The German heroes were the celebrated Captain Boelke, and the no less
famous inventor of the "flying circus," Count von Richthofen. Captain
Boelke caused a great many Allied "crashes" by hiding in clouds and
diving straight at planes flying beneath him. As he came within range,
he opened up with a stream of machine-gun bullets. If he failed to get
his prey, his rush carried him past his opponent into safety. He rarely
re-attacked. Count von Richthofen was responsible for many airplane
squadron tactics that later were used on both sides. The planes under
his command were gaily painted for easy identification during the thick
of a fight. Their usual method was to cut off single planes or small
groups of Allied planes, and to circle around them in the method
employed by Admiral Dewey for the reduction of the Spanish forts and
ships in the Battle of Manila Bay.
The dangers of aerial warfare were instrumental in producing high
chivalry in all the encampments of air men. Graves of fallen aviators
were marked and decorated by their former foes, and captured aviators
received exceptionally good treatment, where foemen aviators could
procure such treatment for them.
Until the advent of America into the war, neither side had a marked
advantage in aircraft. At first Germany had a slight advantage; then the
balance swung to the Allied side; but at no time was the scale tipped
very much.
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