Our Star Airmen

OUR STAR AIRMEN.
BRITISH AVIATOR THE VICTOR IN 51 FIGHTS

    Only rarely are the brilliant records of British airmen made known. It is now announced that Lieut. (Temp. Major) Raymond Collishaw, who has just been awarded a bar to the D.S.O., has destroyed 51 enemy machines. Major Collishaw was attached to the Naval Air Service, and has won, in addition to the D.S.O., the D.S.C. and D.F.C. He is described as "a brilliant squadron leader of exceptional daring. Early one morning he, with another pilot, attacked an enemy aerodrome. Seeing three machines brought out of a burning hangar, he dived five times, firing bursts at these from a very low altitude, and dropped bombs on the living quarters. He then saw an enemy aeroplane descending over the aerodrome; he attacked it and drove it down in flames. Later, when returning from a reconnaissance of the damaged hangars, he was attacked by three albatross scouts, who pursued him to or lines, when he turned and attacked one, which fell out of control and crashed." Lieut. (Hon. Capt.) Bernard Arthur Smart (Sea Patrol) has also been awarded a bar to the D.S.O. He led his flight for 160 miles over sea and land and destroyed by bombs an important enemy airship shed. Capt. Arthur Henry Cobby (Australian), who has won a second bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, has accounted for 21 machines and balloons. The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to Capt. (Temp. Major) Egbert Cadbury, D.S.C. (pilot); Lieut. (Temp. Capt.) Robert Leckie, D.S.O., D.S.C. (observer); Lieut. Ralph Edmund Keys (pilot) (sea patrol). These officers attacked and destroyed a large enemy airship which recently attempted a raid on the North-east coast, and also succeeded in damaging a second airship. The services rendered on this occasion were of the greatest value, and the personal risk was very considerable for airplanes a long way out from land. The Distinguished Flying Medal is awarded to Pte. (gunlayer) Arthur Tom Harman (Edmonton, N.) for gallantry in the air in assisting in the destruction of an enemy airship which recently attempted a raid on the North-east coast of England. One airship was completely destroyed and another was damaged. A story told of the affair is that when the warning was received, Probationer Lieut. Keys was selected to go up in an airplane because of his skill and daring. He chose Harman to accompany him. At a height of 17,000 feet the plucky youths brought one of a squadron of Zepps to fight. Its commander had a record of baby-killing in England. Lieut. Keys handed over the gun to Harman and devoted himself to piloting. Harman fired the fatal shots, and the Zeppelin, bursting into flames, fell into the sea, the entire crew of 28 perishing. The landing of the airplane was the most thrilling. Misled by an instrument on the machine, the occupants commenced to nose-dive when only 50 feet up, thinking they were 500 feet. The result was that the airplane crashed to the ground and both were injured. They were rendered unconscious, and do not know how long they remained in that condition. They were admitted to hospital, but soon recovered. Harman injured about the legs.

The News of the World - Sunday, September 29, 1918