BRILLIANT AIRMAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 5

BRILLIANT AIRMAN.

BRITISH AVIATOR’S DASH. ACCEPTING HEAVY ODDS. e Australian end N.Z. Cable Aeeociatioa LONDON, September 27. Lieutenant Ball has gained the Military Cross, D.S.O. and a special bar for an extraordinary series of air exploits. , . Observing seven enemy machines in formation, ne attacked and shot down one at fifteen yards’ range. Th.e remaining machines fled. Seeing five others directly after, Ball attacked one at ten yards’ range and shot it down aflame. He attacked a second, which was firing at him, and shot it down in a village, where it landed on a housetop. * Ball went to the aerodrome for ammunition, and then returned, and attacked three machines, causing all to dive under control. Being short of petrol he returned home, his own machine being badly damaged. Later, while escorting a bombing raid, Lieutenant Ball saw four enemy machines, dived upon them and broke their formation. He shot the nearest, which fell. He also observed twelve enemy machines in formation and dived amongst them. He fired at the drum -of the nearest machine, which fell, out of control. Several other hostile machines were approaching, and Lieutenant Ball fired at three drums, driving another down out of control. Ho then returned to the British lines with his aeroplane much riddled.