AIRSHIP’S BACK BROKEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1555, 25 May 1916, Page 4

AIRSHIP’S BACK BROKEN.

LIEUT. BRANDON’S FEAT

STORY OF EYE-WITNESS

A cablegram the other week announced that the Military Cross had been awarded to Lieutenant A. de Bathe Brandon, of Wellington, for his conspicuous gallantry and skill when he dropped bombs on a German Zeppelin during a night raid at the beginning of April. Writing on April (ith, the London correspondent of the Auckland Herald states that hearty congratulations from all quarters have been showered on Lieutenant Brandon.

A young flight lieutenant bears out the theory that it was the Lit) which the New Zealander so seriously damaged that she was forced to descend into the sea. “The atmosphere conditions were ideal for a raid,” he said. “There was no wind, the night was fairly clear but dark, and the sea smooth. M c first caught sight of two Zeppelins at nine o’clock. They were flying very rapidly at a height of about 10,900 feet. Three others quickly followed. We signalled the land batteries, and got out of the zone of fire ourselves.”

It seems that three of the Zeppelins got a terrible punishment, and one at least was damaged by gunfire. Lieut. Brandon (hen got over one of the enemy aircraft, and, says his companion, “he dropped several bombs, which did not appear to have any effect, but, making a swift dive downward, he dropped three more bombs, and believes he smashed the back of the airship. The commander of the Zeppelin, realising his predicament, dropped a little, and, though his craft was not working well, he managed to get clear of Lieut. Brandon’s fire. 1 connot say for certain whether Ll 5 fell into the water, or whether her commander was able to let her down. We immediately signalled to destroyers and patrols, and got down ourselves to within 200 yards of (he derelict airship, ready to finish her off with our remaining bombs if occasion demanded. As it was, however, the enemy surrendered when our vessels (mine up.” The aerodrome Horn which the New Zealander made the ascent consists of a broad mea(lowland, none too level of surface, and sloping steeply towards the bottom end. How he managed to land his machine safely in the darkness of the night in so confined a space seems a mystery, but the fact remains that he did so. Brandon himself refuses to discuss his achievement. He is modest and unassuming to a degree. When he first caught sight of the fleeing airship he admits that he was thousands of feet below, but, climbing steadily, he at last got above her and dropped two bombs on her tail. She began to descend immediately. He then lost sight of her, and “landed” home in the early hours of Saturday morning. The New Zealander has done what only two other Britishers had been able to accomplish before — namely, to drop bombs on a Zeppelin when travelling in mid-air.