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A Balancing Feat over the German lines, WW1 aviation
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A Balancing Feat over the German lines, WW1 aviation
Gymnastics in the air from the crew of a British plane over the German lines in 1917. Flying low, the plane was subjected to an exceptionally heavy cannonade until a shell, hitting the machine, caused it to side-slip and fall. The pilot strove to regain control and get the plane on an even keel but it looked likely that crash was inevitable. The situation was saved by the observer, who calmly climbed out of his seat on to one of the lower planes and walked upwards from strut to strut until his weight restored the balance of the plane. He remained like this until the aeroplane was safely navigated back to British lines. Date: 1917
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Media ID 14159354
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Balancing Bravery Corps Crew Damaged Feat Heroic Heroism Keel Lines Observer Shot Wing
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures a remarkable moment in World War I aviation history, as the crew of a British plane perform an extraordinary balancing act over the German lines in 1917. Amidst the intense hostility of the battlefield, the plane was relentlessly targeted by German cannonade, leaving it damaged and precariously out of control. With the pilot desperately trying to regain control, a crash seemed imminent. However, in a display of unwavering bravery and quick thinking, the observer climbed out of his seat and walked along the lower wings, adding his weight to each strut in turn. This heroic act successfully restored the balance of the plane, averting disaster and ensuring its safe return to British lines. This image, taken from the Royal Flying Corps archive, is a testament to the extraordinary feats of bravery and ingenuity displayed by the aviators of the First World War. Date: 1917.
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