The modern rifle, if fired vertically into the air, will hurl the
bullet to a height of about 5,000 feet, while the weapons which
have been designed to combat aircraft have a range of 10,000 feet
or more.
At the latter altitude aggressive tactics are useless. The
airman is unable to obtain a clear sharp view of the country
beneath owing to the interference offered to vision by
atmospheric haze, even in the dearest of weather. In order to
obtain reasonable accuracy of aim the corsair of the sky must fly
at about 400 feet. In this respect, however, the aeroplane is at
a decided advantage, as compared with the dirigible. The machine
offers a considerably smaller target and moves with much greater
speed. Experience of the war has shown that to attempt to hurl
bombs from an extreme height is merely a waste of ammunition.
True, they do a certain amount of damage, but this is due to
luck, not judgment.
For success in aerial bomb operations the human element is mainly
responsible. The daring airman is likely to achieve the greatest
results, as events have proved, especially when his raid is
sudden and takes the enemy by surprise.
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