As Voss followed his intended prey down, firing his twin machine
guns as he went, he became suddenly aware of planes behind him.
Maybe a sixth sense or experience or even pilots instinct, caused
him to spin in his seat, just in time to see the flight of S.E. 5
fighters diving upon him from above. Voss and his triplane broke
off their attack on Chidlaw-Roberts' aircraft. He immediately
turned and dropped into a perfectly executed half-spin and suddenly
Voss found himself surrounded by enemy aircraft. He noticed,
through situational awareness, that a flight of Camels were several
thousand feet below, so flying in that direction was impossible and
a flight of SPADs and Camels were circling high above, ruling out
that direction as well. 56 Squadron started out organized and in
pairs as they dove upon their prey. McCudden had formulated his
trap, upon which he thought there was no escape for the German
pilot. McCudden in (B4863), coded "G" and 2/Lt. Rhys Davids in
(B525), coded "I" were in the first pair and would attack Voss at
roughly the same time. McCudden went right, Rhys Davids went left,
2/Lt. Muspratt in (A8944) coded "H" and Capt. Hoidge in (B506),
coded "J" both at the top and bottom of an open mouthed box with
his remaining two SE5's (Lt. Cronyn in (A4563), coded and Capt.
Maybery in (B1), coded guarding any possible escape from the trawl.
From McCudden's perspective, his plan should keep the German from
diving to escape the trap, as he would be surrounded by the Sopwith
Camels below. If he decided to climb above his trap, he would
certainly be pounced upon, by the flight of SPADs and Camels from
above.Voss on the other hand, had decided upon some evasive
maneuvers of his own concoction. Instead, he decided to fight it
out. When the leading S.E.5 pilots depressed their respective
triggers together and as the first resounding rattle from their
.303 gunfire let loose, Voss did the incredible. He looked over his
shoulder, saw them coming and turned in a most disconcertingly
quick manner, not a climbing or Immelmann turn Capt. McCudden wrote
but a sort of flat half spin. Lt. Cronyn wrote Voss whipped around
in an extra ordinary way, using no bank at all but just throwing
his tail behind him. Voss expertly utilized the pitching & the
acrobatic qualities of his rotary-engine triplane to his full
advantage, against the faster but heavier and slower-turning
S.E.5s. He accomplished this by kicking in full rudder, adding
opposite aileron and adding a little elevator, so as to keep his
aircraft level. All of this was completed in the blink of an
eye.When Voss recovered from his unorthodox maneuver, he found
himself surrounded by the six members of "B" flight and two of the
S.E.5's that he had initially attacked him from 60 Squadron. The
odds were eight British aircraft against one German Fokker
triplane. The growing number of Allied aircraft in the area, tended
to seal Voss's avenues of escape.As Voss turned his aircraft to
face the approaching danger, he applied a bit more throttle power
to his engine, and headed straight at his attackers. Voss was
following the 'Dictas of Boelcke' after he had executed his flat,
half-spin, which took the Allied flyers completely by surprise.
What was even more surprising was that none of the bullets from
either S.E.5 found their mark. He flew straight back towards his
ambushers firing his twin Spandau machine guns as he came.
General
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