The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-10-29
DARING AIR FIGHT.
British Aeroplane Eludes Six
German Machines.
Where Seconds Spell Difference Be-
tween Success and Fsilurs--Thrill
ing Episode Related by an Aero.
plane Observer In France.

london. This IL an account OF how
~ british acroplane fought and eluded
str |tl~maIf machines It is taken
frcr the journal OF an aeroplane OBJ
satFer al the front. The Ripper and
thr Mound, pilot and observer OF the
odd COW" caused some anxiety at
abr Gerodrome by being late In re-
turning from a reconnaissance.
l-rrr ~ the account OF what actu.
aNy happened. extracted from tho
slogDd with considerable difficulty,
By the timo We had gone ten
mt,cH INTO the hostile country three
a;crrnan machines began following US
at almost oar own height, We were
mot worried. because they had good
so@y miles 10 make up
In few minutes the Ripper shout
.s,i down the phone Look out on your
Left. They are trying to head us
OF Far below us. but not far in
front. two more machines we're climb.
snx towards us.
I watched the machines below
while the Ripper kept those behind in
ysbc corner OF his eye N about twenty
minutes we had reached the end Il
our course and had completed our
observations All five enemy machines
wsTr now fairly close together In q
rectangular formation, but had not
EafScd on us.
How we were to get back and out.
est the enemy was now our problem.
The Ripper swung the old COW about
iS!ne 10 give the impression OF heal.
ration The enemy. although still about
tao or three miles astern. turned
north on the assumption that we must
return the way we came. Having di.
vcrtrd their course, we bore east
again and gained couple OF miles
while the enemy was determining
what 10 do next. Keeping to their
mass formation, they bore southeast,
thinking they had us sure.
Things happen quickly in tho air.
A few seconds mean hundreds OF
ysris ard the difference between sue.
crm and failure The Ripper tilted
fhe cid cows horns In tho line the
Germans were following THIS lost us
anmes ernan,i. The GermanA were 40
Interested IN this that they did not
notice that We were edging OF 10 the
north. just enough to insure their
crossing IA on our flank, In about two
uinntcs they were almost level. but
well to the rieht
The moment had come for bold
sstruke Tho Ripper leveed the ma
chine. poised her NJ u terrific angle
.nd made in a straight line for the
nearest German The whole Ave tip
pad in unison We knew that they
aunid take a good twenty seconds 70
S,st under way again Like Hash the
kipper circlcd .outwards and made OF
FOR the lines on a straight course
There was no one to bar the way for
che moment. The Germans we're out.
~ittcd, but started In pursuit Tha,
swenty seconds meant halt a mile 10
tm
Suddenly above the roar ot the On,
xmc there was the rattle OF machine
xuu close up and dull thuddiuS tear
as some shots found the planes. Il
WAS - misty II took W. a few seconds
Car spct the new danger II was an
Alhsiross crossing us about $40 Yards
above. The kirpcr keeled the Old cow
ssAs In All instant and VIC were soon
asn o ,evel with the new enemy. who
wns !ahoring 10 pass our trpn, again
We swung towards him aud CHARGED
TNc pilot. who thought Ne had us "a
sS1 run. lost his nerve aud went into
10 spinning dive and only eauie out
IOsid feet below,
We resumed our homcward course
without further incident