|
||
Aerial Maneuvers, Tactics, and Combat In addition, pilots learned to power dive in order to attack from above or escape attack from behind. Other tactics included coming from out of the sun to prevent being spotted by the enemy. They quickly learned the value of knowing the strengths and weaknesses of their aircraft as well as the enemy in order to gain the advantage in a fight. However, all the preparation of advanced training could not prepare the novice aviator for actual combat. If one survived the first four weeks, he might stay alive for some time. One had to gain his eyes to be able to find enemy planes in the distance, above, below or especially behind. As one pilot stated, ones head needed to be on a swivel. A trick used by both friend and foe was placing a two-seat reconnaissance plane alone as bait to be attacked by an enemy fighter. A novice was susceptible to this tactic and was pounced upon by several enemy machines. If the novice was lucky, he was protected by a veteran and lived to fly another day. As Ed Parsons stated, many including himself, were saved by Raoul Lufbery. |
![]() |
|
||||||
The Pursuit Pilot 1. Drive away enemy reconnaissance, artillery spotting and bombing planes from friendly skies 2. Escort bombing and reconnaissance planes over enemy territory keeping fighters from them 3. Contact patrols free roaming of the skies engaging enemy machines when opportunities arose During the summer of 1916, fighting was fierce over Verdun and the Lafayette Escadrille had a share of it. They were directly opposite the German unit of the German Ace, Oswald Boelke. It is believed that his unit, and very possibly he personally, was responsible for the demise of Victor Chapman. Toward the end of the Lafayettes stay at Behonne (Verdun) in August 1916, Lufbery had a dual with a Fokker, which was very hard fought and ended in a draw. This is believed to have been against Boelke, although never proven. |
|
|||||
|