CHAPTER XVII

FLIGHT-COMMANDER ALBERT BALL, D.S.O., M.C.

Few airmen have a finer record than the young British officer, Flight-Commander Albert Ball, who for a while held a commission in the Notts and Derby Regiment, and later was attached to the Royal Flying Corps with the rank of Flight-Commander. He is a native of Nottingham, and joined the Sherwood Foresters as a private at the outbreak of the war. He has brought down no fewer than twenty-nine German aeroplanes and a Drachen observation balloon.

He is only twenty years of age at the time of writing (October, 1916), and is probably one of the smallest flying officers in the service—a small man with great courage. He has black hair, the eyes of a hawk, and a jaw that spells two words—determination and fearlessness.

During a brief period of leave in England he had with him two noteworthy mascots—the propeller of the aeroplane in which he brought down fourteen hostile machines, and a mascot in the form of a large red nose-cap of steel. The Germans know this mascot well.

Whilst on his visit to England he said that his most ‘sporting fight’ was one in which he and his opponent went at each other for over half an hour. Then, when the ammunition had all gone, the two flew side by side and grinned at one another in mutual admiration.

‘We flew together,’ Lieut. Ball said, ‘in that way for quite a long distance, exchanging air greetings.’

Good fortune has, of course, played a part in Lieut. Ball’s many successes. He has himself been forced down several times, but thus far not once has he suffered any personal injury.

His exploits have won him the D.S.O., the Military Cross, the bar to the D.S.O., and the Russian St. George’s Cross, which is our Ally’s equivalent to the English Victoria Cross. The D.S.O. was bestowed on him for attacking seven enemy machines which he saw flying in formation. One of them he shot down at fifteen yards range, and the others retired.

[Illustration: BOMB DROPPING.

The dropping of aerial bombs is a more or less haphazard affair, and unless the target is a big one, such as a town or dockyard, it is exceedingly difficult to take aim with any degree of accuracy.

_Reproduced by permission of the Editor of ‘The Royal Magazine.’_]

Immediately afterwards, seeing five more hostile machines, he attacked one at about ten yards range and shot it down. He then attacked another of the machines which had been firing at him, and shot it down into a village. Still not satisfied, he flew to the nearest aerodrome for more ammunition, and returning attacked three more machines.

The bar to the D.S.O. was awarded for subsequent acts of gallantry. On one occasion, observing twelve enemy machines in formation, Commander Ball dived in among them and fired a drum into the nearest machine, which went down out of control. Several more hostile machines then approached, and he fired three more drums at them, driving down another.

The record of this heroic young aviator is indeed remarkable, and one is not surprised when one learns that the British Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, has written to the young hero as follows:

‘Well done! D. H.’