The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-05-30
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 II Hurting to
Earth.

Behind the British Lines In France.
"A British machine rammed Ger
man airplane in an aerial battle few
days ago. The British machine after
ward made 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. It 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
unexpected.
In this particular contest the Ger
man airman got his gun to bear at
point-hlank 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 a
squadron engaged in a long distance
reconnaissance behind the German
lines. They had been heavily attacked
by a German patrol. but by splendid
gunnery and superb alrmanship had
driven of the Germans after downing
four Of them.
Quick Wit Caves erIton.
It was while pursuing one Of the
fleeing German machines that the pt-
lots gun jammed. and he was forced
to break of 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-
emy plane came out Of the heart Of the
sun straight at him, 80 he did not see
the approach Of his antagonist until
the latter's bullets came whizzlng
through his wings. CHANGING up, he
saw his enemy only few yards away.
It 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
point-blank range. Neither could he
remain on his course or German bull
let would surely reach him.
In a flash he summed up the situa-
ton, saw the only chance open to him,
and snatched at 1t instantly.
Drawing back his control lever ho
sent his machine shooting upward to
meet the oncoming German. Before
the later realiz ID what was happen
ing the two airplanes were in collision.
But the British pilot had 30 Judged
things-more by luck than good man
agement, he afterward deciared-that
his undercarriage crashed into the
enemy's upper plane. tearing 1t clear
Of the main structure.
Lands Crippled Craft Safely.
Both machines turned turtle as a
result of the tremendous impact and
nose-dived earthward. dive from
which the German never recovered.
He went crashing completely out Of
control.
The British pilot fiattened out his
machine after falling 500 feet and was
able to rejoin his squadron minus his
undercarriage. but with his machine
otherwise almost undamaged.
But he had yet to land his machine
in safety, and landing an airplane
without an undercarriage Is no easy
task. His comrade~ all got down be-
fore him and gathered in a silent
group at one corner Of the aerodrome
to watch him come down. His COM
mander was SO certain disaster i'm
pended that he ordered an ambulance
to be- got ready.
But the pilot COMPOUNDED all their
fears. and thereby added greatly to his
professional reputation. He stalled
his airplane when only few feet from
the ground-that is. he pointed Its nose
upward until the forward speed IVES
nearly OF the engine. Slowly the tail
sank downward. The rear skid touch
ed earth and dragged along the sur
face for few yards. Then the air