DICK HALSFGRD, AVIATOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 188, 10 August 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

DICK HALSFGRD, AVIATOR.

(By Edward James Coles, 42, Summer

Street, Ponsonby.)

"You -will go out, do as much damage as you can, and return here. Understand?"

"Yes, sir." 1 "Very well. Good luck," and the commander stepped back. Dick Halsford pulled his flying goggles over his eyes, and signed to the mechanic standing by i, the propeller. "Contact." There was a I whirr as the man put his weight on the tractor-screw and spun it round. It was followed instantly by a | thunderous roar, and the machine com- ' menced to run along the ground. A few minutes later it was a fast disappearing dot in the blue, Dick looked around him. Nothing but clouds. Suddenly he stiffened. His keen ears had caught a faint hum. Beneath the bauk of clouds was a 'plane, British or Boclie? He would soon find out. With u grim smile Dick pushed the joystick forward a little and the 'plane instantly nosedived. _ As he came clear of the clouds Dick straightened out and looked around. There, well away to his left, an enemy "bomber was engaged in bombing a small village. Dick studied the village for a moment and his face 'hardened. "Le Grand, lie muttered. In Le Grand lived a kindly French woman who had not only hidden I him from 'the Boches when his 'plane was shot down near there, but also helped him to escape. If she was killed by those bombs? • ' Even as he watched, two bombs dropped from the machine, to find a billet in the village. The two men in the Boehe 'plane were enjoying themselves. They were out of range of the antiaircraft guns, and there was no British 'plana to" oiler battle. Also the village below was crammed with Allied troops. They would probably be promoted when they had. wiped out the cursed Engenders and returned with the news. Truly, life was good. But Nemesis had come in the shape of a lone British 'plane that had burst through the clouds and banked sharply towards the bomber. The troops below saw it and cheered wildly. But the Boches neither saw nor heard it. bo the first the German pilot, Henriche by name, knew about it was when a stoim of bullets whistled round him, grazing :his helmet and killing his observer. Swearing horribly, Henriche banked' sharply to the left, then thought that life wasn't so good after all. For the British 'plane had banked, too, and was now coming to meet him. He jerked the joystick to him and zoomed upwards, | which was probably the worst thing he could have done, for in'doing exposed the whole of his 'plane's underpart, which was instantly raked with bullets. Suddenly there was a terrific explosion, and the machine—and Henriche —went to 'the earth in fragments, (inc. of the bullets had exploded the deadly cargo of bombs. Dick's 'plane was lifted and throwji back by the force of the explosion, but 'he managed by clover juggling with the controls, to right it before it could dive. Zooming low over the heads of the cheering troops, Dick caught a glimpse of a woman waving a handkerchief, and ill that brief instant he recognised her and waved back. Then zooming up he was lost to sight among the clouds. He had. not gone far when he saw a lone j enemy scout appear from behind a cloud, j Dick headed towards it. The Boche saw ujim and banked sharply to flee. But Dick swooped down upon him like a hawk on to a woodpigeon, his machine gun spitting viciously. The Bochc pilot groaned as a bullet ploughed through his chest. His machine wobbled perilously aud dived earthwards, followed by Dick, who pumped bullets into it at every opportunity. Once it steadied as the pilot made a desperate and gallant, attempt to sraightcn out. But it was the last of his strength, and the. 'plane went into a tail spin, from which it never emerged. Dick flew on. He was feeling at peace with the world, when a bullet ricocheted off the joystick and tore a great hole in . the side of the cockpit, Dick promptly forgot about peace and thought about war instead. Forward went the joystick. 1 Down went the 'plane in-a nose dive. Dick's left foot thrust hard against the rudder control bar and at the same time he pushed the joystick over to the left. Instantly the 'plane banked sharply to the left. As lie straightened out Dick saw the enemy, and his heart sank like a stone. Eight 'planes. He smiled grimly. Back at the billet, when the failed to return, his com-, rades would smash his wine glass, chalk his name on a special part of the wall, and—forget him. But there was one who would never forget. A pretty, bright-eyed girl who was waiting and praying for him back in England. The leading enemy 'plane seemed to' stop short as Dick's gun spluttered, then it plunged earthwards, the stumps of its shattered propeller grinding the air in vain. The next instant the air was ■thick with lead. How he escaped death then Dick did not know. The wings and body of his machine were riddled, but he and the tank and engine remained unscathed. Ho zoomed upwards, rolled over twice, and dived almost on to the tail of Boclie No. 2, and raked him with lead. The Boche 'plane listed heavily on one side, righted itself, dropped a little, lurched to and fro, gave a convulsive shudder and followed its leader earthwards. Dick laughed, but his laughter ended abruptly in a gasp, as a bullet tore through his shoulder. Two Boches were coming for him, one on each side. Dick dived, but not before a bullet passed through the fleshy part of his thigh, and another had shattered hie knee. The two Boches, unable to turn in time met head on. There was a sharp explosion, and the two 'planes plunged to the earth in flames. As Dick straightened out a machine gun spat viciously. ' He ducked instinctively, but no bullets oame his way. Glancing up ho saw a German 'plane crumple up under a withering hail of lead. Looking over his shoulder Dick cheered deliriously. For speeding through the air came six British 'planes. They were the rest of the scjuadron out on their daily patrol. The three remaining Germans fought gallantly, but the odds were too great, and in a few moments it was all over. Then the squadron turned for home. One by one the 'planes made a perfect landing. The pilots were gathered in a bunch talking when one yelled, "Hey, chaps, Dick's in trouble." It was true. Overcome' from loss of blood Dick had fainted. His 'plane, which had not landed with the others, was seen to roll over. Then.it crashed to earth.

Thirty-six hours later, -with the coveted Victoria Cross hanging above the ■head of his "bed, Dick was talking happily to a certain pretty, bright-eyed girl, who will eoon be Mrs. Dick Halsford-