Show DARING AIR FIGHT british aeroplane eludes six german machines where seconds spell difference between success and failure thrilling episode related by an aeroplane observer in france london this Is an account of 0 how a british aeroplane fought and eluded six german machines it Is taken from the journal of an aeroplane lero plane observer at the front the kipper and the mound pilot and observer of the old cow caused some anxiety at the aerodrome by being late in returning from a here is the account of what actually happened extracted from the mound with considerable difficulty by the time we had gone ten niles into the hostile country three lerman serman 1 machines began following us at almost our own height we were not worried because they had a good tour four miles to make up in a few minutes the kipper shouted down the phone look out on your lett left they are trying to head us off far below us but not tar far in front two more machines were climbing towards us 1 1 I I watched the ma machines chires below while the kipper kept those beh behind ind in the corner of his eye n about twenty minutes we had reached the end rt r our course and had completed our observations all five enemy machines were now fairly close together in a rectangular formation but had not gained on us how we were to get back and outwit the enemy was now our problem the nipper kipper swung the old cow about twice to give the impression of hesitation the enemy although still about two or three miles astern turned north on the assumption that we must return the way we came having diverted their course we bore east again and gained a couple of miles while the enemy was determining what to do next keeping to their mass formation they bore southeast thinking they had us sure things happen quickly in the air A lew few seconds mean hundreds of yards and the difference between success and failure the kipper tilted the old cows horns in the line the germans were following this lost us some ground the germans were so interested in this that they did not notice that we were edging off to the north just enough to insure their crossing us on our hank flank in about two minutes they were almost level but well to the right the moment had corne come tor for a bold 11 stroke the kipper leveled the machine poised her at a terrific terr ilic angle and made in a straight line for tile the nearest german the whole live five tip ped in unison we knew that they would take a good twenty seconds to get under way again like a flash the kipper circled outwards and made oll for the lines on oil a straight course there was no orie one to bar the way for or the moment the germans were out witted but started in pursuit I 1 that hat twenty seconds meant halt a mile mild to JS s suddenly above the roar of the engine chete was as the rattle of a machine gun close up and a dull thudding tew is s soine shots found the panes it II was so misty it took us a few s seconds I 1 a 0 brot br ot the naw new danger it was an all albatross crossing us about 1 00 yards above the kipper keeled the old cow aut ut in an instant and we were ere soon an a level with willi the new enemy no was laboring to pass our bioni again we swung towards him find and i barged the pilot who nho thought tie lie hid had us on the run lost his bis nerve and ami ent em into a spinning live divo and only came out 3 feet below we resumed our homeward course inthout further incident |