THE CHALLENGE FROM THE SKY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145998, 3 December 1917, Page 4

THE CHALLENGE FROM THE SKY.

THRILLING AIR DUEL BETWEEN ruUi'u-N AND uta. MASTER AIRMEN FIGHT. (By Second-Lioiit. F. J. Sleuth.) There is a greater sporting spirit in j the Uonuan nyiug Corps tuaa in any oilier branch ul the Gorman. Army, auU me res nit is that imiivitiual German fliers on occasion outstep mo bounds oi regulation and engage in little, adventures on their own initiative, fckinietnnes they even carry choir individuality to the extent of accepting the challenges 'which British pitots frequently drop into ineir aerodromes. Uuo such incident arose out of a squadron lligUt some time ago over the boinme area. Four British machines were engaged on the one side against about twenty German aeroplanes. Owing to the excellence of the British ’piancs tiie pilots were able to pat up a splendid light in spito of the odds against them, and the appearance of a French squadron on the way home from a bombing raid completed the rout of tho Huns. They hurriedly broke off the light and dived for home. One British pilot throughout tho whole fight iiad been engaged with the same adversary, a German flying a large biacx machine. Both had proved themselves master-airmen. Each had pitted his best skill against the other, climbing and diving “stalling’ and looping, with such excellence of craftmanship that neither one nor the other could claim the slightest advantage. THE CHALLENGE AND THE FIGHT When tho German flight commander called off his machines the two had perforce to Separate. But the British pilot was far from satisfied. He wrote out a note challenging the German to meet him at a certain time and place in order to finish the light. The British machines had been, bombing an aerodrome when they were attacked, so the pilot was able to drop his challenge when be was reasonably certain of it being picked up and delivered. The message reached tho person intended, for when our pilot approached the rendezvous on the morning he had fixed for the light the black aeroplane was waiting for him. He had been doubtful as to whether the German would accept the challenge, but when ho saw his adversary coming to meet him ho realised that a worthy antagonist was confronting him a man as sportsmanlike as himself. The light which followed is_ still spoken of appreciatively by the infantry who were lucky enough to observe it. Every trick of airmanship was tried, all the usual and_ unusual “stunts” reproduced in rapid succession. The mists of the morning were wreathing the ridge tops. The line was bathed in the calm of the early day. And these two aeroplanes, like giant mayflies, called by the dawn to a life winch would close with the twilight, danced the dance of death together in the rays of the rising sun. The German gained an early advantage. Tho first encounter left the Briton with a bullet wound in his shoulder, his chin and throat sprayed with glass fragments from a broken instrument. But lie was unconscious of his wounds. He grimly countered every move of his adversary and waited for the chances which he knew would come to him. The possibility of defeat never entered into his mind. Yet he was steadily weakening from the loss of blood. lie did not realise this himself. But tho German quickly recognised the signs, and began to take liberties with the Briton. His swerves became less incisive. He grew careless about the distance ho allowed his opponent. A spray of bullets through his planes taught him that his adversary was still dangerous, and he determined to bring the fight to a speedy end. THE DRAMATIC ENDING. Gaining altitude ho dived down on his enemy. The Briton saw him coming and side looped into the rear position. The German flattened out and turned, but ere he could get away our pilot had checked his dive and “stalled” his machine right underneath. For a moment the British aeroplane seemed to stand on its tail while the Gorman passed overhead. Then the machinegun rattled out. The bullets slashed into the heart of the ’plane and tho fight was over. The black machine lurched as if struck" by a blow, recovered, and lurched again. Down went its nose. Like the bladed seed of the plane tree detached by an autumn gale, the machine dived, whirling to the earth. In an almost fainting condition, the Britain wore his machine round and flew painfully homeward.