Laddie Goes to War by Somnath Sapru

Laddie Goes to War by Somnath Sapru

Author:Somnath Sapru [Sapru, Somnath]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, History, Military, World War I
ISBN: 9789389620559
Publisher: VIJ Books (India) PVT Ltd
Published: 2021-05-31T04:00:00+00:00


Lt Malik with his fellow pilots.

The pilots flew as a Squadron to France in the last week of October 1917. On the way, they landed at Lympne on the south coast for refuelling and a final check-up. All aeroplanes except Malik’s were found to be all right and took off for St. Omer in Northern France. His plane had a minor defect. A pressure gauge needed adjustment. Later, Malik followed them but by then the rest of the squadron had already landed at St. Omer.

Malik took off and after an uneventful flight reached the outskirts of St. Omer. Naturally ,the rest of the squadron were all there watching him land.

Suddenly, he discovered that he was going too fast to land, so he kept the engine going and came round for the third time with the wheels touching the ground but the machine kept on running. It would not stop. He tried everything that he knew. It was only then that he realised that he had landed downwind instead or against the wind. An aerodrome officer came running to the machine as soon as it stopped and Malik stepped out and told him “Next time, remember to land against the wind.”

Malik felt very foolish, nodded and said nothing. The whole thing was watched by the squadron pilots. They already started making fun of him, but very soon Malik on recovering his poise, said, “Any fool can land upwind. It takes a real pilot to be able to land down wind.”

(Malik was not the only pilot who made the mistake of landing downwind.)

During November 1924 and March 1925, Air Vice Marshal Sefton Brancker, then Director of Civil Aviation of Great Britain, made a preliminary survey of the aerial route from England to India by flying himself with a very competent and senior pilot Alan Cobham, (later Sir Alan Cobham). Reaching India, he concluded his business and started back from Karachi on February 25, 1925. Brancker, himself a military pilot, explains it:

“.......On the 27th, we went to Ahwaz where I had promised to visit......On 28th we reached Bagdad after three hours’ flying against a strong head wind. Just as we reached the aerodrome at Bagdad, the wind swung around 180 degrees with the result that Cobham, NOT REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, LANDED DOWNWIND, MUCH TO THE AMUSEMENT OF THE ONLOOKERS, BUT WITHOUT ANY ILL-EFFECTS.”

Performance Criteria For A Scout

Performance criteria for a Scout: HEIGHT and SPEED. The rate of climb was also vital. Height gives you the tactical advantage. But can you keep this indefinitely without speed. A good climb rate, obviously gives you superior height first. So these are very important and maneouverability - which can save your life. The Hun just couldn’t get on your tail and you could get on his.

Eyes are the best things, the greatest individual assets -not just for seeing but for sizing up a situation quickly and correctly. Height, speed and the sun behind are important. One of the tricks that can save life was the slip-turn, a turn solely with the rudder.



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