Evening star., 1918-06-16
WONDERFUL DARING SHOWN
BY FRENCH AND u. S. AVIATORS
Letters Found on Hun Victims, Say Allied
Airmen, Make Life, Even Far Behind .
Firing Line, He'll on Earth for Boches.

Spad No. -, an excellent chasing
pilot; March 2s, 1918. his airplane. hit
In vital parts. landed between the
lines; aided by a French infantry pa
troll. he escaped from the wreckage
Of his airplane and. despite the in
tense fire Of the enemy. managed to
bring away with him all his instru-
ments; April II he shot down in
flames his third enemy airplane."
Baylies the American ace Of aces.
destroyed another German airplane
later, making his total officially re-
pilot, who visited Paris on a twenty
four-hour leave, told me the story of
his latest triumph.
Il was flying on a high patrol about
five kilometers (three miles) behind
the German lines" Baylies said. II
had been out almost two hours and
was preparing to start homeward be-
cause my fuel was getting low when
I noticed a French observation ma
chine tumbling earthward in a vrille
(spiraD. with four German mono
planes following 1t down and riddling
1t with bullets. I said to myself,
Well. these two poor Frenchmen are
done for, but will try to even things
up attacked the topmost boche
and with few shots sent him down
in flames. The three other Germans.
HCdTtuB my uTiuS anu lcdIluS dH 1T
tack from above. hastily retreated.
Claims No Praise in Days Work.
"Then. to my surprise, the French
machine, which. by that time was
only about LOO yards from the ground.
righted itself and, skimming over the
treetops. got safely into the homo
lines. In the afternoon talked with
the pilot Of this machine. which had
seventeen bullet holes in It. The pilot
laughingly said that he thought he
was in q hopeless predicament until
came to his aid. He added that he
was trying to escape by feigning to
be mortally hit. His observer was
severely wounded"
I attempted to congratulate young
Baylies on rescuing comrade. NO
praise is dne me-" replied the great
ace. 1T was my business and all in
the days work"
During the first few days Of the
had things pretty much their own
way, as most of the allied squadrons
were grouped in the north watching
developments there. The crisis was
soon remedied. however, and the
crack French flying units are novs at
the danger point. The skill and hero
ism of Frances aviation have regained
the mastery Of the air.
Numerous deeds Of wonderful
bravery have been related to me.
was sent on May 81 on an urgent
Photographic mission far within the
enemy lines. 1t was impossible to
send protecting escort Of chasing
airplanes along. and so the corporal
over the trenches. A group OF eleven
German chasing machines attacked
the Frenchmen. The latter shot down
one Of the assailants. drove the others
away and calmly continued the recon
fully carried out. On their way home
the French machine was attacked by
another patrol of five Germans, and a
stubborn fight ensued. Two Of the
tion, and the Frenchmen reached
their own airdrome .unharmed and
satisfied with the days work.
Parsons single-Handed Hero.
edwin Parsons. adjutant In the
foreign legion, a pilot with a Spad
squadron, an American citizen, who.
for two years as a chasing pilot, has
given proof Of absolute devotion and
down single-handed his second air
plane"
Both Baylies and Parsons have been
proposed a number Of times in other
Army citations since these two were
awarded.
A French soldier serving in regi-
ment Of colonial ridemen and wear
ing Moroccan campaign medal.
war cross and military medal. who
has just arrived atta Paris hospital,
relates the followfk:
I'VE witnessed fine attack in
which colonial troops and light tanks
stayed a boche advance. The Ger
mans were advancing in columns Of
four when they were moved down
by our machine guns, which poured
forth showers Of bullets. One of our
airplanes belonging to the famous
Stork squadron and manned by q
valiant aviator whose name I do not
know lowered above us and soon
brought down two boche machines
and two sausage balloons. We were
joyous, therefore, but not for long.
took comrade whose leg was
broken ION my back to the first aid
station. AS I was about to reach my
destination q shell exploded nearby
killing my friend, whose brains were
blown out. My helmet was pierced by
a fragment Of the she'll. which wound
ed me. I will send the helmet to my
mother. It is not a pleasant souve-
mir, but 1t will please her when re-
turn to avenge my friend on the
boches."