A Russian, by the name of Kusminsky,
Having gained something of a
reputation
As a pilot of daring,
peace-time flights,
Was soon invited to join the
forces.
Interviewed for ‘Russkoye
Slovo,’
He told the press of his
narrow escape.
Kusminsky, without military
experience,
And mixed emotions about the
forces
Embarked in a flight, upon a
mission,
With an officer of the
General Staff.
Taking off alongside two
other planes -
They flew along the lines of
their army
For a distance, but then
turning
Into enemy territory, their
escorts
Separated - banking in other
directions
Each to embark on a separate
mission.
With the Commander's
instructions,
They were to fly in sight of
highway.
Climbing high they saw the
barograph
State their height of
13,00-1350 meters.
At times they flew higher,
so the air
Became so cold, they almost
froze.
With good, clear visibility
for there
Scouting mission, Kusminsky
Employed binoculars to
identify
The army of the enemy -
The day being so good
He could even make out
supply carts.
Remaining close to the
Russian Frontier,
They were flying at a great
height
When an explosion rocked the
craft,
Making it judder-it was not
enemy shell,
But suction valve of the
motor had burst.
The General Staff officer
remained calm,
As Kusminsky shut off the
Benzine
And opened up the contact -
With very little choice,
they descended
In a ‘volplane,’ prolonging
the flight
To avoid any capture on
enemy ground.
Despite their excellent map,
Kusminsky could not tell
where they were
Finally they steadily
touched ground.
Seeing in the field close by
a group
Of ‘peasants’ the officer
ordered
To drench Benzine on the
plane
And be armed with matches,
In case the peasants were
Austrian,
In fact they were Russian.
by
Jamie Mann
Anon.,1914.
Daring Flight of a Russian Aviator - Mishap in Mid-air - Escape from Austrians.
The Daily Telegraph, [online] 01 Sept. p.7. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11064407/Daily-Telegraph-September-1-1914.html
[Accessed: 01st September
2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 01
September 2014).
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