The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-03-24
new FRENCH AIR
HERO IS IDOL
Of THE NATION
George Guynemer, Successor to
,Pegoud, Garros and GuiIbert,
Is Called "Fokker Killer"
WORK ATTRACTS ATTENTION

Wonderful Skill In Aerial Strategy
Makes Guynemer 2 Dangerous
Opponent-Is Son Of Soldier,
but Has Difficult Time
Getting In Service.
Paris.-France has q new air hero
in the person of George Guynemer,
sergeant pilot. He has just had the
rare distinction of being mentioned
in the French official communication,
and all France is talking of him and
his exploits.
For the first time machine
mounted by successful aviator has
popular name, for both Guynemer
and his aeroplane are becoming
household words. the latter being
called lie vieux- Charles" The hero Is
popularity known as the "Fokker Kill
err"
For brilliancy Of action only three
French pilots in the past have been
compared with him. and they hereto
fore had been regarded as the three
greatest fighting aviators in the world
-Pegoud, Garros and Gilbert.
Guynemer is serving in the army as
a volunteer. Strangely enough. he
had the utmost difficulty in being ad-
mftted into the service.
Five successive times the young
man tried to enter the army. 60
ing to different parts of the country
to present himself, and each time he
was rejected. Finally he insisted on
installing himself at the aviation
grounds. and after showing his worth
he was admitted into the army.
His Unprecedented Feat.
In brief period he has performed
the remarkable and unprecedented
feat of bringing down six Of the most
formidable German machines.
In seven months Guynemer has
passed from private soldier to SER
geant, has won the military medal. has
been made Knight of the Legion of
Honor, and has received the War
Cross with four bars. Such an accu-
mutation of honors for one soldier is
unique in the annals of the present
war.
The young mans duties have con-
sisted in chasing enemy machines and
In escorting French aeroplane squad.
rons on bombarding expeditions. A
description of his latest exploit indi.
Gates his methods of operation.
While cruising up and down the
German lines he noted a German ma
chine which apparently had the inten-
ton of passing over into the French
section. Retiring little, in order to
hide himself from the view Of the
larger enemy machine which was CON-
ing up, he suddenly cut across the lat
ter's line of retreat. and at once
opened the duel.
The German fought valiantly, but
Guynemer, after firing few shots,
succeeded in placing a bullet In the
gasoline tank of the Fokker. An ex.
plosion occurred and flames surround.
ed the German machine.
Both pilot and observer rose up
from their seats in an attitude of an
guish and bewilderment. Their ma.
chine was slipping down from beneath
them, a veritable funeral pyre: and
Guynemer accompanied 1t until he
saw 1t fall on the ground, mass OF
ruins, at a point near Herbecourt.
George Guynemer is Partisan. His
father is engaged in the manufacture
ing business at Compiegne. When
the war began the young man was
studying in Paris and was living with
his grandmother The latter speaks
with pride Of her grandson.
His Young Ambition.
George is just twenty-one years of
age. as he was horn on Christmas day
that is perhaps what has brought
him good luck. When he succeeded in
entering the army he was sent to the
aviation school at Pau, where he was
perfected in the profession which he
had chosen.
I'm this connection can tell little
secret about him. George already had
been following aviation work. un-
known to his father. Some boys hope
to be engine drivers or policemen
when they grow up, but George for
years had said he would be an avia-
tor. His father did not wish to en-.
courage him in his idea. but as he
was living with me, could not very
we'll oppose his desires. I said moth
ing to his father and used to give
George little money to 60 to the
aviation grounds.
"Since he became a soldier he
comes to see me occasionally and tells
me of his exploits. He never boasts
and indeed he talks but little. / have
to question him on the work he does
and on the dangers that he runs, for,
although l have the greatest conf.
dence in him, cannot at times help
feeling a little anxious about him. He
Invariably says to me. Grandmother.
It is very amusing; l just imagine
that ! am out with gun and follow.
ing up the game. Suddenly shoot,
the animal is struck and falls. Real
ly, It is not at all difficult
THAT is the way he tells the story.
He is the son of soldiers. His great
grandfather received the Legion of
100000 WOMEN WORKERS