A WAR STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1929, Page 7

A WAR STORY

• ♦. ‘ • * !o . A HEDGE-HOPPING AIR RAIDER

“Hedge-hopping” aeroplanes which flew only'a lew'feet above the ground, tiring with machine-guns at any available target, ,at times provided'terrifying moments for men behind the nnes. A particularly bold expedition of this nature was ,made at the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres on Juiy 31st. 1917, by Lieut. It. A. Maybery, of No. 56 Squadron, of the Royal Flying Corps. He set out at 4.45 a.m. from an aerodrome near Ypres with the intention of bombing a German aerodrome at Heule near Courtrai. He flew at oniy 30 feet above the ground until ae reached Bisseghem. Two German scouts attacked him so he returned. Lieut. Maybery at once turned back and started a second time to flj T towards Heule,., once again roaring along low over the ground. He circled around the aerodrome and dropped three bombs which exploded among the sheds. WHEELS, ON THE GROUND. The pilot then flew back to the aerodrome, and after silencing the fire of some machine-gunners, lie opened fire on some sheds i from a very low altitude. So low did he fly that it is recorded that at one time his wheels actually touched the-ground. .Leaving, Heule, this solitary invader far behind .the lines proceeded to Cuerne aerodrome, and to use the airman’s picturesque expression proceeded to “shoot it up.” When he finished with the aerodrome lie opened maohirte-gun fire on some troops on the ground. He then noticed m enemy two-seater machine at a height of 500 feet, just below the clouds, and lie zoomed up to it, in order to engage it. He opened fire upon it, and shortly afterwards saw it crash. He still had some ammunition left, and this he used to attack a Train going to Courtrai. He then flew back across the lines.