Catoctin clarion., 1918-06-27
GIVES LIFE TO
GUARD SECRETS
Flyer Wrecks Disabled Machine
as German FIoti|Ia Ap.
proaches Airp|ane. -,
ORDERS OBSERVER TO ESCAPE
Pilot Deliberately Blows Himself and
His Craft to Pieces With Bomb
to Evade Capture
by Huns.

London.-British aviators and me-
chanics sometimes are compelled to
destroy their own machines to prevent
the. Germans from obtaining q jeal-
ously guarded secret about the new
type of airplane. Occasionally 1t Is
necessary for the aviator to sacrifice
his own life together with his air.
plane. Such an instance Is described
in an official report of brave avia-
tor, who deliberately blew himself and
the airplane to pieces with bomb
to evade capture by u German fotilla
Of destroyers.
There were two men, the pilot and
his observer, In one of the latest fly
Ing boats the British makers have
turned out.
They had got we'll out to sea
when a fog suddenly cut them off from
the rest of their companions. The
pilot headed for home, but q few sec.
Onds later the engine died" and the
pilot brought the boat to rest on the
water. He climbed up to the engine
to see If he could make good the de
feet. A glance showed him that only
a repair shop and squad of expert
mechanics could hope to make the en-
gine run. His face was slightly more
grave when, he climbed down to the
hull.
"Are you going to make the works
90 around again, daddy?" asked the
observer.
Machine Can't Be Fixed.
"Can't be done, my son." said the
pilot. 1--WE shall have to wait on some
one coming to pick us up"
II suppose the fog will lift soon
and give our chaps a sight of us.
Wake me up before they come" and
smuggling still further down into his
seat, the observer went to sleep.
The night drew on. The pilot sat
up on the deck combing, and listened
intently for the slightest sign of ap-
preaching rescuers, while behind him
down in the cockpit slept the boy,
dreaming of home.
fog lifted and the observer glanced
eagerly over the shadowy waters. Far
on the horizon was little black
smudge growing steadily in size, and
behind it another smudge, and anoth-
er. 1t was patrol totilia fast ap-
preaching them.
at is German, my son." said the pi-
lot. "Is your life belt on securelyT
"Yes."
"Well, get over the side and swim
as hard as you can"
"But don't you want me to help"
His Privilege to Die.
"Get over the side" said the pilot
curtly, and there was that in his voice
which made the junior man instantly
obey. "Good-by, sonny" he added, as
the observer slipped into the water.
ut is my privilege, you know"
About 200 yards away the observer
paused and looked back at the disa-
bled plane. The pilot was crouching
on the top of the wing underpane,
lust above the bomb rack, with n
heavy spanner in his upraised hand
heady to strike blow. A mile away
the first German destroyer was tear
ing the sea in twain in nervous haste
to save the coveted trophy and get
away before the appearance of the
dreaded British patrol. The observer
turned and swan away from the ira
gedy which he knew was about to hap
pen.
There came the roar Of a mighty ex-
plosion. He heard the swish Of the
air blast along the surface waters and
the rush of the approaching wave from
the sea disturbance. The wave en-
quilted him just as he began to hear
the splash and patter of the falling
debris, and In the blackness Of Its
heart his senses swan into uncon-
sciousness. He was still sobbing de-
lirious when the British patrol boat
picked him up an hour later.