GREAT AERIAL FIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 December 1917, Page 5

GREAT AERIAL FIGHTING.

I—--15 GERMAN TO 5 BRITISH AIRMEN. London, Oct. 23. The »fr fighting lately has been very bittjr, the German tactics now being generally to fly in large squadrons. Thus, recently, 10 German machines attacked one British which was having a disagreeable time when, happily, another British patrol came along and threw itself into the melee. One German machine was sent crashing down, and the enemy formation was broken up and withdrew, while our machines came safely home. In another case five of our machines fell in with 15 Germans, and a truly gorgeous fight followed. One of our men was attacked by three of the. enemy but shot down one in flames. Another, similarly outnumbered, also accounted for one of the eireray. A third machine had a royal time. He was attacked by what is vaguely called a large number of enemies, one of which came close alongside, hut before it could do any harm the struts of its planes were shot away, the two wings on one side crumpled together, and the machine went whirling down. Almost simultaneously another German crossed in front of the British machine and received the next burst from the machine-gun. It broke into flames, and crashed to earth a muss ar fire. A third enemy ranged alongside, and was sent down out of control, and then the British pilot thought he had done enough, and made for homo. He was chased by yet another enemy of the 15, and suddenly our man, when close to the lines, with the German only 200 yards behind, throttled down and checked to let the enemy pass him. As tiepassed a burst of fire from the British machine sent him toppling down to the ground. With six machines to their credit, four of which had been brought down by one, our men came home content.

Similar oases, three of our machines were attacked ljy eight or more Germans have been not infrequent, and the whole record of our Pi.ving Corps in this area has been extraordinarily fine.