The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-11
HOW FRENCH AIRMEN
BOMBED KRUPP PLANT
IN MIDNIGHT RAID
Sergeant Defies German Aircraft DE
fense and Searchlights and Makes
Successful Attack.
By the Associated Press

Grand Headquarters of the French
Army in France. sunday, July S.-The
most daring air raid yet carried out
against the great Krupp munition
works at Essen was recounted to a
staff correspondent OF the Associated
Press today by sergt Maxine Gallols,
who deiied all the German antiaircraft
defenses and bombarded the heart Of
the German armament producing fac
tories with high explosives, crossed the
German front line twice. flew over
many RhinIsh cities and returned home
scathless.
Guided by Moon.
The whole fight lasted several hours
during which the daring French avia-
tor was guided only by the moon and
stars and the compass, as the voyage
was made in the darkest hours of the
night, the destination being reached
exactly according to plan. Sergeant
Gallois narrated his story in the sim
plest manner. He said:
-Four Of us-Lieut. Ardizon de Per
diguier. Sergeant Durand, another com
rade and myself-left our base at night
fall Friday with the intention Of reach.
ing Essen. Soon afterward we ran into
foggy weather and lost sight of each
other. I flew at an altitude of 1900
metres and passed over Metz and Thion-
vile. following the course of the river
Moselle. which, however. rapidly dis
appeared in the mist.
Fired on Crossing Rhine.
"The batteries fired at me crossing
the Rhine and as / passed over Metz
searchlights played about the sky. AZ
Thionville heard another airplane neag
by but made II out as Ardizon's. AZ
terward was compelled to travel by
the aid Of the compass the stars, and
the moon. At Treves l saw a heavy
bombardment. which l calculated was
directed at my comrade, therefore
knew / was travelling in. the right direc
ton. / did not see Coblenz. | saw
the reflection Of the moon on the Rhine
and found Bonne. From there to Dus
seldorf there was regular sea OF elec
tricity which increased as l got further
north.
Cologne was a blaze OF luminosity
and at Dusseldorf there were all kind
OF llghts-blue, red and white. All th'
time the anti-aircraft guns fired as
passed. and around Cologne the gunner
were very accurate in the range.
Throwing the Bombs.
'Leavong there l saw a brilliant 4
Elimination which seemed kilometers Il
length stretching to the left Of Essen
while southwark was another long lin
OF lights coming from the factories. Al
irving over Essen rose TO about 200
metres and circles around searching 10
a place where the lights from the work
shops appeared densest. Then l threN
the first bomb. After counting ten
dropped the second and then the n
mainder Of the ten carried at simia
intervals. / could not tell whether th
bombs exploded. but they probably di'
II was impossible 70 distinguish thei
effect owing 10 the flaming furnac
chlmneys.
My duty done I turned homewar'
not having seen my comrades agar
The motor worked with wonderful res
ularity all the time. / came back e'
actly the same way as l went and wa
fired al many times.
Travelled i66 Miles.
Il was thoroughly exhausted and wa
suffering from my eyes which were a
fected by the strain and wind as ha
lost both pairs Of goggles at the star
and was often obliged to put my hea
outside in order 20 see the direction
When nearing the base owing TO darl
ness, could not tell exactly where
was. thought possibly / was ST
over the German lines and decided
continue westward as long as n
petrol lasted. had a few litres LEI
and was driving onward when suddeni
l recognized a pre-arranged signal an
managed to land just at dawn at III
same place from which had departe'
The distance covered was $50 kilom
tres l466 l.2 miles,"