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HERO OF THE AIR.

LIEUT. BRIGGS' FEAT. THE GERMAN VERSION. No greater hero has been discovered 'bv the. war than Lieutenant Briggs, of the British Royal Naval Air Service, who was one of the three aviators who dropped bombs on the great Zeppelin sheds at Friedricksliaven. A despatch received stated that Lieutenant Brings, with his shell-pierced gasolene tank on fire, volplaned across the sheds, dropping many bombs as he glided to the earth. Then, with his pistol, he fought singlehanded until he was felled by a head wound.

Tlie throe British airmen suddenly appeared to the Germans at two o'clock in the afternoon while flying at a great height over Lake Constance. Great precautions which the Germans have taken to protect the Zeppelin works and its enormous dirigibles at Friedrickshaven were responsible, for the detection of the aeroplanes. Word was telephoned ahead to Friedrickshaven and when the three aviators approached the Zeppelin plant the Germans were ready for them.

A bombardment high into the sky was begun by the numerous high-powered Krupp guns that have been mounted on the roofs in a wide area surrounding the Zeppelin plant. These guns, specially designed to fire at high angles, sent scores of shells into the sky, the shells exploding near the aeroplanes. Two of the aeroplanes kept high enough to be out of range of the shrapnel shells. All three circled about the town and dropped six powerful bombs. These came so close to hitting the Zeppein sheds that a tremor of apprehension spread through the thousands of persons who were watching the combat.

One of the airmen, Lieutenant Briggs, apparently realised that not much could be accomplished by dropping bombs from such a height, and the German report, gives him credit for making "a fearless! attempt to cross the hangars at a height j of only a quarter of a. mile." They considered this fearless, as they knew that it would mean almost certain death to the. aviator. But Lieutenant Briggs bravely took the chance. After circling down like a hawk about to seize its prey his aeroplane glided across the hangars within easy range of the powerful aeroplane guns mounted on the hangars and on buildings near them. .An avalanche of shells was hurled at liini. They burst all about him, each explosion rocking the wings of his machine. But lie fearlessly continued, and as lie was above the hangars he dropped two 1 or three bombs. The heart of every German was ill his throat, expecting to see the giant Zeppelins, being made ready for an invasion of England, blown to pieces. But the speed of Lieutenant Briggs' aeroplane was so great that the bombs missed their mark and exploded a distance from the sheds, doing small (lamage.

While his aeroplane was over the hangars, and as it was being rocked and dipped by the explosion of shells near it, a fragment of a shrapnel shell pierced the British airman's gasolene tank. The spilling gasolene caught fire, possibly from other shells bursting near it. and Lieutenant Briggs, with his aeroplane on fire, realised that he could not escape.

With his power thus cut off he could do nothing lmt volplane, and as he glided down to earth lie unstrapped his heavy revolver. As the wounded and burning aeroplane landed, only three hundred feet from the Zeppelin hall, Lieutenant. Briggs hopped out and prepared to fight lo the death. Soldiers ran from the Zeppelin wharf towards Lieutenant Briggs. He waited calmly until they were within range of his pistol and then he opened fire. The German report fails to state what damage lie did with his pistol, but they give him

full credit for his valor. <!nlv when a Onuan lmilet hail hit his head and knocked him senseless was he taken prisoner. The o-IV-cr was carre-! I>v f.Vrr-i!!. " lii'-p'Hl. ami so :jivaf. was the admiration ni - the nji'iiy f,,y his va.lev and hi- 1 . liernic and l;opcv\ ,le!',-'M-e iJwt. if is IIr.VH.HMI the 1:r-( (if i-; h'-injr r.jcor-h'd to him. UROt-filT'L' TO P. \Y ai'e those enemies of civilisation. Tmligesfcion anfi Dyspepsia, when Dr. Sheldon"' Digestive Tabules are employed. ls'M Od per tin. Obi.-iha'ole even" wlijrs, >■ ■ .

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19150128.2.18

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 197, 28 January 1915, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
697

HERO OF THE AIR. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 197, 28 January 1915, Page 3

HERO OF THE AIR. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 197, 28 January 1915, Page 3

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