NEW BRITISH AIR HERO.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1918, Page 8

NEW BRITISH AIR HERO.

VICTOR IN 37 DUELS. Another British airman has recently come into prominence by accounting iv. one day of four enemy machines—two in Hie morning and two in the afternoon. The same airman brought down on the following day three other enemy machines. The airman has now 37 victories to his credit, five less than Ball, who was killed in the battle of Arras, and 10 less than Bishop. The new crack is in his twenty-second year, a fair-haired, slight, shy, and delicate-looking youngster. Before getting his commission he was a mechanic in the. Flying Corps. To-day he commands a unit. Since August his unit has brought down (il German aeroplanes for Hie loss of only two machines, one pilot wounded, and one missing. Altogether, since its formation in May last, the unit has put 09 enemy machines out of action. I The young officer spoke with tho greatest enthusiasm of his men and his machines. The men, he said, were splen- ] did. When he was induced to say a few words of his exploits he simply remarked: "When I attack a single German I feci it is murder." Once, and once only, he was worsted in an encounter. His laconic/explanation was that the other man was better at the game than ho was. His favorite amusement seems to be to hover at a height of 20,000, waiting to pounce on prowling German airmen.