El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-02
BRITISH PILOT
FIGHTS 5 FOES
Three Slow German Planes
Are Bait to Tempt Him
Into a Trap.

British a Force Headquarters In
France, Aug 2-The English pilot Of
Of single scatter fighter Of the latest
type. while cruising well over the
German lines the other day, saw be-
low him three slow. old fashioned
enemy machines flying steadily west
ward, as though to cross the lines
into British territory.
Unfortunately, the Germans were
too far off to be attacked successfully.
and the British pilot figured that If
they realized his presence they would
/ fly for home and safety long before
he could get within range. He there
fore flew Up into she clouds and then
turned in the direction in which the
enemy machines were moving.
None Answers His Fire.
Judging his time. he pushed the
nose Of his machine downward, dived
out Of the clouds to the Germans be-
meath, and. when close enough to be
fairly sure Of his mark. pressed the
trigger of his gun a stream Of lead
played about the German machines
None Of them returned his fire.
Up Into Clouds; DOdEes Scouts.
Once before the pilot had heard oil
a similar occurrence. This flashed
through his mind, and pulling back
the control lever, he scared up again /
into the clouds. He was only just IN
time. for as he vanished into the /
vapor three enemy scouts appeared l
The slow machines were the bait and /
the British airplane was the expected /
prey, for its pilot was well known /
and feared by the Germans in that
part OF the line.
Drops One Scout.
0Hnn h. L. ia km 3 Dc nHsa
against him. he no longer hesitated-
Down once more out Of the clouds he i
came. straight at the nearest scout A
Short burst from his machine gun and
the hostile machine wavered, then
slowly fell into a spin. hurting down
wards and crashing far below.
The odds were still five TO one
True, three of the enemy machines
were slow and old fashioned. and
taken alone might have been &C
counted for one by one, but the addi-
ton Of two fast flying scouts ma
neuvered by skilful pilots gave the
matter a different aspect The British
pilot did not wait. but no sooner had
one machine fallen than he flew at
the next. banking, looming. sideslip-l
ping, ever trying to reach the Vulner-i
able spot in the enemy's armor. All
the time the second scout was trying
10 secure a favorable position TO fire
at the attacker and the three old two
seaters were firing long range bursts
IS opportunity afforded.
For some minutes this competition
Tor position continued. each party fir
ne short bursts without difinite re-
suits. Then suddenly the deciding
factor arrived
Enemy AbandOns Fight.
Out Of the sky l0oIned a two scatter
British fighter Of the latest type. II
vas proceeding on a special Grand
Before the Germans had realized his
arrival the new pilot steered his ma
.hine into the midst OF the fight A
ong burst from his rear gun caused
me Of the German fighters to staggerI
n its flight, then drop its nose and
cave the combat Evidently the pilot
lad been hit Then together the two
British machines charged the Ger
mans. A short skirmish ensued be-
ore the enemy decided that discre-
ion was the better part Of valor. and
ut their machines into spins to evade
heir adversaries' fire in the low al
itudes close to earth where the anti
ircraft batteries would protect them