one of the short comings of the modern jet fighter is they no longer have a pilot operated machine gun in front of the open cockpit. Hi tech missiles have their downsides, like blowing he object to smitherines so its very hard to tell what it was in the first place..
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What ho chaps! This intrepid fellow is just what's needed in this sort of sticky situation. In his trusty Bristol monoplane he might take a while to get up to 60,000 feet, if ever. Note what appears to be a bullet deflector on his propeller. No poncey propeller synchroniztion with the machine gun for him. He'll take his chances with the ricochets, or the risk of shooting his propellor off. With his Woodbine manfully glued to his lip, revelling in the fumes of high octane petrol and being plastered with castor oil he is made of the Right Stuff. No parachute or radio
for him, the men of the RFC are fearless. When he reaches the balloon, he will make enough holes in it to bring it down slowly. This will allow the Boffins to inspect it properly. He can be counted on to do a Proper Job. If his machine gun jams, he will nonchalantly finish the blighter off with his Webley mark Six. Ho yes, he is the man for the job.