The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1918-06-19
THE GREAT FRENCH ACE

tinct battles in the air when, on May
s. he brought down six German air.
planes in one day. His record never
has been eQualled in aviation.
All three engagements were fought
| within two hours, In all FOnck fired
only SIS shots, an average of little more
than 0 bullets for each enemy brought
down; an extraordinary record in view
of the fact that aviators often fire
hundred of rounds without Gripping
their opponent.
The first fight, in which Lieutenant
Fonck brought down three German
machines, lasted only minute and a
half and the young Frenchman fired
only twenty-five shots.
Although Lieutenant Fonck is offici-
ally credited with bringing down AZ
enemy airplaneg in ALL military avia-
tors believe that he has sent down at
least 60 machines. He is twentyfour
years old, is cool in battle and handles
both machine-gun and airplane with
great skill
Fonck was leading two other com
panions on a patrol in the Moreuil-
Montdidier sector on May 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 plane
and, with few shots, sent it down
in flames, Fonck turned to the left
and the second Hun followed in an
effort to attack him from behind, but
the Frenchman made quick turn
above him and with five shots sent
the second Hun down to death Ten
seconds had barely elapsed between
the two victories.
The third Hun headed for home but
when Lieutenant Fonck apparently
gave up the chase and turned back to-
wards the French lines the German
Went after him and was flying parallel
"nd little below, when Fonck made
II quick turn, drove straight at him
and sent him down within. a. half
mile of the spot where his two com
rades hit the earth.
Several German observation ballons
had been brought down by French
ayiators. Lieutenant Fonck returned
tohis camp and waited three quarters
Of an hour for the Germans to learn
Of that fact and send their chaser plan
IS 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 regu-
lating the enemy artillery fire, dived
1000 feet and sent the German plane
to earth with a few shots. Taking ref
uee in cloud Fonck lost his two COM
paniOns. Emerging from the mist to
start for his own lines. Lieutenant
FOnck saw before him four single
scatter Pfalz airplanes protected, at
100 hundred feet above, five German
'.lbatrosses, making for the french
trenches with the conveying planes
leading In a ten--second flight. Fonck
overlooked the rear Pfalz machine
fired and saw ii fall
At the sound of his gun. the two
ialz machines in the center of the
German group turned, one to the right
and the other to the left TO attack
tie 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 to
safety. leaving the two other Pfal2s
and five Albatrosses wondering what
had struck the squadron.
The air fights were staged from
4 800 to 5000 feet up. The first Ger
man fell at 4O5 p m. and the last at
G.G5 p. M
Lieutenant Fonck used an ordinary
S.iad machine equipped with two
rapid fire guns. He has been pilot
since 1915, passing into chaser
squadron about a year ago On the day
following his six victories he was
I