AIR FIGHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24405, 17 September 1940, Page 9

AIR FIGHTING

SOME QUERIES ANSWERED A PILOT’S EXPLANATIONS Some of the inquiries that are commonly made with respect to aerial combat were referred by the Glasgow Sunday Post to a Spitfire pilot. His answers were as follows: What is meant by a dog fight? I thought most folk knew that one. It seems that they don’t. It means a rough - and - tumble between singleseater fighters The name was first given early in the last war. We may start a battle in squadrons, but the formation to break up into a series of single combats. And, you know, we are just like a bunch of dogs growling round each other. Hon do the fighters manage to avoid each other in a dog fight? Occasionally we don’t Collisions have occurred when there has been a big bunch of us engaged. But there is a lot of sky, and we are not often as close together as we appear from the ground. How do the different members of a flight, or squadron, manage to communicate during a fight? All single-seat fighters have two-way radio, so that pilots can speak to each other. And there have been times when I’ve been glad that was the case. Often we are able to warn a pal that there is an enemy plane on his tail.

How do anti-aircraft guns avoid bitting our fighters in a dog fight ?

That was a point that worried me when I first joined up. i didn’t relish the idea of our own guns chasing me. I soon found they don’t fire at all when we are tangled up in a scrap. But they are ready to get busy if an enemy plane manages to get away.

Who takes command of a formation if the squadron leader is shot down?

I’m glad to say that is one I can’t answer from actual experience. But in any case, once the commanding officer has given the order to attack the scrap usually develops on individual lines—and a pilot is left to use his own judgment. You pack up when your ammunition is finished. The officer next in command is the official “ boss ” once the leader has been shot down.

What is meant by a “burst of fire”? We are buzzing around pretty fast when we are up there—and the enemy is only in the sights for short spells at a time. We smack home as many bullets as we can in that time —a burst, in fact. A burst may average between one second and five seconds.

A Spitfire or Hurricane fires 9600 shots a minute—which means 160 each second. It’s a lot of lead if you’re in the road. What are tracer bullets?

Tracers are designed to leave a trail of smoke behind them, thus showing if the bullets are hitting the target. There is always a number in every belt of ammunition —and very useful they are.

And, by the way, when they come in contact with inflammable material, such as petrol, fabric, balloons, etc., they have incendiary effect.

What is meant by a pilot “blacking

oat" in a turn?

Most of us can tell you that from actual experience. And not a pleasant experience either. If you go into a‘steep turn at high speed, centrifugal force —the same force which keeps water in a glass when you swing it over your head—drains the blood from your head and eyes. You are liable to lose consciousness. Even if you regain it you may find yourself blind. But once the turn is stopped everything becomes normal again. How fast can a Hurricane climb to intercept the raider? It doesn’t take long, believe me. A Hurricane can get to 10,000 feet in four minutes, 20,000 in nine minutes. The vertical rate of climb is 25 miles an hour, though the plane may be travelling horizontally at 200 miles an hour in a climb. How do we react to high speed? Actually we never notice it. It’s as comfortable in a Spitfire or a Hurricane as in a taxi. Always provided. of course, that the pilot is an experienced man. You’ve got to get used to high-speed power dives of 400 miles an hour—but you soon stop thinking about speed altogether, except for its use in chasing the enemy. How are victories reported after a combat ? When we have been in a scrap we have to give even the smallest details of it in what is known as a “ combat ” report. If you see an enemy plane hit the ground you tally one! But if you have only seen it go down put of control you don’t count it as an official victory—which is why the Nazi air losses are a sight bigger than mu think. To amplify the written report, mechanics also carry a camera which takes photos so long as the trigger is pressed. Has a German plane ever surrendered in the air? Yes, sir! I’ve seen a badly disabled German plane “pack in” myself. The usual sign of surrender is, when they lower their under-carriages and shut off their motors. Once a Nazi bomber pilot did it—then tried to shoot down the Hurricane which came alongside to escort him to the ground. He didn’t have time to surrender a second time!

What sort of advice is given to a pilot before his first combat?

Speaking for myself, I was warned to keep an eye on the weak spot behind my “ tail.” to watch for an enemy attacking out of the sun. to guard against turning away from an attack on an enemy bomber in such a way as to leave myself exposed to their attack, and to conserve my ammunition until I was well within range. „ I took good care to stick to orders—and it paid.