AVIATORS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 September 1917, Page 6

AVIATORS.

AUSTRALIANS IN FRANCE. A cable message from Mr C. E. W. Bean ? published in the Australian newspapers, states; Officers of the Australian FlyingCorps have been for a considerable time past in France, gaining experience with the Royal Flying Corps. Several were in action in the great battle on July 31. At least one of these was actually leading hi s patrol within a fortnight of his first flight. Another was so bitten with the excitement of flying behind the German lines that he, with a fellow-Austra-lian of the Royal Flying Corps, flew day after day low over the German crater field, and along the German roads until the Germans wounded him. Another, within the first few had a shell through both planes and his elevator control was shot away by a German machine. Despite this, by cleverly working his engine, •he managed safely to reach the aerodrome. Some splendid men have fallen, one of the first being brought down in a fight between seven British and 25 German plane§ ; eight miles behind th§ German lines. It was a glorious fight, for all the rest got back after bringing down seven German planes. The magnificent fliers of the British Plying Corps tells us that they find the Australian airmen always ready and eager for any adventure, and extraordinarily selfreliant in carrying it out.