In the Air.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 February 1918, Page 6

In the Air.

MYSTERY OF V.C., EXPLAINED

MAKING OF THE SUPERMEN.

Mr. James Mackenzie, of Artarmon, N.S.W., recently received a letter from s. lady in England regarding a thrilling experience through, which one of .Ms relatives—he has 57 at the frontpassed while undergoing the crosscountry test for his flying certificate, . My son is now a fully qualified pilot (writes the lady). When he graduated he had to fly his cross-country test in the teeth of a gale. He has had very many narrow escapes, but that of last ■week was the most exciting experience 'of all. He had been out flying one of the latest and fastest scout machines, lcoping-the-loop, doing spins, sprals,: Immelman turns, and so on 1 ■am not sure what the speed is flying level, but the machine dives at an unheard velocity, and lands at a speed .that would not long since have been a record for the fastest machine in the air. Well, on getting down, he told the .mechanic that she wanted overhauling as the throttle of the engine was working loose, Probably the mechanic did screw it up a bit, but had not evidently made a good job of it, for a» soon as Maurice had his lunch, he got in, and had only taken taken off from aerodrome and reached a height of five hundred feet when the engine suddenly cut off.

CHOICE OF TWO EVILS,

Maurice, finding he must make a forced landing, saw he had only a choice of two places—either the explosive vrorks or the river. A

choice of two evils. Choosing the lesser he took the river. Well he says he landed like a bird, not even a stag or a steel being injured. But, of course, the weight of the machine took her down, nose first, and as Maurice's safety belt would not work, he was taken down too, and held. "But." he says, "thank God, I did become unconscious or lose

not

nerve

Finding he could not free himself he just held his breath and instantly it occurred to him to put his arm {which I may tell you, is fortunately very long), and see if he could feel the surface of the water. He found that it was only a little over a foot above his head. With a great effort he wriggled himself sufficiently loose to enable him to get his nose and •mouth on a level with the water-sur-faec, when between the little tiny waves, he got breathing. Then, filling ffs luntii with air, he again went .down and tried to loosen his belt.

—BUT SPEAKS.

'•'HE IS DEAD"

Finding it useless, he came up again and had only lain a minute or two ■when he heard a voice saying 'He is dead, boys, so take your time.' Maurice shouted, "I am not dead, but please come quickly," Then him a tug was approaching and when it came along he was nearly drowned Two men fully dressed quickly sprang from the tug, and swam to him; but the weight of the first one touching the aeroplane took Maurice down several inches. He had only time to gasp: ''Belt!" and the man dived under and cut his Sam Brown belt, thinking it was that which held him

WAS THERE EVER SUCH?

The second man had reached Maurice and had clutched him by the hair of his head, and was doing his best to get the poor boy's nose and mouth free. Then the first man dived again, and cut his safety belt at last, ana* so he was free, having been twenty minutes in. Maurice's rescuers took him to the mess, where the doctor wished to put him in hospital at once. However, the young aviator begged him not, and after a hot bath and change of clothes he appeared at dinner, but feel asleep at the table. The doctor sat on, keeping an eye on him, and on awakening just .allowed him to go off quietly to bed without taking any notice of him. But he could not sleep all night, as it was then 1 he realised all that he had come through, and was filled with thankfulness.

AND THESE ARE AIR KINGS.

As soon as dawn broke he rose, and getting into an aeroplane went for a long flight, doing as many stunts, as he possibly could. On getting down he went to the doctor, who wanted again to put him into hospital for a week, but the flying man went round to the commanding officer, whe, after being assured that he was feeling all right, told him to go off home that night for four days. He arrived home, next morning with his back badly bruised and the muslces of his neck very much strained. How grateful we are to these brave young mon who risk their lives over and over a-ain for us. ...