10-MILE FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 10

10-MILE FIGHT

STIRRING COMBAT WITH A GOTHA. ' Tlie struggle which resulted in the destruction or a Gotha in Essex was most stirring. Tho evidence of eye-witnesses establishes that two British pilots, operating a good distance apart, observed the raider at about the same time, closed on him, aud taking up and maintaining posit/ions which gave him no chance of escape, sent him crashing to the ground after a quarter of an hour's fighting. People who saw the contest say: "It was about 10 o'clock when a Gotha was seen over a. suburb of London. Almost immediately two other machines appeared. One swooped from above, crossed over the top of the raider ana took up a position on his left, behind, and below, hut probably not more than 25 yards away. The other climbed up and got under the Gotha's tail. "The height was probably 9000 ft. or 10,000 ft. Tremendous machine-gun tire broke out immediately from all three machines. There was a succession of flashes rs the guns blazed away. The Hun was evidently returning from London, for he made straight for the const. Evidently ho did rot like tho situation, for early in the fight be made a sharp turn in an effort to get away, but ,the two British pilots kept a grip on him. "They may hare lost a little distance during this turn, but they retained their relative positions, and in few minutes were up with the enemy again. He fought hard, but the British machines hung on, firing for all they were worth. The Hun made two more turns, hut they proved unavailing, and nfter that the pilot appeared to concentrate on making a bee line for home.

"The British pilots closed on him and after- fighting him for nearly_ 10 miles had their reward. A shot hit him in a vital spot and down he. went.. The machine had already started 'to burn, and it was obvious that it was out of control. Flames crept farther and farther round the raider until he was f* falling furnaee. Then down he nosedived with a tremendous crash." • The Gotlm was found in a field hard by a main road in Essex. The engines, and tho bodies of the pilot and two gunner 6, were found buried in the soft ground and had to bo dug out. One of the young airmen who brought, down the Gotha went to sea his prey during the day.