THRILLING AIR INCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16300, 5 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

THRILLING AIR INCIDENT.

A PILOT'S COOLNESS.

The daring exploits of the allied airmen in this war are so frequent that it would be, impossible to recount a tithe of them. Here is a story which once more brings into relief the coolness, courage, and resource which are the common attributes of all French pilots: —

Near Ypres a flight sergeant went up with a young lieutenant to take photographs over the railway lines in possession of the Germans. Above Roulers the Frenchmen were attacked by three fast flying enemy planes, one of which they disposed of. Immediately afterwards, however, the French machine-gun jammed and the young lieutenant stood up to adjust it. "He was shot through the head and fell across the control levers clutching the pilot in his death agony. Two ' attacking machines were within a hundred yards and the French biplane was rocking to and fro in a perilous fashion. The German bullets were whistling round the helpless apparatus and perforating the wings. The sergeant with great difficulty managed to free himself from the convulsive grip of his dying comrade and pushed the body into the bottom of the car then he quickly regained control of the machine. He was 25 miles from the French lines and the German airmen were close behind him pouring in a constant stream of bullets.

The Frenchman was unable to reply, the gun being beyond his reach. Twisting and zig-zagging lie steered for home closely pursued by the Fokkers, one above him and one below. Four bullets struck his eeat, another cut through one of the rudders. The only course open to the French pilot was to volplane as quickly as possible down to his own lines. Five miles from home he was only 2500 ft tin, and as in™ Cros l ed the trenc «s he was barelv ; 1000 ft above the ground. He came down on French soil not 500 vards from the . Germans. His young observer officer was • still alive, but succumbed bo his injuries next day. J