The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-03
AGAINST BIG ODDS
Quick British Airmen Outma-
neuvered Hun Planes.
Attacked Five Enemy Planes at
One Time.
AID At CRITICAL MOMENT
Another British Machine Came
to His Rescue.
Enemy Soon Had Enough and
Fled to Safety.

British Air Force Headquarters in
France. Aug. S.-Brains and quickness
of thought are as ,cessary to the air
man as pluck. endurance and physi-
cal skill in aerial maneuvers. The
English pilot of a singIe-seater fighter
Of the latest type, while cruising all
over the German lines the other day,
saw below him three slow. old-fash-
toned enemy machines flying steadily
westward. as tho to cross the lines into
British territory.
Unfortunately, the Germans were
too far off to be alta successfully,
and the British pilot figured that If
they realized his presence they would
fly for home and safety long before
he could set within range. He there
fore flew up into the clouds and then
turned in the direction in which the
enemy machines were moving.
Owed Out of Clouds.
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.
Once before the pilot had heard 81
a similar occurrence. This flashed
thru his mind. and pulling back the
control lever. he scared up again into
the clouds. He was only Just in time,
for ss he vanished into the vapor three
enemy scouts appeared The slow
machines were the bait and the BRIT
ish airpIane was the expected prey, TOT
its pilot was well known and feared
nv the Germans in that part OF the
line.
Attacked Five Machines
Once nc knew what the odds were
against him, he no longer hesitated-
Down once more out of the clouds ne
came, straight at the nearest scout A
short burst from his machine gun ana
the hostile machine wavered, then
slowly fell into spin. hurting down
wards and crashing far below
The odds we're still five to one.
True. three Of the enemy machines
were slow and old-fashioned, ana
taken alone might have been ac-
counter for one by one but the al
ditiou of two fast-flytng scouts
rnauOeuvred by skiIIful 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, sIdeslp-
ping. ever trying to reach the Fu1ner-
a Die spot in the enemy's arnor All
the time the second scout was trying
L, secure A favOra BILE position to fire
at Tho attacker and the three old two
seaters were firing lCng-range bursts
as oonortu7'ty afforded.
Then Aid Came.
For some minutes this competition
for position continued, each party fir
ing short bursts without definite re-
suits Then suddenly the deciding
factor arrived
Out Of the sky doomed a two-seater
British fighter Of the latest type. It
was proceeding on a special Grand
Before the Germans had realized his
arrival the new pilot steered his ma
chine into the midst OF the fight. A
long burst from his rear gun caused
one of the German fighters to stag
ger in its flight. then drop its nose
and leave the combat. Evidently the
pilot had been hit Then together
the two British machines charged the
Germans A short skirnish ensUed be-
fore the enemy decided that discretion
was the better part of valor. and put
their machines into spins to evade
their adversaries' fire in the low alti-
tudes close to earth where the anti
aircr~ batteries would protect them.