26C

Report of INTERVIEW with 4 OFFICERS of the GERMAN

FLYING CORPS.

***********************************

An Intelligence Officer from G.H.Q. had already had 5 hours conversation with the prisoners, and had elicited a good deal of information.  I only endeavoured to make enquiries on matters not touched upon in the previous interview.

=======================

All 4 officers maintained that their machines fly faster and climb better then the B.E’S.  as, however, one of them said that he never reached 2,000 metres under 30 minutes, their climbing power is clearly inferior to that of the B.E.s.  All the machines can carry from 5 to 6 hours’ petrol, but at present they rarely carry more that 3 hours’ petrol.

The Aviatik and Albatross are considered the best machines; the Fokker is also good, but not so easy to land.  All other types are old machines and out of date.  A new machine is said to have gone through its trials and to be ready for delivery.  It carries pilot and observer, and will fly at 140 kilometres per hour.

Bombing: is only regarded of value from the moral effect it may produce.  Pilots who make a habit of dropping Bombs have a sighting-apparatus fitted.  One of them remarked that he would never drop a Bomb without a sighting-apparatus.  The pilot always drops the Bomb.

Armour-proof Plating:  Machines are fitted with Armour-proof seats for pilot and observer.  Some machines are going to be fitted or are already fitted with Armour-proof Plating along the floor from pilot’s seat to the engine; the underpart of the engine is also to be protected.

Machine Guns:  One of the officers volunteered that some machines are fitted with machine guns.  but they showed so much surprise at finding that L. Strange’s Avro was armed with a machine-gun, that I came to the conclusion that machines have not yet been flown at any rate beyond German lines with Machine Guns.

Questioned as to the sheds at GHISTELLES near OSTENDE, said that they knew nothing about them.

I was interested to learn that it has been given out that Captain Grey, recently captured, was, in fact Colonel Grey, the Commanding Officer of the British Royal Flying Corps.

They also told me that two British Naval Officers were brought down and killed near DIXMUDE about three weeks ago.  The machine was flying low, the pilot having apparently missed his way.  It was thought that the machine must have been hit by a chance shot from a heavy gun; the aeroplane collapsed suddenly in the air and burst into flames.  This must have been Lt. Beever and his passenger.

The interview was interrupted at this point, as the prisoners had to be removed from ST. OMER.

(Signed): G.S. Shephard, Capt.,

Royal Flying Corps.

—————————-

24/11/14

            They were anxious to learn what effect anti-aircraft guns had on English machines and pilots.  They realised that no machines had been brought down, but thought that several had been hit.

            They were informed that the effect of their anti-aircraft guns, whether moral or otherwise, had, as they must have seen for themselves, been insignificant.

H.Q. R.F.C.                                                                                       Major, G.S.

 8-0 p.m.

            29/11/14.