The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-09-09
COURAGE AND SKILL NEEDED
 BY AVlATORS

BRITISH AIR FORGE HEADQUAR TIERS IN FRANCE, July 3O.-Brains and Quickness of thought are as nee essary to the airman as pluck, en durance and physical skill in aerial manoeuvers. The English pilot ol a single-seater fighter of the latest type, while cruising we'll ov CT the Ger man lines the other day, saw below him three slow, old-fashioned enemy machines flying steadily westward as though to cross the lines into British territory.
 Unfortunately, the Germans were too far off to be attacked success fully, and the British pilot figured that if they realized his presence they would fly for home and safety long before he could get within range. He therefore flew up into the clouds and then turned in the direction in which the enemy ma chimes were moving.
 Judging his time. he pushed the nose of his machine downward, dived out of the clouds to the Germans beneath, and, when close enough tC 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 of a similar occurrence. This flash ed through his mind, and pulling bac!, the control lever, he scared up again into the clouds. He was only just il, time, for as he vanished into tht vapor three enemy scouts appeared The slow machines were the bait and the British airplane was the expected prey. for it's pilot was well known and feared by the Germans in that part of the line.
 Once he knew what the odds were against him, he no longer nesitated Down once more out of the clouds he came. straight at the nearest scout. A short burst from his ma chine-gun and the hostile machine wavered, then slowly fell into spin hurling downwards and crashing fal below
 The odds were still five to one True, three of the enemy machine. were slow and old-fashioned, and talk en alone might have been accounted for one by one, but the addition O. two fast-flying scouts manoeuvred by | skilful pilots gave the matter diff ferent aspect. The British pilot die not wait, but no sooner had ont machine fallen than he flew at tho next, banking. zooming. sideslipping ever trying to reach the vulnerable spot in the enemy's armor. All tho time the second scout was trying tt secure a favorable position to fire at the attacker and the three olC two-seaters were firing long-Iangt bursts as opportunity afforded
 For some minutes this competition for position continued. each party firing shot bursts without definite results. Then suddenly the decidin, factor arrived. Out of the sky loom ed two-seater British fighter O. the latest type. It was proceeding on special errand. Before tht Germans had realized his arrival tn, new pilot steered his machine into the midst of the fight. A long burs from his rear gun caused one of tn, German fighters to stagger in it! | flight, then drop its nose and leav, the combat. Evidently the pilot hat been hit Then together the two British machines charged the Ger mans. A short skirmish ensued be fore the enemy decided that discre tion was the better part of valor ant put their machines into spins to evad! their adversaries' fire in the low al titudes close to earth where tn, anti-aircraft batteries would protec them.