The gunner occupies a very exposed
position, and, although the bullet-proof shield serves to break
the effects of wind when travelling at high speed which renders
the sighting and training of the weapon extremely difficult, yet
he offers a conspicuous target, more particularly when the enemy
is able to assume the upper position in the air as a result of
superior speed in travelling. The gun, however, may be elevated
to about 60 degrees, which elevation may be accentuated by the
inclination of the aeroplane when climbing, while the facility
with which the weapon may be moved through the horizontal plane
is distinctly favourable.
But the aerial marksman suffers from one very pronounced defect:
he has a severely restricted survey of everything below, since
his vision is interrupted by the planes. The result is that an
enemy who has lost ascendancy of position is comparatively safe
if he is able to fly immediately below his adversary: the
mitrailleuse of the latter cannot be trained upon him. On the
other hand the enemy, if equipped with repeating rifles or
automatic pistols, is able to inflict appreciable damage upon the
craft overhead, the difficulties of firing vertically into the
air notwithstanding.
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