The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-06-24
Ability to Deal With Unexpected
Situations Gives Them Superb
ority in Air.
RAMS HUN IN AERIAL FIGHT
Young Pilot, Caught With Gun JAM
med, Crashes Into German Craft,
Sending It Hurting to
Earth.

Ben1nd the BRUSH Lines IN france.
A British machine rammed q Ger
man airplane in an aerial battle few
days ago. The British machine after
ward made a successful landing, but
the German machine was demolished.
The whole incident, shows the neces-
sity for an airman to develop an al
most supernatural ability to deal with
unexpected situations. 1t is generally
believed one Of the chief reasons for
the present German inferiority in the
air is that the average German pilot is
Incapable of adjusting his mental bal
ance in performing or anticipating the
unexpected.
In this particular contest the Ger
man airman got his gun to bear at
point-blank range on the British pilot
In midair, the Britisher's gun being
temporarily out Of action owing to
jam.
The British machine was one Of q
squadron engaged in a long distance
reconnaissance behind the German
lines. They had been heavily attacked
by German patrol, but by splendid
gunnery and superb airmanship had
driven off the Germans after downing
four Of them.
Quick Wit Saves Briton.
It was while pursuing one of the
fleeing German machines that the pi-
lots gun damned, and he was forced
to break off his pursuit and climb up
to the shelter of his squadron until his
gun could be got into action again.
Before he could regain his altitude the
German dived down on him. The en-
envy plane came out Of the heart Of the
sun straight at him, so he did not see
the approach Of his antagonist until |
the latters bullets came whizzing
through his wings. CHANGING up, he
saw his enemy only few yards away.
1t was impossible for the British
pilot to dive or sideslip. The German
would simply have followed him down
and continued to pump in bullets at
range. Neither could he
remain on his course or German bull
let would surely reach him.
In q flash he summed up the Situa-
ton, saw the only chance open to him,
Drawing back his control lever he
sent his machine shooting upward to
meet the oncoming German. Before
he later realized what was happen
ng the two afrplanes were in collision.
But the British pilot had so judged
by luck than good man.
lgement, he afterward declared-that
lis undercarriage crashed into the
upper plane, tearing it clear
# the main structure.
Lands Crippled Craft Safely
Both machines turned turtle as 8
esult Of the tremendous impact and
lose-dived earthward, dive from
which the German never recovered. :
lie went crashing completely out OF
OntrOl
The British pilot flattened out his I
machine after falling 500 feet and was
BILE to rejoin his squadron minus his
but with his machine
therwise almost unchanged.
But he had yet to land his machine
n safety, and landing an airplane
7ithout an undercarriage is no easy
ask. His comrades all got down be. :
ore him and gathered in a silent f
roup at one corner Of the aerodrome
} watch him come down. His com.
lander was so certain disaster i'm.
ended that he ordered an ambulance
, be got ready.
But the pilot COMPOUNDED all their :
ears, and thereby added greatly to his
Professional reputation. He stalled :
IS airplane when only few feet from F
lie ground-that is, he pointed it's nose
oward until the forward speed was =
early off the engine. Slowly the tail F
INK downward. The rear skid touch.
earth and dragged along the sur.
ce for few yards. Then the air. =
ane fell forward and stopped with q
rk.
Hardly fastening was strained, and
e pilot coolly stepped down on the e.
RI to receive the congratulations OF
s comrades.