A WAR STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1929, Page 7

A WAR STORY

STRANGEST FIGHT IN THE AIR, SPIRITUALS ROUND A BALLOON. One of the strangest air fights in the war was that between a British aeroplane and a German captive balloon. This took place above the airship shed at Gontrode, near Ghent, in Belgium, far behind the German lines. Lieutenant L. G. Hawker, of the No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, set out alone in clear weather on April 18, 1915, in a B.E. 2c machine to make a reconnaissance of 'tab shed with a view of obtaining information as to the best means of destroying it. For tnis purpose he carried in his machine 3 bombs which he proposed to drop on the shed to test its defences. He made a successful flight across country to Gontrode, and as he drew near the shed, at a height of about 6,000 feet, lie saw a large captive balloon above it. As soon as Hawker arrived over his objective lie dropped two of his bombs. To his surprise not only did anti-air-craft shells burst in the air near his aeroplane, but machine-gun fire was opened against his apparently from the basket of the captive balloon.

DISCONC'ERTED G UNNERS.

Ho shut down his engine at once and started to descend in a side-slip-ping spiral round and round the balloon. This naturally disconcerted the anti-aircraiu gunners on the ground, as not only did he present a vdry difficult target, but the were in danger of hitting the balloon. He was, however, still in reach of the machine-gunner in the balloon, so as he circled lower and lower Lieut. Hawker threw hand grenades in his direction and effectively demoralised his lire. He continued his fantastic spiral until lie was within 200 feet of the ground, when he passed directly over the shed and dropped his last bomb. He then flew away from the angry defenders of the shed and succeeded in making his escape, although his aeroplane was struck by no fewer than 24 machine-gun bullets.

For this bold and resourceful feat Lieutenant Hawker received the Distinguished Service / Order. Several months later he was awarded the Victoria Cross in recognition of his determined attacks on enemy machines.