OUR AIR HAWKS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 763, 21 July 1916, Page 11

OUR AIR HAWKS.

HIGH-SPEED DIVES AT GERMANS. OPPONENTS NEARLY IN COLLISION. J Details of a host of British air fights in France and Flanders in Mas 7 , printed below, were issued by the new Air Board recently, the first of such communications. They are thrilling reading.] R.N. AIR SERVICE, FLANDERS. May 4.—Nineteen machines dropped 50 051b bombs on Mariakerkc aerodrome. Heavy anti-aircraft fire, wilh incendiary shells was encountered, and two machines were lost. May 20.—Flight Sub-Lieulenanl A., in a Nieuport Scout, when four miles off Blankenberghe (near Zeebruggc), attacked a German seaplane at close range. The enemy machine swerved, dived into the water, and finally sank. May 21.—Sixteen mbachines dropped 38 651b bombs and 17 161b bombs on Mariakerke aerodrome. A seaplane dropped a 1001b and two 651b bombs on the Solvay Works, Zeebruggc. All the machines returned safely, with one exception. An attack was made on Dunkirk by hostile aircraft. Several British machines went up to cut off the enemy on his return journey in the vicinity of Nieuport. Flight SubLieutcnant I)., in a Nieuport Scout, attacked three machines at 400 yards. He fired on one and, observing another about 900 ft above making seawards, gave chase and fired the rest of the tray (charge of cartridges). lie then reloaded, and at 10,000 ft encountered a large two-seater which fired at long range. Flight SubLieutenant D. opened fire and observed tracer bullets (which leave a smoke track behind them, showing their course) entering the machine, which started to smoke violently and nose-dived towards the sea. Another officer in the air at the time states that he saw in the same locality what appeared to be a machine on fire enveloped in black smoke. A fourth hostile machine was encountered and fired upon until all Sub-Lieutenant D.'s ammunition had been expended. Fight Over the Sea. Flight Commander A. in a Nieuport Scout, followed some raiders out to sea, opening fire when off Mariakerke. He closed with three machines, one of which toppled over suddenly and nose-dived out of sight. Reloading, the pilot attacked another, which after a few rounds dived steeply. The third flew back over the lines. R is probable that one, and possibly two. of the machines were destroyed.

May 22.—blight Sub-Lieutenant G. in a Nieuport Scout, saw five machines in close formation and one in the rear, which he attacked at very close range from underneath. The enemy observer fired a few rounds and then broke off as though killed or wounded, our machine still being an easy target. The other machines drew away. ROYAL FLYING CORPS, FRANCE.

May 4.—Lieutenant D., pilot, and Second-Lieutenant D., observer, steered straight towards two hostile aeroplanes, a Roland and an Aviatik, over Fromelles. The Roland fired al 150 yards, and Second-Lieutentnt 1). at 70 yards. The Roland turned, the observer standing up to fire. Lieutenant D. followed, and the Aviatik came up behind him and fired. Both pilot and observer of our machine were now firing, being between the two hostile machines. They got within a few yards of the Roland, which ceased fire and dived steeply but apparently under control towards Wavrin. The observer was apparently hit, as he disappeared from view and firing ceased. Lieutenant D. then turned towards the Aviatik, which, however, went down in the direction of Wavrin. Lieutenant D.'s machine was badly damaged, but both pilot and observer were unhurt.

Captain T. was killed by anti-air-craft fire. His observer, SecondLieutenant 11., climbed back into the pilot's seal and found the rudder jammed. He managed to land the machine in our lines and escaped unhurt. FOKKER BROUGHT DOWN. May 19.—Lieutenant P., in an F.E., observer Air Mechanic 11., on patrol north-cast of Ypres, sighted three hostile machines. Lieutenant P. engaged one of them, which turned and met him face to face, being slightly below him. Fire was opened, and the enemy machine sideslipped and dived vertically. The F.E. saw no more of the German. Lieutenant R., in an F.E., observer Lieutenant M., encountered a Fokker. Fire was opened at 50 yards, and the enemy machine side-slipped, turned on its back, and crashed to earth. May 20.—An Aviatik was engaged by three of our machines over Adinrer Wood. A B.E. attacked first. Air Mechanic C. then dived from 9000 ft and attacked the Aviatik at 5000 ft. Finally, Captain A. closed to within 2!) yards, and fired two diums at the Aviatik, which went down in a nose-dive, ami crashed into the trees. An Albalross was attacked by a Mai'tinsyde and two de Havillands over Pozieres. Lieut. W. attacked first, opening fire at 50 yards, and turned aside, owing to his gun jamming. Captain S., in the Martinsyde, then attacked at 30 yards, apparently without effect. Lieut. T. then dived on to the hostile machine, and fired a drum al -10 yards. The hostile machine burst into flames, and fell. May 21.—Second-Lieut. T., in a Martinsyde, living at 12,500 ft, saw an Albatross over Fromelles at about

9000 ft. He dived at it, reserving his fire till within close range. Both machines were diving al high speed, with engines on. Lieut. T., having expended one drum, changed, and continued the attack. The enemy tried to manoeuvre out of fire, but Lieut. T. managed to keep the enemy under lire at intervals. At about 4000 ft, over the south-west corner of Lille, tho machines were so close that they nearly collided, but the enemy, after descending in a vertical dive, recovered himself, and escaped.