HIDE AND SEEK IN THE SKY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 30, 30 October 1918, Page 2

HIDE AND SEEK IN THE SKY

4.. (DOWNING A BIG NIGIIT-DOMBfili. (By "Wing Adjutant," in the "Daily 'Mail.") Fighting in the air by day has its excitements, but a combat by night is still inoro adventurous. While on night patrol, tho pilot sighted a big twin-engined German machinu which wns heading in the direction of the British lines, loa'ded with bombs, on business intent. Without hesitation he flew at it, aud in the darkness fired a burst of bullets from a range of about fifty, yards. He could see the lines .of the tracer bullets os they struck tho machine, and as it flashed by into the'liight he thought ho saw the observer fnll forward in his seat. He swung round after his foe, and, diving again, fired another burst at close range. This/time he was sure of lis success, for 'ona propeller slowly ceased to revolve, owing to tho damage ho had caused the engine. When he fired the second burst fie was right over tho tail of tho Hun. The Boche pilot, knowiii o ' himself to be damaged, dived, trying to throw off his opponent. For a moment the British machine was caught in the backwash of the big bomber's propeller, and at onco got out of control. Down slipped the scout into the night, and when the pilot again regained control his foe had vanished in the darkness. Backward and forward he flew, searching tlio sky for a trace of tho Hun. 11 was bad luck to come within an aco cf success and then to be deprived of his victim. Onco he thought ho saw a darker patch against the sky, and raced hurriedly towards it, only to find that he had been led out of his path by his own imagination, and that nothing awaited him. At last, despairing of finding the Boche, lie turned his nose homewards and flew for tho lines. Then, just as ho noticed the gashes in the earth ahead of lie again saw below him the form of a vnat bomber. It was the same machine, for a moment Inter he was able to perceive that only one engine was working. lie 6miled with glee. The Boclio had tried to elude him. and had failed. Now the end would surely come. Out of the night ho dropped, pouring forth a tornado of lead. The Hun saw his doom approach, and was unablo to escape. A storm of bullets put the other engine out of action, and the bomber crashed to earth between the lines. As sho hit earth therfi was a terrific roar, and in the darkness the flames of tho explosion lighted up the ground for many yards around as the bombs meant for the destruction of hospitals and defenceless homes blew the remains of the bomber upward into tlio night.