Deadly Searchlight Work.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 9

Deadly Searchlight Work.

Then there is tho systom by which tho movement of all enemy aircraft coming in view is carefully recorded and charted by A.A. sections, by which means valuable information is obtained of liostilo reliefs or attacks. Tho moral effect .of tho A.A. searchlights, too, is enormous. On many occasions enemy bombing machines have been kept out of vital areas, as the one thing particularly dislike is being held, in ' a searchlight beam and shot at'. Our lights have been so efficient that it is quite an ordinary thing to pick up and hold enemy aircraft, for long periods.

In August last a night flying squadron of tho R.A.F. commenced operations, and it was- mainly duo to the efficiency of tho A.A. searchlights that night attacking by our 'planes became feasible and remarkably successful. , When enemy aircraft woro not actually picked up and held in a beam, and incidentally handed on over wido areas from boam to beam, they were pointed out by switching lights in the direction of . tho sound of tho .engino of tho hostile 'planes. At least twenty-five large . bombing aeroplanes wero destroyed by this method in three months, and hostile bombing enormously reduced in consequence. . The mere holding of a hostile 'plane in the beam often caused it. to shed all its bombs at once (usually in open country where no barm is done) in order to enable it to become sufßciontly light to rise and get away from the beam quickly-

No keener or smafter lot of officers and men than thoso in the A.A.'service exist. Tho casualties have certainly been low, but that is primarily duo to the fact that forward area A,A. guns are extremely mobile, and are so highly trained that they can movo off in ten seconds to a new position when spotted by the enemy gunners <md shelled. As an example of efficiency and pluck can be quoted that of an A.A. Battery, which gained thrrie Military Crosses and twelve Military Medals in three months—alt immediate awards for bravery in action.