One of the most extraordinary episodes of recent aerial fighting was
the battle waged on June 5 between two flights of German planes. It was
an unintentional but disastrous fight between brother aviators, during
which British pilots joyfully and impartially rendered assistance first
to one side, then to the other, until so many of the German fliers
had been destroyed or damaged that the conflict could not continue.
According to eyewitnesses two British officers in a fighting machine
were leading a patrol along the lines, when they sighted a German
Halberstadt two-seater, which, upon their appearance, fired a green
signal light. The British leaders expected a trap, and waited to see
what this unusual performance meant. In a short time six German scouts
came wheeling out of the blue and joined the Halberstadt. Almost at
once six other enemy scouts dived out of the sun on their comrades,
whom apparently mistook for a British patrol about to attack the
Halberstadt.
What happened was this: The Halberstadt had been acting as a decoy,
and the green light had been meant as a signal for assistance. But
there had been no expectation that two flights of German planes would
respond at the same time. Not being able to distinguish the markings
of their friends--and this has happened not infrequently before--the
newcomers immediately began a furious attack upon them. The British
leaders then guided their patrol into this mad mêlée and took a hand.
The Halberstadt was the first victim, and this was shot down by a
British commanding machine. Another British fighter in the meantime
had accounted for two more enemy scouts, which were sent swirling to
destruction. All the time the German aircraft were continuing their
bitter battle among themselves, and several of them were seen to go
down out of control before the engagement finally ended. The British
leaders by their good judgment had led the Germans into their own trap.