Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-11-09
FRANCE HAS new
AIR Daredevil
Former CavaIryman Performs
Astonishing Feats of Valor
With AeropIane.
IS MANY TIMES DECORATED
Pronounced Permanently Disabled
After Smash-Up, He Steals Ma
chine and Goes Forth to New
Deeds Of Heroism.

Paris.-Nungesser the latest air
man to be revealed to us as II prince
among pilots, Is great, big, heavy
fellow, fat-faced and cumbersome OF
build.
He was q cavalryman in the Second
Hussars when he started his career
and the war was not a month old be-
fore he distinguished himself.
His squadron was cut off and sur
rounded in the retreat from Charlerol.
The troop commander was lying help
less, badly wounded. Nungcsser bore
him to shelter. Getting few Strag-
lers together, he ambushcd German
staff motor car, killed its occupants,
put his wounded officer inside, and
taking the wheel set off on wild dash
through the enemy's lines. The car
was a powerful Mors, and the way
Nungesser let her all out and tore
through the whole ranks of Germans
earned for him the epithet of Dash
to Death"
Nungesser was subsequently pro-
noted quartermaster, awarded the
military medal, and permanently ap-
pointed army chauffeur.
Takes to Flying.
Nungesser later handed in his res
ignation and declared that unless he
was put into the flying corps he would
take his place in the trenches. He al
a week or two of training was passed
as good for military aviation.
Between April and August, 1915, he
took part In SO bombardng eXpedi-
tons, three of which secured him
fresh mentions in dispatches. Return
Ing from the last, he espied a German
Albatross over Nancy, went for it, de-
spite the handicap of his heavy, slow
machine, insufficiently armed for sim
gle combat, and shot down the invader.
This achievement brought him into
prominence and he was promoted to
the crack chasing corps. Before the
end of the year he had been made
chevaler of the Legion of Honor.
A side slip at Bue, however, when
trying new type Of machine, almost
cost him his life. He was picked up
for dead, with fractured skull,
broken jaw, nearly all his ribs broken,
the muscles Of the legs torn away.
Nungesser refused to accept the doc
tors decision that he was permanently
disabled; he declined to take three
months on convalescence, If he ever
wanted to be of any use again-and
almost stealing machine, he scared
aloft, and never came down until he
had accounted for a German aero
plane.
Given His Own Way.
After this he was allowed to have
his own way. He could scarcely talk,
owing to the necessity of binding up
his jaw, his head was swathed in
bandages, he had to be lifted in and
out of his aeroplane, but he was per-
feet demon once aloft. He then be-
came sub-lieutenant.
This was at the end of March and
the beginning Of April last. On April
rs he engaged, single-handed, three
Fokkers, brought down one and gave
the others q severe mauling. A week
later he was swooped down upon by
a flotilla of six Fokkers. He had one
down before they could get his range
almost, and then sailed at full speed
right into the midst Of the others.
They were unable to fire, for fear Of
hitting one another, whereas he pound
ed them hard until he had not a shot
left, then by mastery airmanship, he
showed them q clean pair Of heels.