For the first few months, the Corps had an all sufficiency of work in organizing depots, selecting aerodromes, arranging for recruiting, and numberless other activities on all of which largely depended whatever future success might be achieved. There was no aerial gunnery for the reason that there were no instructors. What had been done on the ground was elementary, and reasonably so, due to the lack of material. Matters moved forward when the first instructors arrived in Canada on April 25th, 1917, and, having formed a class of picked mechanics (the instructors of the future), enabled the School of Aerial Gunnery to be organized at Camp Borden on May 1st.

The School had just two guns and 18 pupils—the historic “eighteen” who formed the first shipment of real pilots. The latter had no aerial work—the overseas call was too imperative—but each fired 40 rounds at a ground target.

Meantime the School of Aeronautics was busy, and the effect became noticeable. Camp Borden, relieved of much elementary training, did higher and aerial work, and got for itself ranges, fixed targets and silhouettes. The course lengthened to three weeks with 100 rounds fired in the air from a Lewis gun—no aerial Vickers being available. In July came more guns and equipment from England, the second course began with 62 cadets and the state of affairs definitely improved. Camera guns turned up, and became instantly popular. Work commenced on fitting a timing gear so that the gun might shoot through the propeller. The chief disadvantage was the shortage of serviceable machines available.

In August began the third course with sixty-six cadets and an organization fairly complete, being forty officers and ten N.C.O. instructors. Now, too a JN4 machine was converted to a JN4A with the pilot in front and a Scarff mounting behind for the observer, as in the Bristol fighter. A decided acquisition this, and a quantity were ordered. Surprise deflection shooting was introduced. It was a busy and interesting period.

The fourth course in September had 124 cadets. The tuition given was of proved value. Lectures came in by the fighting instructor, and naturally increased the pupils’ confidence. The latter were now firing 750 rounds from the ground and 150 from the air, and the squadron worked at high pressure to give each pupil three hours’ aerial gunnery flying—a matter of difficulty owing to the scarcity of machines with synchronized guns. It was probably due to this that cadets were getting too much Lewis gun observers’ work. The fault was rectified, though the mountings were not entirely satisfactory.

The fifth course began in October with a total of 238 pupils, who proceeded with the unit to Texas and enjoyed excellent facilities which had been foreseen and provided. The number of available machines increased, and were divided into C.C. gear (synchronized gear) camera gun and turret machine flights. Actual aerial instruction was given twenty-four hours after arrival at this far Southern field.

The history of Royal Flying Corps gunnery in Texas is a progressive document, too lengthy to give in detail. Here the unit had its first target practice over water—Lake Worth proving ideal for the purpose, and instruction was greatly aided owing to a better observation of fire and a clearer angle of approach. In December the pupils turned out numbered 264, an average flying time of practically five hours—a marked improvement.

In January the aerial work of the School was further increased. Range work (25 yards) was taken over by the wings. All synchronized guns were moved from the side of the cowling to the top, thus creating active service conditions. No. 2 squadron came into being with twelve machines, giving 30 in toto, the work being done by flights. Two machines were converted to Canadian Gothas, with the gun firing through the bottom of the fuselage. The output of pupils increased to 310, with average flying time of 5½ hours.

February saw the use of a good armour-plated disappearing and running target, and cadets also fired from a cage that travelled along a cableway between two towers, but the speed was too low to be of value. The February output was 313 pupils. The instructing personnel had now increased to 60 officers (50 flying), 1 warrant officer, 60 N.C.O.’s and 250 men.

March, a busy month, with 336 pupils and flying time average of 6½ hours, was a record in output and time flown.

April saw the School on its own aerodrome at Beamsville, Ontario, where facilities were ahead of anything heretofore existing. Came as well a third squadron. The output was 243 pupils, all R.F.C. with 7 hours and 40 minutes flying, the record time to date.

In the following month the syllabus was amended, this being the result of a visit to England by the officer in charge of Canadian training. All straight target shooting was abolished, and deflection sights were introduced so as to allow for a speed of 100 m.p.h. of an enemy machine. Small model aeroplanes were built and set up beside the targets. At these the pupil aimed, the deflection of the gun sights bringing his shots on to the target where their accuracy was of course registered. No less than 17 various practices were laid down. The improvement in ground work soon became noticeable.

In May, also, the Armament School opened at Hamilton, and relieved the School of Aerial Gunnery of giving elementary instruction after pupils had already learned to fly.

During June a fourth squadron was added to train observers exclusively, enabling the School to adopt the ideal principle of giving all pilot cadets synchronized gear and camera gun training, and all observer cadets instruction in Lewis and turret camera guns, the sequence being as follows:—

During all firing over the water, observations are taken from a watch tower, and a complete report of all results is compiled.

There follows then another 4 hours’ dual, after which the pupil goes solo and repeats all he has previously done under the watchful eye of his instructor.

Arriving at the final instructional squadron, there ensues an ultimate 4 hours’ dual work before the nearly graduated pilot is asked to do one spiral, two vertical banks, three loops, four Immelmann turns, five half-rolls and six complete rolls. During all this time he is equipped with a camera gun, and expected to manoeuvre into a position favorable for attacking another machine, simultaneously avoiding being photographed himself by an opponent.

This brought about marked proficiency, and it was proved quite clearly that pilots had been going overseas with too much straight shooting and not enough practice during stunting. The new system, however, brought tuition up to conditions actually existing at the front at the time. Several experienced pilots became available, and their lectures were most valuable. The output of cadets was (June) 182, but the average flying had gone up to 11 hours.

In July the School became that of Aerial Fighting—a more descriptive title, since tactics were so prominent in its course. The contrast with June of 1917 was somewhat remarkable, there being now 92 officers and 700 other ranks. During this month rocking nacelles and Scarff mountings were introduced for all ground work, and all pilot instructors were arranged to be examined monthly. This led to the discovery that refresher courses were necessary in cases, these being forthwith commenced. The month’s output was 262, with flying time with guns of 11 hours.

In August, the observers’ course was well under way, being a modification of that arranged for pilots. There was naturally no C.C. shooting, but instruction covered every practical method of firing at possible targets from the observer’s seat. This month there were graduated 246 pupils with a slightly reduced flying time of 9½ hours.

By September pupils were passing all tests under the same instructor in any one squadron. This, coupled with the use of speaking tubes, was of considerable help. Further guns, gears and equipment had come in from England, and the situation was now vastly different from that which pertained to earlier months when the School was forced to manufacture much of its own equipment. Instruction was going well, and the output reached 270, with a flying time of more than 9 hours.

The officer personnel expanded in October to 110, this being of great assistance. Pilots were limited to three hours per day in the air, and, in consequence, machines had not been reaching a maximum flying time. The effect of good instruction at the Armament School was now most noticeable, as pupils were coming through with increased technical knowledge of gunnery and guns. The first Canadian-built Avro machine was flown during this month, with a most satisfactory performance. The output touched 281 and flying time 10 hours.

Such in brief is the record. The value may best be judged by the service rendered by those who passed from the harmless silhouettes floating on the smooth surface of Lake Ontario to engage the deadlier machines that haunted the high altitudes over the Western front.