THRILLING AERIAL FIGHT

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 39

THRILLING AERIAL FIGHT

DEATH OF FAMOUS GERMAN - AERONAUT. '

The body of the famous German airmail Voss, who was recently reported missing'' in a German communique, has been found behind the British lines (says Lloyd'Si Weekly News). He was killed in a battla with a British airman, whose combats in the clouds have gained for him a great reputation in tlw aerial fleets or botli armies. "- ; While patrolling at a height of ncarMr a mile and a-half with other aeroplanes thS British ainman was attacked by a triplane and another machine. Yose was the pilofj of the former. Two other British ma'< chines immediately flew to the assistance <j| their comrade, and a third German ak promptly came up. Eleven German planes could be seen hovering in the djftf tance. hoping for a favourable opportunity to join in the fray and overwhelm tneut, adversaries, but, 10* British machines kept circling about and prevented them from ap.'l preaching within machine-gun range. ?>;• The third enemy fighter lost heart anadived away, but tho triplane and its 1 sort fought with remarkable skill. Qui 1 first fighter singled out the triplane', whiqh was piloted by a master hand, and a thrill* ing duel followed. The machines wheeled and ducked repeatedly, each trying to get. above the other, and our man continually f firing his machine gun. exhausting several; drums of ammunition, but apparently witlM% out anv effect on his opponent. They werS bo close at times that the wings of theilf ; machines nearly touched. Suddenly Voss swerved, and the acw planes came nearly into collision as h£ dropped to avoid a 6udden burst of ram .) chine gun fire. Our man saw him eliding westward with his engine shut off anoj | dived after him, pumping bullets into thflj triplane. The victor sailed away, and Jf was not until later that the broken Germanmachine was found on the battlefield, witH \ the body still wedged in the pilot's scat. I