Formation Leader
Who was leading the formation of Hurricanes over Athens on April 20th?
Flight-Lieutenant Pattle
What is the narrator's main challenge in describing the experience of a dogfight?
The difficulty of conveying the intensity and chaos of the experience
How many guns did a Hurricane fighter have?
8
What happened to the Allied formation during the Battle of Athens?
It broke up and dispersed.
What did the narrator realize when he tried to dive for home?
His Hurricane had been hit.
What type of aircraft were the Allies flying in the Battle of Athens
Hurricanes
Where is the pilot located during a dogfight?
Inside a small metal cockpit.
Were the guns on a Hurricane fighter movable?
No, they were immobile
From where did the German fighters attack the Allied pilots?
From all directions.
What was the problem with the narrator's controls after his plane was hit?
The rudder was unresponsive.
How many German fighters were estimated to be involved in the battle?
At least 200
What is the primary material used in the construction of the cockpit?
Riveted aluminum.
How were the guns on a Hurricane fighter aimed?
By aiming the plane itself.
What did the narrator see happening to some of the enemy planes?
They were on fire or had pieces falling off.
How did the narrator manage to steer the plane back to the airfield?
Using the ailerons.
What event marked the beginning of the Battle of Athens?
The attack by German fighters on the Allied formation
What protects the pilot's head and face from the elements and enemy fire?
A plexiglass hood and sloping bullet-proof windscreen.
What was the distance at which the bullets from a Hurricane's guns were designed to converge?
150 yards
What did the narrator do when he saw a German fighter in his sights?
He pressed the button to fire his guns.
What overwhelming feeling did the narrator experience after landing his plane?
A sense of having survived a near-death experience.
Based off of paragraph 18, how do you think Dahl feels about Pattle's leadership skills.
What device does the pilot use to aim the plane and fire the guns?
The reflector-sight.
What device did pilots use to aim the Hurricane at its target?
The reflector-sight
Why was it difficult for the narrator to determine whether he had shot down any enemy planes?
The sky was so full of aircraft that it was hard to see the results of his fire.
What physical condition did the narrator notice when he reached the Operations Room?
He was drenched in sweat.