fail to sco them. He manoeuvres; ;intil he can pique on them and let tlierai have it until they run home. Then he's satisfied he's a gimper."