The plane Kiffin shot down was identified as an LVG. Most likely it was an LVG CII like the one shown above. Although fighter vs fighter dogfights dominate in the public’s perception, two seat observation and bombing aircraft posed the biggest military threat to the ground troops. With a fixed forward firing machine gun for the pilot’s use and a swivel mounted gun for the observer’s use, they were a dangerous opponent. The primary purpose of a single seat fighter was to attack the enemy’s two-seaters and provide protection for your own side’s two-seaters. (Bundersarchiv; Bild 104-00321 / cc-BY-SA 3.0)