sparty
02-15-2010, 19:24
James Thomas "Mac" McCudden
McCudden began his career as an aircraft mechanic in the 3rd Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. He received his flight training in 1916 and was considered to be such a natural talent that he was promoted to instructor shortly after getting his pilot's license.
http://imagebank.ipcmedia.com/imageBank/m/McCudden.jpg
McCudden once wrote, "I consider it a patrol leader's work to pay more attention to the main points of the fight than to do all the fighting himself. The main points are: (1) arrival of more EA who have tactical advantage, i.e. height; (2) patrol drifting too far east; (3) patrol getting below bulk of enemy formation. As soon as any of these circumstances occur, it is time to take advantage of the SE's superior speed over EA scouts and break off the fight, rally behind leader and climb west of EA until you are above them before attacking them again"
Mac would record 57 victories during his career and at the beginning of April 1918 he was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Air Force. On the 16th of February 1918 McCudden recorded 4 victories. Three Rumpler Cs, & a DFW C.V were all shot down as a result of his expert flying skills. Sadly these 4 remarkable victories would be some of his last and in July 1918, after stopping to ask directions back to his aerodrome, the engine of his S.E.5a failed and he fatally crashed.
James McCudden wrote about his experiences in the book "Flying Fury: Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps." It can be purchased from resellers at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0947898603/
McCudden began his career as an aircraft mechanic in the 3rd Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. He received his flight training in 1916 and was considered to be such a natural talent that he was promoted to instructor shortly after getting his pilot's license.
http://imagebank.ipcmedia.com/imageBank/m/McCudden.jpg
McCudden once wrote, "I consider it a patrol leader's work to pay more attention to the main points of the fight than to do all the fighting himself. The main points are: (1) arrival of more EA who have tactical advantage, i.e. height; (2) patrol drifting too far east; (3) patrol getting below bulk of enemy formation. As soon as any of these circumstances occur, it is time to take advantage of the SE's superior speed over EA scouts and break off the fight, rally behind leader and climb west of EA until you are above them before attacking them again"
Mac would record 57 victories during his career and at the beginning of April 1918 he was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Air Force. On the 16th of February 1918 McCudden recorded 4 victories. Three Rumpler Cs, & a DFW C.V were all shot down as a result of his expert flying skills. Sadly these 4 remarkable victories would be some of his last and in July 1918, after stopping to ask directions back to his aerodrome, the engine of his S.E.5a failed and he fatally crashed.
James McCudden wrote about his experiences in the book "Flying Fury: Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps." It can be purchased from resellers at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0947898603/