NOT A CASUALTY

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1917, Page 6

NOT A CASUALTY

THRILLING AIR FIGHT. LONDON, Mar 28. One general melee in the recent airfighting was as thrilling as any aerial battle ever fought—six British scouts and eight Germans fought at close quarters throughout. Opposing wings almost scraped wings, and pilot looked pilot squarely in the eye. It was a duel with the addition of flying skill. Aβ soon as a Britisher swooped on a German's tail another German was on his tail. Each pursuer poured bullets into his quarry until seven machines followed one another in headlong descent. The battle began at eight in the evening when the British offcneiYe patrol sighted the Germans well over the German lines. The enemy fled east, but were overhauled, and forced to fight. The British captain, in the leading machine, dived at the nearest German., missed, but poured rounds into the second until, when twenty yards distant, the enemy toppled and fell. Meanwhile another German assailed the British captain from behind. Tho Britisher, unable to shake off the enemy, spun downwards, with the German in close pursuit, until a second Britisher dived at the German, and sent him toppling to earth. Two more Germans joined tho downward procession, until n third Britisher dived upon them, forcing them to flee. Another German attacked the third Britisher, and the two airmen fought downward until near the earth, when the German was Bent crashing. A fourth Britisher joined in then with another German. The two fought a stubborn duel. The German fought 'bravely, and the Britisher was obliged to spin a thousand feet. The German also spun, but a lucky fusillade sent his machine hurtling earthwards. The remaining Germans then fled, and the British patrol reformed, without a casualty.