American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-04-30
AIRMAN GIVES LIFE
TO GUARD SECRET
One of the Many Tragic Incidents in
Which an Englishman Is the Hero

British aviators and mechanics
sometimes are compelled to destroy
their own machines to prevent the
Germans from obtaining a jealousy
guarded secret about the new type of
airplane. Occasionally it is necessary
for the aviator to sacrifice his own
life together with his airplane. Such
an instance is described in an official
report of brave aviator. who deliber-
ately blew himself and the airplane
to pieces with a bomb to evade cap
ture by a German flotilla of destroy
ers.
There were two men, the pilot and
his observer. in the latest flying-bOat
which British makers had turned out.
They had been we'll out to sea when
fog suddenly cut them off from the
rest of their companions. The pilot
headed for home, hut a few seconds
later the engine died" and the pilot
brought the boat to rest on the waters.
He climbed up to the engine to see if
it was in his power 10 TO make good
the defect A glance showed him
that only a repair shop and a squad
OF expert mechanics scould hope TO
make the engine run. His face was
slightly more grave when he climbed
down to the hull again.
Are you going to make the works
go round again. daddy" asked the OBJ
server.
Cant be done. my SON" said the
pilot. We shall have to wait on
someone coming along 10 pick us up
Il suppose the fog will lift soon
and give our chaps a sight of us Wake
me up before they come" and. snug.
Cling still further down into his seat
the observer went to sleep
The night drew on. The pilot sal
up on the deck combing. and listened
intently for the slightest sign of an
preaching rescuers. while behind him
down in the cockpit, slept the bo,
dreaming of home
With the coming of the mornin,
the fog lifted, and the observer glanc
ed eagerly over the shadowy waters
Far on the horizon was a little blacl
smudge growing steadily in size. an,
behind it another smudge. and anoth
er. 1t was a patrol flotilla fast ap
preaching them.
1t is German, my son." said tn,
pilot. rs your lifebelt on securely?
Eyes"
We'll, get over the side and swim
as hard as you can"
But, don't you want me to help
Get over the side" said the pilo
curtly, and there was that in hi.
voice which made the Junior man in
stantly obey. "Good-by. sonny" h,
added as the observer slipped into tn
water 1T is my privilege you know
About two hundred yards away tn
observed paused and looked back a
the disabled plane. The pilot wa
crouched on the top of the wing un
derplane. just over the bomb rack
with heavy spanner in his upraise
hand ready TO strike a blow. A mil
away the first German DESTROYER wa
tearing the sea in twain in nervou
haste to salve the coveted trophy ant
get away before the appearance of tn
dreaded British patrols. The observ
er turned and swan away from tn
tragedy which he knew was about {,
happen.
There came the roar Of a might,
explosion He heard the swish of tn
air blast along the surface waters
and the rush of the approaching wav'
from the sea disturbance The wav'
engulfed him just as he began to hea'
the splash and patter of the failin:
debris. and in the blackness Of hi
heart his senses swan into uncon
seriousness. He was still sobbing de
liriously when the British patrol boa
picked him up an hour later.