Warbird Information Exchange

Communique No. 101, Page 100, August 11th 1917

The following narrative of fights by machines of 45 Squadron has been sent by the Officer Commanding that squadron and is of considerable interest:

"While on north line patrol Lt O L McMaking and Capt I Mc A M Pender* crossed the lines at 6.35pm (on the 11th instant) under the clouds at 4500 feet over Deulemont. While passing a gap in the cloud two Albatros scouts dived at them from the clouds, firing continuously. Cpl A Jex (Lt McMaking's Observer) got in a full drum at the enemy scout from very close quarters. The EA crashed in flames on the canal immediately to the left of Deulemont. The second EA attacked Capt Pender's machine from the side and one bullet passed through both the main petrol tanks and wounded Capt Pender seriously in the back. Pioneer W T Smith (Capt Pender's Observer) got in a full double drum at the EA from close quarters and it crashed four fields to the left of the first machine. Capl Pender then fainted and his machine got into a spin. As Pioneer Smith could not make him hear, he climbed over the side and forward along the plane to the pilot's cockpit and found the stick wedged between Capt Pender's legs. He pulled Capt Pender back and pushed the stick forward. The machine came out of the spin and Capt Pender almost immediately recovered. Capt Pender then brought the machine and landed his Observer safely near Poperinghe. Members of the 16th Divisional Ammunition Column, where Capt Pender came down, saw Pioneer Smith standing on the side of the machine and heard him encouraging Capt Pender, saying 'Pull her up, sir' as they were about to crash into some hop poles. Capt Pender did pull her up and landed on the other side with very little damage."

* Captain Ian McAllister Moffat Pender, Seaforth Highlanders (2nd Lt & Capt.), RAF (Capt.)

All in a day's work!!! Who reckons that Pioneer Smith's EXACT words were "Pull her up, sir.".....

William Thomas Smith DCM on the Aerodrome: http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/smith11.php

No surprise that Pioneer Smith got the DCM for his "stunt". London Gazette, 22-10-1917 & 26-1-1918 - Awarded the DCM: 48027 Pnr. W. T. Smith, 14th Signal Co. R.E., attd. R.F.C. (Kensal Rise, London). "Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst acting as aerial gunner to an officer. Having shot down an enemy machine, his own pilot was wounded, and fell forward insensible on to the control lever. Pioneer Smith then climbed forward along the plane, pulled the pilot off the lever and got the machine under control. The officer then partially recovered, whereupon he remained standing on the side of the fuselage shouting words of encouragement to him, and the machine was eventually landed without much damage, entirely owing to his exceptionally gallant and prompt action." Announcement and citation. (Smith went on to be a Sgt., became an observer ace, survived the war and went to Australia, where he ran into Pender again in 1942).

There is a similar story about a Finnish Air Force pilot observer team in a Fokker C.X biplane during the later WW2 campaign against the Soviets. The pilot was killed outright but the plane was trimmed for level flight but headed into Soviet territory. The observer couldn't crawl into the front cockpit under the canopy so he crawled out onto the wing and then into the cockpit and sat on the dead pilot's lap and flew the aircraft back to base. He managed a decent landing though the plane did nose over.

_________________
"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Thank you for posting that. It's stories like that, that make history come alive. It makes you wonder how many other stories there were similar to this one, but where the ending was slightly different.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

David

If only he'd been a officer!!
Very cool!!

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

No, I'm sure they were really: "I say, old chap, not to be any trouble, but hadn't we perhaps ought to elevate the anterior of the aeroplane just a tad ... ah, that's it sir, simply smashing, pardon the expression, perhaps we should nip down for a spot of tea now, eh what?"

August

Errr... What do you mean, Jack? He was. [EDIT - reread the notes properly - sorry Jack!]

The Victoria Cross was also instituted to be awarded irrespective of commissioned or non-commissioned status.

Cheers,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Were any of the aircrew of the RFC wearing parachutes in 1917?

I believe not. The 'Guardian Angel' type was available, but bulky, needing, I think, to be fitted into the aircraft. The Brass Hats took a view that parachutes would only encourage aviators to abandon valuable aircraft.

Balloon Observers (on both sides) had parachutes - they were mounted over the side of the basket. Some German pilots had 'chutes in 1918, I think.

Anyone more knowledgeable, please step forwards!

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I believe not. The 'Guardian Angel' type was available, but bulky, needing, I think, to be fitted into the aircraft. The Brass Hats took a view that parachutes would only encourage aviators to abandon valuable aircraft.

Balloon Observers (on both sides) had parachutes - they were mounted over the side of the basket. Some German pilots had 'chutes in 1918, I think.

Anyone more knowledgeable, please step forwards!

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com