IN A HOT POCKET

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 37, 7 November 1917, Page 8

IN A HOT POCKET

'AIR PILOT'S EXPERIENCE WITH "ARCHIE." A pilot who had the horrible experience of being hemmed in by "Archie," telle in his story that he almost exhausted every trick before he got awny. 110 was flying along when suddenly the fatal bursts appeared just ahead. "This;was only normal. He side-slipped a little, and "carried on." But immediately' there were the bursts just ahead again- and a lUtle closer.' He had hardly turned off again when there they were, a.fresh lot just behind his tail, sending him- bumping and diving all- over the place. They had got his range to a hair. • He "stalled" and turned off at right angles to tl<e left—and there wero tho bursts nil round him again and the sharp sting of n wound in his check. Things wero getting hot. Ho doubled round quickly and made a sudden dive— and there were the bursts all round him onco more. He "6tnllod." put one wing down, and side-slipped down 300 ft. Scarcely had he "flattened out" again when one more group burst round him. All the time blood was pouring down his face. As a last resort lie "played hit." He nut the other wing right down and side-slipped sheer SOOft. This lis turned into a "spinning nose-dive." and came out 3000 ft. lower. Then he flattened out and'dived for our lines. For th"*o few moments "Archie" was fooled. Directly afterwards they were at him again. But ho was out of range l and got away,