The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-02
BRITISH AIRMEN
SHOW QUICK WIT
Ability to Deal witt Unexpected
Situations Gives Them Superi.
- GRITTY in Air. .:o..
RAMS hun IN AERIAL FIGHT
Young Pilot, Caught With Gun Jam.
med, Crashes Into German Craft,
Sending It Hurting to
Earth.

Behind the British Lines in France.
"A British machine rammed a 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. 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 a
jam.
The British machine was one Of a
squadron engaged in long distance
reconnaissance behind the German
lines. They had been heavily attacked
by German patrol, but by splendid
gunnery and superb airmanship had
driven on the Germans after downing
four Of them.
Quick Wit Saves erlton.
It was while pursuing one OF the
fleeing German machines that the pi-
lots gun TANNED, and he was forced
to break off his pursuit and climb up
to the shelter Of his squadron until HE
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 latter's bullets came whizzlns
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 al
point.blank range. Neither could be
remain on his course or German bull.
let would surely reach him. !
In flash he summed up the sitha.
lion, saw the only chance open to him,
and snatched at 1t instantly.
Drawing back his control level: he
sent his machine shooting upward to
meet the oncoming German. Before
the later realized what was happen.
ing the two airplanes were in collision.
But the British pilot had so judged
things-more by luck than good man.
agement. he afterward declared-thht
his undercarriage crashed into The
enemy's upper plane, tearing it clear
Of the main structure. 3.
Lands Crippled Craft Safely. y
Both machines turned turtle ss a
result Of the tremendous impact and
nose-dived earthward, dive from
which the German never recovered.
He went crashing completely Dut Of
control. 4a-s .% IA
The British pilot fiattened lout his
machine after falling 500 feet find 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 W no easy
task. His comrades all go1s down be-
fore him and gathered ia 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. . ,.t
But the pilot conformded all their
fears. and thereby adde u greatly to his
professional reputation. He stalled
his alrplane when only few feet from
the ground-that is, te pointed Its nose
upward until the forward speed was
nearly off the engite. Slowly the tail
sank downward. he rear skid touch.
ed earth and dragged along the sur.
face for few yards. Then the air
plane fell forward and stopped with a
jerk. -. .l-a...
Hardly fastening was strained. and
the pilot coollY stepped down on the
turf to receive the congratulations of