VICTORY—OR DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 23989, 2 December 1939, Page 10

VICTORY—OR DEATH

No Time For Fear In A Modern “Dog Fight”

THESE stories we are beginning to read of air battles on the Western Front arouse vivid memories among war-time aviators, writes Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in The New York Times. There is probably no other form of conflict so full of instant surprises, so unpredictable, as battle in the air.

Those of us who have survived can recapture in the news from Europe some of those brief and fatal moments of more than 20 years ago—moments .when we were rolling about, high above the earth, feeling the crack of bullets going by our ears, spitting lead at the other fellow when we could cling to him for a moment, seeing aeroplanes reel about us and fall.

The only thing certain about dog fights is the uncertainty. No two are alike, although the principles of combat are about the same.

"Probably there will not be so many dog fights in this war as in the lastair tactics have changed with new and faster types of aeroplanes—but when they do take place they will be even more furious and deadly. A modem aeroplane, bristling with machineguns, can spray a regular barrage at an opponent.

Victory or death is a matter of minutes in a dog fight: When the aeroplanes take off from the field and head toward the enemy lines none of the young pilots can be sure that he will come back. His life depends on his skill in handling his aeroplane, on his audacity and his luck.

Speed of Planes

JUST what sort of dog fights this war will see is still problematical, because of the speed of the aeroplanes.

There will be only a split second in which to fire. But if you would care to undertake such a dubious adventure, even in imagination, let’s go out on a patrol and see what can be found.

Twenty thousand feet oyer enemy territory a squadron is cruising through the clouds. Every pilot is twisting his head as he looks for the enemy. He needs a dozen eyes. Suddenly, below, a group of aeroplanes is seen. The squadron leader waggles his wings and goes over in a screaming dive, followed by the others.

Almost within range the enemy sees him, but it is too late. The guns ,of the attacking aeroplanes are pouring lead at the enemy aeroplanes nearest them, and one goes down. The others pull up and over, the formation breaks, and in a moment the air is full of individual combats. Aeroplanes spin and climb steeply, sideslip and turn. You get on the tail of an enemy ship for a second. He is hit. There is a crack behind you as a bullet goes through- your fuselage, and you fall out of range and turn to meet this new opponent. The swift turns at 300 miles an hour jam you in your seat so that you can hardly breathe. Fan of Fire EACH rush at your opponent, or his rush at you, results in a swift manoeuvre that carries the two of you far apart, and then brings you ck>se together again at terrific, speed. The guns in the nose and wings of your ship throw a concentrated fan of fire. Aeroplane after aeroplane goes down —ships of your squadron as well as the enemy—until the remaining enemy aeroplanes are so outnumbered that they run for home to fight another day. The survivors of your squadron reassemble and return to their base to check up on the number of aeroplanes they have brought down and on their own casualties. They don’t talk much about their losses; they get used to Are the pilots scared? Not till they get back on the ground. There isnt time to be frightened in a dog fight. There isn’t time to think of anything except how to stay alive and get the other fellow. It’s all over in a few minutes.