FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   >>  
ng their machine as soon as it lands. On September 19th six of us got into an English squadron. Below us were the machines with lattice-work tails, and above were some Morans, as protection. One of these I picked out, and sailed after him. For a moment he escaped me, but west of B. I caught up with him. One machine gun jammed, but the other I used with telling effect. At short range, I fired at him till he fell in a big blaze. During all this, he handled himself very clumsily. This was Number 28. On September 27th I met seven English machines, near B. I had started on a patrol flight with four of my men, and we saw a squadron I first thought was German. When we met southwest of B., I saw they were enemy 'planes. We were lower and I changed my course. The Englishmen passed us, flew over to us, flew around our kite-balloon and then set out for their own front. However, in the meantime, we had reached their height and cut off their retreat. I gave the signal to attack, and a general battle started. I attacked one; got too close; ducked under him and, turning, saw an Englishman fall like a plummet. As there were enough others left I picked out a new one. He tried to escape, but I followed him. I fired round after round into him. His stamina surprised me. I felt he should have fallen long ago, but he kept going in the same circle. Finally, it got too much for me. I knew he was dead long ago, and by some freak, or due to elastic controls, he did not change his course. I flew quite close to him and saw the pilot lying dead, half out of his seat. To know later which was the 'plane I had shot down (for eventually he must fall), I noted the number--7495. Then I left him and attacked the next one. He escaped, but I left my mark on him. As I passed close under him I saw a great hole I had made in his fuselage. He will probably not forget this day. I had to work like a Trojan. Number 30 was very simple, I surprised a scout above our front--we call these scouts "Haeschen" (rabbits)--fired at him; he tilted, and disappeared. The fall of Number 31 was a wonderful sight. We, five men and myself, were amusing ourselves attacking every French or English machine we saw, and firing our guns to test them. This did not please our opponents at all. Suddenly, far below me, I saw one fellow circling about, and I went after him. At close range I fired at him, aiming steadily. He made things easy for me, flying a straight course. I stayed
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   >>  



Top keywords:
machine
 

English

 

Number

 

passed

 
started
 
attacked
 

machines

 
squadron
 

September

 

surprised


escaped

 

picked

 
circle
 

elastic

 
eventually
 
number
 

controls

 

change

 
Finally
 

Haeschen


opponents

 

Suddenly

 

firing

 
attacking
 

French

 
things
 

flying

 

straight

 

stayed

 

steadily


aiming

 

fellow

 
circling
 

amusing

 

forget

 

Trojan

 
fuselage
 
simple
 

wonderful

 

disappeared


tilted

 

scouts

 

rabbits

 

During

 
handled
 

effect

 
clumsily
 

thought

 
German
 

flight