Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-06
An American Air Scout
in the European War

SO much Of dramatic nature appears in the daily
press relating the activities Of the air pilots the
European that Il Is interesting to read the per-
sonal experience OF American nier who served
a pilot with the French aviation corps recounted in
the Scientific American. Frederick c. HID, the we'll
known American fier. inspired with the spirit OF ad
venture. sailed for France with large band Of
servsts from New York in the early part OF septem
her. From the time OF his departure the steamer
and up 10 the point OF his actual service army
air pilot Mr. Hlds experiences replete with in
stances OF having 10 contend with official red tape in
a manner that anything but encouraging 20
NAV who had crossed the to volunteer
In one OF the most dangerous Of the military branches
Landing at Havre he observed that nearly all
factories closed, and the sight OF bntE
young and old, sweeping the streets clean and col.
Letting the fares the tramways rather pecu-
liar In Paris, also. industry at low ebb, the
only factories operating being those that were turning
out supplies for the government the others being
closed for lack OF The sight OF barricades In
Paris trainoads OF wounded soldiers, and troops OF
German prisoners was among his other foretastes OF
Arriving at the aviation station at Tours, he
passed his examination pilot the test being to
take aeropane TO a height OF 1000 feet. remaining
at or above that altitude for at least an hour. The
Quitting department from which he was to get his
uniform reminded him OF "a secondhand clothing
store in New York City" The barn-like structure
serving pilots quarters far from inviting. But
Mr. Hilds fellow pilots congenal company,
including many wealthy FreneImen and world-famous
fliers. well some distinguished foreigners.
The routine Of the camp. beginning with the
ing buge call at $50 the hssty toilet in cold stream
a breakfast OF black coffee and hard dry bread
wisely supplemented by purchases from peasants in
the vicinity together with disappointing waits for
duty and occasional trial flights. filed up the period
before actual service at the front The longed-for
order which finally took Mr. Hid. in company
with five other pilots to St Cyr. where ak Morane-
Saulner aeropanes awaited them. In these machines
equipped with map cases and compasses they set out
their journey for the front. Arras. The flight
g,aae wNNNor nlaV S~fo
ity in the war zone
Several times" says he. with the aid OF field
glasses could far below thousands OF soldiers
marching toward the battle front. Destroyed bridges
over the olse and Somme rivers showed ground
that had been occupied by the Germans few weeks
before"
The next morning actual service flight
To quote from his narrative:
Rising to a height Of 1900 feet. headed the ma
chine toward Douai and thence toward Lens. The
flight lasted little longer than an hour and proved
to be intensely exciting At times II was impossible
to see the directly along the line OF battle
TO the terrific cennonading going the smoke was
dense that seemed II were flying above the
clouds We penetrated the enemys line for distance
of half miles where the actual movement OF
troops was going the data on which was quite
important TO the French There appeared vast columns
Of soldiers that winding roads seemed like great
big snakes crawling along"
In an hour OF flying the observer Mr.. HId's ma
chine had sufficient time make ample notes OF the
movements OF the enemys troops over which they
were flying and upon alishtng these notes were imme-
diatey dispatched 10 the front. After making this
report other machines equipped for bomb dropping
and the discharging OF sharppointed steel arrows.
| were dispatched 70 harass the enemys troops. Mr..
Hd gives an interesting description of these mis-
siles and the method OF discharging them. One ma
chine of this particular expedition OF destruction failed
to return having become the victim OF terrific gunfre
at an mprudent level Loss OF life among the ayators
at Mr. mas particular OF the battle front he
had been informed had been two week since the war
| began.
Mr. Hild's third flight over the enemy almost proved
10 be his last Starting out with his observer who
was equipped TO dispatch tho steel darts, they few
! about over a mass of German troops lodging in and
out among the clouds In order to foil the gunners Trims
! Al them Proceeding to return 20 headquarters, q
I German machine was sighted. Mr.. Hid decided to
give chase although he and his observer armed
! only with reyolvors The German machine headed fol
| a cioudbank. Meanwhile another appeared, opening
fire on the French aeropane with a machine gun
! with the armored German having an advantageou'
position above him. and the other Taube turning about
and heading back for the fray, things were gettns
| hot for Hid and his companion.
Il then did the only thing possible. Pushing ms
elevRting forward apparatus dved head frs
50 seeply that 81 nearly turned upside down, and II
| a moment was thousand feet away. quite low, bu
| fortunately for both OF were well behind th'
German lines and country where there were few
or no German soldiers to be SEEM otherwise we should
have been facing further difficulties to hamper ou
escape Upon arriving at the bottom OF our steel
descent, l leveled out my machine and soon left TIT