WAR IN THE AIR

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16263, 13 July 1918, Page 9

WAR IN THE AIR

ALLIES' GREATEST AVIATOR KILLED.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 13th, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON; July 11.

Captain James McCudden, the Allies' greatest aviator, was killed while flying in France. He won almost every award for valour. He brought down 54 aeroplanes before March, and recently he claimed a total of 70 victims.

LONDON, July 11. Mr Percival Phillips writes.— "The British air supremacy has been very marked during tho past few weeks. The quality of tne German pilots has deteriorated, as shown by the frequent collisions between unskilfully driven machines when attacked by tho British. Our aviators accept battle despite tremendous odds. Ten of our machines founht 20 of the onemy's on July 4th, out-manoeuvred thorn, and for?od them to flee for safety. On another occasion Four British machines attacked 40 Germans, and brought down two, whereupon the remaining 38 fled. Though our men frequently bomb targets from a height of 200 feet or less, the Germans rarely descend so low.'' Other correspondents state that a British airman -brought down 75 Gorman aeroplanes, including 25 in a single month.

Some others reached a total of fifty.