Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-06
AMERICAN TAKES HOLIDAY
Downs Seven German AlfpIanes
Just for Fun.
EXPLOIT OF LIEUT.. CHAMBERLAIN
San Antonio Aviator Goes Into British
Camp On a Visit, 10 Allowed to Go
Up With Fighting Squadron and
Makes a Remarkable Record.

Camp On a Visit, 10 Allowed to Go
Up With Fighting Squadron and
Makes a Remarkable Record.
| London, August 31.-First Lieut.. Ed
mund G. Chamberlain OF San Antonio.
Texas. graduate Of Princeton and the
, University of Texas. and an aviator
attached to the United States marine
/, corps, has received simultaneous rec
, ommendation for the Victoria Cross
land the Congressional Medal OF Honor
for an exploit in which he figured on
July 2Sth.
On that day. over the British front
. Lieut. Chamberlain took part in an
aerial battle with twelve German ma
chimes. He destroyed five Of them.
damaged two others. and. sweeping
earthward with damaged plane, scat
tered a detachment of German SOL
diers. After landing. he bluffed three
others into believing his compass was
bomb and captured one Of them. He
then carried a wounded French officer
back to safety, and finally refused to
give his name to the British officer in
!. command of the aerial forces In that
section OF the front because OF his FEAR
of being reprimanded.
II The story. which is one OF the most
thrilling chapters in the drama OF war.
also has been cabled to America by the
London office Of the Committee OF
, Public Information.
Was On a FurIough.
Lieut.. Chamberlain appeared at a
British aviation camp July q and in
formed the major in command that he
had a personal but not official permis-
sion to visit the camp. This Is borne
out by the young mans superior, who
saws that Lieut.. Chamberlain had ask
ed to be permitted to go up near the
front during a furlough because he de-
sired to get some more experience be-
fore resuming his work.
The British commander was in need
of aviators. and as there was bomb
ing squadron about to leave, told
Lieut. Chamberlain that he could go
along. On this flight the young Amer
lean brought down one German air.
plane in flames and sent another whirl-
ing down out Of control.
The next day came Lieut.. Chamber
lains wonderful exploit.
He vas one Of detachment OF thir
Ity aviators who went out over the bat
tlefield through which the Germans
were being driven by the Allies. AS
: the thirty machines circled about over
the fleeing Teutons. they were attack
ed by an equal number Of German ma
chimes. 1t was a hurricane battle from
the-arst, and ainsost-at the inception
Of the combat the British lost three
planes.
Engine Is Damaged.
In the tempest Of machine gun bull
lets that roared about his machine.
Lieut. Chamberlain's engine was dam
aged. One of his machine guns be-
came jammed. and he seemed to be out
Of the action.
But instead Of starting for home he
remained to offer assistance to two
other airplanes which had been at
tackled by twelve German machines.
| His machine had lost altitude. owing
to engine trouble but when he was
attacked by a German he opened such
hot fire that the enemy went into
nose dive toward the earth.
His two companions were now en-
gagged in life and death struggle. and
Lieut.. Chamberlain went to their as
sistance. His action probably saved
the lives Of the two Englishmen.
His engine was now working better.
He climbed up toward the enemy. and.
with a burst Of fire. sent one of them
crashing to the earth. A second was
shattered with another volley from his
, machine gun. Then Lieut.. Chamber
lain looped out Of Gordon of enemy
machines which had gathered to finish
him and as he sailed away, he shot
the wing of another German machine.
The leader of the German squadron
came straight at him. but was met
with such a torrent of bullets that his
airplane Joined the others sent to the
earth by the American.
The lieutenant then turned for the
British lines. His engine had gone
dead" and he was forced to volplane.
carefully picking his way through the
smoke clouds Of shells fired at him by
the enemys anti-aircraft cannon.
Sweeps German Troops.
AS he made a wide sweep toward his
destination. he saw beneath him COL
umn OF German troops. and into 1t he
, poured a gust Of machine gun bullets
: from the gun which had been jammed.
| but which he had succeeded in putting
into action again. The Germans scat
E tered, and Lieut.. Chamberlain flew
, on for an eighth Of a mile and came to
r earth.
, He found that ne could not carry of
r the equipment Of his machine. 80 he
. took his compass and started running
across the fields. AS he did so he en-
E countered a patrol Of three Germans.
t HE shouted to them to surrender, wav-
INK u COWpdoo dUSNO hio hSAN aANS -
5 bomb. Two Of the enemy ran. but the
3 third surrendered.
= The American started again for the
3 British lines. but came upon a wound
e ed French officer, whom he picked up
I and carried. driving his prisoner be-
:. fore him. He waded a brook under
e heavy fire, and finally arrived within
e the British lines In safety, with the
French officer and the German pris-
oner.
j He then reported ready for duty"
|, asked the major In command Of the
4 British airmen not to make any report
e of the affair and refused to give his
0 name. The major was unable to keep
: the affair quiet and the full details
n were made a part Of his official report
n of the days fighting.