Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28
.SACR|F|CESH |Su|FE,1
ALSO HIS A|RPLANE
British Aviator Adopts Heroic
Means to Prevent Germans
Getting Secret of Machine.
ENEMY CHEATED or PREY
Of tn. Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
LONDON. April 15.-British av1atoSD
and mechanics tometimes arc oom-
PEELED to destroy their own machines 70
prevent the Germans from obtaining q
jealousy guarded secret about the new
type Of airplane. Occasionally 1t 10
necessary for the aviator to sac1nes
his own life. together with his airplanA
Such an instance Is described in an
official report Of a brave aviator who
deliberately blew himself and the air.
plane to pieces with bomb to evads
capture by q German notilla Of de-
stroyers.
There were two men. the pilot and hts
observer. in the latest flying boat which
British makers had turned out
They had been well out to sea wheo
q fog had suddenly cut them or from
headed for home, but q few seconds
later the engine died" and the pilot
brought the boat to rest on the waters.
He climbed up to the engine to see IL
1t was in his power to make good the
defect. A glance showed him that only
q repair shop and a squad Of expert
mechanics could hope to make the
engine run. His face was slightly moro
grave when he climbed down to the
hull again.
"Are you going to make the works 90
round again. daddy" asked the OBJ
server.
Cant be DONE my son." said the
pilot. I'VE shall have to wait on some
one coming along to pick us up"
Discovers Enemy Flotilla.
IT suppose the fog will lift soon. and
give our chaps a sight OF us. Wake me
up before they come" and. smuggling
still further down into his seat. the OBJ
server went to sleep.
The night drew on. The pilot sat MP
on the deck combing, listening tn
tently for the slightest sign Of APP
preaching rescuers, while behind him
down In the cockpit slept the boy.
dreaming of home.
With the coming of the morning the
fog lifted and the observer glanced
eagerly over the shadowy waters Far
on the horizon was a little black
smudge growing steadily in size. and
behind it another smudge and another.
It was a patrol flotilla fast approach
at is German. my son." said the ptlok
'Is your life belt on securely"
ovsr the side and swim ~
'.But don't you want me to help
Bids Son Goodbye.
"Get over the SIDE" said the pilot
curtly., and there was that in his veico
which made the junior man instantly
obey. Goodbye. sonny" he added. a.
the observer slipped into the water. 1T
is my privilege, you know
About 200 yards away the observer
paused and looked back at the disabled
plane. The pilot was crouched on the
top Of the wing under-plane just over
the bomb rack, with a heavy spanner
In his appraised hand ready to strike o
blow. A mile away the first German
destroyer was tearing the sea in twain
in nervous haste to salve the coveted
trophy and get away before the appear
ance of the dreaded British patrols. Tho
observer turned and swan away from
the tragedy which he knew was about
to happen.
There came the roar of mighty e1-
plosion. He heard the swish, of the air
blast along the surface waters and the
rush of the approaching wave from the
sea disturbance. The wave ingulfed
him just as he began to hear the splash
and patter of the falling debris. and in
the blackness of it's heart his senses
swan into Inconsistencies. He was
still sobbing deliriously when a British
patrol boat picked him up an hour
later.