The Worst Job in the French Air Service?

[CaptSopwith]

I've been doing something of a deep dive into the 1915 campaigns in WOFF. It's a completely different world from the one we come to know in the following years. Lots of long, empty flights in extremely fragile aircraft. The tedium of flying to the lines ends quickly when the enemy flak bursts begin. But I noticed on my French campaign tonight, that the observer in the Caudron G4 might have the worst job of any airman in the French Air Service. While I know he could normally sit, I hadn't noticed that the front gun requires him to be on his knees, which would be incredibly uncomfortable while being buffeted around in the air. Worse still, the propellers are horrifyingly close to his body! I'm trying not to think of what would happen if he slipped and fell towards either of the engines.

Flying the Caudron is also a hair-raising experience. Thanks to the wonderful engine sounds that accompany the plane are intermittent sputters that sound like one of the two rotaries are going to cough themselves to death. Turbulence is also a jarring experience - mostly I try not to look over the side and notice that there really is nothing under me in the back of this flying bathtub.

Truly not for the faint of heart!

[Rick Rawlings]

And yet somehow they stoically endure every flight, their face never showing the terror they must feel! Be Briti...er, Be French!!!

[Shootingstar2]

HUZZAH

[+Gepard]

The worst job for a french? Surely taster in a british canteen.

[BuckeyeBob]

Zing! 

[+Polovski]

Ooh below the belt Sir.  Luckily not any more, Britain has some very fine chefs and restaurants now and a world mixture of cultures.