[Dan_San_Abbott]

Gentlemen:
In 1972 and 1976 Patti and I followed the air battle over the Somme on 21 April 1918. We drove along the Somme from Sailly le Sec to Vaux Sur Somme, the north to the road on Molancourt Ridge, then west to the brick factory, then ewst about a quarter mile to about where the crash site was. In the desiption of the battle they said, they were below tree top level, well that puts them less than 50 feet. The trees bordering the the Somme were 50 feet and less along the river. And Molancourt Ridge is about 250 to three hundred feet high above the river valley. So both pilots would have had to climb. Flying that low with obstructions, trees and such requires the pilots attention, which reduces available firing times. I don't think it was MvR off on his firing, but fire on the times when he could fire with target availability. I think what saved Lt. May's life, was when he decided to take the low road, he greatly reduced target MvR target availability. The Somme takes two curves and trees bordered the river, it required both pilots to pay attention. Had Lt. May flown a higher course, I think the battle would have had a different ending.
Blue skies,
Dan-San