The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-21
Lucky Heinies"
Got Away Safely
By FRANK. J. TAYoR.

With the American Armies in
France, Nov, 3.-(By MALL )-There is
some pathos in the brief reports that
airmen sometimes turn in regarding
battles above the clouds, The best
words of great writer would hardly
be more vivid than the following fhr-e
reports with all their military brev.ry
as they were turned in to the sht
commander:
Capt b. reports: Combat s:20 to
40 region of Sampigny-Gironviiie---
Etang de Girondei. Combat began at
$500 meters. Fired 200 rounds from
$50 TO 40 yards range. Put the OBJ
servers gun out of action, then bath
of my guns failed. Leuts. T. and
also attacked. Both Lieut.. Es guns
failed and Lieut. S had motor trouble.
/ After my guns jammed | maneuvered
the enemy plane. biplane Rumpler.
to within so meters of the ground ia
the region of Etang Neuf. Held him
there for 1--WE minutes without being
able to fire shot and trying to blu1
him into landing. Was several times
in perfect position al 20 yards range.
Finally the plot realized ! could not
shoot. the enemy plane flew straight
for its own lines. I followed to the
ture. When turned to come home
the enemy plane followed me back
to our own lines. the pilot firing about
80 rounds from the forward gun with
out result. The Rumpler was camou-
fisged In green and black diamonds
with white tail the cross on tail. on
upper and lower wings. No in white
on each side of fuselage. During lat
ter part OF combat the observer stood
up facing me and as msnenyered.
he would turn and point TO his pilot
the direction In which to turn
Lieut. F. reports: Saw two enemy
aircraft east OF Bey at 1000 meters.
Saw one enemy aircraft north Of Pont-
a-Mousson nj 1900 meters. Over
Sampigny saw biplane Rumpicr.
Climbed TO 5,50o meters and headed
enemy aircraft on his lines He
turned east over Foret d-Apremont.
Capt. y 90, under his tail while pilot
was maneuyering and an opportunity
came To dive under him aud attack
from below, which did. hring 80 shots
from 20 meters. Both guns iamined,
and while clearing jams lost sight OF
fight in the clouds. Capt. d and Lieut..
were stil after enemy aircraft whea
left at 1000 meters. Rumpier had
white tail. green canounagc and No.
IS was painted on both sides OF fuse
iage in white paint
'Lieu,. S reports. Al s.1o engaged
an enemy two-seater over Commercy
at f.s0e meters Fired some 1so
shots at range OF from 100 to 30 me-
ters. The enemy plane went into
dive and followed pulling up at 500
meters 10 fix machine gun lam At
this point of the combat my pr.sEure
system went bad. my motor stopping
dead. 80 | was forced to land near
Gironviiie. The enemy artillery
opered fire on my machine 10 minutes
oAt'A H*ih iauhtb ahT w " tH' ittif
let had net secured a dircc; h!'. a..
though The plane undoubtedly IL badly
damaged from shrapnel and shell fras.
ments"
The Boche airmen who figured in this
fighi are slangIly regarded as meat
and also lucky Heinies" by the airmea
OF the escadrilie. II IL seldom that
victory Is so close and slips away %
easily through airmen's luck
an official army repor, which caused
far more satisfaction about headquar-
tcrs today than the three just quoted
liz the fol owing
"The c o IN nj a n e r-in-c h ef has
earned with great satisfaction OF the
excellent work of the first pursuit
group OF the air service and desires 10
commend II especially for it's praise
worthy record. The handicaps under
which this initial pursuit unit OF the
American expeditionary forces has
been organized and begun the dis.
charge OF its duty are well known and
recognized. With fine spirit and de-
termination II has overcome obstacles
and already achieved an enyiable rec.
ord. The commander and personnel
are congratulated for their effective
and daring work"
The ccinmendation from the Gin
mora fhus, haf.uc.a 49,.