Eddie Rickenbacker

Name: Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22
Author: Eddie Rickenbacker

Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

Summary

“Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22”, published in 1919, is a work by Eddie Rickenbacker. It explores elements such as Fokkers, Spads and pilots.

Quotes from Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (Eddie Rickenbacker)

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ Diving down behind my little formation which was tranquilly pursuing its way northwards, I passed behind the tails of the rear machines and immediately zoomed up directly in front of them, turning sharply back to the right so that they could not help seeing me. Without further thought of their possible misunderstanding of this pre-arranged signal I began climbing for altitude directly towards the approaching Fokkers. The five enemy machines had their sharp edged wings cutting the air directly towards me. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ We were directly over Fismes when I detected a formation of eight red-nosed Fokkers stealing around on our left. They had evidently just left their aerodrome and were coming over to patrol the lines. Their present maneuver was as clear as crystal to me. They hoped to get behind us at a superior altitude and then come in upon our rear with the sun at their backs. It was precisely the maneuver I should have attempted in their place. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ Two of the daring Fokker pilots had more than met their match but had put up one of the most brilliant attacks I had ever witnessed.
In the meantime I was in considerable difficulty myself. From the time of my first shots I had stalled my motor and was now drifting through air with a dead propeller while watching the proceedings above me. I was an easy victim in this condition should the five Fokkers detect me without power, and the sole method of restarting my motor was a long dive that would force my propeller to revolve through sheer pressure of the air against it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ BY August 8th, 1918, our whole Squadron was fitted out with the machines which we had so long coveted. The delight of the pilots can be imagined. In the meantime we had lost a number of pilots on the flimsy Nieuports, not by reason of their breaking up in air but because the pilots who handled them feared to put them into essential maneuvers which they were unable to stand. Consequently our pilots on Nieuports could not always obtain a favorable position over an enemy nor safely escape from a dangerous situation. The Spads were staunch and strong and could easily outdive the Nieuports. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ With our experience of the strength of the enemy Fokkers in this sector, it would be senseless suicide for our five machines to attempt to parley with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. It would be useless to get the photographs if we could not return with them.
At 5:30 sharp we left the ground and flew away over Fismes. At that time Fismes was directly on the line. American troops held the south half of the city and German troops occupied the northern half. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ They were coming boldly in to attack almost four times their number,- and we were still in excellent formation. It would be quite impossible for the three Fokkers to reach the Frenchmen without running the gauntlet of fire from at least twice their number of Spads. Evidently these three Heinies were pilots of the first quality! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Eddie Rickenbacker, Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (1919)

“ This wood was scarcely two miles from the enemy trenches and our natural supposition was that our Generals were filling this area with troops or guns and desired to conceal the fact from enemy espionage. ”

Eddie Rickenbacker

Summary

Quotes from Fighting the Flying Circus — Chapter 22 (Eddie Rickenbacker)

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