WAR IN THE AIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3566, 28 September 1916, Page 5

WAR IN THE AIR.

AN INTREPID BRITISH AIRMAN.

EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOITS

(Received September 28, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 27.

Lieut. Ball gained tho Military Cross, the D.5.0., and a, special bar for extraordinary air exploits. He observed seven enemy machines in formation and attacked and shot down one at 15 yards' range; tho remaining machines fled. .Seeing five others directly after, Ball attacked one at 10 yards' range a.nd shot it down aflame; he then attacked a second, which was firing at him, and shot it down over a village, where it landed on a.house-top.

Ball then went to an aerodrome for ammunition, and returned and attacked three machines, causing.all of them to dive under control.

Being short of petrol, 'Ball returned home, his own machine being badly damaged. Later, when escorting a bombing raid, he saw four enemy machines and dived upon them, breaking their formation -and shooting the nearest, which fell. He also observed 12 onomy machines in formation, a.nd dived amongst them; he fired tho drum of the nearest machine, . which fell out of control. Several other 4iostilo machines approaching, Ball fired three drums and drpvo another down out of control. He . then returned to the British linos, -his aeroplane being much riddled with, bullets.