Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-20
.A|RMEH KNOWN BELOW
BY QUALITY OF STUNTS
Pilots Achievement Must BE Very
Fine, Indeed, Before Regarded
With Undue Interest.
TOUCH OF GLASS" REALIZED
These Dare-Dcvils Eagerly Watched
For by Men in Trenches, Who
Wonder What New Feat Will BE
Performed for Their Dedication.

Correspondence of the Associate
Ires3.l
LONDON. May 1o.-"1n service like
the Flying Corps the standard Of
value is on Il very different plane from
that of average lay minds writes a
British military expert from the front.
What is little short of miraculous to
the uninitiated is but commonplace
to the airman. and pilots achieve
ment must be very fine indeed before
1t is regarded with undue interest by
his fellows. far less by himself.
This enlarged perspective has cx-
tended though 70 less degree. to the
soldiers in the trenches, to whom the
antics OF an airplanes, or squadron of
airplaneS. have iorE since ceased TO
be novelty. But sometimes an undc-
Unable touch OF class about the man.
ner in which a pilot handles his ma
chine Immediately attracts the atten-
ton of the men below. and the whole
trench here will be filled with eager
ana obServant spectators watching his
every mancuvers.
Every plane coming Up from the
rear is earnestly scanned until its
identity is established and once it is
known that he is coming. the SOL
diers lean back on the fire stcp, and
wonder what new stunt will be intro
duccd for their delcctation. The pilot
in turn seems conscious of what is
expected Of him. and the more cheer
fully takes his risks among the
Arches because it provides the tired
trench dweller with little mild
amusement
one such pilot existed just at the
time when the Germans introduced
their much overratcd FoKkcr. This
type of machine. and the tactics
evolved with II. certainly scored an
initial success against some British
airmen. But improved planes arc con-
stant!y being brought out, and .uch
side has always in use a certain num-
Der of machines inferior TO the later
enemy planes. When the two types
come into conlict the odds are NAT
nrally in favor OF the better machine
supremacy III the air. however depends
more on the skill and resourcefulness
Oh me piiot Than on the quality of the
airplane he flies and it is to such re-
sourceful men that the British owe
their undeniable supremacy Of tho air
- 'Nf' N''"SS oiiSi cnal;enged, but
never broken. even when for the t.,ne
the Germans have had the better tvpe
Of machine.
MEN CiUCISLE OVER
DOINGS OF PILOT
The fame OF the pilot mentioned was
not confined TO any particular sector
me whole line knew of his exploits
His name was never mentioned in print
at nome. but out in France, i'm every
resi- camp. village and town. men
chuckled hugely over his doings. and
were greatly chcercd thereby. Here is
one of them:
"A British machine was engaged n,
II reconnaissance over the German lines
wheh 1t was attacked by two Fokkers.
ihe observer saw the first Fokker com
ing, and used his gun so we'll that the
German huttered down to earth sorely
managed. Tho second Fokker, how
ever, Owed right behind the British
machine. and so dcluged it with ma
chtne-gun fire that the pilot had no
course left but TO attempt forced
landing. The German quickly rccov-
cred from his dive. and was coming
back to finish off his adversary, when
our pilot dived from behind the clouds
The German saw him coming. banked
sharply and started to climb.
THE Briton Stalled his machine. and
managed to put several shots into the
enemy from beneath. One shot killed
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