Lanoe Hawker - First Fighter Squadron

First Fighter Squadron

Promoted to Major early in 1916 Hawker was placed in command of the RFC's first (single seater) fighter squadron, Number 24 based at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome and flying the Airco DH.2 pusher. After two fatalities in recent flying accidents, the new fighter soon earned a reputation for spinning; its rear mounted rotary engine and sensitive controls made it very responsive. Hawker countered this worry by taking a DH.2 up over the Squadron base and, in front of the Squadron pilots, put the aircraft through a series of spins, each time recovering safely. After landing he carefully described to all pilots the correct procedures to recover from a spin. Once the pilots became used to the DH.2's characteristics, confidence in the aircraft rose quickly, as they came to appreciate its maneuverability.

He then led the squadron back to Bertangles, north of the Somme in February 1916, where the squadron quickly helped counter the Fokker Eindecker monoplanes of the German Air Force which were dominant over the Western Front in the run up to the Somme offensive in July 1916. Hawker’s aggressive personal philosophy of "Attack Everything", was the entire text of his tactical order of 30 June 1916. Spurred by his aggressiveness, 24 Squadron had claimed some 70 victories by November at a cost of 12 of its own planes and 21 pilots killed, wounded or missing. Around this time Hawker developed a ring gunsight and created a clamp and spring-clip device to hold the Lewis in place on the D.H.2. He also designed sheepskin boots that reached to the upper thigh, known as "fug-boots," which became standard issue to combat the risk of frostbite at high altitude.

By mid 1916 RFC policy was to ban Squadron Commanders from operational flying, Hawker included. However, he continued to make frequent offensive patrols and reconnaissance flights, particularly over the Somme battlefields.

However, as the year wore on, the Germans introduced far more potent fighters to the front, starting with the Luftstreitkräfte's first biplane fighter, the Halberstadt D.II, and shortly thereafter the even more advanced Albatros D.I, rapidly making the DH.2 obsolete.