IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 August 1918, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ALLIED aces. FONCK BAGS 96. BISHOP’S OFFCIAL RECORD. BEST. LONDON, August 5. Lieut. Fonck, the French aviator, has gained two fresh taerial victories, making his total 96, of which 56 are officially recognised. Ho is now leading the Allied airmen, though Major Bishop, Y.C., the Canadian airman, has an official record of 71 machines brought down. BRITISH RAID ON GERMANY. IMPORTANT DAMAGE DONE. LONDON, August 12. The Air Ministry reports: On the afternoon of the 11th in addition to bombing the railway triangle at Metz. Wc attacked on the night of the llth-12th two aerodromes various targets with bombs and machineguns. Despite the weather on the 13th, we successfully attacked aerpolane and chemical works at Frankfort, Bursts were observed at the centre of the objective. Large numbers of fcnejfeiy aeroplanes kept up a running fight for thirty miles. We destroyed two. All the British returned. Another squadron attacked an aerodrome at Hagenau with excellent results. They encountered many hostile machines, and severe fighting ensued. We destroyed four enemy machines and drove down another. Two British machines are missing. The squadron reformed after the fight and proceeded to bomb the objective, and directly hit a large hut. A bomb destroyed four enemy machines on the ground. The "Star” states: Our aeroplanes brought down another aeroplane in flames off the East Coast. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states: During the day : of the 11th inst., we dropped fifty tons chiefly on Somme crossings'and certain railway junctions, h•> e; We bombed Courtrai station and sidings in daylight from a low height Avithout loss. Many direct hits were observed. At night we attacked Perronne and Cambrai stations. All our nightbombers returned. • Enemy aircraft in large formations are active on the battle-front. We destroyed twenty-nine and drove down twenty-four. Five British are missing. « Anti-craft guns brought ' down a Gotha.