STRATEGY IN THE AIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9690, 19 June 1917, Page 8

STRATEGY IN THE AIR

DARING PILOTS AMID JETS OF BULLETS. With the British Armies in France* May 3th, via London. —A British pilot yesterday attacked an enemy machine ten miles over the German lines and immediately n-a s set upon by three other hostile scouts, says the "Daily New Advertiser/’ Vancouver. The Britisher, however, pursued his original prey , until he say him crash to the ground from a height of 1000 ft. He then turned westward, but saw that he could not force his way through the three German fighting machines which were awaiting him. Thereupon he decided to practice a bit of ; deception, and pretended to land. Three hostile machines proceeded < to do the same so as to make him prisoner. Just as soon, however, as the British flier saw his adversaries touch the ground he started his engine and flew away to his home station. The startled Germans also got under way after some delay and began pursuit. They could not overtake him, however, and as he neared the British lines thev were driven back by a heavy fire from the 'British trenches. HAS NARROW SQUEAK. The young British pilot, who "sat over Cambrai” several days ago and watched six German airplanes climbing towards him. then fought them and ©scaped, and who believes he- will never be killed, had a very narrow squeak a few days later. It came after a day of excellent hunting. He had driven down a hostile aircraft near Noyclles and had attacked and destroyed a two-seater Albatross just west of Cambrai., when the idea came to him to climb above a bit of cloud and wait there for any German machine which might venture up, just as a duck-hii-'t-pr would wait in a blind. He had to wait some time, but finally another two-seater Albatross came into view. He started in uursuit, but the hostile machine immediately put its nose down and fled after him. When- about 500tt from the ground, however, the Bri. tish scout’s machine was hit bv an antiaircraft high explosive shell. The young pilot eventually returned to the aerodrome, where he made a perfect landing. The British aviators report that it is difficult just now to get German aviators into close fighting. Thev say that the Germans appear unwilling to engage in that sort of warfare and continually attempt to break off the combats. SHOWEBS OF BULLETS.

Another story has to do with, the narrow escape of a young British naval airman, who sallied on a recent bright afternoon to "strafe” a German balloon chat, he saw in the air some distance back of the enemy's fighting.lines. Nowadays, whenever a British 'plane crosses che lines within a mile or two of a German balloon station "5.0.5.” signals ascend. and the balloon is hauled down as fasc as motor-driven winches can drjy; it. The pilot was not to be thus foiled, however. When he arrived near the balloon it wa* only 20ft from the ground, but he dived for it, notwithstanding the protecting machine-guns that were Bending up literal fountains of steel-jacketed bulleta. . _ , The balloon began to smoko in several places, and the. British airman was driving at it again when his engine was hit. The nervy chap managed to get himself home like a wounded pigeon nevertheless, crossing the fightinv-Ime at less tnan 50ft. Being a naval man, ho officially described his home-coming as 'limping into port.'* ~ , Often .the pilots of artillery observing machines have been able to eaten glimpses of the slow-moving shells. It is related of one British Pilot that some time ago he saw a big German howitzer shell coming apparently direct for him. It whizzed up harmlessly, however, but the pilot'was so angry that he spotted that particular gun, dived at it, and fired an satire drum of machinegun bullets at the crew. He had no time to see what damage was caused.