SUPREMACY IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 July 1917, Page 4

SUPREMACY IN THE AIR.

GERMAN SERVICE MARKED

SKY CROWDED WITH MACHINES. The manner in which the British Flying Corps dominated the air during the battle of Messines Ridge and completely smothered the German aviation service for the time being, is one of the most thrilling and remarkable stories of the entire war. In addition to shutting the German airmen out of an early participation in the battle, the British aeroplanes were in a large degree responsible for the fact that the Germans could not launch a counter-attack of appreciable strength until 40 hours after the battle for the ridge began and every bit of ground desired by the British* in this particular operation had been taken and secured.

One British pilot, who returned for new supplies of petrol and ammunition declared it was the most dangerous day’s flying he ever participated in. “Because,” he added, “there are so many of our machines you can •hardly find a place for yourself.” One observer during the height of the aerial activity likened the British squadrons to clouds of mosquitoes. Some of the most marvellous work was done by artillery aeroplanes. One squadron of these, acting with several batteries of British heavies, succeeded in silencing 72 German batteries before six o’clock in the morning. These planes also directed the firing on the enemy’s guns en route to the front, some of the big weapons being drawn by caterpillar tractors. Wherever a thousand or more troops were observed forming for possible counterattacks, the artillery planes directed “shoots” upon them. British pilots complained at their inability to get any considerable number of Germans to come up to fight. The spirit of these youthful daredevils of the air is described by a brilliant Canadian flier attached to the British corps who was told he must take a day off after a week of steady flying. He asked permission to fly thirty miles or so dow T n the line to lunch with friends in one of the Canadian divisions. This was readily granted, but instead of flying down along the British line he crossed far over behind the German lines and had eight fights' on the way and brought down two German machines.