A FIGHT IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2664, 8 January 1916, Page 12

A FIGHT IN THE AIR

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION BRITISH AIRMEN BRING DOWN GERMANThe following vivid" narrative of a fight ill the air is published in the ''Eton College Chronicle." The British aeroplane contained Captain Loraino, of the lloyal Flying Corps, and the Hon. Eric Lubbock, and the extracts given are from letters from Mr. Lubbock: "Yesterday Loraine and I had an exciting adventure. Wo sighted a German about four miles off and attacked. We both opened fire at about fifty yards. I fired ogam at about twenty-five, firing twenty-six rounds, and 'then, my gun jammed. I heard Loraine give a great shout, but felt neither fear nor triumph. Then our machine turned downwards. As I fired my last shot I had seen the German turn down. *. knew that if he got below us my machine-gun was the only one that could fire, at him. We . were diving, I standing almost on the front of the body. Then we turned level. I finished my gun, but there was no German! But our guns (Loraino's and mine) had jammed at the same moment. I spent another five minutes at Loraine's gun, finally got both done. We saw another enemy coming in the distance. Loraine went all out to climb and attack, while I put my stiff and aching hands in my mouth praying for sufficient life to come back to them; they wore frozen. Then our engine stopped, and we were helpless, so we turned and glided homewards. Unable to reach the aerodrome we landed in a plough, a beautiful landing. "Loraine left me and went for help. Of course the crowd came from all sides. One Frenchman, remarking 'Vous avez l'iar faim,' fetched me some beefsteak and coffee, for which I was most grateful. A 'Tommy' gave me a cigarette. Well, tho luckless Boche fell twenty yards behind our front line trench. The pilot was shot through the stomach; the observer, a boy of seventeen, just grazed in the head. In spite of his fall hp will be all right, but yesterday he was crying and absolutely nerve-broken. No wonder, poor thing. , The pilot was dead before they got him away. On the machine was found an old machine-gun. It had been taken from the Canadians months ago, and now has come back to them. It is absolutely unfit for aeroplane work. There was a camera with a- Zeiss lens, which will be most valuable to us, although tho ; camera was pierced by two bullets. There were some plates, which are being developed at this' moment. The camera is heavy anu clumsy, not a patch on ours. It is such that you cannot take a vertical photograph. There was a carbine—a very nice weapon. There was a pistol for firing coloured lights,' which had been hit by us and spoiled. There was a priceless pair of binoculars, magnifying eighteen times. I am to take all these things myself to the G.H.Q., which makes me very shy: .

Combat Described' by Onlookers. "I went to a town last night to have my haii' cut. I walked with some 'Tommies.' 'Lummy',' said one to tho others, .'did yer'see that fight in the air this morning? German fell twenty yards behind our trench.' Then followed a glowing account of, the fight, with details I was, unaware of. : I. went to a shop to buy a broom, and the shopwoman asked me if I had seen the fight this morning. I said I had. But neverfcheless sho gave me a description, gesticulating and copying our every movement. So with every one. Hie Frenchman who brought me breakfast- after we landed had watchedit all, seen the German fall, and followed I.ls in. Altogether it is the excitement of the land. • "I believe they, are going to give me the German carbine. I was congratulated by the. Genera! Officer Commanding the Royal Flying Corps, who said lie would- get recognition for a 'very plucky effort.' To-day I went to see and photograph the remains of the 'German bus.' It w-as rather'destroyed, as they have taken out? the engine! It was the latest type. The Geraian observer tays he was given to understand that we tortured all our prisoners, and wondered when it was going to be over. He whs also much surprised to hear that he was going to be taken to England, as tlie German Navy has control of all the seas, and England is completely cut' off! Now one can understand why they : go on fighting. • . If my gun had not been "'ammed after tho fight, ind if another Hun had not appeared in the distance, I'd have photographed him falling, but I was much too busy at the time, seeing that we were forced to land instead of fighting tlie second machine. I am sorry now, but one has to act so quickly : it is half minutes which make tho difference,, and to get the gun goby* is tho most important thing."