New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-25

the machines thus damaged generally
are brought safely home.
30 Machines in One Fight
When the history Of aviation IN the
present war is written Il will contain
some OF the most thrilling chapters OF
the strange world conflict. The British
Flying Corps, which grew from almost
nothing AZ the beginning OF the war,
has already established records OF dsr-
ing and attainment which even in the
colorless official reports OF the corps
read like fiction.
The British sviators take great sat
isfaction at the result OF recent
fight when they attacked a German
bombing squadron which was trying
70 cross the British lines. In the heat
Of the aerial combat the Germans let
60 bombs which fell into their own
lines
Recently there have been fights on
the British front in which from sixty
TO eighty machines were engaged.
Such battles begin with individual
fights. and gradually develop into what
the aviators term a genera melee
as reinforcements arrive from both
sides.
There have been as high as ninety
six separate and distinct fights in a
single day on this front alone. Near
the point where the British and
French lines join there have been
fights in which the French have come
10 the assistance Of the English and
the English have gone to the assist
ance OF the French to help defeat the
Germans.
Smash Into Enemy
There have been numerous engage
mcnts in which British aviators have
closed within twenty yards OF their
adversary. firing point blank into him
There have been both English and
French instances Of sviators, as a last
resort. deliberately crashing into a
German and sending him down.
After one instance OF that sort a
British aviator brought mis- machine
down with only one wing. He could
only effect a landing with his engine
going, and had deliberately 70 collide
with tree, seriously injuring him
self.
There was one memorable occasion
when three British machines deliber-
ately dived into a formation Of seven
teen German machines, destroying two
Of the hostile planes and themselves
escaping unhurt.
Two Attack Eleven Germans
Another time two British aviators
attacked eleven Germans, and once a
second lieutenant Of the British corps
attacked FIVE hostile machines. He. in
turn, was attacked from behind. but
turned and got in the rear Of the hos
tile craft and keeping ION its tail, 4"
drove il down.
Airplanes are never so much like
birds as when they meet in an aerial
combat. They dart, dash, circle. turn
and swoop like so many festhered war
riors, and often the battles rage At
such high attitudes that the machines
become all but invisible. Again there
will be a right among the clouds. when
the more daring avistors make startling
plunges through the intervening mist 10
catch their opponents unswares.
Always there is great maneuvring
for position. and spectators are filled
with wonder at what the modern air
plane can do, even 10 eXcelling the
birds in their own element by flying up
side down.
Most Of the fighting sviators en-
deavor 20 get on the other fellow r
tail" This means a position above and
slightly behind the adversary, where
one can fire down into him. Others,
however prefer to attack from posi-
ton almost directly underneath, think
ing they have a steadier firing platform
in climbing than in diving.