Evening star., 1917-09-23
Cutting Corners in the Air.

Cutting Corners in the Air.
The way they had been able to pull
away from US in the initial climb over
our landing field gave US reason to an
icipate difficulties in keeping up with
them The two machines were iden-
teal in almost every way. but slight,
differences in their regulation affected
the speeds considerably. On previous
expeditions we had been more than
able to hold our own with the others.
but on this particular occasion they
undoubtedly had the edge on US. 1t
was an advantage while they were pro-
tecting, for they could catch up again
when an unexpected turn put them
behind. But now conditions were re-
versed. At best my pilot could not
manage to keep over them. Without
map we would have lost them COM
pietely. but knowing as We did the
exact point where they were to turn,
We could cut corners and make up the
distance Also. when they zigaasged
20 avoid the shells. we, would stick
TO a straight course and in that way
make up little more distance.
This latter gave the German gunners
the machine was hit by fragments OF
shells. The German machine which
had been over US a few minutes be-
fore returned and began to close in
from the slae with the evident inten-
ton of attacking our comrades. The
German was too far from US to be an
easy mark, but, mostly in hopes of
warning De Iange. 1 gave him a few
shots l took lots of care to correct
my aim for speed and distance. and
must have done better than I hoped.
for the German dived steeply and
turned Off
For a few minutes we had every-
thing our own way and 1t looked as if
ne n 6v,iS ~,
peace. Then trouble showed up again
This time there were three German
machines. They came from the interior
of their lines. and from their speed I
knew they were fighting craft
l sisnaled the pilot to get ready for
trouble and replaced the half-emptied
drum on the Lewis rapid frer with a
fresh one. But the Germans did not at
tack. They would dive toward US till
they were just outside gun range, then
make fancy naneuver and turn back
One opened fire on US. but at such
range there was no chance of hitting
us, SO I didn't reply. For several min
utes they kept up their antics and /
admit they had me fascinated ] could
not figure what was coming next
Black Machine Turns Up.
II came with a rush-"pop-pop-pop
right under the tail of our machine.
I
mind, my first impression was that we
We're being shot up from a machine
gun on the ground. 1 looked over one
side; nothing in sight. I turned to the
other Just n time to see a black shane
| Hash under US. ! was ready and gave
| him steady stream of fire could
see the tracer bullets going into the
I machine, but he kept straight on and
| IN q very Few seconds was out of range
rFNfr -Irrr
| It had been worked. His companions
| had Kept me interested. giving him a
I chance to slip up under US. If he hadn't
| been a rotten shot l would not be tell
| ing this. In that same instant I real
| lied why German fighting pilots often
! fly black machines. One would think
1 that color would be the most corspicu-
/ Gus. but actually It is the best possible
cafnouhaee for them. Their favorite
antl-aircrait shell expIodes with
dense hlack smoke and when there are
/ dozen such clouds around an airplane
| of the same color can get surprisingly
close without attracting notice.
| No Attack En- Masse.
! AS soon as this boy was out of range
| he climbed up with the rest of the Ger
| mans. l fully expected that after that
| they would attack en- rnasse. but they
made no such attempt They hung over
US, but not once did they come into
range. The black one, on whom | tried
the keep the closest watch, STAYED be-
4 hind the others. Suddenly our machine
made steep turn to look ahead and
saw that De Lange had finished work
and we were headed back for our own
lines.
Later De Lange told me that after he
had commenced photographing he had
not seen single German. All the time
l was having my troubles he had been
TRANQUILITY taking pictures.
! l do not want to give the impression
that days work like this comes seven
times a week. If it did we would all
leave the aviation and go back to dig
ging trenches. Flying, whether as pilot
or observer, is exhausting work. Even
If we could stand 1t, our photographers
could not. They began work when 1
brought in my first results Sunday
morning, and from then till Monday
noon they barely left their dark room
A hundred photographs over the lines
often means 1900 prints which must
! be rushed out with the greatest possible
speed. Sweating for thirty hours at a
stretch over tray of hypo is a form
of war heroism one never reads about
1 sometimes think these fellows deserve
medals more than the ones who work