IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1915, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

"THE FLYING FOX." SHOT DEAD WHEN OOOOft UP, Paris, September 1. Pcgowd was shot dead When 6000 feet in the air. The Germans tad long awaited their opportunity. IPegoud, shortly before his deafen, said, "The Germans have sworn to have ray blood, but it will cost them dear." Pegoud, at the outbreak of the war, acted as aerial guard for General Joffro, Later he was a constant source of terror to the Crown Prince's army in the Argonne and Alsace. He shot down many aeroplanes, his looping and anglegliding baffling his opponents. He was also the hero of innumerable daring bombing feats. KILLED IN A DUEL. Paris, September 1. Pegoud was killed in a duel with an Aviatic aeroplane on the eastern frontier. Pegoud brought down his sixth Aviatie on July 11. A GLORIOUS DEATH. •DURING A THRILLING DUEL. Received September 2, 9.50 p.m. Paris, September 2. Official: Pegoud met a glorious death during a plucky fight over Petitordix. Alone, he daringly attacked a German matihine, emptying several belts of ma-chine-gun ammunition. A bullet killed him instantaneously, and his machine fell into our lines. Soldiers watched the fight with growing anxiety, and occasionally, wlhen the positions of the aeroplanes allowed, German and 'French guns joining in the duel, sent shrapnel bursting around the combatants. Suddenly there was a shout of rage from the French trenches. Pegoud's machine dipped and then fell headlong. His body was extricated from the debris. BOMBS ON A FRENCH TOWN. CIVILIANS KILLED. Received September 2, 9.50 p.m. Paris, September 2. Official: An enemy aviator bombarded Luneville. Some civilians were killed. BRITISH HEROES. DEVOTION TO DUTY. Paris, September 1. A party of Frenchmen were watching the Germans shelling a British monoplane which was falling in the German lines, when suddenly it rose and came down in the French linns, The FrenoHmen rushed up and found two seemingly dead bodies under the shapeless mass. As the pilot wis picked up he allowed signs of life, and whispered, "I am blind. Tiring the major; I can give the result of our reconnaissances." The pilot narrated that after accomplishing his mission the shells began to burst at a height of 1500 metres, apparently killing the look-out and blinding the pilot. The latter let go the levers, but heard the look-out ieebly cry, "Rise quickly." "The pilot replied, "I am blind." The look-out still more feebly cried, "Rise to the right. We are over tiHe German lines." Following the dying man's directions the pilot reached the French.lines, with his comrade dead.