AIRMEN AND BABOONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 March 1919, Page 5

AIRMEN AND BABOONS.

While on a long x'ecognaissauce flight in East Africa, a British 'Ah Force pilot who made a forced landing 'began to walk towards his lines at nightfall, no assistance having arrived He got wet. through and hung his clothes on a tree to dray while he slept. He was awakened by the chattering of number of baboons, which, carrying his clothes and springing from branch to branch, were out of range of his revolver. When he arrived to report the loss of his machine to his commanding officer he was wearing nothing but top boots and an undervest.

When, the armistice was signed the R.A.P. had a. squadron of about 12 machines operating in Persia, inducting a number of two-seater reconnaissance bi-plaucs which made flights of 350 miles or more over the desert. During one flight a wild pig was chased and was shot by the observer's Lewis gun. The aeroplane alighted and the quary was retrieved and carried home to the men.