Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-10-22
DARING AIR FIGHT
British AeropIane EIudes Six
German Machines.
Where Seconds Spell Difference Be-
tween Success and Failure-ThriIl.
ing Episode Related by an Aero
plane Observer in France.

London.-This is an account OF how
a British aeroplane fought and eluded
six German machines. 1t is taken
from the journal of an aeroplane OBJ
server at the front. The Ripper and
the Mound, pilot and observer Of the
old cow" caused some anxiety at
the aerodrome by being late In re-
turning from reconnaissance,
Eere is the account Of what actu.
ally happened, extracted from the
Mound with considerable difficulty:
BY the time we had gone ten
miles into the hostile country three
German machines began following US
at almost our own height. We were
not worried, because they had good
four miles to make up.
In a few minutes the Ripper shout
ed down the phone: Look out on your
left. They are trying to head US
off, Far below US, but not far in
front, two more machines were climb
ing towards US.
II watched the machines below
while the Ripper kept those behind in
the corner of his eye. IN about twenty
minutes we had reached the end #
our course and had completed our
observations. All FIVE enemy machines
were now fairly close together in
rectangular formation, but had not
gained on US. &c -s g"
How we we're to get back and out
wit the enemy was now our problem.
The Ripper swung the old COW about
twice to give the impression Of hest
tation. The enemy. although still about
two or three miles astern, turned
north on the assumption that we must
return the way we came. Having d.
verted their course. we bore east
again and gained q couple of miles
while the enemy was determining
what to do next. Keeping to their
mass formation, they bore southeast,
thinking they had us sure.
Things happen quickly in the air.
A few seconds mean hundreds Of
yards and the difference between sue
cess and failure. The Ripper tilted
the old cows horns in the line the
Germans were following. This lost US
some ground. The Germans were so
interested in this that they did not
notice that we were edging of to the
north, just enough to insure their
crossing us on our flank. In about two
minutes they were almost level. but
we'll to the right. ..-....
THE moment had come for a bold
stroke. The Ripper leveled the ma
chine, poised her at terrific angle
and made in straight line for the
nearest German. The whole five tip
ped in unison. We knew that they
would take a good twenty seconds to
get under way again. Like a fash the
Ripper circled outwards and made off
for the lines on a straight course.
There was no one to bar the way for
the moment. The Germans were out
witted. but started in pursuit. That
twenty seconds meant half a mile to
US.
Suddenly above the roar of the en-
CINE there was the rattle OF a machine
gun close up, and dull thudding tear
as some shots found the planes. 1t
was SO misty 1t took US q few seconds
to spot the new danger. It was an
Albatross crossing us about 300 yards
above. The Ripper keeled the old cow
out in an instant and we were soon
on level with the new enemy, who
was laboring to pass our front again.
We swung towards him and charged
The pilot, who thought he had us on
the run, lost his nerve and went into
spinning dive and only came out
5000 feet below
I'VE resumed our homeward course
without further incident" .s, a