BRITAIN IN THE AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 7

BRITAIN IN THE AIR

TACTICS OF WAR-TIME

IMITATED BY GERMANS

The paradox that the Germans are profiting by the British example in the war in building up their Air Force, while the British Air Force "shows signs of succumbing to the demoralising and uninspired system pursued by the Germans during ths war," is propounded in a book by a successful British air "ace," who signs his book "Fighter Pilot," with the. nom de plume "McScotch," writes Major C. C. Turner in the "Daily Telegraph." He points out that the German Air Force has changed its system, under the impetus of the new regime. He adds:— "Richthofen squadrons have been formed, promising fighters have been carefully selected and placed under the tuition of the men whc did the fighting in Richthofen's famous circus and similar formations. "These experienced pilots, being now liberated from the cast-iron rigidity of Prussianist discipline, are trying to build squadrons in the method whicli Mannock and Caldwell did in No. 74." In short, the daring and enterprise of the British fighters which won our victory in the air have been deliberately adopted in the new German Air Force. Tile author declares that our own Air Force, having been attacked by every nonentity who can wield a pen, bythose whose horizon is bounded by "Military Law" and "Infantry Training," is developing an inferiority complex which has caused our authorities to copy the methods of other nations—particularly those of the Germans. RICHTHOFEN FEATURED. One of the most pronounced features of this inferiority complex has been "the amazing. amount of publicity, that has been given to the German ace, Richthofen, and the almost- entire absence of real interest in our own fighters. The' average Britisher has been persuaded that the only Air . Force of any account was the German, and that it was exceedingly recklessj if courageous, of our pilots to venture near the lines." "McScotch" complains that recriminations in the worst possible taste have been'published, suggesting .that everything British was wrong, our generals inefficient, our organisation inadequate. It has, nevertheless, been made manifest that the fame of Richthofen wa3 of a very different order from that of Edward Mannock, Ira Jones, and many others; that the German pilots, acting under orders, sought easy victories, and only attacked on long favourable odds, whereas" the British consistently challenged the .enemy over his own lines.. Again, the British system of count* ing victories demanded confirmation, and this in the circumstances was often unobtainable. Our men were brought down well behind the German lines, and, moreover, the Germans often accepted unsupported claims. Mannock was officially credited with forty victories over German airmen, but the factual number was probably well over seventy. _ * K records now lying' at the Air ■ Ministry were explored, and. the authorities were willing to do justice .to-our fighters, remarkable incidents and episodes would be brought to. light. ! This book by "McScotch" is perhaps the most naturally-written and unassuming of all the records of fighting . squadrons. It succeeds by its obvious fidelity. : That ;it gives us a close insight into the character of that remarkable fighter, Major Edward Mannock, V.C, D.S.O. (two bars), M.C..(one bar), is, by itself, sufficient to give it importance. Mannock was no ordinary pilot, officer, or leader. His work initiated and embodied those British air fighting methods which played so great a part in the struggle. ""