Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-25
THRILLING FIGHTS TAKE
PLACE $4,000 FEET IN AIR
Forty German Machines Are Brought
Down During Last Two Days
by British Airmcn.
DARING EXPLOITS REVEALED
Bombing Raids Carried Out Forty.
Five Miles Back Of Enemy Lines.
English Lose Only Two Airplanes
i'm Dozens OF Encounters.

-.
English Lose Only Two Airplanes
i'm Dozens OF Encounters.
IFrom stan Correspondent Of tho
Associated prcss1
WITH TIE: BRITISH ARMIES ~
FRANCE Cvia London,. April o4-The
intensely bitter ground lighting Of the
last two days has been reflected in
tho air. and the British Royal Flying
Corps yesterday established new
record by bringing down forty Ger
man machines. Fifteen Of these were
actually seen to crash. while twenty
five collapsed or fci in spinning nose
dives. completely on, OF control
The fights took place 1000 feet in
tho air. from which distance +; /.
barely possible 10 sec tho ground and
wholly impossible TO sec an adversary
crash. unless the pilot deliberately fol-
lows down.
such course is not feasible where
tho lighting has taken on tho character
OF a general melee. as nowadays often
is the case. y remarkable part OF yes
terday's performance is that only two
British machines arc missing.
II was the finest day for war flying
that the young khaki pilots over had.
and to-day they have been at it again
since sunrise. bu, the fun reports OF
their exploits are not yet in.
ono intrepid young nycr, failing TO
Hnd single German observation bal
loon aloft, souEh, out one in it's
hangar on the ground. divcd at it and
set the big gas bag allazc from stem To
stern
NO CI.OuDIN SHY WHERE
GERMANS CAN HIDE
Since Monday the British army ha.
been revclnE in weather they have
iong desired. Not a cloud was in the
sky to-day in which a German could
find shelter British machines were
every where along the battle front and
far behind tho German lines. Romb-
ing raids were carried out forty-hve
miles back tho machines deliberately
nying over ground where battles were
raging with the greatest fury.
German trains rushing re-erfo"ce-
ncnts 10 tho front we're attacked. and
transport columns on the roads were
bombed and completely disorEanizcd.
In several instances the British ma
CHIMES came lor over the f'Ehting lines
and poured machine runfirc into the
German ranks. In doing this ma
chimes have deliberately crossed tho
fire OF their own. AS we'll as the enemy's
guHs.
Yesterday one British pilot. after
bringing down two Germans and with
all his ammunition gone. descended.
reloa 4ed hllcG up his petrol tanks. and
took 10 the air again Within half an
,ou- he had brought down his third ma
chine for that day. Another pilot
felied two machines. while the othc~
thirty were divided among sim
liar number of British pilots.
FOR FULL HOUR M<SEUNER
IN MARVELLOUS MANNER
The greatest fight Yesterday was i,
drawn battle One of the IiritiSt
pilots met 4 brilliant Ci,rn'an ny.r. ..nu
for a fun hour they maneuvered in II
most marvellous manner without either
being able TO bring his gun TO bear on
their other. They rolled. looped.
twisted, deliberately stalled their en-
Eines. and standing the machines OF
their tails, slid backwards through
the air. but all TO no avail. 1t prob
ably was the most wonderful air duel
the war has yet seen.
The British pilot reported to-day
that several times he felt sure he
would get his adversary between his
sights, but the latter Invariably wriE-
G'.ed out of the line Of fire. The Brit
ish flyer himself was kept busy avoid
ing the German. and once he had TO
dive almost perpcndicularly. The COM
hat did not break off until both pilots
had fairly exhausted themselves and
their petrol.
Strangely enough. later in the day
Il British pilot encountered the same
German machine. The Britishcr was
wnging his way homo after A hard
days work. but he jockeyed with the
German for nearly quarter OF an
hour before flying on.
In strange contrast to this was the
experience Of one British pilot, who
somewhat peevishly complained last
night that ~ only got a rabbit" lie
explained this ny saying that while
his opponent had good machine, he
was a clumsy fellow and could not
fight At all, and was sent spinning
with the first burst of gunfire.
The lighting yesterday was all within
the enemy territory. Several British
machines had bullet holes through
their wings. but sailed home unaided,
and took the air again this morning.