MIRAGE IM THE CLOUDS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 38, 18 May 1917, Page 8

MIRAGE IM THE CLOUDS.

AIRMAN'S WEIRD ADVENTURE. An extraordinary story of a mirage in the clouds is told by a young Flycorps officer in the following letter to his father: —

“I have often wondered what it would feel like to see a machine com' ing straight for one and to know that a collision was inevitable. 1 had the experience this afternoon, only the collision did not take place. I was on patrol with five other machines over the lines—(by the way, I am writing this like a novel, but I feel like it) — and had just gone into a cloud bank. Just before going in I saw! the 'bus on my right turning to cross in front of me. All of a sudden I saw a machine just the same as my own appear out. of the cloud about 50ft away, and making straight for me. Instinctively I jammed my nose hard down and went as near a nose dive as possible; the other 'bus did the same. I turned; the other turned into me. I was in a cold perspiration all over by this time, so I thought ‘Here goes; if I am going to crash it might as well be complete.' So straight for it I went. We got closer and closer, and biff! my machine and —its mirage in the clouds met. “It seemed like a hideous nightmare, and I can still see that machine doing its utmost to crash into me. I think I can say I have had the full horrors of a collision in the air without its actually taking place. I finally got out of the clouds, and had not the faintest idea where I was, but about 15 seconds after ‘Archie’ reminded me that I was a little too low over his lines. Having got that off my chest, I think I will go to bed."