BRITISH PILOT’S EXPLOIT

Evening Star, Issue 16050, 29 February 1916, Page 6

BRITISH PILOT’S EXPLOIT

SIX kIACHINES TO TWO. The following graphic account of an air combat has just been received from the front: In a. recent light two airplanes from the squadron with our corps were engaged against heavy odds. One of our machines, to which another was acting as escort was engaged in reconnaissance work over Gambrai on tho morning of December 29. They were attacked by six German Tokker machines, firing through the pro-pell-ex-. As a, result of the inaduric-gmi lire of tho six Fokkors our escorting machine was immediately shot down, but its occupants seemed to reach tho ground safely, so landing as to effect intentionally the destruction of their machine without injury to themselves. Jt was followed to tho ground by one of tho Fokkers. Our remaining machine succeeded in driving off and apparently in seriously injuring by, its fire tho first Fokker which had attacked it. Jt was out of control when last seen, and was nose-diving with everyprospeefc of injury or death, to its occupants. —Twenty Feet From tho Ground.— Our machine was then attacked bv tho three other Fokkers, which it fought for 15 minutes, and then, its machine guns being temporarily out of action, its pilot decided, that escape could only bo sought by a very risky dive to within 20ft of the ground—risky in that it necessitated a descent by very steep spirals at a speed of quite 100 miles an hour, with little room to recover. Only very delicate and confident handling could ensure tho success of this manoeuvre, which.only the absence of other means of escape'could justify. It was prompted by two other considerations. In tho first place., a Fokkor, being less bandy, would not dare to pursue within 20ft of tho ground, the margin for recovery after the nose-diving being eo very restricted; and, secondly, if our machine was once more to reach friendly territory in safety it was desirable that it should conceal from armed enemies to bo surmounted in its front its nationality, as displayed by tho rings painted on the lower surface of its planes, and this it could only do by skimming over the ground at as low an elevation as possible. Skimming along' just above tbo ground, ns skims a grouse under 3, o>,y machine, hard pressed, turned westward for home, whereupon on© of the German machines, all of which, had maintained r-u elevation of I,oooft, swooped towards hj, but was promptly driven off by rapid fire, one gun by that time having been, repaired. —Germans Give Up the Chase.— The fight continued halfway to tho B;:tish lines, when two Fokkers gave it up. 'lhe British pilot - and observer at once started climbing to attack the single remaining Fokker, but this brought back tiie two companions, ami our machine resumed its original elevation. Tho throe German machines ultimately turned back, giving up tho chase when about a miio from the German lines, before crossing which the British pilot naturally sought to climb; but our aeroplane being unable to rise higher’ than 800 ft, owing to the engine having boon lift in the fight, pilot and observer were subjected to very heavy rifle, machine gun, and field artillery fire, which the machine fortunately survived, although its planes and spars were damaged, and moro than 0110 of its stays nearly severed. Tiro anxieties of the position had for long been greatly increased by the knowledge tliat only sufficient petrol remained in tho tank to bring the machine just within tho friendly lines if a direct course was pursued, so that to be driven in any degree out of that course would have been fatal. Early in the engagement the oil feed had been shot away, and with an engine injured by rifle fir© the chances of ever reaching home had seemed remote; but an expiring effort landed the machine just within tb© French lines south-wept o£ Arras. Pilot and observer alike can congratulate themselves on a fin© performance.