The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-04-28
GERMAN PLANES
CRASH IN BATTLE

BY ROBERT T. SMALL,
Staff Correspondep OF the Associated
Press


WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES
IN FRANCE, April 2S-Thc German
armcu had one OF the greatest sur
prlScS OF their lives late yesterday. The
day had been heavily overcast until
nearly o o'clock IN the evening, when
the clouds suddenly ,hinned and the
sun broke through \ few German
machines had been sighted well back OF
their lines during the obScured period,
but when the sun Shonc out several
enemy squadrons which had been housed
all day came out TO stretch their wings
IN the afternoons rays
Germans Driven Down.
They had scarcely taken the air
when, the British machines pounced
upon them and IN the after tea time
fighting that ensued seven German ma
chimes were seen to crash and eight
others were driven down completely
out OF control which were believed 10
have been destroyed
Between and o'clock the air was
filled with wonderful incidents and
deeds of daring
There were running fights and gen
cral meleeS One distinguished Young
RrltiSher, who only recently returned
To- the air after several months OF rest,
deliberately sat" over an enemy air
drome and watched six enemy ma
chimes leave the ground ard begin to
climb toward him. He was sitting at
$1,000 feet and calmly remained there
until the leader OF the challenging
planes had attained about 600 feet.
Dived at Enemy.
Meantime he had noticed that one OF
hostile birds was something OF Stran-
ger II had a very long tail and a very
short nose The Britlshcr. however,
did not stop Ia worry about IT, He
dIyed at the highest OF the climbers
and gave him two bursts from his ma
chine gun Down went the German
IN crash Just outside BIT OF wood.
While this little action was going on
five other Germans had formed between
the British plane and his home line.
Firing as he came, the RritlShcr tried
To break through the formation. but
VI
about to attempt an escape toward the
south All the Germans started in
pursuit One OF them soon outds
tanced the others and was approach
ing the BritiSher, when the latter
whirlcd abou, and fired into the Ger
man at poln,blank range and saw him
burst into flames
A Bit Of Luck.
Next in line was the long tailed and
Short-noSed stranger. 81 drove him
down, too said. the pilots report, but
after falling a great distance he flat
tened out and was apparently all right 10
A young khaki.clad pilot was car
rled far from HI, own airdomc but
managed 10 cross the British line
safely Just before uightiall His ma
chine was absolutely rlddled with
bullets but he was mhurt Asked to
tell about his adventures the airman
merely shrugged his shoulders and
said "Oh, | Just had bit OF luck,
that's all "
The young flyer according to his
companions, holds the absolute belief
that he will never be killed while fly
ing and with this belief. takes the
most desperate chances the resul, be
ing that he is rolling up one OF the
most brilliant records OF the war
Balloon Downed, Too.
Not content with telling fifteen hos
tile machines during their brief flying
interval yesterday. the British airmen
also downed one observation balloon
and sailed forth under the stars last
night on great bombing expedition
during which they upset three German
trains bringing troops toward the front.
Two OF the trains were completely de.
rallied and the engine Of the third
caused TO explode
One OF the pilots during the raid
temporarily lost his bearings. lie was
fired AZ from the ground some of the
frolectiles being in the nature OF
gteenish colored rockets. In the glare
of these he happily saw n supply de.
pot Just beneath him, whereupon he
let go one OF his bombs and obtained
a direct hit, the depot disappearing in
a great flame. All the British ma
chimes returned safely Notwithstanding
the darkness of the night
Germans Are Striped.
The German machine, recently have
taken ON variega,ed hues. Pilots re-.
port encoun,ering them in white, brown