El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-17
AVIATOR GETS
TENTH ENEMY
Daring Frenchman Has Of
ficially Destroyed Many
German Machines.

Paris France June 17.-Second Lieut..
Jean Navarro. or the French flying
corps. has just been officially credited
with destroying his tenth German ma
chine Unofficially. he has brought
down IS: that is to say that in addi-
tion to the ten machines. destruction
Of which has been verified by his su-
perior officers, he is known to have
sent eight more TO earth behind the
German lines under circumstances that
justify the supposition that they were
destroyed.
Navarro is the -enfant terrible or
pest. OF the French flying corps. with
eccentricities that keep his superior
officers busy. He had seen most Of
the world at IS. and had just disem-
barked from Japan and taken few
lessons in aviation when the war broke
out Two young TO be called to the
colors regularly. he enlisted and was
summoned to appear for medical eN-
animation; instead OF responding, he
took the train for Saint-Cyr. and told
the officers there that he had been
ordered to report 10 join the engineers.
Together with a comrade that had re-
ceived pilots license. he applied to
an officer of the flying corps at Tours
10 be incorporated in that service.
The captain examined the papers OF
the real aviator and passed him. then
"
same as he" replied Navarro. and
without further fOrmality Navarro
found himself on an S0-horse power
biplane at the front, regulating the
fire Of the artillery in November, 1914.
Il was a service that was little suit
ed TO his disposition: he called it 'driv-
ing a taXi-auto.' and showed his dis
content by some fantastic evolutiOns
on returning from an observation tour
that resulted in his being sent 70 the
rear. He presented himself at the
aviation camp where men were being
trained to fly the swift battle-planes
and was given opportunity 70 Try one
Of them His natural qualities as an
acrobat OF the air got him Immediately
one OF these new machines
His First Victory.
He made his debut in the chase in
March. 1915, and in his first expedi-
tion attacked one OF the German ma
chimes that was the most redoubtable
at that time. by his skill as a pilot
alone dominating his adversary. He
flew over him. lOoped the loop under
him. sailed all around him. risking a
dozen times to collide with him. yet
never giving the German observer a
chance to fire The German machine
finally went to earth few yards from
the French lines without having been
hit or dana ged in any way: the Ger
man pilot had lost his head in the
presence OF the fantastic evolutions OF
his adversary and could only inquire
after being made prisoner: What in
the world is that phenomenon that fell
upon me-
Since that time Navarro has flown
successfully in all the different ma
chimes in the French aviation service,
mastering them all with equal ease
and skill and never falling to charge
an enemy wherever he found him His
theory OF the aerial combat Is 10 go
at his man, drive right at him regard
less Of the enemy's fire. paying atten-
ton only to his own
Up TO date, Navarro has waged near
" 50 air battles.
Buys Drinks For Prisoners.
His fourth combat barely escaped
getting him 80 days OF prison. He
had then already acquired the habit.
which he still follows. OF getting out
before daylight and finishing his sleep
in his machine, so as TO be ready TO