RUSSIAN AIR EXPLOITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

RUSSIAN AIR EXPLOITS.

m TRICKED THE HUNS. ' SMART . RECONNAISANCE. On the subject of aeroplane work I hear that a well-known Russian scientist recently distinguished himself as an air scout, writes the special correspondent of the Morning Post. - Being with the army, in Galicia as a volunteer, he had interested himself particularly in aviation, and became a very useful observation, officer by reason of his scientific knowledge. One day a German plane, apparently by mistake, descended behind the Russian lines, and the pilot and observation officer were promptly taken prisoners, to their great astonishment. Their plane was in perfect order, and the professor, with a military pilot, immediately saw his chance and climbed into the cab. They rose as rapidly as possible in order to escape any firing from their own side and made "for the German lines. Having flown at first a considerable height, they descended to a good inspection range and thoroughly examined everything visible, making notes and plans at leisure. All went well until they found themselves approaching what was evidently the headquarters of the German aviation section, where they could see preparations being made for their reception with supposed valuable information about the Russian dispositions. There was an extremely awkward moment when over the aerodrome, thjay were flying so unusually low, and the German officers were not slow to note the curious movements of the supposed German plane, whose duty it was to land swiftly and expedite its report to headquarters. When it became plain that this German machine had no intention of landing and looked as if it were trying to edge upwards and away the Germans suspected a trick, and communicated with the guns. The Russians had quite an exciting time, but eventually got back safely with a mass of priceless information. Glut Aeroplane's Encounter. A Russian "Dreadnought" aeroplane had an exciting fight with three German aeroplanes. A Russian Sikorsky plane was out scouting when three German aviators attacked from above, below, and from one side. Some accident prevented the Russian plane bringing its full armoury to bear, but one of the German machines approaching too near was bo badly damaged by the Russian fire that it fell headlong. The Sikorsky plane had several of its motors and one of its propellers put out of action, besides receiving no fewer than sixteen holes in its benzine tanks. Considerable damage was also done to the stays and stringers. The captain of the plane waa twice wounded, and one of the crew had both hands frozen in endeavouring to stop the leaks in the benzine tanks at the gieat height at which this aerial batle was fought. The Russian plane when attacked was. over two miles above the ground, an altitude at which the summer weather, even so far south as the neighbourhood of Krasnostav, where this occurred, had no effect on the temperature, and the cold was in-; creased by dealing with evaporating benzine. The Russian plane reached home again in spite of its serious injuries, which would have destroyed twice over any other form of heavier-than-air machine vet- : known.