The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-06-08
EXPERT AERONAUT
ATTRACTS ATTENTION
ONLY MIRACULOUS STUNTS IN
THE AIR CAUSE TRENCHMEN
TO TAKE NOTICE.
DOings of Noted Pilots-Supremac
Depends More on Skill of Pilot
Than Quality of Machine.

different plane from that of AVERAGE
lay minds" writes British military
expert from the front. "What is little
short of miraculous to the initiated
is but a commonplace to the airmen,
and pilots achievement must be
very fine indeel before it is regarded
with undue interest by his fellows, far
less by himself.
"This enlarged perspective Is ex.
tenoed, though t. less de- e.. IT,
tho soldiers IN the trenches, to whom
The antics of an acroplane, or squadron
faeroplanes, have long since ceased
to be novelty. But sometimes an un-
definable touch of class about the
manner in which a pilot handles his
machine Immediately attracts the at
tention of the men below, and Ii Q
whole trench here will be filled with
eager and observant spectators watch
ing his every Vancouver.
Earnestly Scanned.
Every plane coming up from the
rear is earnestly scanned until it's
identity is established, and once it is
known that 'he' is coming, the soldiers
lean back on the fire-step. and wonder
what new stunt will be introduced
for their delectation. The pilot in turn
seems conscious of what is expected
of him, and the more cheerfully takes
his risks along the tArchies' because
it provides the tried trench-dweller
with little mild amusement.
"One such pilot existed just at the
time when the Germans introduced
their much overrated Fokker. This
type of machine, and the tactics
evolved with it, certainly scored an
initial success against some British
airmen. But improved planes are con-
stantly being brought out, and each
side has always in use a certain num-
ber of machines inferior to the later
enemy planes. When the two types
come into conflict the odds are nat
urally in favor of the better machine.
Supremacy in the air, however, de-
pends more on the skill and resource
fulness of the pilot than on the quail
ity of the aeroplane he flies, and it is
to such resourceful men that the Brit
lsh owe their undeniable supremacy of
the air, supremacy often challenged
but never broken, even when for the
time the Germans have had the better
type of machine.
A Famous Pilot.
"The fame of the pilot mentioned
was not confined to any particular
sector. His name was never men
tiona.ip nript hesaA hist Wit .d Sdr i p
France in every rest camp, village anc
town, men chucked hugely over hi.
doings, and were greatly cheerec
thereby. Here is one of them.
"a British machine was engaged OF
reconnaissance over the German
lines when it was attacked by two
F'okkers. The observer saw the frs
Fokker coming, and used his gun 81
well that the German fluttered dowr
to earth sorely damaged. The seconC
Fokker, however, dived right behint
the British machine and so deluget
it with machine-gun fire that the pilo
had no course left but to attempt
forced landing. The German quickly
recovered from his dive and was com
ing back to finish off his adversary
when our pilot dived from behint
the clouds. The German saw him com
ing, banked sharply and started tt
climb.
Stalled His Machine.
"The Briton "stalled" his machine
and managed to put several shots int,
the enemy from beneath. One sho
killed the observer; another put tn,
engine out of commission, and tn,
Fokker, mortally hit, nose-dived steep
ly, throwing the dead observed ou
into mid-air. The pilot managed tt
regain control before his machin,
crashed, and contrived to effect a land
ing of some sort. But our pilot wa!
not finished with him. He crclet
overhead until the German had go
clear of his machine, and then he de
scended further, and sprayed the FOX
ker with machine-gun fire till it burs
into flames. He then started to climb
Clouds of German anti-craf
shells pursued him, but he managed
to get right over the German firing
line before shell burst near enough
to injure him. His machine stopped
IN its course, its nose fell. and down
1T went, diving steeply to earth. 4
thousand feet, five hundred, two hun
dred. Everyone's heart jumped in ex
pectation of the crash. Then the plan,
righted. Along the German line i
sped, faster than a swallow, and it.
machine gun spat venemously into th
crowded trenches. 1t was only ruse
just another flight of the genius whicl
marked the pilot from the ordinary
and as he mounted heavenwards an,
flew towards the safety of his owl
lines, he leaned over from his sea
and gaily waved his hand to the baf
fled foe"
LOT OF STUDENT AVIATORS.
WASHINGTON. Nav 28.-Anothcr 10