Deeds of heroism and bravery : $b The book of heroes and personal daring
History
Deeds of heroism and bravery : $b The book of heroes and personal daring
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
“Whether or not he knew all along that a German craft was in that
region I could not tell. But when he began to change his direction and
curve up into the sun I followed close behind him knowing that there
was a good reason for this maneuver. I looked earnestly about me in
every direction.
“Yes! There was a scout coming towards us from north of Pont-à-Mousson.
It was at about our altitude. I knew it was a Hun the moment I saw
it, for it had the familiar lines of their new Pfalz. Moreover, my
confidence in James Norman Hall was such that I knew he couldn’t make
a mistake. And he was still climbing into the sun, carefully keeping
his position between its glare and the oncoming fighting plane. I clung
as closely to Hall as I could. The Hun was steadily approaching us,
unconscious of his danger, for we were full in the sun.
“With the first downward dive of Jimmy’s machine I was by his side. We
had at least a thousand feet advantage over the enemy and we were two
to one numerically. He might outdive our machines, for the Pfalz is a
famous diver, while our faster climbing Nieuports had a droll little
habit of shedding their fabric when plunged too furiously through the
air. The Boche hadn’t a chance to outfly us. His only salvation would
be in a dive towards his own lines.
“These thoughts passed through my mind in a flash and I instantly
determined upon my tactics. While Hall went in for his attack I would
keep my altitude and get a position the other side of the Pfalz, to cut
off his retreat.
“No sooner had I altered my line of flight than the German pilot saw
me leave the sun’s rays. Hall was already half-way to him when he
stuck up his nose and began furiously climbing to the upper ceiling. I
let him pass me and found myself on the other side just as Hall began
firing. I doubt if the Boche had seen Hall’s Nieuport at all.
“Surprised by discovering this new antagonist, Hall, ahead of him, the
Pfalz immediately abandoned all idea of a battle and banking around
to the right started for home, just as I had expected him to do. In a
trice I was on his tail. Down, down we sped with throttles both full
open. Hall was coming on somewhere in my rear. The Boche had no heart
for evolutions or maneuvers. He was running like a scared rabbit, as I
had run from Campbell. I was gaining upon him every instant and had my
sights trained dead upon his seat before I fired my first shot.
WITHOUT A RETURN SHOT
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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