18
The Ypres Times.
The Fokker, when in action," seeks by the exercise of its superior speed and climbing
powers to attain a position above its adversary, and then, by diving at a steep angle, to
bring the machine-gun to bear upon him by correct alignment.
As a result of the machine-gun fire of the six Fokkers our escorting machine was
immediately shot down, but its occupants seemed to reach the ground safely, so landing
as to effect intentionally the destruction of their machine without injury to themselves.
It was followed to the ground by two of the Fokkers.
Our remaining machine succeeded in driving off, and apparently in seriously injuring
by its fire the first Fokker which had attacked it. It was out of control when last seen,
and was nose-diving, with every prospect of injury or death to its occupant.
Our machine was then attacked by the three other Fokkers, which it fought for
15 minutes, and then, its machine-guns being temporarily out of action, its pilot decided
that escape could only be sought by a very risky dive to within 20 feet of the ground
risky in that it necessitated a descent by very steep spiral at a speed of quite 100 miles
per hour, with little room to recover. Only very delicate and confident handling could
ensure the success of this manoeuvre, which only the absence of other means of escape
could justify.
It was prompted by two considerations. In the first place a Fokker, being less
handy, would not dare to pursue within 20 feet of the ground, the margin for recovery
after the nose-diving being so very restrictedand, secondly, if our machine was once
more to reach friendly territory in safety, it was desirable that it should conceal from
armed enemies, to be surmounted in its front, its nationality as displayed by the rings
painted on the lower surface of its planes, and this it could only do by skimming over the
ground at as low an elevation as possible.
Skimming along just above the ground, our machine, hard-pressed, turned westward
for home, whereupon one of the German machines, all of which had maintained an eleva
tion of 1,000 feet, swooped towards it, but was promptly driven off by rapid fire, one gun
by that time having been repaired.
Making westward still, every experience was momentary, but certain impressions
remained. An armed German party ran out from a farmhouse quite close at hand, and
was treated to half the drum of the Lewis gun. Enthusiastic cheers came from French
peasants working in the fields. A mounted German staff-officer, in spick and span uniform,
was passed within a few yards and gave a target which could hardly be missed but the
temptation was discreetly resisted in view of the most dangerous risk of capture yet to
be run when crossing the German trenches.
The fight continued half-way to the British fines, when two Fokkers gave it up.
The British pilot and observer at once started climbing to attack the single remaining
Fokker, but this brought back the two companions, and our machine resumed its original
elevation. The three German machines ultimately turned back, giving up the chase
when about a mile from the German fines, before crossing which the British pilot naturally
sought to climb but our aeroplane being unable to attain to a greater height than 800
feet owing to the engine having been hit in the fight, pilot and observer were subjected
to very heavy rifle, machine-gun, and field-artillery fire, which the machine fortunately
survived, although its planes and spars were damaged and more than one of its stays
nearly severed.
The anxieties of the position had been increased by the knowledge that only sufficient
petrol remained in the tank to bring the machine just within our fines if a direct course
was pursued, so that to be driven in any degree out of that course would have been fatal.
Early in the engagement the oil feed had been shot away and, with an engine injured
by rifle fire, the chances of ever reaching home had seemed remote, but an effort landed
the machine just within the French fines S.W. of Arras.
