Aircraft in War
9781465683205
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
When years ago we read in Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” the following lines:—Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a ghastly dew From the nations’ airy navies grappling in the central blue—we little dreamt that not very far from the beginning of the twentieth century the fancy of the poet would become the fact of reality; that in the great European war in which the nation is so strenuously engaged, “the wonder that would be” would come to pass. Though happily, at present, in these isles the din of war is unheard, yet a semi darkened London and bright searchlights playing on the skies tell the tale of prudent foresight against the advent of the enemy’s airfleet. From the battlefields there daily come the reports of actual battles in the air, sometimes betwixt aëroplane and aëroplane, sometimes between the lighter and heavier than air craft. Often such encounters are death grip duels. Such conflicts of the air are the direct consequence of the great and important use of both airship and aëroplane as aërial scouts. These are the eyes of encountering armies. To destroy as far as possible this penetrating vision of the enemy and restore to him the fog of war is the untiring aim of either side. During those first anxious days of the present war the public anxiously awaited news of the doings of the Royal Flying Corps, as well as those of the aviators of our Allies. Expectation was satisfied in the reading of Sir John French’s report to Lord Kitchener, dated September 7th, 1914. Speaking of the use of the aëroplane in the war he says:— I wish particularly to bring to your Lordship’s notice the admirable work done by the Royal Flying Corps under Sir David Henderson. Their skill, energy, and perseverance have been beyond all praise. They have furnished me with the most complete and accurate information, which has been of inestimable value in the conduct of the operations. Fired at constantly both by friend and foe, and not hesitating to fly in every kind of weather, they have remained undaunted throughout. Further, by actually fighting in the air, they have succeeded in destroying five of the enemy’s machines. For those brave heroes of the air our hearts beat with fervid admiration. In accomplishing their all important tasks they have not only to fear disaster from shot and shell of the enemy, but from the mistaken fire of their comrades and the very forces of nature. These latter, owing to the imperfections of the flying machines, do not entirely spare them; the Royal Flying Corps, in order to become competent to perform the work it is now doing for King and country, has had in manœuvres at home to pay a high price in the sacrifice of human life.
