856 The Outline of Science 



Captain H. W. Woollett of No. 43 Squadron achieved the 

 war's record by bringing down six enemy aircraft in one day, 

 very largely owing to the excellent qualities of his machine. 

 Thus at 10.30 a.m., whilst leading a patrol, he saw a German 

 machine, out-manoeuvred it, fired about thirty rounds and saw 

 it spin down and crash. During this fight he had been attacked 

 by several other machines. Without delay he climbed rapidly 

 above his attackers and dived on to a two-seater, firing as he 

 went, causing this machine also to crash. Once again he out- 

 climbed his opponents, looped away from two attacking Fokkers, 

 made a vertical bank, and again dived on the tail of an Albatross. 

 After he had fired about 40 rounds, this machine burst into flames 

 and fell to pieces. He then went home. At 5 p.m. the same 

 evening he attacked thirteen enemy aircraft, having absolute con- 

 fidence in his own skill as a pilot and knowing that his machine 

 could out-manoeuvre any of those he was attacking. He first 

 fired 30 rounds into one of the enemy aeroplanes, which turned 

 over on its back and fell to pieces. He then climbed again, man- 

 oeuvred rapidly among the remaining twelve machines, avoiding 

 the fire of his opponents until he could fire a burst into an Alba- 

 tross, which spun down and crashed. He then made for home. 

 On crossing the lines he saw another enemy machine above him. 

 Once more the climb of his 'bus enabled him to get over his 

 enemy, and he crashed his sixth machine for the day. This day's 

 work, the record for the war, illustrates the necessity for speed 

 in the air speed in climb and manoeuvreability. 



Another incident showing the value of manoeuvreability 

 occurred when Lieutenant McLeod of the R.A.F. won his V.C. 

 He was attacked at a height of about 5,000 feet by eight Ger- 

 man triplanes which dived at him from all directions, flying hard. 

 McLeod was flying a two-seater, and by skilful flying he enabled 

 his observer to fire at each enemy machine in turn, bringing down 

 three of them out of control. McLeod then looped his 'bus, 

 despite the fact that he had by then been wounded five times, 



