“My own experiences on the seventh of April brought me my first
decoration—the Military Cross. The thrills were all condensed into a
period of two minutes for me. In that time I was fortunate enough to
shoot down an enemy machine and destroy the ‘sausage’ I had started for
two days before. This should have been excitement enough, but I added
to it by coming within fifteen feet of being taken a German prisoner
and becoming an unwilling guest of the Huns for the ‘duration.’
“I was ordered after my particular balloon and had climbed to about
5,000 feet before heading for the lines. On my way there I had to pass
over one of our own observation balloons. I don’t know what it was that
attracted my attention, but looking down I saw what appeared to be two
men descending in parachutes. A moment later the balloon below me burst
into flames. I saw the enemy machine which had set it on fire engaged
with some of ours, but as I had definite orders to proceed straight to
the lines and destroy the hostile balloon which had been allotted to
me, I was unable to join in the fighting.
“Just about this time an amusing incident was in progress at our
aerodrome. A Colonel of the Corps was telephoning my squadron
commander, informing him that one of our balloons had just been
destroyed.
“Well, if it is any consolation, young Bishop, of my squadron, has just
gone over to get one of theirs,’ replied my commander.
“‘Good God,’ said the Colonel, ‘I hope he has not made a mistake in the
balloon and set ours on fire.’
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© _Western Newspaper Union._