Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-25
BATTLE IN SKY,
In Which British Pilot
Sends Hun to Death

German Has Advantage at opsnina
OF Battle, but Superior Maneuver-
ing OF AirpIane Soon Gives 6riton
the Advantage, Which Hs Quickly
Turned into Victory
Behind the British Lines in France.
April 24.-(Correspondence Of The
Associated Press).-A British MAJ
chine rammed a German airplane in
an aerial battle few days ago. The
British machine afterwards made q.
successful landing, but the German
machine was demolished.
The whole incident, as described to
The Associated Press. shows the ne
cessity for an airman to develop an
almost supernatural ability to deal
with unexpected situations. It is gen.
eraiiy believed that one of the chief
reasons FOR the present German in
1eriority In the air is that the average
GERMAN pilot is incapable Of adjust
ing his mental balance as quickly as
the young British pilot, in perform
ing 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 mid-air. the Britisher's gun
being temporarily out of action ov-
ing 10 q jam.
Inc British machine was one of =
squadron engaged in a long distance
reconnaissance behind the German
ines. Ihey had Teen heavily attacked
oS German patrol but by splendid
gunnery and superb airmanship had
driven off the Germans after downing
four of them.
1t was while pursuing one Of the
heeihs German machines that the
pllot S gun damned. and he was
forced TO break off his pursuit and
ciimb up to the shelter of his squad
ron until his gun could be got into
action again. Before he could regain
ms altitude. the German Owed down
on MIN. The enemy plane came ont
OF the heart OF the sun straight at
him, so that he did not see the an
proach of his antagonist until the
latters bullets came whizzins
through his wings. Glancinp I'M he
saw his enemy osy a few yards
away.
was impossible for the British
plot to dive or sideslip. The German
would simply have followed him down
ana continued to pump in bullets at
point blank range. Neither could he
remain on his course or German
bullet would surely reach him.
a a c he
tion' saw the only change open to him.
and snatched at it instantly. Draw
ing back his control lever, he sent
his machine shooting upward to meet
the oncoming German. Before tho
latter realized what was happening.
the two airplanes We're in collision.
But the British pilot had so Judged
things-nore by luck than good man
agement he afterwards declared
that his undercarriage crashed into
the enemy's upper plane. tearing il
clear of the main structure,
Both machines turned turtle as a
result of the tremendous impact, and
nose Owed earthward. a dive from
| winch the German never recovered.
He went crashing completely out OF
control.
The British pilot fattened out his
machine after falling 500 feet and
was able to reioin his squadron minus
ms undercarriage, but with his ma
chlne otherwise almost unchanged.
But he bad yet to land his machine
IN safety. and landing an airplane
without an undcrcarriage is no easy
task. His comrades 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 that disaster
impended, that he ordered an am
bulance 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 a few feet
from the groun1-that is, he pointed
it's nose upward until the forward
speed was nearly off the engine.
Slowly the tail sank downward. The
rear skid touched earth and dragged
along the surface for few yards.
Then the airplane fell forward and
stopped with jerk.
Hardly "A fastening was strained,
and the pilot coolly stepped down on
the turf to receive the congratulations
Of his comrades.