IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 May 1917, Page 6

IN THE AIR.

"RUPERT" UNDER FIRE.

HOW THE HUNS DESTEOYED A KITE BALLOON.

[(Account by a member of the Royal Flying Corps in France of the burn-

ing of a British kite balloon.)

A year ago wo all used to regard *'K.B.s" as one of the easiest jobs in the Army. What could be pleasanter than sitting up at 3000 in a balloon arid watching the war being waged below? Kite balloon officers used to hint darkly that their life was not exactly a bed of roses, and to intimate that there were such things as storms, and even hostile aeroplanes, but nobody took them seriously. After all, the casualties among balloon officers had been very slight.

"With the beginning of the Somme offensive, however, there was an extraordinary increase in activity. The balloons found that their e sistance was distinctly repugnant to the enemy, sand step were taken on both sides of the line to protect "Rupert" against hostile attacks. Anti-aircraft gunners began to curse the day that they were airily told to guard K.B.'s, foT they ■found their work increased a hundredfold. THE ATTACK. j n ]\j 0# Section we had been lucky; in the whole squadron ours was the only balloon that had never broken away or been shelled. Such luck was too good to last, and we were uneasily wondering when our turn would come. Both the "sausages" on our flank had been destroyed, and our immunity was never spoken of without a superstitious "touching of wood" by all the observers.

Oun turn came when it was least expected. Lieutenants X. and Y. had ascended at half-past two on a winter afternoon; the visibility was comparatively poor, and there was but little activity on our front, so that at halfpast three we were not surprised • to hear that they intended hauling down. No sooner had the order been shouted across to the winch driver than we heard the angry rattle of a machine-gun apparently firing over our heads. We looked up, and saw a huge ugly German aeroplane diving out of a cloud straight for the balloon, firing all the while. It all happened so quickly that we could do nothing but wait foil the antiaircraft guns to open fire, and for the observers to jump out in their parachutes; but to our boundless surprise the aeroplane suddenly flattened out just over the balloon and apparently made for home at full speed. IN FLAMES. "We immediately srartcd hauling down much relieved to find that the observers had not been touched by the ma-chine-gun fice and that the balloon was intact. The motor of the winch had hardlj- started when the ground officer shouted, "Haul down like blazes; she's on fire!" We looked up, and saw a great tongue of flame leap from the stern of the envelope, and almost simultaneotisly two da:r(k imasses dropped from the car. For ages they seemed to fall, and we began to wonder if the parachutes would ever open. 'At last a great cheer went up from the onlookers, for the two shapeless masses had suddenly changed into parachutes gracefully gliding to earth with the observers hanging below them. We then turned our attention to the aeroplane, which could just be seen making her, way home followed by innumerable "Archie" . bursti. *3

All that could be seen of the envelope of the balloon was a tangled mass and a groat cloud of smoke. The car and tail parachutes were descending to earth comparatively slowly; in fact, it was found aftenwards that the instruments in the basket were unbroken. Meanwhile the two observers could be seen slowly falling side by side,, and finally they landed on a field about a mile from the balloon bed, where a dozen cars and tenders were awaiting them. OVER THE SIDE. Lieutenants X. and Y. stated that the German aeroplane disappeared into a cloud after the first ineffectual attack, j and then suddenl returned, the only ■warning they had of his re-appeaTance being the sound of his machine-gun, followed by a spurt of flame from th« envelope. They simultaneously climbed to the side of the car, and with a cheery handshake slipped overboard. They hardly noticed the drop that had appeared so interminable to us, and their first sensation was that of a gentle tug and a sound of swishing materials as the great silk parachutes filled with air. They could see the burning balloon overhead, and their only fear was that it would drop on them. Luckily it hurtled by at a distance of about fifty feet. The Army no longer laughs at "Rupent," and everybody has learnt to appreciate the pluck and skill of "those -who ascend in her and cooly C :ect the fire of our artillery, knowing "laf any moment they may be sent err.s '.ling to the earth.