FRENCH AIRMAN'S ESCAPE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 235, 15 December 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

FRENCH AIRMAN'S ESCAPE.

A THRILLING STORY. , Tlu? Paris ' Matin" how Lieutenant Gulnemer, the well-known a 1 rutin, after liaving brought dtani tliree entrnj" machines, had a fall which nearly cost him his life. He was 3000 metres, (about 9800 ft-.) *P (says tine journal . when a shell burst full in one of the wings of his aeroplane, and the frail bird seemed n artally wounded. The whole left wmg was completely cut to bits, and the canvas fluttered in the wind, mak--1 mg the rent still wors.e In a few sec. r' {' KTe w as nothing left on the name but a piece of canvas the size of a pocket handkerchief. The machine fell .with a crash through space; it could not support its pilot any longer, uuynemer declares he gave himself np IoK lost : the only thing he asked Providence for was that he should not tall in enemy territoy. " was powerless to make my will w'ip/W mac,une refused to obev me. A * ] , 600 r metres I determined to 'make r. hg it for it all the same. The wind Jin<J brought me back into our lines T was almost happy. I was a i roadv flunking of my funeral, with sorrowing friends walking lx>hirid my last remams I had nothing to iW from the Pickelliauben. However, I felt that it was death, and the thought is not a very pleasant one.

'My fall continued. In spite of all mv efforts I could not do what I wantou with my machine. I tried to turn it first to the right and than to the left. I pushed and pulled, but all to no purpose. I could do nothing. Down I fell, faser and faster, drawn surely and inevitably to the earth, where I was going to be smashed to atoms, a brutal end and a futiJe on?. I shut mv eyes. Then I opened them again and looked down. At something like 180 kilometres (112 miles) an hour I crashed into a pylon. There was a territtic (tracking sound and a deep thud. 1 looked round and found that nothing was left of my machine. How is it I am stiil alive? I wonder myself. I think it was the straps which held me in my seat which saved my ofe. They had eaten right into my (shoulders anyhow, but if it had not been for them I should be dead at this moment."

The aifrtian roared with laughttr idding: "It is frightfully funny when one thinks of it. For 24 hours I was aKsolutely stunned. It is an odd sentition." And Guynemer was off on 1 new aeroplane to continue his exploits.