The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-12
AV|ATORS' LIVES DEPEND ON MINDS QU|CKNESS ID AC7 Average German Pilot is Not Able to Adjust Mental Balance Instantly as
 British

Behind the British Lines in France, April .-(Correspondenee of the Asso- ciaed Press.)-A British machine rammed German airplane in an aerial battle a few days ago. The British machine aft erward made a successful landing, but the German machine was demolished.
 The whole incident, as described to the Associated Press, shows the necessity for an airman to develop an almost su- pernatura. ability to deal with unexpect- ed situations. It is generally believed that one of the chief reasons for the present German inferiority in the air is capable of adjusting his mental balance as quickly as the young British pilot in performing ors anticipating the unex- pected.
 In th's particular contest, the Ger man a.rman got his gun to bear at pont-biark range on the British pilot in mid-air, the Britisher's gun being tenn porarily out of action owing to Jam.
 TEe British machine was one of a squadron engaged in long-distance reconnaissance behind the German lines. They had been heavily attacked by a 3efman patrol, but by splendid gunnery aud su,,erb airmanship had driven ost the Germans after downing four of them
 It was while pursuing one of the flee ing German machines that the pilots gun damned, and he was forced to break off his pursuit and climb up to the shelter uf ris squadron until his gun could be got into action again.. Before he could regain his altitude the German dived dcNn on him. The enemy plane came cut of the heart of the sun straight at him, so that he did not see the approach of his antagonist until the latter's bullets came whizzing through his wings. GIancing up, he say his enemy only a few wards away.
 It was impossible for the British pilot to die or sideslip. The German would simpluy have followed him down and continued to pump in bullets at point blank range. Neither could he remain on his courses or German bullet woul1 surely reach him. ss,
 In flash he summed up the situa tion. saw the only chance open to him, and snatched at it instantly. iiS
 Drawing back his control lever he sent his machine shooting upward to meet the oncoming German. Before the latter realized what was happening, the two airplanes were inE collision .,sis. 2
 But the Britishy pilot had 50 judged tnings-more by luck than good man- agemen., he afterward declared-that his undercarriage crashed into the. enc n1y's upper plane. tearing it clear ot the main structure,
 Both machines turned turtle as a result of tke tremendous impact and nose lived southward, a dive from which the German never recovered. He went crashing completely out of control.
 The British pilot flattened out his na- ch,ae after falling 300, feet and was able to reioin his squadron. minus his under- carriage but with his machine othe.- wiseA almost 3undamaged.
 But he had yet to land his machine in. safety and landing an airplane Without ;,n undercarriage is no easy. task His comrades all got down before him and gathered a silent group at one corner of the airdrome to watch him come down. His commander was so certain that dis aster impended that he ordered an am- bulance to be got ready 3
 But the pilot confounded all their fears. and thereby added greatly to his professional reputation. He stalled his airplane when aonly a. few feet from the sronnd-that is, he pointed its nose up- ward until the forward speed was nearly of the engine. Slowly the tail sank downward. The rear skid touched earth and dragged along the surface for a few wards. Then the airplane fell forward and stopped with a jerk
 Hardly fastening was strained. and the pilot coolly stepped down on the turf to receive the congratulations of his comrades.