IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 10 August 1917, Page 6

IN THE AIR.

GUYNEMER’S EXPLOITS,

FINE RECORD OF FRANCE’S HEROIC AVIATOR. A TERROR TO THE ENEMY. M. Andre Glarner, tlie Paris correspondent of the Exchange, writing in June on the exploits of Captain Guynemer, says: His Excellency Von Hoppner, General Director ,of the German Air Fleets, is not what one might call a lucky person. On May 28th he jgave an “interview” to all the German newspapers, in which he boasted of the superiority of the Kaiser’s airmen over the French fliers. It so happened that just three days before the French aviators had achieved some especially remarkable feats, as amaing as they were glorious. On that single day Captain Guynemer had also brought down four enemy airplanes, bringing up to forty-three the total number of his victories in the French lines, and to 120 of those of his squadron.

Guynemer lias won the greatest renown among airmen, but he is only one of the many heroic French champions. His squadron, known as “The Storks,” has been honoured by the Government for its heroic exploits. It accounted for twenty machines and an observation "kite at Verdun, and sixty-three airplanes and two observation kites in six months on the Somme. On May 25th Guynemer began his day in the air by downing two enemy jnachines at an interval of ten minutes, one to the north of Corbeny and the other at Juvincourt, both near the village of Craonne. He had seen three German machines flying together towards our lines. He charged them, and they turned and fled. Overtaking one he manoeuvred to bring it within the sweep of his mitrailleuse. At the first discharge it dived and fell to earth a living torch. Looking backward at this instant he perceived a monoplane which was trying to steal upon him unawares. But the monoplane had already delivered its volley and Guynemer, firing from below, struck it with an explosive ball. The monoplane instantly took fire and fell.

Returning to camp after this double encounter, Gnyemer was only too eager for another adventure. About noon an audacious German machine came flying over the aviation field. Guyne•r>"r was again aboard, all the other r'.rmen meanwhile having returned. It Would have taken several minutes for any other machine to rise to the height of the enemy, and many anxious eyes

were gazing heavenward. Suddenly someone cried “There is Guynemer!” “Then it’s death to the German,” said another. Sure enough, Guynemer emerged into view like the coming of a tempest. Only one discharge of his mitrailleuse was heard. The enemy plane plunged to earth with its motor still humming. The tragedy had happened with almost the celerity of a lightning stroke. Guynemer had shot the German pilot through the head. Again in the evening Guynemer went up for the third time. Towards seven o’clock over Guignicourt a fourth machine, struck by Guynemer’s bullets, came tumbling down in a wild flare of flame. Finally, returning to camp, the young victor executed a series of dizzy evolutions with his machine, in midair. Such is Guynemer. To look at him when he is standing on solid earth, as I did when recently I had the pleasure of meeting him one would not recognise him at once as a doughty warrior. He is of light build, and has more the appearance of a squire of dames than of an athlete, but this impression is v ery soon dispelled. He is indeed a true hero.