AVIATORS.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 January 1918, Page 3

AVIATORS.

THOSE BRITISH YOUTHS. j HOW THEY BEAT THE BOCHES. Mr. Pirrie Robinson, The Times correspondent at British headquarters, writes: The mists are compelling flyers to remain at a height of from 50 to 150 feet where they are an easy mark for . rifles. Every machine returns riddled. ( A youngster regards as a huge joke | the fact that he had been shot down three times in two days. He was able to land on our side, and is now continually over the enemy on his fourth machine. Youngsters, going out this morning, used up their bombs and cartridges and came hurrying back to the base shouting, as they landed for more. They are frequently as angry as little hornets when told that their machine has been shot to pieces and must not re-start. "You should have heard him curse" said an aerodrome officer, referring to one of the fliers, "when I told him that his machine couldn't go half a mile. He said, 'Give me the bombs and let me be the joy of battle » that gets into their heads." A pilot returned with 10 bullet holes throguh his clothes. The wings of the aeroplane were so shot to pieces that they shut like a butterfly's when it landed. Another pilot landed with his machine full of shell holes, and as a comrade crashed into the trees badly wounded he rescued him and brought him single-handed to the lines. Another pilot, after patrolling and bombing Bourlon Wood where the Germans potted him with rifles, machineguns, minenwerfers, and everything handy, continuously chipping pieces from his machine, saw the fightingproceeding at Fontaine, He cruised . around there, defying a German acroplanec above him. He played on the infantry until his gun jammed. A shell burst right against him, leaving him with just sufficient presence of mind to land in No Man's Land. After a raec the Highlanders reached an'd rescued him. Then he turned stretcherbearer. A most 'tragic' tale concerned an- , other pilot, who found four German machine-guns in action, They were all turned against him. He charged, dipping low r , silencing three. As he rose on the further side he put his fingers to his nose and shouted rude remarks. At that moment a bullet shattered the offending hand and compelled him to go homeward, leaving the " insulted fourth machine-gun in posses--1 sion of the field. He has been un- " mercifully chaffed by his comrades who tell him that it was a lesson for him to be polite even to the rudest * Boehe. Another machine was shot down in No Man's Land. The airman took a rifle from a dead German and fought off the Germans, backing into safety. Still another was seriously wounded He proceeded to his duties, downed '■ the enemy finished his ammunition and flew homeward.