Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-09-27
GIA-CAROLINIAN KILLED.



Allies in France.
Winston-Salem, N. c., Sept. 23.-
Kitten Yates Rockwell, formerly of
Asheville and Atlanta, who had serv-
ed in the French aero corps with dis
tinction during the long months of
1ighting around Verdun, was killed in
action this morning. Announcement
or his death was made by the
French government in cablegram
received to-day by his mother, Mrs.
l.. A. Rockwell, of this city. No de-
tails were given.
Brothers Lived in Atlanta.
(The Constitution, 24th.)
KILN Rockwell was known as one
IF the most daring aviators in the
service Of the allies, and had been
decorated for his bravery. Last week
lie brought down his fourth German
aeroplane. American newspapers
have carried frequent stories of his
daring raids.
For several years Rockwell was
connected with the Massengale Ad-
vertising Agency in Atlanta and had
large circle Of friends who will be
shocked to learn Of his death.
His brother, Paul Rockwell, who
Is now in Paris. also lived in Atlanta
for several years and was reporter
on til, Constitution.
At the outbreak of the war in the
fall Of 1914 the Rockwell brothers
went to France and Joined the
French foreign legion. They were
both In the trenches with the famous
lapinn 1ttr inn 61 l>ok
Marne, which turned the tide Of the
invasion Of France, and were both
wounded.
Paul Rockwell Wounded.
Paul Rockwell, in addition to be-
ing wounded, became i'll, and 1t was
necessary for him to retire from the
military service.
Kiffin Rockwell then succeeded in
having himself transferred from the
foreign legion to the Franco-Ameri-
can aviation corps. In this corps he
quickly distinguished himself and
was rapidly advanced in rank and
decorated. He was a sergeant at the
time Of his DEATH
Kiffin Rockwell had just returned
to the front, presumably in Fland-
ers, after a visit to his brother in
Paris.
Was Daring Fighter.
Paris, Sept. 24.-The aerial fight
in which Sergt. Kiffin Rockwell, of
Atlanta, was mortally wounded yes
!erday morning by German airman,
took place over the town Of Thanh.
The body Of the American aviator
fell in reconquered, territory in AL
SAGE, near where Rockwell shot
down his first adversary five months
ago.
Rockwell was serving as a volun-
teer in the Franco-American Flying
Corps on the Verdun front A few
hours previous to the engagement he
had been promoted to the rank OF
second lieutenant, but died without
knowing Of the new honor. He al
ready had received the military
medal for shooting down a German
two-seater near Hartmanns-W Weller
kopf III May. He had beaten down
another before Verdun and had par
ticipated in a thrilling combat in
which nearly all the Franco -Ameri-
can flotilla was engaged with a strong
German force. He was wounded
during that fight by fragment of
shell while engaged alone with three
adversaries.
Sergt. Rockwell was one of the
first American volunteers to join the
foreign legion. He was grievously
wounded in a bayonet attack at Ar
ras in May, 1915, before being trans
ferred to the flying corps. He was
regarded in French aviation circles
as an lace" a name given to the
most skillful and daring pilots.
Lieut.. VIM. Thaw, of Pittsburg, be-
fore he was wounded. and Rockwell
made a formidable fighting pair.
They frequently were in the air
together and always chasing an ad-
versary.
Rockwell had fought 81 air bat
ties since recovering from his last
wound, or an average Of more than
one a day. When he met his death
he was returning from a bombarding
expedition in which he flew one Of
the fighting machines that furnished
the escort.
Q