Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-08-30
|CH|VALRY EXISTS
AMONG AV|AT0RS
Most Daring and Thrilling Feats Of
the War Performed by British.
French and German Avlators.


airy does not exist In this war;" said
British aviator. this does not ap.
ply to the British and German avia.
ton branches. Whether Il is the In.
iividualism OF our work and its nov.
city. or whatever II Is that is respon.
sible. something OF the old spirit OF
knighthood maintains among the
riders OF the air. When a British
aviator has to descend In the German
lines whether from engine trouble or
because his engine or his plane has
been damaged by anti-air craft guns
fire, the next day the Germans report
to us his name and whether he sur.
vived and II SO whether he Is wound.
ed. We always do the same. II has
come TO be a custom"
The reports are made In a manner
worthy OF airmen and they are the
only communications that ever pass
between the foes which watch for
heads to snipe at from their trenches.
What Is called message bag" Is
dropped over the British lines by a
German or over the German lines by
n British aviator - sometimes when
he is In the midst Of bursting shells
from the anti.air craft guns. Long
streamers are attached to the little
cloth bag. These as they piroutte
down to the earth from a height OF
1000 or 5000 feet attract the atten.
ton OF soldiers in the helghborhood
and they run out to get the prize when
II lands.
II Is taken to the battalion head.
quarters. which wires the fact on to
the aviation headquarters. where the
fate OF a comrade may be known n
few hours after he has left his home
aerodrome. and In another few hours
someone In England may know the
fate OF a relative.
THAT Is one OF the advantages OF
belonging to the flying corps" say
the British aviators. ut may be weeks
before his relatives and comrades
know whether a man who is missing
after a trench attack or counter at
tack is a prisoner or dead. Such lit
tie kindnesses as this don't interfere
with your fighting your best for your
cause. At the same time they take
little OF the savagery out OF war.
OF course. the rule could not apply
to prisoners taken In trench fighting
only to airmen. There are relative
ly few airmen on either side and only
an occasional one ever comes down
In the enemy's lines"
With the first flush OF dawn the
British planes rise from the aviation
grounds and frequently just as q car
rier pigeon makes circles before de-
term'ning his compass they will make
n circle before starting out for n
reconnaissance over the German lines.
All day they are coming and going
and in the dusk OF evening they APP
pear out OF the vague distances Of the
heavens. returning home to roost.
The flyers become type with GER
tain marked characteristics. No
nervous man is wanted. and II Is time
Tor any man who shows any signs OF
nerves to take rest. They shy at
The mention OF their names IN print.
Tor that Is not considered good for
The spirit OF this newest branch OF
he service OF war. Anonymity Is abb
solute. Everything Is done by the
corps for the corps. Some members
have luck. as they put Il. and some
10 not. LIS name may not be given.
but his Is the most dramatic OF re-
,ent experiences.
"He was a pilot flying in Belgium
AR away from the British lines when
IN anti.alr craft shell mashed his leg.
which was hit by fifty bullets and
fragments. the doctor estimated" As
he story was told TO the correspond
INT. HE collapsed In his seat uncon-
,cious. His machine dropped at right
angles to the line OF flight. The OBJ
server who was with him managed
10 hold on by clutching at the machine
gun.
They were careening down to the
Earth with the observer helpless from
his position to do anything. when l..
consciousness and muster
"a strength and presence Of mind
enough to right the machine. and to
urn Il around In the midst Of cloud
n shrapnel smoke. He was not going
o be taken prisoner despite his shat.
cred leg when he found that the she'll
which had so nearly done for him
rad not injured the engine OF the
,lane. so he made for the nearest
Ierodrome.
There he managed to land safely. |