BATTLES TWO MILES UP.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1917, Page 6

BATTLES TWO MILES UP.

WONDERFUL EXPLOIT OF FRENCH "STAR ACE." Mr. Henry Wood, correspondent of the United Press of America with the French armies, v.rites: Lieutenant Guyliemcr, the "Star Ace" of the entire lieneh Aerial .Service, who recently brought down his twenty-first German aeroplane, established at the same time a liO'.v world's record for aerial combats, the air duel having" taken place at an oltitudc of over two miles and after a cl.a-;e of over seventy kilometres. Tiny entire battle was one of the most (In: ma tic air episodes that the entire war has produced. The undisputed mastery of the air by the French which new renders it practically impossible for a German machine ever to cross the French lines has imposed on the French flyers the necessity of flying far buck to the German linis? in order to get m contact with Hits German machines. It was while on one of these hunts that Guynemer, flying at an altitude 1 of over 13,000 feet and at a distance of over 70 kilometres behind the German lines, sighted a German squadron of two observation aeroplanes, with sin escort of two fighting machines, heading for the French lines. There was nothing to pve\e»t Guynemer giving immediate bntlk' except the fact that in the event lie should be forced to land he would fall within-the German line! and be taken prisoner. He therefore took refuge behind some friendly clouds until the German squadron should pass ahead of liini. and then started the ;mrsuit from behind, closing up sufficiently so that if he should teen by Hi" German anti-aircraft gunr.ers from below ho would be taken merely for one of the escorting German aeroplanes.

Fur several Kilometres lie kept lip the pursuit, coiiae-aling himself as \vell f> r , possible from tin; liernuu! machine by keeping behind the clouds. Then, ..lien lue x'l'ene.i lines tit last appearbelow him, lie emerged in full view >nd began the light. The German ma'nine nearest him eluuieed to be air oh-

w:itimi plane. and darting on it lie opened his machinc-gun fire at an altitude ut ;iuOU metres, ur' ju.-,i two nine:-

il.li unernn" i l "*' he L'illed t'-o server with his third bullet, and with the tentih the pilot likewise shot, out from the machine, killed, the plane at the same time beginning its whirling ;iCdy course auvu iu»ii.„ a .ne 1.v... lines. Although the machine was tliecond one (.iuyiiemer had brought •.!("' lint, day he at, oi w,( ' siarted nftev oliher three, hut they in the meantime j had all disappeared, having apparently tinned 'back at his very first shot. Without further ado Guynemer started 111 starch of hi? victims, and succeeded in heating the machine in the ravine of Moeourt, the plane itself shattered into fragments and the bodfes of both tlu r ;iot and observer lying within a radius of sixty yards. 'J»hc tight was witnessed by 'members of the American squadron who are no,\v stationed where they have the advantage of witnessing some of the exploits of the most crack "Aces of the French Aerial Service.—l.x--charge. |