DARING BRITISH AIRMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 5 December 1914, Page 6

DARING BRITISH AIRMEN.

REMARKABLE FEATS. During the course of the war, the Koyal Air Service (Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps) has not been idle, airships remained steadily patrolling ing proved their value in many undertakings. While the expeditionary force was being removed abroad (says an Admiralty comniiifiicaiion) a strong patrol to the eastward of the Straits of Dover was undertaken by both seaplanes and airships of the Naval Air Service. The airships remained steadily patrolling between the French and the English coasts, sometimes for twelve hours on cad. while further to the east, with the assistance of the Belgian authorities, a temporary seaplane base was established "at Osti'rid, and a patrol kept up with seaplanes between thi3 place and the English coats opposite. By this means, it was impossible for the enemy's ships to approach the Straits without being seen for many miles. A HAZARDOUS FEAT. On one occasion during the airship patrols, it became necessary to change a propeller blade on one of the engine's. The captain feared it would be necessary to descend for this purpose,' but two of the crew immediately volunteered to carry out this difficult task in the air, and climbing out on to the bracket carrying the propellor shafting, they completed theliazardous task of changing the propellor's -blade 2000 ft. above the sea. On August 27j when Ostend was occupied by a force cf marines, a strong squadron of aeroplanes under Wing Commander Samson, complete with all transport and equipment, was also sent over, the aeroplanes flying thither via /Dover and Calais. Later this aeroplane camp was removed, and much good work is being carried out by aeroplanes supported by armed motors. Advance bases have been established some distance inland, and on several occasions skirmishes have taken place between armed motor-car support and bands of Uhlans. All these affairs have been successful, with loss to the enemy in killed and prisoners.