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Text originally published in 1919 under the same title.
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SKY FIGHTERS
OF FRANCE
AERIAL WARFARE, 1914-1918
BY LIEUTENANT HENRY FARR
Englished by CATHARINE RUSH
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
FROM PAINTINGS BY THE AUTHOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS
CAPTAIN GUYNEMER
LIEUTENANT HENRY FARR .
THE AUTHORS CARDS OF IDENTIFICATION
DESTRUCTION OF DRACHEN BALLOONS
AVIATION FIELD, PLATEAU OF MALZEVILLE, NANCY
BOMBARDMENT OF KARLSRUHE BY THE FIRST BOMBARDMENT GROUP
BOMBARDMENT OF DILLINGEN BY THE FIRST BOMBARDMENT GROUP
TRAGIC RETURN OF CAPTAIN ALBERT FQUANT
NIGHT BOMBARDMENT OF THE GARE DES SABLONS, METZ
RETURN FROM A NIGHT BOMBARDMENT LANDING-FIELD
NIGHT BOMBARDMENT AND EXPLOSION OF AN ENEMY AMMUNITION DUMP AT COUCY-LES-EPPES
LIEUTENANT PARTRIDGE
TWIN-MOTOR CAUDRON SIGNALING THE POSITION OF INFANTRY AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, SOMME, 1916 .
VICTORY OF NAVARRE, VERDUN, 1916
FARMAN BIPLANE OBSERVING THE DESTRUCTION BY THE FIRE OF THE ALLIED ARTILLERY OF THE ENEMY TRENCHES AND OTHER DEFENSES AT THE MORT HOMME, VERDUN, 1916
EXPLOIT OF CAPTAIN BONE, THE ENGLISH AVIATOR, OVER THE NORTH SEA,
BOMBARDMENT OF THE MOLE AND PORT OF ZEEBRUGGE, 1916
EXPLOIT OF PILOT ROUTIER, MARITIME AVIATION OF DUNKERQUE
HYDROPLANE AIDING ANOTHER IN DISTRESS, MARITIME AVIATION OF DUNKERQUE, 1916
BOMBARDMENT OF AN ENEMY SUBMARINE BY AN F.B.A. HYDROPLANE,
NORTH SEA, 1916
WILLIAM THAW
RAOUL LUFBERY
EXPLOIT OF LIEUTENANT DE LA TOUR: COMBAT IN CIRCLE AT 6500 METERS
ALTITUDE
A VICTORY OF GUYNEMERS
ANOTHER VICTORY OF GUYNEMERS
INTRODUCTION
By CAPTAIN HEURTAUX CAPTAIN DE KERILLIS CAPTAIN ROECKEL LIEUTENANT PARTRIDGE
I
October 27 [1917] DEAR CHIEF:
I am very much behind in writing to you, and I hope you will excuse my long silence. I have just gone through a very trying time and have suffered much with my wounds, owing to supervening complications. Now I am finally able to pull through and somewhat reestablished in health, and I am attempting to make up for lost time.
You have asked me for a story of a fight in the air, and I am going to narrate one of my latest experiences, although it is not of a very recent date. You know that I had no sooner returned to the front than I was again wounded.
We had just arrived in a new locality. The first days were passed in arranging our hangars, and particularly in very carefully overhauling our machines, which had considerably run down during our long period of activity.
On several occasions already, the Boches had been flying over our heads, taking advantage of our forced inaction. From the ground we could distinguish their black crosses, not without cursing our inability to pursue them. Finally, the machines were ready ; it was beautiful weathernot a cloud in the sky. A strong wind was blowing but it was at least favorable for an excursion against the enemy. I had great hopes, therefore, of being able to give him battle and to return without being too much knocked up. Everything was carefully straightened out on board. I got in and was trying the motor when suddenly some white tufts appeared over our heads, and in their midsta plane; no doubt about it; it was an enemy, arriving just at the proper time.
I let go in all haste, without losing sight of the bursting shells which gave me my proper course. I went up as rapidly as possible; the motor worked beautifully, so I could soon make out my enemy. It was without question a reconnoitering plane, flying around over its objective, taking photographs. So much the better ! In that case the observer would be less likely to notice my presence.
I tried out the machine gun and tested all my instruments for the last time, as I had arrived in the danger zone. Everything was going well, and all I had to do was to begin the fight.
The Boche was about eight hundred yards offseven hundred yards yet to run before opening fire. I approached him rapidly; a few little white clouds appeared in front of me; I was discovered. The gunner had already commenced firing; it looked as if the fight would be a hot one, and I began zigzagging at once, so as to destroy his aim. The little white tufts were growing farther and farther away ; all was well. Our distance apart diminished more and more.
The machine-gun valleys now lasted longer, a good sign that the enemy was getting excited. We still drew together, and I could make out clearly the shapes of the pilot and passenger; but I saw I must get closer. Finally I could see the face of the machine-gunner very clearly. I was at good range, and it was now my turn to reply. At the first shot the Boche commenced to fire, then to dive more and more.
The two machine guns rattled away without pause, and the enemy tried in vain to escape, until after some sharp turns his machine suddenly began to descendthe pilot must have been shotand this maneuver of his brought me very suddenly into his arc of fire. A few shotssudden noises around mea violent blow in the left legam I wounded ? I shake myself, but cant discover anything; I am flooded with water, with gasoline; a sudden moment of fearshall I take fire? No smoke, thank God!
And now what had become of my adversary ? These few seconds had given him time to take a fresh position. My motor stopped ; how should I be able to continue the fight? Luck followed me, however; the Boche at once began to turn his nose down. I flew in his wake, joined him, and so took up a most beautiful commanding position. Again I commenced firing at him, never letting him go. We fell vertically, going like mad. The machine gun crackled incessantly, but the enemy never replied. Finally my ammunition gave out; I had to abandon my prize.
It was now high time to think of myself and to select a landing-place, not an easy thing to find in this hilly region. I finally discovered a little strip of land close to a wood ; it was the only possible place. The high wind allowed me to come to earth slowly in the midst of holes and logs, which I finally did without accident. I jumped out of my machine in haste, and found it in a very sad condition, indeed, completely unfit for service. As for me, some shots had gone through my teddy bear. I was fully repaid by my adventure.
