Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-30
DANGERS ABOUND
IN AIR FIGHTING
French Ayiators Declared Most
Wonderful the War Has
Produced.
BY PAUL AYERS ROCKWELL
Especial Correspondence of The Stxl
and Chicago Daily NeNnLl

By PAUL AYERS ROCKWELL
Especial Correspondenoe of The Star
and Chicago Daily NewA)
PARIS. France. July 2s.-The most
wonderful pilots that the war In the
Frenchmen. Guynemer's list OF VIC
tories is astounding. He IL o veritable
wizard of the air, and when he encoun-
tiers an enemy pilot the latter may A.
signed.
Guynemer had great dificulty in be-
ing. admitted to the French aviation
service, being rejected several times at
the service. Finally he was allowed %
learn to ty and right after he arrived
at the front he made himself known.
HIS nrst victory was won on July -.
1915; his tenth July 10. 1915. almost one
year later. Capt Guynemers last ten
victories were gained In less than two
months time.
Ten In Forty-one Days.
The most wonderful ACE" flyer that
the world has ever seen was Navarro.
He was pilot remarkable for his dar-
ing, his sang froid and his love OF air
fighting. Navarro shot down his hrst
German aeroplane February 81, 1915.
and forty-one days later he destroyed
his tenth adversary. Navarro was
wounded June II. 1915. ind since then
has been untitled for active service.
Father" Dorme, the great French
aviator. who has been missing for the
past two months, was considered by his
comrades as phenomenon Thanks to
his skill and his sharpness of attack, for
many months each of his combats was
a victory. He was modest to an ex-
treme and one of the most devoted
pilots ever at the front. Daily he used
to fly far within the hostile lines in
search Of machines, although knowing
that his victories would not be placed
to his official score because of the i'm
possibility of confirming them. A few
days before he disappeared Dorme shot
down eight German machines. every
one of them far within the German
lines. 1t is thought that his aeroplane
was shot down by anti-aircraft guns.
Flies With Artificial Foot.
Tarascon Is famed as the aviator with
the artificial foot. He was a flyer before
the war and was victim OF an acct
dent which caused the loss Of a foot.
For some time he gave up aviation, but
when war began. being unfit for other
service, he insisted on flying for his
country. His numerous victories speak
for the ardor with which he has COM
bated Germans.
The Benjamin of the French aces is
Sergt- Soulier. who has triumphed over
six hostile machines. He was born Sep
TENDER 6. 1897, and volunteered in an
artillery regiment in August, 1914. Later,
he was changed to the aviation corps,
and shortly after he reached the front
he destroyed his first German plane.
Soulier has had more than 100 combats
and in addition to the six victories
officfally credited to him he has won
eight others which were not confirmed
The dne romance and color of the
ancient wars IL to-day found only in the
aviation service. The fighters Of the air
lead q tense and dangerous existence,
but their days are filled with deeds Of
heroic self-sacrifice and gallant daring.
To gain an idea of how these men die.
read this letter, which was left by Lieut.
Raymond Havet, q French aviator. killed
In aerial combat:
MY Captain: This boche has not
been more clever than the others. 1t
was who was awkward. and beg you
tv excuse me. No tears, no crowns. no
flowers. Only a little champagne later
on A handshake to all my comrades
..R. II.
'Dulce ct decorum est pro patrfa mort"
That letter deserves to live. along with
that one written by the fighting Ameri-
can pilot, James Rogers Mcconnell
which ended: - Germany, and
vive Ia France"