Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-06-27
Jefferson County, West Virginia, Thursday June 27 1918
Wonderful Work of French Flyer.


Lieutenant Rene Fonck, the young
French "ace Of aces" fought three dis
tinct battles in the air when, on May 8
he brought down six German airplanes
in one day. His record never has been
eoualled in aviation.
All three engagements were fought
within two hours. In all Fonck fired
only sc shots, an average Of little more
than 9 bullets for each enemy brought
down (; an extraordinary record in the
face of the fact that aviators often fire
hundreds Of rounds without crippling
their opponent.
The first fight. in which Lieutenant
Fonck brought down three German ma
chimes, lasted only minute and hall
and the young Frenchman fired only
twenty-five shots.
Although Lieutenant Fonck is Off
cially credited with bringing down 4
enemy airplanes in all, military avia-
tors believe that he has sent down q,
least 90 machines. He is tventy-four
years old, is cool in battle and handles
both machine gun and airplane with
great skill
Fonch was leading two other COM
panions on a patrol in the Moreiul-
Montdidier section on May s when the
French squadron met three German
two-seater airplanes coming toward
them in arrow formation. Signaling
10 his companions, Lieutenant Fonck
dived at the leading German machine,
and with a few shots, sent il down in
flames.
Fonck turned TO the left and the sec
ond Hun followed him in an effort
to attack him from behind, but the
Frenchman made q quick turn above
him and with five shots sent the sec
ond Hun down to death. Ten sec
onds had barely elapsed between the
two victories.
The third Hun headed for home, but
when Lieutenant Fonck apparently
gave up the chase and turned toward
the French lines, the German went af-
ter him, and was flying parallel and a
little below, when Fonck made a quick
turn, drove straight at him and sent him
down within half mile Of the spot at
which his two comrades hit the earth.
This ended the first engagement.
Several German observation balloons
had been brought down by French av-
;ators. Lieutenant Fonck returned to
his camp, and waited three quarters
OF an hour for the Germans TO learn
OF that fact and send their chaser air-
planes to the scene of action. Then
he, with two companions, went out to
meet them. Above Montdidier, he
came upon a German plane which was
rgulating the enemy artillery fire, and
he diyed 1000 feet and sent the German
plane TO earth with few shots. TAX
ing refuge in a cloud, Fonck lost his
two companions. Emerging from the
mist TO start for his own lines, Lieu
tenant Fonck saw before him four
single-seater Pfalz airplanes protect
ed, at /, 800 feet above, by Eve German
Albatrosses making for the French
trenches with the conveying planes lead
ing. In a ten-second fight, Fonck
overlook the rear Pfalz machine, fired
and saw it fall.
At the sound Of his gun, the two
Pfalz machines in the center of the
German group turned, one TO the right,
and the other TO the left 10 attack the
daring Frenchman, but Fonck drove his
airplane swiftly ahead, and overlook
the fourth Pfalz machine. A few shots
under its tail sent it down in flames and
the victor flew off 10 safety, leaving
the other two Pfalzs and five Alba
trosses wondering what had struck the
squadron.
The air fights were staged from f.
900 to 5000 feet up. The first German
fell at 4.O5 .. m. and the last at 6.55
pm.
Lieutenant Fonck used an ordinary
Spad machine equipped with two rap
id fire guns. He has been pilot
since 1918, passing into chaser
squadron about a year ago. On the
day following his six victories he was
made an officer OF the Legion Of Hon
or and subsequently was promoted as
first lieutenant.