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U. S. LEADS IN AIR WAR 669
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THEY FACE DEATH WITH A SHRUG AND SMILE
(tnr of their best-loved comrades has just been buried but these daredevils never allow themselves to be depressed.
hour, the three enemy
specks seemed to conicjust
out of the distance
right at him and grow
1 a r g e incredibly fast.
There was still time for
Billy Thaw to execute a swift volplane
and hull down to safety behind the
French lines. But it was such a fine
morning and what were three baches
anyhow—especially after one has had
coffee and rolls.
The light began. One German plane
swung to his left, another to his right.
a third manoeuvered to get under him.
That required quick thinking. If the
man under him were to get his plane in
a position, allowing the proper angle of
fire, he would splinter Thaw's propellers.
The rat-tat-tat of their machine guns
began, showers of bullets mewing harmlessly
through the air. The two planes
on Thaw's flanks had swung wide, were
now turning, seeking to swing round.
racing with him so as to keep him in
range. ' )ne chance—to get the man
under him.
Swooping down in an extremely
j«nnt
abrupt arc—an exceedingly
dangerous move—
for the chances of overturning
are g r e at—
Thaw got a side fire on
his man. Working his
machine gun steadily, he
began to score hits. Splinters of the
German's plane briefly flashed in the
sunshine and then scattered down to
earth. And presently the German himself
followed the splinters. Like Monte
Cristo. Thaw could have counted "One."
The other two machines were above
him now, frantically trying to turn in as
short circles as possible and close with
him. Tilting his machine gun up at the
plane on his right. Thaw sent his machine
leaping after it before the German
could get into position. Cutting loose a
deluge of bullets, veering slightly to the
left. Thaw got him under an upward
flank fire and observed his man toss
both hands aloft, crumple down in his
seat, while his machine began a bolt for
the earth. . . . "Two."
Seeing how the fight had been going
against their men, other German fivers