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BOXART STORY
On September 20, 1915, the legendary Lanoe
G. Hawker left No. 6 Squadron of the RFC, already
an aviation icon. He had been awarded the Victoria
Cross for his exploits with the unit, proving
himself not only an exceptionally courageous
aviator but also a technically innovative officer.
By the time he departed, he had seven aerial
combat victories to his credit but showed signs
of fatigue from a year-long combat deployment
in France. However, command did not allow him
much rest. By September 28, he was appointed
commander of No. 24 RFC Squadron, which in
early 1916 became the RFC's first fighter unit,
equipped with the new DH.2 single-seat aircraft.
Hawker approached his new role with
his characteristic technical knowledge and
strategic mindset. He worked tirelessly to
ensure his pilots achieved optimal results
with the DH.2, demonstrating techniques and
instilling confidence in his squadron. When
his pilots worried about handling the aircraft's
spin, Hawker personally showed them how.
He was an officer focused on maximizing the
combat capabilities of the new machine rather
than dwelling on its limitations. He praised its
excellent cockpit visibility and believed the
engine was sufficiently powerful. However, as
it became evident over time, the engine often
became coated with castor oil mid-flight,
diminishing its performance—a factor that later
likely contributed to Hawker's death.
The DH.2 aircraft and its operational history
are thoroughly detailed by B. Gray, T. Henshaw,
M. Davis, and M. Kelsey in their recently
published book De Havilland DH2 and the Men
Who Flew Them, which I highly recommend.
The book includes a comprehensive briefing
by Hawker from August 7, 1916, covering the
DH.2’s flight characteristics, training, combat
deployment, and gunnery techniques. Novice
pilots were cautioned against flying solo
in combat. The chapter on combat tactics
elaborates on strategies against different
categories of enemy aircraft. The Germans
regarded Hawker as the British counterpart of
Max Immelmann, a comparison I believe to be
well-founded. Hawker's main command was to
always attack—ideally with surprise and from
a superior altitude.
A historic day for No. 24 Squadron was June
22, 1916, when Hawker’s order of the day was
simply, “Attack everything!” The unit launched its
largest single-day sortie with five DH.2s and one
Bristol Scout. The formation encountered several
Fokker monoplanes over Bapaume, engaging
in a skirmish with neither victory nor loss.
The Fokker pilots demonstrated their planes'
durability in dive maneuvers—moves DH.2 pilots
typically avoided.
Later that day, Lt. C. M. B. Chapman and
Lt. A. G. Knight clashed with a formation of six
German aircraft near Bapaume, identifying
the enemy as one large AGO C and five LVG C
planes. Despite being outnumbered, Chapman
was credited with downing the AGO, and Knight
claimed his first victory over one of the LVG
Cs. This scene is captured in the box art by
Martin Novotný. Knight’s aircraft, serial number
6011, was relatively new, having been delivered
on June 18.
Aircraft 6011 had spent less than a month
on the front, accumulating 47 hours and
40 minutes of flight time, but its service with
No. 24 Squadron ended on July 11, 1916, during the
Battle of the Somme. The aircraft was reported
missing, piloted by novice Lt. C. Kerr, during
an Army patrol in the Longeval-Puisieux area.
It was later discovered that he had crashed
behind German lines between Péronne and
St. Quentin. During a battle with a German C-type
aircraft from Kagohl 1, Kerr's plane’s controls
and engine were struck. The victorious German
observer, Oblt. Hermann Maurer, was later
awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Württemberg
Military Merit Order on July 29, having already
received the Württemberg Gold Military Medal
for his previous aviation service.
Twenty-one-year-old “Gerry” Knight, an
Englishman who spent most of his life in Canada,
went on to achieve seven more victories with
other DH.2 aircraft. He was awarded the Military
Cross and the Distinguished Service Order for his
service. He was one of two aviators responsible
for the collision between Oswald Boelcke and
Erwin Böhme of Jasta 2 on October 28, 1916,
resulting in Boelcke’s fatal crash. Tragically,
Knight’s career ended when he became Manfred
von Richthofen’s thirteenth victim on December
20, 1916, while serving with No. 29 Squadron RFC.
Illustration: Martin Novotný
Attack everything!
Text: Jan Bobek
INFO Eduard
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November 2024