The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-08-18
FRANCE HAS new
AIR DAREDEVIL
Former Cavalryman Performs
Astonishing Feats of VaIOr
With AeTOplane.
IS MANY TIMES DECORATED
Pronounced Permanently Disabled
After smash-up, He Steals Ma.
chine and Goes Forth to New
Deeds Of Herolsm.

Parls.-Nungesser, the latest air
man to be revealed to us as Il prince
! among pilots, is a great, big, heavy
fellow, fat-faced and cumbersome Of
build.
He was n cavalryman In the Second
HusS0rs when he started his career,
aud the war was not 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. Nungesser bore
him 10 shelter. Getting few strag-
lers together, he ambushed German
stan motor eur, killed It's occupants,
put his wounded officer inside, and
taking the wheel set off on a wild dash
through The enemy's lines. The car
was Il powerful Mors, and the way
Nungesser let her all out and tore
through the whole ranks OF Gcrmacs
earned for him the cpithet 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
lgnation and declared that unless he
was put into the flying corps he would
take his place in the trenches. He al.
ready had Il pilots ticket, and after
week or two of training was passed
as good for military aviation.
Between April and August, 1915, he
took part in SO hombarding eXpedi.
tions, three of which secured him
fresh mentions in dispatches. Return.
ing from the last, he espied German
AIbatrosS over Nancy, went for 1t, de-
spite the handicap Of his heavy, slow
machine, insuhiciently armed for sin
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
chevaIier of the Legion of Honor.
a side slip 1T Bue. however, when
trying a new type Of machine, almost
cost him his life. He was picked up
for dead, with a 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 a 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 a sub-lieutenant.
This was at the end of March and
the beginning of April last. On April
% he engaged. single-handed, three
Fokkers, brought down one and gave
the others a severe mauling. A week
later he was swOoped down upon by
Il notilla 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 shot /
left, then by mastery airmanship, he
showed them a clean pair Of heels.
They were in such a state that they /
lid not dare follow him, which was
lucky, for ne had not gone mile or .
-wo before his engine went all to /
pieces. Seven balls had gone through /
t, and only a couple Of cylinders still .
lad any 20 in them. He had dropped .
o under 5000 feet, and was limping
amely as he crawled back over the .
ierman trenches.
The storm Of shells missed him all .
he same and he made home safely.
)ne shot had gone through his helmet
md grazed the top of his head, an
Dther had carried away the heel of .
lis slipper q had struck the plane
md done various kinds Of damage
Without counting those in the engine.