RUPERT UNDER FIRE

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 May 1917, Page 2

RUPERT UNDER FIRE

HOW THE HUNS DESTROYED. A KITE BAI.J-.UUN.

The following is an account by a member of the Royal Flying Corps in France of the burning of a British kite balloon by the enemy: — A year ago we 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 foot in a balloon and 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 was 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 aerial activity. The balloons found that their existence was distinctly repugnant to the enemy, and steps 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, for they found their work increased a hundredfold. THE ATTACK. In No. 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 evere 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 observ-

Our 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 half-past 3 we were not surprised to hear that they intending hauling down. Xo 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 large, ugly German aeroplane diving out of a cloud straight for the balloon, firing all the while. It had happened so quickly that we could do nothing but wait for 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. IX FLAMES. Me immediately started hauling down, much relieved to find the observers had nor been touched by the machine-gun fire and that the balloon nas intact. The motor of the winch had hardly 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 immediately two dark masses dropped from the oar.

For ages they seemed to fall, and wo 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. AVe then turned our attention to the aeroplane, which could "just be seen making her way home followed by innumerable ‘‘'Archie” bursts.

All that could be seen of the envelope of the balloon was a tangled mass and a great cloud of smoke The car and tail parachutes were descending to earth comparatively slowly; in fact it was found afterwards that the instruments in the baskets were unbroken. Meanwhile the two observers could be seen slowly falling side by side, and finally landed in a field about a mile from the balloon bod, where a dozen cars and tenders were waiting them. OVER THE SIDE. Lieutenants X. and Y. stated that the German disappeared in a cloud after the first, inaffectuul attack, and then suddenly returned, the only warning they had of his rc-appcarance being the sound of his machine-gun followed- by a spurt of flame from the 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 down by at distance of about 50 feet. The army no longer laughs at '‘Rupert,and everybody has learnt to approciatp the pluck and skill of those who ascend in her and coolly direct the our artillery, knowing that any moment they may be sent crashing to the earlh.