In the German competition which was held at Gotha in September of
the same year the results were somewhat disappointing. Two
targets were provided. The one represented a military bivouac
occupying a superficies of 330 square feet, and the other a
captive balloon resembling a Zeppelin. The prizes offered were
L500, L200, and L80--$2,500, $1,000 and $400--respectively, and
were awarded to those who made the greatest number of hits. The
conditions were by no means so onerous as those imposed in the
Michelin contest, inasmuch as the altitude limit was set at 660
feet, while no machine was to descend within 165 feet. The first
competitor completely failed to hit the balloon. The second
competitor flying at 800 feet landed seven bombs within the
square, but only one other competitor succeeded in placing one
bomb within the space.
Bomb-dropping under the above conditions, however, is vastly
dissimilar from such work under the grim realities of war. The
airman has to act quickly, take his enemy by surprise, avail
himself of any protective covering which may exist, and incur
great risks. The opposing forces are overwhelmingly against him.
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