Textbook of military aeronautics

313 Pages·1918·25.39 MB·English

by  Henry Woodhouse

TEXTBOOK
OF
AERONAUTICS
MILITARY
BY
HENRY WOODHOUSE
Author of "Textbook of Naval Aeronautics"
member of the board of governors of aero club of america, vice-president
aerial league of america, member of national aibeal coast patrol com-
mission, chairman of committee of flying equipment cooperating
with commandant of third naval district in organizing naval
reserve forces, trustke and chairman of committee on
aeronautics national institute of efficiency, mem-
ber of the society of automotive engineers,
educational and industrial delegate,
pan-american federation, etc., etc.
NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1918
We miiiit hiiild iHrjfrr «ir f\rrU nnd put the fenr of Oofl in the Oormnn hpnrt hy rondiictiriff miijor HerinI
o]>eratinnii nfrninst the (Jcrmnti flrrt. I'-IkmiI hnncs, militnrv Imscs, innniifnctiirinK renters, supply
depot* nnd r«llroHd«. This illuKtrntion vUualixed the destruction of GennHn bases across the Hhlne
by Allied Air Kleet*.
Copyright, 1918, by
The Cehtury Co.
Publuhsd, May, 1918
i
PREFACE
One of the purposes of this book is to make this time, and I am sure officers and men will be aston-
avaihible to our prospective American aviators ished to know how far this science has progressed in
the educational information regardin—g the man- our service, and I am further satisfied it will awaken
keener interest in this branch of naval activity and
ner in which aviators fight the enemy informa- produce recruits for this service among our skilled
tion which the enemy gets whenever Alhed avi- mechanicians and those daring souls to whom the rou-
ators are brought down and printed instructions tine life aboard battle-ships may become irksome.
are found on them, and by daily observations of
what the Allied aviators do. There is as much difference between aerial
The author has found by talking to Allied warfare in connection with army operations and
officers and from the score or so of periodicals of aerial warfare in connection with naval opera-
the European countries engaged in this war that tions as there is between the operations of the
all information about modus operandi and aero- army and navy proper. The naval aviator who
planes and devices becomes known to the enemy has to hunt submarines, convoy troop-ships, lo-
almost immediately, through the capture of cate submarine mines, patrol the sea-lanes, and
aeroplanes and aviators and through observa- manoeuver his aircraft over the sea in scouting
tion of repetition of actions. or bomb-dropping expeditions must have a
Another purpose of this book is to supply to training which is entirely different from that of
military authorities an illustrated pen picture of the military aviator, who locates and watches
the history of the evolution of military aeronau- the movements of the enemy's artillery and in-
tics, its present status, and the direction of its fantry, photographs the enemy's positions, and
development. cooperates in attacking soldiers in the trenches
The hundreds of letters received from naval or on the march, etc.
officers regarding the value to them of the Hence the necessity of the two books.
"Textbook of Naval Aeronautics" convinced Supremacy in the air is the key to victory.
the author of the need for a similar book about "Had the Allies one thousand more aero-
military aeronautics rather than for a book deal- planes, we could have easily defeated the Ger-
ing with the mechanics of military aircraft and mans."
their equipment, an extensive subject that This is the general expression that one hears
would fill a book as large as this volume. as the German offensive is raging. - It is an of-
The following excerpts of letters from the ficial as well as a public expression, and every-
commanding officers of war-ships give the gen- body scans the reports to find out what the aero-
eral sentiment expressed in the letters received planes are doing and whether the Allies have
about the "Textbook of Naval Aeronautics," sufficient aeroplanes to maintain that supremacy
which are close to one thousand in number. in the air which is necessary to decide the war in
Acknowledging the receipt of two copies of favor of the Allies.
the text-book, one for himself and one for the With one thousand additional warplanes, the
ship's library, for the use of the crew, the com- Allies would have been able to prevent German
manding officer of a United States war-ship aviators from mapping the Allied positions; and
writes: could have destroyed the militarj- bases, muni-
tion-dumps, gun emplacements, the railroads
I know they will be of inestimable value. I have upon which the troops, munitions, and supplies
arleraedaidnyg sapencto,pysoamnedplmeuasstantadamnitd iInsktnreucwtilviettlheouorfsthine were transported. In short, they could have
state of the art as applied to naval aeronautics until prevented the massing of such a huge body of
382116
PREFACE
troops as the Germans massed for this drive. The enemy's low-flying aeroplanes were most per-
Aeroplanes are the only things that can pass sistent in their attack on our infantry in the forward
the German lines. Thev can flv over the Ger- areas. Many of these machines were attacked and
man lines and they can do so at night, when bhorsotuiglehtmadcohwinnebsywoeurre pbilrootusg.htAdotowtnalaonfdttwweennttyy--nfiinvee
neither the anti-aircraft batteries nor the Ger- others were driven down out of control. Two enemy
man aeroplanes can see them. balloons were also destroyed. Nine of our machines
Unfortunately, the Allies did not have this are missing.
additional aerial force. To keep one thousand Our machines on Saturday carried out another suc-
well-trained aviators on the fighting fronts, em- cessful raid on factories in Mannheim. Nearly one
ploying them daily, involves about forty per and a half tons of bombs were dropped, and bursts
were seen on a soda factory, the railway, and docks.
cent, replacements in aviators, and from one Several fires were started, one of which was of great
hundred to two hundred per cent, replace- size, with flames reaching to a height of 200 feet and
ments in machines per month. In other words, smoke to 5000 feet. The conflagration was visible
it takes six hundred aviators per month to keep for a distance of thirty-five miles.
one thousand fighting continuously, operating The weather Saturday again favored operations,
day and night. Xot all of these aviators are and our aeroplanes were constantly emj)loyed in re-
killed or hurt. A large number just "wear bcoonmnboiintge,riangndpoisnitiroenpsorotfintgroospuist,abilnephtaortgoegtrsapfhory aonudr
out" after a few weeks or months of intensive
artillery. Many thousands of rounds were fired by
service, and cannot continue. They must be our pilots from low altitudes on hostile troops massed
sent back to rest or to be employed in other in villages and in the open continuously throughout
work. the day.
As for machines, they are used fast and in More than fourteen tons of bombs were dropped on
large numbers. The anti-craft guns are quite enemy billets, on his high-velocity guns, and on rail-
road stations in the battle area.
accurate at heights of fifteen thousand feet; and Our bombing-aeroplanes were attacked by thirty-
speeds up to one hundred and forty miles an two hostile machines, and a fierce fight ensued. One of
hour are necessary to maintain supremacy in the enemy's aeroplanes was brought down in flames,
the air. Landing such fast machines in small and another was downed, and fell in the center of
fields leads to damaging a great many. Mannheim. Five others were driven down out of con-
However, when we consider the tremendous trol.
value of each aviator, we find that the air service Despite this severe combat and the enemy's heavy
anti-aircraft gunfire, all our machines returned except
is the most im|)ortant and economic branch of two. During the night ten heavy bombs were
the fighting forces. dropped on an important railway's bridge and works
The accounts show that in 1918 night opera- at Konz, just south of Treves, in Germany. Eight of
tions by aeroplanes are used more extensively. these bombs were clearly seen to be bursting among
One of the despatclies summarizes some of the railway's works.
the activities of the aviators as follows:
It is stated officially that this is only the be-
In moonlight of sufficient brilliance to permit the ginning of the intensive warfare that is to fol-
reading of a newspaper, bombing planes and warplanes low, one of the great drives that are to follow
We
swarm out, carrying high explosives, far behind the each other in quick succession hereafter.
battle zone. They broaden the area ofdeath scores of must, therefore, concentrate efforts on our air-
miles, few villages escaping. craft program and put all the manufacturing
When the sun rises, the bombers, like prowling facilities now standing virtually idle in the
nsipgehetdsbuirpd,s,anrdetuscronuttofletehtesi,rsruococseted;inggrotuhnedbfoimgbhetrisn,g UniNtoed States to turn out aircraft and parts.
fly low over the clashing infantry, harassing enemy time .should be lost in adopting the plan
columns and observing for the artillery. which is to give the Allies the supremacy in the
air that is so vital, as it will decide the war in
One of the reports of the daytime aerial op- favor of the AHies.
erations reads as follows Henry Woodhouse.
:
INTRODUCTION
As President Wilson has repeatedly pointed patriot who wants to learn about aeronautics in
out, it is most important that the country be the hope of finding an opening to employ his or
educated to its task. her efforts to help the Government in carrying
The workers for aerial preparedness have the war to a successful conclusion, will find in
found in the past that the principal work was to this book the publication they have been looking
teach the public the hnportance of aerial pre- for. — —
paredness, the tremendous possibilities for the Another commendable point it has many
employment of aircraft in connection with every is the strong message which the book carries to
branch of the army and navy,* and independ- the American authorities and public. The au-
ently. To teach the busy military man, so thor brings out once more the importance of
that he would recommend the expansion of the air power and urges full-size measures. In this
air service to the legislator, so the legislator again every one will agree. It is time that we
would support the military man's recommenda- shun half-measures. The greatest of our na-
tions; to teach the engineer, so that he woidd tional sins in aeronauti—c matters has been over-
develop better aircraft especially suited for mili- reliance on minimums minimum plans, based
tary purposes; and the general public, in order on minimum understanding of the military and
to inspire j^oung men to volunteer their services aeronautic situation, further weakened by mini-
and men and women to work for the develop- mum appropriations. We have also had some
ment of our air forces. minimum men, having minimum knowledge and
Now that the world's strategists agree that experience, who did not realize, as one must do
the present war is to be decided in the air, and in war-times, the possible necessity of quick ex-
this country has been asked and has undertaken pansion, the possibility of delays, due to trans-
to supply the thousands of aviators and tens of portation of materials, labor conditions, mis-
thousands of machines needed to maintain aerial takes, etc.,
supremacy on the side of the Allies, the great The one national resolution that we ought to
demand is for reliable information regarding make in dealing with aeronautics should be to
the use of aircraft for military purposes. eliminate minimums of all kinds and adopt
Executive military officers who want to know maximums in programs, men, appropriations,
the exact status of military aeronautics and the manufacturing facilities, etc. Having adopted
principles of aerial strategy; students learning maximums, let us add to each, so as to have a
military aviation who want to know in detail the substantial margin of safety to insure success
various phases of aerial warfare; aeronautic en- under any circumstances.
gineers and manufacturers who want to know
the duties of aircraft, in order to design and Alan R. Hawley,
make more efficient machines; and the average President Aero Club of America.

CONTENTS
PAGE
Chapter I The War to be Decided in the Chapter V The Fundamental Principles
Air OF Aerial Combat 63
Aerial Supremacy Must be Maintained Day and Nigh—t
Air Service the First Line of Offence and Defence Chapter VI Directing Artillery Fire by
Tlie Use—of Aircraft in Connection with Military Op-
erations Aerial Operations Independent of Land Night and Day Signaling to and from
Forces—Cooperation Between the Army and the Aircraft "^^
Navy in Conducting Major Operations
Methods and—Codes Used for Communicating—From and
to Aircraft Tlie O—bserver's Special Map Signaling
Chapter II The Warplane for Bombing With Very—'s Lights Kite Balloons for Spotting Artil-
AND Torpedo Attacks 9 lSeyrsyte—Fmirfeor TCahpetivDeubBiallileoro-nGso—U SSiegnmail-iRnagdiBoetTweeleenphAoinre-
The New Revolutionary Weapon Which Combines craft Cooperation Between Balloons and Artillery
Power, Mobility, and Control, and Permits Major
Aerial Operations—Against German Military Centers
and Naval Bases—Night Raids Can be Conducted Chapter VII Kite Balloons the Eyes of
WLiartgheoutAerDiofpfliacnuletsy—WAiltlihesWHhaivceh NteoveCronHdaudctEnMoaujgohr the Ar—tillery 81
Aerial Operations Huge Warplanes to do at Long Mane—uvering Camp Equipment of a Ki—te Balloon
—Range What Huge Guns Can Only do at Short Rang—e Unit An Artillery Captai—n's Experience Personnel
Proportion of Bombing Planes to be Increased of K—ite Balloon Company Preparations for—Ascen-
Huge Warplanes and Torpedoplanes Capable of Car- sion What You Can See f—rom a Kite Balloon Aero-
rpyroinnig TWoanr—sploafneE—xpFlroesnicvhesa—nTdlieBrMiatrisvhel—oBuosmb-GdiraontppiCna-g aplKainteevBsa.llCoaopnt—ivAe CBuarliloouosn MaAneLuevaepr—InAtoDrSapmacaeatfrtohme
Machines The Huge Cur—tiss Triplane Long-distance End of a Cable
Bombing Raids not New Long-distance Allied Raids
—IntEoxtEennseimvye CDoaumnatgrey CinantljbeeWeDsotneer—nbyThBeoatmrbes—ofNiWgahrt Chapter VIII Aero Photograph—y ... 91
FtdKNSSaoriinpcodgeoiepErhwlplrtil—iiyteonmafdgtAigenuLseBatatMoonBemedmooafcibmNtnhboigaAiicDennsrrgePiioisaLplaloimoptfgt—ihC—nNBtAlgasoopTv——smpuierbrgNNonaRiaatagvciIShnihonitggtn—gaeohttBBitbsooohyN——nmemebbeTWIisdhinneLsngoaitdfgnrhSduSRtctimoeisleqeBe—AnnuontvticmiTosrefbh—ieri-esdsc TCtAATTloefhrhitgnameoerttumyraspo—aSfhRnohyeSdnAo—lesewevraoseTaofsnhpeMeMlGiiaeA—blnnAereyueersmtsroaetoophsnafpletthaPonthPFDteholreoetategonanBrFtgicaorl—rhpmosahnbpAiAthosecvfiriUcoasPOaptMehrlogodaaFratnpanofecsioTgtrzhroPaaarATthptyeiwohroeteiCRnondalegtliloryiefSaPamopPhsnohaeoeen-nrydy
DmraitfitonFFolrymiantgi—onHofwor1B,0o0m0l)WianrgplRaaniedss CoRuulldesRafiord FKoire-l BmieliinagrRWeipatihretdhe—AFoPlhlootwoignrgapTheicchniOfcfail—cerSuSbhjoeucltds—beCaFma--
eras a—nd Fittings Loadi—ng of Plates Negative Devel-
Chapter III Dropping Bombs from Aero- oNpoinn-gcomFmiinsissihoneofd OWffoircekr WAithSqH—uiasdrTohnreePhMoetnogSrhaopuhlidc
planes 31 be Familiar With the—Following Science of Aeropho-
t—ography Still Young Essentials in Ae—rophotographs
Relative Elevations Har—d to Show Interpreting
Chapter —IV Battleplanes AND Aircraft Photog—raphs Requires Skill Probl—ems of Aerophotog-
Guns The Dominant Factors in Main- rinapThaykinDgiffAeerreontPThyopteosgroafphCsamaenrdasThePiorssRieblmeedTyroubles
taining the Supremacy of the Air 39
.
Proportions of Dif—ferent Types of Armed Aeroplanes Chapter IX Reconnaissance an.d C.on.ta.ct
iMnaitnhteaiAniirngSerSvuipcreemTalciye Fiinveth—FeunAdiarm—enTtyaplesFaocftoAresroi-n Patrol Work by Aero—plane Ill
planes and Their—Armament Avions de Chasse —or Five Types of Reconnaiss—ance Procedure in Issuing
Combat Machines Avions Types "Corps d'arme" Orders"for Reconnaissance How Re—connaissance Aero-
Uetsce.—d PfuorrsuSipto,ttoirngCAormtbilalteryMaFcihrie,neAse—riTahlePhTortiopglraanpeh—, pnlaainsessa—ncaereMGaucahrindeesd—aNnadviPgraott—ieocntedRulePsrotfeocrtiRnegcoRnencaoins--
A Scientific Solution of the —Problem of Getting Speed sance Pilots and Observers Aircraft Report Diary
and High Factor of—Safety Triplane Safe, Even if Contact Patrol (Aeroplanes De Liason)
Wing is—Shot Away Battleplanes That Collapsed —in
tLhaerg—AeirAerLioaslsDoefstrFoaycetrosr—SA—aefreotpylaNnoetGCuonmspeannsdateCdan—- Chapter X Night Flying — 126
nVcDecEWiohuonuxmhiiglepnlyonnll;seeosMsesraMaLiaaciaaSvObcnhrnoelnhigdlelinWevSy—nehehAPeAsediarFsel—crum—lrPthnsoers(c—pod(3tl2bP)ioF)aalPfoanrehnsAtemotAtiit—hiircGsoerivugTsptDn.raAaoDuscaneuetSptrKelihsloelsciopPessnwlrapgBaroiB,enneMbteteulhAtSw—zeBeiwpezmoroeelBSsttenuekhDtnloyiulfVnLe—eAegCCaltiAl,lsorsrroe—gmcmaoebvirrFosat(i.ryAt1ogBi—fhr)oHntmimMgEAReegbanierhd----rs dAZb"NFpieeelliHspiargotgpnohSnaheepetintsllegcsi—an—e—nnCLIeOiRTansBrnahnsoceitedlbmdrieybsusnHSi"mguiNnFengiognSndgritarGhcgsleternNsad—dio—lgPusAahLnFLeiitdeifrngsegootht—hrRpettaldiiNRAianneiwdnggtgwseauhi—tyrttENh—nhqieAiFguenTlhriAygLhotpeeuepmrrlmFoesaliOfdn—nypnrrteieoooLnsrmumigoaegsfthsCit—aNLoAsCnioneoTngnrfmhoghooo-t-e-tfr
Aeroplanes Formation in Air Fighting —Lamp Sig- pounds Adventures in Night Flying
nals for Use o—f Leaders of Formations Offensive
Fighting Tactics Thorough Knowledge of Weapons is Chapter XI Radio for Aeroplanes 139
Requir^
CONTENTS
page — PAQB
Chaptee XII Military Aerostatics 157 Army Unprepared Aeronautically Aircraft Board
— Created—The $1,0.32,294,260 Army Air Program—Long
Dirigible —Balloons Rigid, S«>mi-Ripid. and—\on-Rigid Delay in Extending Plans and €retting Appropria-
Dirigibles Military Observation Ball—oons Employed tions Causes Trouble
at Nght as W—ell as in the Daytime For Directi—ng
Artillery Fire—Hydrogen Supply and the "Nur—se" Chapter XVIII The Evolution of Mili-
The Windlass—Free Balloon Training Necessary The
Free Balloons Synopsis of the Course of Training at tary Aviation 222
—
United States Army Balloon School
Signal Corps Specification, No. 486 General Cond—i-
tions of French Military Competition of 1910-—1911
Chapter XIII Hydrogen for Military Pur- The Kaiser's Prize for a Motor Competition Aero-
poses — — 167 TpluarnkeisshF—irWsatrU—seFdrefnorchMiAlviitaatryioPnurDpeovseelsopiendthbeyItPaulbilainc-
Proporti—i-s of Hydrogen—Vitriol Process Electr—olytic Interest Firing Guns, Dropping Large Bombs, and
Metiiod Silicol Process Iron—Contact Pro—cess Alu- Two-—engined Aeroplanes Once Considered Impossibi—l-
min—um Caustic Soda Proces—s Hy—drolithe Hydroge ities British Army Tests for Aeroplanes—in 1914
nite Hydrogen from W—ater Gas Alumi—num Potas- Aeronautics at the Outbreak of the War Advent of
sium Cyanide —Process Acetylene Proces—s Iron and Large Warplanes —in 1917 Permitted Conducting Major
Water Process Silico-Acetylene Process Decarbura- Aerial Operation—s The United States Lagged Behind
tion of Oils for Seven Years Aero Club of America—'s Monumental
Work in Developing Our Aerial Forces America's En-
Chapter XIV Training Aviators for the try Into the War Brings Decision to Conc—entrate Ef-
forts to Strike Germany Tlirough tlie Ai—r Tlie Prob-
United States Army; Home and For- lem of Delivering Aeroplanes to Europe British Air
eign Service 179 Ministry Created
—
Schools of Military Aeronautics—(Ground Schools) Chapter XIX Some Problems in Aero-
Instruction i—n the Junior Wing Instruction in t—he
Senior Wing Training at Army—Aviation Schools plane Construction 245
TPciealtsoett—s'sAfvoCirear—tatonirf'isAcvaiteaC—teorrDt'iisfriicgCaietbrelt—iefiHBcyaadtlerlooaoSenprhoePprilliaoctna'els BCaPeilrltloiotfoi'n-s MCiolnisttarruyctiFounn—ctPiroonpselolferAeSrtroepslsaens—esS—uSgogmesetiPornosblfeormsImi-n
Certi—ficate United States Army Preliminary Flying provements in Design
Test United States Army Reserve Military Aviator XX
Test Chapter Methods of Measuring Air-
craft Performances 259
Chapter XV' Regulations for Uniforms of —
Aeroplane Testing Speeds
U. S. Aeronaut—ic Personnel — 190
Uniform Specifications—Coats, Aviat—or, Anti-sinking Chapter XXI The Sperry Automatic
FWaicneterM—asGkl,oveAsv,iatA—ovrisatorF,lySinugmmSeurit—GGolgogvleess,—AH—veilamteotr,, Pilot 269
Aviators, S—ummer H—elmet, Aviators, Winter— Avia- Incorporating a Gyrosc—opic Reference Plane and Clin-
tion Service Mufflers Shoes, Aviat—or, Winter Boots, ometer for Aeroplanes Its Application for Military
Rubber, Wad—ing (Wading Pa—nts) Breeches, Winter, Purposes
Motorcycles Insignia, SU-eve Changes in Regulations
for the Uniforms —of the United States Army, 1014, Chapter XXII The Case for the Large
to Co—ver Avia—tion Uniforms of the United States
Army Officers Enlisted Men Aeroplane — 274
Aerodynamical Bases of Comparison The Effect of an
Chapter XVI Aeronautic—Maps 197 Increas—e in Size on the Structural Weight of Aero
tFoigvreapThyipcesReopfroAdeurcotniaountiocfMR—aopuste aTlnide IMnafpormWaittihonPhRoe-- ApelraonpelsaneT'hsePeErfffeocrtmaonfcea—nTlIinecrLeaarsgeeiMnacShiiz.neeUfproonm tahne
garding Prevailing Winds The War Prevented an Pilot's Standpoint
—IntEexrinsattiinognaAlerCoonnavuetnitcioMnaposn aAreerotnhaeutRiecsuClatrtoofgrWaoprhky Chapter XXIII Every Military Aviator
by Aero Clubs Ought to Know What His Own and the
Chapter XVII History of United States Enemy's Machine Can do and How They
Army Aeronautics 204 Look 282
A—eroplanes of All Types Purchased by the Signal Corps
The Mexican Campaign Found the United States Index 293
TEXTBOOK
OF
MILITARY AERONAUTICS