AIR THRILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 72, 25 March 1919, Page 5

AIR THRILLS.

SOME AERIAL COMBATS. MAJOR A. De B. BRANDON HOME AGAIX OX IMPERIAL DUTY. Major A. de B. Brandon. D.5.0., M.C., of the Royal Air Force, and son of Mr. A. de B. Brandon, the well-known barrister and solicitor, is back in Xew Zealand. Major Brandon, who returns home with. honours thick upon him, comes to Xew Zealand in the service of the Imperial (Jovernment as an aide to LieutenantColonel A. Bettington. R.A.F., who is to report on aviation- matters in Xew Zealand from the standpoint of defence, a mission which shows the important light in which the aerial arm is now held by the military authorities.

Major Brandon, who wears the horizon blue uniform and double wings of the Royal Air Force, left Wellington hi 1915 with the fixed determination of "going into the air."' He wasted no time oa arrival in England (where he had been educated I. He went through the Flying School at Hendon and then the Military Flying School at Harrow in good style. After receiving his commission he underwent further "experience" training, and with others was placed upon guard duty in the vicinity of London, when the "Zepp." raids became troublesome. SINKS A ZEPPELTX. Tt was on March 31, 1916, that Major Brandon has his first personal contact with a Zepp. He was stationed a fe* miles out of London when at 9.30 p.m. came the warning of an airship raid. It was a clear starlight night. Major Brandon (then a subaltern) was instructed to ascend, and after fifteen minutes' climb he found himself over the aerodrome with, a lot of shells exploding in mid-air, and a. "Zepp'' tloating placidly along in the beam of a searchlight- Almost immediately the "Zepp." dodged the beam, and Major Brandon set off on a voyage of discovery, hoping to intercept the invader. In less than two minutes —things happen quickly in the air—he had picked up the airship again some distance above him and out of earth range. He followed, climbing steadily, until he got above the German machine, which he gave three explosive darts. He fancied at first that he had made a direct hit, but subsequent reports he heard raised doubts. Then he realised that at last they were firing !at him from the airship, and he made * good target, as he had omitted to switch his lights off. He immediately "doused the glim," and at once the ''Zepp." guns ceased to fire. So far, so good. "OVER THE TOP" AGAL\ T . The intrepid airman thereupon re* solved to return to the attack, and manoeuvred until he again got the advantage over the top of the big invader, IHe volplaned down towards the "Zepp.," when he found .with some consternation that it was impossible to get the bomb he intended to drop into the RX. tube and at the same time watch the Zeppelin. It must be remembered that it was pitch dark, and the airman could not see what he was doing, handling the levers, of course, by sense of location and touch. On looking down he saw that he was directly over the airship, so liberated six more darts, but not hearing them explode was unable to tell if they had done their work. "GOT HER!" After letting the darts go Major Brandon's engine failed to pick up for a fow seconds, and he lost the airship in the night. Finally he picked up with some planes about fifteen miles away from his aerodrome, and made a safe j landing. Later he learned that a I "Zepi>." had fallen into the estuary of I the Thames, and he and the guns were both credited with having brought it down. The fight took place at an altitude of 9000 ft. That is how Major Brandon won the Military Cross. THE OFFICIAL REPORT. The oflicial report of the episode was as follows: —• Lieutenant Brandon. Royal Flying Corps,*on rising to 6000 ft at 9.45 pjn., saw a Zeppelin about 3000 ft above him. At !)00Oft he got over it and attacked', dropping several bombs, three of which, he believed took effect. At 10 p.m. he got over the airship again, and let off two more bombs over her nose. His own machine was hit many times by machine-gun bullets. This may have been the Zeppelin which dropped the machine-gun ammunition, petrol tank, and machinery, or possibly that whici came down off the Thames Estuary. TWO "ZEPPS/ - IX ONE XIGHT. ■ To meet and tight at night one ait* ship as long as an Atlantic liner is ai daring enough exploit, but when it comes to two a night there is something doing. Such, however, was Major Brandon's experience in September, 1916, I when London was getting pretty tired !of death from the clouds. He wae ! patrolling at night near London, when having chased one Zeppelin he fell in with another which had been caught in the rays of the searchlights. He, however, managed to pick it up again, and climbed after it until he found himself right underneath it. being then from •11,000 to 12,000 feet above the ground. He managed to put a drum and a quarter of Lewis machine-gun bullets into the bulging bulk above him, when his gun jammed. Tie then climbed above the j airship, intending to use explosive rockets, but lost her outline against the background of a cloud. After that he cut out the engine, and 'planed down 'to about 9000 ft, when he started the I cnaiiip preparatory to returning to the I aerodrome. A few minutes later he was i surprised to see another "Zepp.," and, I going after it, he saw another airman i tiring straight into it, and the German machine burst into flumes, and sank to j earth. The airman of that stunt was I Major F. Somey.

A little later Major Brandon was awarded the D.S.U. lor distinguished service generally.

• COLLISION" WITH A CLIFF. Having helped to dispose of the "Zcpps." Major Brandon was about to leave for France on active service when he had the misfortune to run into a. cliff-face whilst flying in a fog. The result of the accident was a broken leg, which c-aueed him a. great deal or trouble and debarred him from participating in the campaign on the Western front. Thereafter he ivas employed on heme defence matters in England.