Gilpin observer., 1918-07-18

enceO up TO tnat time. The depth OF
my dive had brought me within reach
Of the machine guns from the ground,
and they also put barrage around me
Of shrapnel from antiaircraft guns
and had an opportunity to ride the
barrage." as they call it in the R. +. O.
To make the situation more interest
ing, they began shooting "laming on
Ions" at me. 'rFlaming onions" are
rockets shot from q rocket gun. They
are used to hit a machine when it is
flying low, and they are effective up
to about five thousand feet. Some
times they are shot up one after an
other in strings Of about eight, and
they are one of the hardest things to
go through. II they hit the machine,
it is bound to catch Are and then the
Jig IL up.
All the time. too, I was being at
tackled by "Archie"-the antiaircraft
gun. I escaped the machine guns and
the Flaming onions," but "Archie," the
antiaircraft fire, got me four or five
times. Every time a bullet plugged
me. or rather my machine, 1t made a
loud bang, on account of the tension
on the material covering the wings.
None Of their shots hurt me until
I was about a mile from our lines, and
then they hit my motor. Fortunately,
I sdu had altitude enough to drift on
to our own side Of the lines, for my
motor was completely out of commits
sion. They just raised the dickens
with me all the time was descend
ing, and began to think I would
strike the ground before crossing the
line, but there was a slight wind in
my favor, and 1t carried me two miles
behind our lines. There the balloons
1 had gone out to get had the satisfac-
tion Of 'pin-pointing" me. Through
the directions which they were able to
give to their artillery they commenced
Smelling my machine where 1t lay.
This particular work is to direct the
fire Of their artillery, and they are
used just as the artillery observation
airplanes are. Usually two men are
stationed in each balloon. They ascend
to a height Of several thousand feet
about five miles behind their own lines
and are equipped with wireless and
signaling apparatus. They watch the
burst Of their own artillery. check ND
the position. get the range, and direct
the next shot.
When conditions are favorable they
are able to direct the shots so accu.
rately that 1t Is quick work destroying
the object Of their attack. It was such
balloon as this that got my position,
marked me out, called for an artillery
shot, and they commenced shelling my
machine where 1t lay. II I had got
the two balloons instead of the air
plane. I probably would not have lost
my machine, for he would in all proba.
Dility have gone on home and not both.
cred about getting my range and caus-
ing the destruction of my machine.
I landed in a part of the country
that was literally covered with shell
holes. Fortunately my machine was
not badly damaged by the forced land
Ing. I.leisurely got out. walked around
1t to see what the damage was, and
concluded that 1t could be easily re-
paired. In fact, I thought II I could
IND space long enough between shell
holes to get start before leaving the
ground that I would be able to fly on
from there.
l was still examining my plane and
considering the matter of a few slight
repairs, without any particular thought
Tor my own safety In that unprotected
spot, when n shell came whizzing
through the air. knocked me to the
ground and landed few feet away,
1t had no sooner struck than I made
a run for cover and crawled into q
shell hole. would have liked to get
farther away. but didn't know where
the next shell would burst, and I
thought was fairly safe there, so I
squatted down and let them blaze
away.
The only damage I suffered was
from the mud which splattered up In
my face and over my clothes. That
was my Introduction to shell hole.
and resolved right there that the in
fantry could have all the shell-hole
lighting they wanted. but It did not
appeal to me. though they live in them
through many long night and had
only sought shelter there for a few
minutes.
After the Germans had completely
demolished my machine and ceased
firing, I waited there a short time,
fearing perhaps they might send over
q lucky shot, hoping to get me after
all. But evidently they concluded
enough shells had been wasted on one
man. crawled out cautiously, shook
the mud on, and I looked over in the
direction where my machine had once
IN. There wasn't enough left for q