[AERIAL CONDITIONS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1916.]
The battle of the Somme in the latter half of 1916 was the principal factor leading to the formation of the Royal Flying Corps, Canada. Aerial conditions on the Western Front were at this period of so tense a nature that they may well be noted before proceeding to the actual history of the Canadian brigade.
The following sketch makes no pretence of absolute accuracy. The data available at the moment are not official, but are compiled from the memories of several flying officers serving on the Western front at the time. They may, however, be taken as fairly presenting not only the development of the Royal Flying Corps, but also that of opposing enemy aircraft at the period under consideration.
The British Expeditionary Force commenced operations in 1914 with a flying arm of four squadrons or some fifty machines, of which no less than thirty were destroyed during a severe storm at Christmas time by the collapse of a large hangar at St. Omer, leaving on the following day approximately 14 serviceable machines. At this time all aeroplanes in both forces were unarmed.
It is difficult to say whether British or German made the first aerial attack on an opposing machine, but it is undoubted that this type of combat, coming how it may, found both sides unequipped with the exception of such offensive power as might be secured with rifle or revolver. British machines had been thus armed for months, probably in anticipation of forced landings behind the German lines and, without question, enemy aircraft were similarly provided. There ensued a series of sporting encounters out of which grew the necessity of arming aeroplanes with rapid-fire guns mounted mostly on the top of the centre section so that bullets might clear the propeller blade. This gun was operated by the pilot, who supplied the sole method of forward shooting, while the observer, who was at that time placed in the front seat, fired to the rear. A year and a half afterwards, the method of shooting practically through the propeller was evolved, which, gradually developing, has long since reached mechanical perfection.
In the early summer of 1916, the British strength had grown to some 28 or 30 squadrons in France. These numbered approximately 450 machines, distributed fairly equally along the entire front. A view of our aerial equipment as contrasted with enemy aircraft in the battle of the Somme gives the following data, but it must be understood that this was a period during which every effort was strained on either side and type followed type in rapid succession.
| BRITISH. | GERMAN. |
| BE2C 2-seater tractor biplane. | Fokker Scout tractor monoplane. |
| 1 or 2 Lewis guns. | 1 gun shooting through propeller, with deflectors. |
| Observer in front. | Speed 85 m.p.h. |
| Speed 70 miles. | Climb 10,000 feet in 17 mins. |
| Climb to 10,000 ft. in 50 mins. | |
| Service ceiling 11,000 feet. | |
| FE2B 2-seater pusher biplane. | Albatross Scout tractor biplane. |
| 2 Lewis guns. | 2 gun synchronized in line of flight. |
| Observer in front. | (First machine thus equipped.) |
| Speed 75 miles. | Speed 100 m.p.h. |
| Climb to 10,000 feet in 40 mins. | |
| Service ceiling 12,000 feet. | Also 2 seater Albatross machine. |
| Morane 2-seater tractor | Roland Scout tractor biplane, |
| (French) both mono and biplane. | armed as Albatross but not quite as fast. |
| Same guns as BE2C, but with deflectors. | Also Roland 2-seater fighter, speed 90 m.p.h. |
| Speed 80 m.p.h. | Climb 10,000 feet in 20 mins. |
| Climb 10,000 feet in 30 mins. | Halberstadt Scout tractor biplane, |
| Service ceiling 15,000 feet. | similar to Albatross. |
| DH2 Scout pusher biplane. | LVG 2-seater tractor. |
| 1 Lewis Gun on line of flight or swivelled. | Albatross and Aviatik, reconn. bombing, and photo. |
| Speed 90 m.p.h. | 1 gun synchronized and 1 swivelled. |
| Climb 10,000 feet in 18 mins. | Speed 85 m.p.h. |
| Service ceiling 16,000 feet. | Climb 10,000 in 25 mins. |
| Service ceiling 18,000 feet. | |
| FE8 Scout pusher biplane. | |
| 1 Lewis Gun swivelled in line of flight. | |
| Speed 100 m.p.h. | |
| Climb 15,000 feet in 19 mins. | |
| Service ceiling 18,000 feet. | |
| Nieuport Scout tractor(French). | |
| 1 Lewis Gun over top of prop. or swivelled. | |
| Speed 100 m.p.h. | |
| Climb 10,000 feet in 12 mins. | |
| Service ceiling 19,000 feet. | |
| This was the first allied machine to have a synchronized Vickers or Lewis gun in 1916. | |
| Spad Scout tractor biplane. | |
| 1 synchronized Vickers gun firing in line of flight through propeller. | |
| Speed 120 m.p.h. | |
| Climb 10,000 feet in 9 mins. | |
| Service ceiling 20,000 feet. |
In addition the British had a squadron or so of Sopwith 1½ Strutters, very fast and handy 2-seater tractors with observer in rear. Also some Bristol Scouts, Vickers pushers and Martynsydes.