Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-11-30
WINGED
A Yankee Boys Aeroplane
Experience In Belgium
By GEORGE BRENNAN

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When the big universal war broke
out in Europe, I. Hampshire boy
living near the Canadian border, con-
cluded that I would like to see some
Of it. had listened from my baby
hood to my grandfather's stories OF
the war between the states and the
hairbreadth escapes the old gentleman
had experienced while serving In a
New Hampshire regiment. I was ex-
actly the age my grandfather had been
when he enlisted to fight for the
Union and was 30 Influenced by the
romance Of war that couldn't keep
out Of the fight In Europe.
had no preference for either side,
but the fact that could easily enlist
on that Of the allies and could not very
we'll get to Germany decided me for
the former. Crossing the Canadian
line, I sought the nearest recruiting
station and, being In excellent physi-
cal condition, was accepted rs a re-
cruit. After good deal Of drilling In
Canada and then in England found
myself In Belgium.
BY this time 1t was winter, and the
two opposing armies had got into the
trench deadlock. Nevertheless there
were occasional drives on both sides,
and l soon saw all the fighting, or,
rather, the slaughter, wanted. I had
found my grandfather's descriptions
of battles quite exciting. These fights
In Belgium appeared rather the
marching of men to slaughter, with
the idea that the side on which most
men were left was the victor. When
I saw the enemy advance for an at
tack 1t reminded me Of wheat falling
before q moving machine.
Not seeing any romance in this kind
of warfare, thought would like to
enter the corps Of aviators. Not hav-
ing been educated to run q flying ma
chine, could only volunteer to 60 up
with one who had as q fighting man
or a bomb dropper. l succeeded In
getting myself tried for this service,
and it was found that had the head
for 1t. Not every person can rise to
great height without becoming dizzy,
and this of course would render him
unavailable for the purpose. The stock
OF English aeroplanes had been In
creasing during the autumn Of 1914,
and experts were wanted to man the
new ones and fill the gaps made by
those who were killed. So l, having
proved my efficiency, was detailed as
a bomb dropper.
My first service was with q number
Of aeroplanes on an expedition to de-
stroy a manufactory Of munitions Of
war within the German lines. There
were q dozen machines, each bearing
goodly supply Of bombs. The machine
on which served also carried rapid
fire gun.
The expedition started at noon. Our
machines had whirred for two hours
when we came in sight Of the town In
which the factory we were to destroy
was located In order to drop bombs
with any precision we must settle
down to within q few hundred feet OF
the object to be destroyed, which
would bring us within range of the
guns that would be brought to bear
upon US. The fleet commander signal
ed that we would separate and then
draw near enough to the town to OBJ
serve the location Of the factory, keep
ing at a height that would be out OF
range. Then we were to fly away, re-
turning when night was coming on,
make straight for point just above
the works, drop the bombs and get
away under cover OF, the darkness.
Lieutenant Meeker, commanding and
guiding the airship on which / served,
steered 1t over the northern part OF
the town. He was engaged in driving.
while I noted the position Of the fac
tory. AS soon as 1t was plainly visible
I directed his attention to It, that he
might be the better able to cover 1t
when the attack was made.
While the plan Of attack precluded
the possibility Of a surprise, 1t facilitat-
ed escape after the bombs had been
dropped. But the attacking force
could not expect to approach the works
In the day without being observed. and
q night attack on particular part OF
the town would likely fail from in
ability to locate 1t In the darkness.
There was one weak point In the plan.
Twilight lasts longer above than be-
low, and the enemy would have bet
ter view Of the aerOplanes than we
on the aeroplanes would have Of the
enemy. But there is great differ
ence between aeroplanes and factory
covering a large area. The latter
would be an extended target, while the
aeroplanes would be small and scat
tered one. The advantages and disad-
yantages on each side were about
equal, leaving marked advantage
with the aeroplanes In the matter OF
escape after the attack.
One or two shots were delivered at
those aeroplanes flying nearest to the
factory, but they kept so far distant
that there was but little danger Of
their being hit Having located the
Soint Of attack, they few away, pass
Ing out Of sight.
At that season Of the year the twi-
light was short, and we returned for
the attack soon after the sun had sunk
below the horizon. There was a range
Of high hills to the west Of the town,
and our commander gauged the time
for our attack when we would be m
their shadow and still at height OF
several hundred feet. We approached
as rapidly as possible, being scattered,
but converging over the factory.
The excitement now became intense
II we accomplished our object and re-
turned to our lines we would be In the
limelight as heroes. But we must
swoop down to within range OF the
buildings and were sure to get vol.
ley, for It was not to be expected that
the place would be devoid Of aeroplane
destroying guns. kept hand on
bomb, waiting for the moment when
we should be In position to drop it.
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