IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

GALLANT MELBOURNE FLYER. RECOSIMENDEI) FOR V.G ■ London, April 27. Tl>e Australian flying squadrons in Egypt are winning high praise. Lieutenant Frank MacnamjirA, a young Melbourne flyer, is recommended for tlie Victoria Cross. He was sent with another airman sixty miles to destroy a railway and prevent the coming up of reinforcements to (j'aza. Macnamara descended low and dropped two bombs 011 tlie railway. A troop train approached and stopped. Maeiiamara, at a height of a Hundred feet, flew up and down the train, using his machine-gun, and Jutting many soldiers, causing a stampede. Tie was heavily fired at and wounded, As he flew he saw the accompanying aeroplane aground, and went to the airman's assistance, lie smashed his own machine landing,' owing to liia wbuhds, imd found the observer wounded, and the l>»lot unconscious. He lifted the pilot beside the observer, burnt liis own machine, started the other, and departed. The whole performance was i nder lire. ,»( Turks had reached within 500 yards of liim when he ascended. He went into hospital at Alexandria. There are 1124 Australian officers flying.