SYNCHRONIZED VICKERS’ GUN.
SYNCHRONIZING GEAR.
In August began the third course with sixty-six cadets and an organization fairly complete, being forty officers and ten N.C.O. instructors. Now, too a JN4 machine was converted to a JN4A with the pilot in front and a Scarff mounting behind for the observer, as in the Bristol fighter. A decided acquisition this, and a quantity were ordered. Surprise deflection shooting was introduced. It was a busy and interesting period.
The fourth course in September had 124 cadets. The tuition given was of proved value. Lectures came in by the fighting instructor, and naturally increased the pupils’ confidence. The latter were now firing 750 rounds from the ground and 150 from the air, and the squadron worked at high pressure to give each pupil three hours’ aerial gunnery flying—a matter of difficulty owing to the scarcity of machines with synchronized guns. It was probably due to this that cadets were getting too much Lewis gun observers’ work. The fault was rectified, though the mountings were not entirely satisfactory.
The fifth course began in October with a total of 238 pupils, who proceeded with the unit to Texas and enjoyed excellent facilities which had been foreseen and provided. The number of available machines increased, and were divided into C.C. gear (synchronized gear) camera gun and turret machine flights. Actual aerial instruction was given twenty-four hours after arrival at this far Southern field.
The history of Royal Flying Corps gunnery in Texas is a progressive document, too lengthy to give in detail. Here the unit had its first target practice over water—Lake Worth proving ideal for the purpose, and instruction was greatly aided owing to a better observation of fire and a clearer angle of approach. In December the pupils turned out numbered 264, an average flying time of practically five hours—a marked improvement.
In January the aerial work of the School was further increased. Range work (25 yards) was taken over by the wings. All synchronized guns were moved from the side of the cowling to the top, thus creating active service conditions. No. 2 squadron came into being with twelve machines, giving 30 in toto, the work being done by flights. Two machines were converted to Canadian Gothas, with the gun firing through the bottom of the fuselage. The output of pupils increased to 310, with average flying time of 5½ hours.
February saw the use of a good armour-plated disappearing and running target, and cadets also fired from a cage that travelled along a cableway between two towers, but the speed was too low to be of value. The February output was 313 pupils. The instructing personnel had now increased to 60 officers (50 flying), 1 warrant officer, 60 N.C.O.’s and 250 men.