AN AIR FIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3259, 30 August 1916, Page 43

AN AIR FIGHT.

MARLBOROUGH AVIATOR " DOWNS " A GERMAN. Successful work has been done by Flightlieutenant Rollo D. Vavasour, son of Mr H. D. Vavasour, Ugbrooke, Marlborough, as a member of a Flying Corps operating in Northern France. Having learned of a fine feat performed by him at the end of June, in which he brought down a German machine after an exciting combat, the Marlborough Express secured the following extract from a letter written by him on July 1: ''Our aeroplanes are doing great work out here just now. In fact, we have got the Hun thinking at last. lie hasn't half the dash and pluck our men have m tho air, and rarely ever comes over our lines. Last night I left the aerodrome about 6 o'clock in order to strafe some hostile batteries with some of our guns. This I 'did, and had just finished when my observer saw a suspicious-looking machine about five miles inside the Hun lines. I at once made towards it, and found it was a Hun aeroplane. Wo were deliglitod, and my observer got his cun ready. I was up about 95C0it,' and the Hun about 7500. so I manoeuvred for position and dived down to within about 100 ft-. My observer then opened fire. The Hun had opened when we were about 200 ft off. After about 15 minutes of vertical turns and all sorts of 'stunts,' we managed to get a shot in the Hun's engine, which emitted a cloud of smoke and steam, and he dived through the clouds to earth, as his engine at once stopped. We wore both delighted, as itwas our first real fight, and we were awfully pleased to 'do tho Hun "down,' as he had all the advantage in speed, being about 40 miles per hour faster than us. I, of course, started off with the advantage in height, and also manoeuvred to keep him firing at us with the sun in his eyes. He tried to get above, but I stopped that game at once. We eventually 'settled his hash' at about 5000 ft. As soon as the Hun was shot down the German 'Archies' took part, and shot at us the whole way home. It took about 20 minutes to get back to the lines again, as the Hun bad drawn us about 10 miles back, and there was a wind of 60 miles an hour dead against us. I think 'Archie' would have got us only for the clouds, as I kept my machine s*'immin<r over the top of them. Everyone was very pleased here, especially my C. 0., who congratulated us. .

This morning we again went out. and after I had finished my job of work at the lines I headed for the place of last niprht's fight, in the hope of seeing another Hun. When about 10* miles back at just, over 10,000 ft I spotted one at some 3000 ft below. I manoeuvred for position, and again dived, and when about 2000 ft off the Hun eaw us and did a quick turn, fleeing for his aerodrome. As lie was about 30 miles per hour faster than us. we had to give Up the chase. . . . They don't dare to come to the lines, mid if one wants a fight one has to practically sit. over their aerodrome. I really can't describe what, an air fight is like. Personally. T think it is the most thrilling tiling possible."