Our Amazing Airmen

OUR AMAZING AIRMEN.
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AVIATOR'S HEROISM IN BLAZING 'PLANE.
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BRITISH OFFICER WHO ENGAGED 19 MACHINES.
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    It may be doubted if the V.C. has ever been awarded for more sensational bravery and resource than that displayed by two airmen who have just won the coveted honour. Sec. Lieut. Alan Arnett McLeod, R.A.F., whilst flying with his observer (Lieut. A. W. Hammond, M.C.), attacking hostile formations by bombs and machine-gun fire, was assailed at a height of 5,000ft. by eight enemy triplanes, which dived at him from all directions, firing from their front guns. By skilful manoeuvring he enabled his observer to fire bursts at each machine in turn, shooting three of them down out of control. By this time Lieut. McLeod had received five wounds, and whilst continuing the engagement a bullet penetrated his petrol tank and set the machine on fire. He then climbed out on to the left bottom plane, controlling his machine from the side of the fuselage, and by side-slipping steeply kept the flames to one side, thus enabling the observer to continue firing until the ground was reached. The observer had been wounded six times when the machine crashed in "No Man's Land," and Sec. Lieut. McLeod, notwithstanding his own wounds, dragged him away from the burning wreckage at great personal risk from heavy machine-gun fire from the enemy's lines. This very gallant pilot was again wounded by a bomb whilst engaged in this act of rescue, but he persevered until he had placed Lieut. Hammond in comparative safety, before falling himself from exhaustion and loss of blood. Thus runs the official record. It appears that Lieut. McLeod is at present lying seriously wounded in a London hospital. He observer A. W. Hammond, and he were up 5,000 feet breaking hostile formations. They were spotted from 12,000 feet by one of the German "circuses" modelled on the late Baron Richthofen's plane of only attacking in superior numbers. Down swooped half a German squadron, eight machines, of the new Fokker triplane variety—wonderful climbers and of great speed. McLeod stalled, turned, dropped, and rose, and side-slipped in the most amazing fashion. Hammond got in "gust" after "gust" of shot, and sent three German machines flopping to earth. McLeod was hit on the arm twice, in the neck, and twice on the shoulder; but he went on as if nothing had happened until his petrol tank was hit, and at 3,000 feet the machine took fire. The enemy were in pursuit still. Bleeding and faint, he got out of his seat on to the bottom plane, and continued—while one side of the machine was on fire—to control it[.] He intuitively fenced with the wind, then side-slipped and kept the flames all on one side. Hammond had been hit repeatedly but continued his fine gunnery. On the descent and near the ground they struck a "bump" and crashed badly on "No Man's Land." Hammond was under the wreckage, and the front German trenches were pouring in a hail of bullets from their machine-guns. McLeod, surrounded by possibilities of death and bleeding profusely, had just got Hammond from the burning wreck when a bomb burst a few yards away, again severely wounding him. He got Hammond away into our lines and fell in the arms of an ambulance officer in a faint. McLeod, who after recovery was reticent and took it all as port of a day's work, may not fly again.
    The V.C. is also awarded to Lieutenant Alan Jerrard, R.A.F. (formerly of S. Staffordshire Regt.). When on an offensive patrol with two other officers, he attacked five enemy aeroplanes, and shot one down in flames, following it down to within 100ft. of the ground. He then attacked an enemy aerodrome from a height of only 50ft. from the ground, and, engaging single-handed some 19 machines, which were either landing or attempting to take off, succeeded in destroying one of them, which crashed on the aerodrome. A large number of machines then attacked him, and whilst thus fully occupied he observed that one of the pilots of his patrol was in difficulties. He immediately went to his assistance, regardless of his own personal safety, and destroyed a third enemy machine. Fresh enemy aeroplanes continued to rise from the aerodrome, which he promptly attacked one after another, and only retreated, still engaged with five enemy machines, when ordered to do so by his patrol leader. Although apparently wounded, this very gallant officer turned repeatedly, and attacked single-handed the pursuing machines, until he was eventually overwhelmed by numbers and driven to the ground. Magnificent daring and utter contempt of danger during supremely critical periods have won the V.C. for five other British soldiers.

The News of the World - Sunday, May 5, 1918