FIGHTS IN THE AIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21784, 25 October 1932, Page 9

FIGHTS IN THE AIR

NOTED GERMAN FLYER "BLACK KNIGHT" IN LONDON. The German air ace known as the " Black Knight." visited London recently. He is a modest, sun-browned man of 44, with eyes as blue as the skies, and he is the most famous of all living Germans who fought against England in the air during the war. The " Black Knight's " name is Ritter von Schleiche, and he was in England on a week's vacation, with the main object of seeing the pageant of the Royal Air Force on June 25. Ritter van Schleiche travelled from Germany by train and boat, but he flew the last " leg" of the journey in a British aeroplane with a British pilot, and landed at Heston Aerodrome. Accompanying him was Baron von Richthofen, an infantry officer during the war, and the cousin of the famous baron who led the Richthofen " Red Circus" to the disconsolation of the British and French air squadrons on the western front.

FORTY AEROPLANES SHOT DOWN

A record of 40 British aeroplanes shot down, and nearly as many French, lies to Ritter von Schleiche, who commanded the " Black Squadron." At Heston he met four British ex-flying officers with whom he had fought at various times in the air. Then he went on to the garden party of the Royal Aeronautical Society at Hanworth, there to shake hands with other of his old enemies.

"I am delighted to be in England," said the German flying ace in an interview. "This is the first time I have ever been to your country. At home in Germany now I am a civil aviation pilot, and I train young men to fly at Munich. I am a member of the Hitler Party, and my young men are trained to fly in Hitler squadrons. "Naturally I shall watch the display of the Royal Air Force with the most intense interest as fin old war-time pilot, an enemy, and now a friend. That display will give me an idea of how military flying has developed since the days when I was flying and fighting instead of only flying. "It is time that Germany had her own military force again. Obviously it is impossible for her to continue much longer without air protection. It is unfair. What I hope to do in the short time I am in your country is to strengthen the friendship and natural union between the German and English flying men." TALKING OF OLD TIMES. Standing on a London stage, beneath the entwined German and English flags, the visiting airman and two British flyers told stories of the chivalry of the air, and expressed mutual admiration and goodwill. The British officers were Major Allan Brideman, late R.A.F., As-sistant-Director of Armaments, 1917-10, Major Baron von Schleiche, Captain Baron Gunther von Richthofen, and Major C. Draper, D.S.C. (late K.NA.S.). Introduced by Colonel the Master of Sempill, at whose invitation the Germans went to England, the visitors spoke before the showing of the American film " Sky Devils." They spoke no English until a few days previously, but they had learned to deliver short speeches.

Baron von Schleiche told of a Vickers biplane which was set on fire but still attacked the German aeroplanes as it went down. "Another youngster/' he said, " took part in a raid on an aerodrome, and out of devilment shot to pieces a sign saying ' Entrance Forbidden.' " On another occasion, he said, lie was called out hurriedly, and brought down a British aeroplane, to find that whereas he was in his pyjamas, his opponent was almost as informal in tennis flannels. " I invited him to tea," added Baron von Schleichc, " and last Sunday he returned the invitation, and we talked of old times."