CONCLUSION
In November, 1916, the famous French aviator, Lieutenant Guynemer,
brought down his twenty-first enemy machine, thus establishing a new
world’s record for aerial warfare. The duel was fought at an altitude
of over two miles, after a chase of about forty-four miles, and was of
a most dramatic nature.
Suddenly Lieutenant Guynemer, whilst flying many miles behind the
German lines, sighted a German squadron of two observation aeroplanes
with an escort of two fighting machines heading for the French lines.
There was nothing to prevent Lieutenant Guynemer giving immediate
battle, except the fact that in the event of being forced to land he
would fall within the German lines and be taken prisoner. He therefore
took refuge behind some friendly clouds until the German squadron
passed ahead of him, and then started the pursuit from behind,
closing up sufficiently so that if he should be seen by the German
anti-aircraft gunners from below he would be taken for one of the
escorting German aeroplanes. For several miles he kept up the pursuit,
concealing himself as much as possible from the German machines by
keeping behind the clouds.
Then, when the French lines at last appeared below him, he emerged in
full view and began the fight. The German machine nearest him chanced
to be an observation ‘plane, and, darting down on it, he opened his
machine-gun fire at an altitude of about 12,000 feet, or just two
miles. With unerring aim he killed the observer with his third bullet,
and with the tenth the pilot likewise shot out from the machine, the
‘plane at the same time beginning its whirling giddy course down
towards the French lines. Although the machine was the second one
Guynemer had brought down that day, he at once started after the
other three, but they, in the meantime, had all disappeared, having
apparently turned back at his very first shot. Without further ado
Lieutenant Guynemer started in search of his victims, and succeeded in
locating the machine in the ravine of Mocourt.
Amongst British aviators who continue to add to their victories mention
must again be made of Flight-Commander Ball, to whose Distinguished
Service Order a second bar—the first time such an honour has been
conferred—was added in November, 1916. Each passing day brings further
evidence of heroic deeds.
On November 29 hostile airships again made a raid over England under
the cover of night, but with dire results for the enemy. Two German
airships were brought down. An official communication stated that a
number of hostile airships approached the north-east coast of England
between ten and eleven o’clock. Bombs were dropped on various places
in Yorkshire and Durham, but the damage was slight. One airship was
attacked by an aeroplane of the Royal Flying Corps and brought down
in flames in the sea off the coast of Durham at 11.45 p.m. Another
airship crossed into the North Midland Counties and dropped some bombs
at various places. On her return journey she was repeatedly attacked by
aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps and by guns. She appeared to have
been damaged, for the last part of her journey was made at very slow
speed, and she was unable to reach the coast before day was breaking.
Near the Norfolk coast she apparently succeeded in effecting repairs,
and, after passing through gunfire from the land defences, which claim
to have made a hit, proceeded east at a high speed and at an altitude
of over 8,000 feet, when she was attacked nine miles out at sea by four
machines of the Royal Naval Air Service, while gunfire was opened from
an armed trawler. The airship was brought down in flames at 6.45 a.m.
One eye-witness has stated that it was just after daybreak when from
the east coast a German airship was seen, travelling slowly from the
west. As she passed over the coast the sound of heavy firing was heard,
and soon, over a low bank of mist some distance out to sea, a great
burst of flame was seen and the stricken raider fell blazing into the
sea. A little later a British airman flew in from the sea and descended
on the coast. He was given a tremendous ovation. Townspeople carried
him shoulder high through streets crowded with cheering people, while
sirens of shipping shrieked triumphantly.
‘The defence was extraordinarily powerful,’ said an official report of
the raid issued in Berlin. Such praise from the enemy speaks volumes!
At noon on the following day a German aeroplane managed to reach London
and drop bombs. But the fate of this raider also was sealed. On its
return journey if fell a victim to our gallant French Allies.
Who can now doubt that supremacy in the air is with the Entente?
Whether in dealing with raiders by night or enemy machines on the
western battle-front by day, our heroic allied aviators have proved
their superiority.
The names of the heroic naval aviators who brought down the German
airship in the manner described are Flight-Sub-Lieutenant E. L.
Pulling, Flight-Lieutenant E. Cadbury, and Flight-Lieutenant G. W.
R. Fane. The first named officer has been awarded the Distinguished
Service Order. His age at the time of his heroic deed was twenty-six
years. He was formerly in the Government wireless service, and he
received his commission in the Royal Naval Air Service on August 21,
1915. Tireless energy and boundless enthusiasm, combined with great
courage, mark him out as an aviator of high promise.
Flight-Lieutenant Egbert Cadbury was twenty-three years of age at the
time of receiving the Distinguished Service Cross. At the outbreak of
war he left Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was studying for the
law, and joined the _Zarifa_ as an A.B., the vessel being a converted
yacht manned mostly by Cambridge men. After nearly a year at sea he
entered the R.N.A.S., gained his pilot’s certificate, and was stationed
on the East Coast. He is the youngest son of Mr. George Cadbury.
Flight-Lieutenant Fane joined the Royal Naval Air Service in July,
1915, as a Flight-Sub-Lieutenant. He came straight from Charterhouse
and was only nineteen years of age at the time of being decorated. His
fellow-airmen speak of him as a pilot of remarkable skill and courage.
In February, 1917, whilst these pages were in proof, it was announced
that the first of the officers named above, Flight-Lieutenant E. L.
Pulling, D.S.O., had made the ‘supreme sacrifice.’
Another body!—Oh, new limbs are ready,
Free, pure, instinct with soul through every nerve.
_Printed by Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Norwich, England_
Transcriber’s Notes
Page 72—changed contritributor to contributor
Page 157—changed Decenber to December
Page 217—changed achines to machines