A few summers ago, I was flying a Mosquito from Corryong back to Benalla. The day was rapidly cooling, the thermals diminishing, and I had been back to the same thermal 4 times. As I climbed out at around 200 Fpm, I caught a flash of brown coming at me out of the sun, and heard a large bang in the rear of the glider. I headed out over the valley, and pulled some G to see if anything was falling off. felt Ok.
I landed in one of the paddocks below, and looked around the aircraft. Under the Right hand wing, I found Blood traces, and 3 Talon marks in the leading edge. I think my assailant was a wedge tail eagle I had spotted some time before. I have thought of him defending his territory since, with some feeling of guilt.
Terry