GERMAN AIRMAN'S END.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 12

GERMAN AIRMAN'S END.

AUSTRALIAN GUNNERS' PART. BROUGHT DOWN BY LEWIS GUN. Controversy 011 tho responsibility for bringing down the celebrated German ace, Baron von Ricbtofen has been opened again by the claims of c\-Gunncr R. Buie, who is now working as a crano driver in Canberra. JJuie describes as false the story of Eiclitofen's end which appeared iu the recently-published book, " The Red Knight of Germany." Buie tohl bis version of tho affair while at workrecently. He said that Major-General Sir J. Talbot liobbs —commanding the sth Division —who made a report on the death of Richtofcn, was convinced that aeroplane was brought down by either Gunner Buie or Gunner W. J. Evans, of the 53rd Battery, Fifth Australian Divisional Artillery. " One or both of these Lewis gunners was responsible, though the weight of evidence at the lime seemed to point to Buie," is ft statement in' the report, which adds that the aeroplane was not, more than 100 yards from the Lewis guns of the 53rd Battery when they opened fire. The machine was coming frontally toward them, so that the gunners were able to fire directly on the person of the aviator.

Buio added that with his mate Evans ho had been congratulated by several generals and told that ho would get something: but tho promise had not materialised. An Australian doctor who had examined Ricbtofen after ho was laid out for burial said he had no doubt that ho was killed by a bullet fired from tho ground. Tho Canadian aviator," Captain Brown, whoso claims were advanced in tho booky said Buio, could have reached Richtofon only from above; but those who witnessed the encounter declared that Brown .was not. in reach at the time.

An official report on the death of Baron von Richtofen, based on tho evidence of eve-witnesses, written down immediately after the event, is in existence. It states that tho Lewis guns'of'the 53rd Battery, 14th Australian Field Artillery, north of Corbie, brought him down, and his papers wero taken to tho, headquarters of tho 11th Australian Infantry Brigade. Tho gunners who brought tho German down .wore staled "to havo been Kvans and Buie.