Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-10
Escadrille Spad 3S
Secteur Posctal ~,


have lost none; but it would be safer
if you should address all my mail to
the Y. NJ. c. A. at 81 Avenue Mont
aigne. Paris. as you used to. 1 don't
know why you stopped before, but
now 1t Is absolutely necessary, for
not only have 1 been changed to an
other escadrille, but am in a "groupe
de combat"
1t isn't necessary to translate that.
1t means just what it says. In short,
being in a combat escadrille means
we will be sent wherever the Huns
begin raising Cain. That being right
here at present. why, here we are.
To-day we were moved about six
miles nearer the lines, so were busy
most of the day packing and unpack-
ing.
In our new quarters the electricity
is not working, so we use a small
essence lamp, which is indeed quite
an improvement on the candle.
Things n happening
Things have indeed been happen
ing swiftly for the last few days.
First came the change of escadrilles,
and before l knew it, / was aboard
strange plane-to me, armed with
two guns and enough dials to run
submarine. Naturally, I had trouble
learning how to handle my new steed
with its numerous instruments. Just
to show you how much we have to
think about, one of the other Ameri-
cans in the escadrille was so busy
watching his different dials to see
what his engine was doing, he forgot
to look out for Boche. Finally, when
he did look up from the cockpit,
there was a Boche right on him.
Making a turn and dive to avoid his
fire, he nearly ran into another one.
However, 1 finally got the hang of
the thing, the occasion being a pro-
lection mission"
There were two of we Spads for
protection of two big photo planes.
Going over the lines at 5000 meter
height the "archies" were soon pep
pering away at us merrily, and 1t
wasn't more than two minutes later
that six Huns jumped on us. I saw
them in the distance and Immediately
climed up to do my bit in chasing
them off. Twice I plunged down at
an ambitious Hun, but although both
guns ratified away vigorously, it
didn't seem to affect the Boche's any,
and then 1 remembered I had a sight
on the gun which might be better than
watching the tracer bullet. 1 don't
like to use the sight, because one has
to close one eye to aim, and there
are so many things to watch out for
that two eyes are not nearly enough,
besides 1 felt anythink but in a fiirt-
ing humor. Having decided to try
the sight, looked around for a Hun
in a favorable position to try 1t on
and there was one right in front C.
me. coming head on. Closing ono eye
I got the sight on him and was all
set to pull the trigger, when low and
behold, 1t was a Spad. and 1 had
nearly shot my comrade. The only
way I could tell, was by the shape of
the tail; the Huns ("Alabatross" in
this case) having round-shaped
tail. while the Spad is more oblong.
After that close shave, stopped
looking for iron crosses and gave
more attention to tails since there
was another Spad in that miixup.
A Bead on the Hun
Then down / dove again, not for
getting to wink at this "blackbird"
but only a flick of his tail rewarded
my efforts, and not wishing to drop
into the whole nest of them, 1 pulled
up to fix my guns, for they had both
jammed. 1t was impossible to fix one
in the air, but still had one left and
seeing one little willie Hindenburg"
some distance away from his patrol
pounced on willie" He saw me
coming, and started to turn toward
me, but 1 had bead right on him,
and could see the bullets going into
him. They didn't seem to be taking
effect though. for he continued to
turn and finally got headed direct for
me. Only 80 meters separated us
then-he going over a 100 miles an
hour and 1 going some $50, and COM
ing head on.
Talk about your movie thrills!! Ye
Gods! and with his two guns spit
ting at me and my lone one going
at him. 1 had known he wanted to
get in this position when he started
to turn, but was counting on gettin
him before he got turned, and the
way my bullets went into him still
wonder why he did not tumble-but
one has to face facts, and there he
was coming straight at me shooting
as he came, and what was 1 going
to do about it. for 1 had mighty
healthy fear of collision in the air,
However, as my gun was still work
ing, / held to my course, Kept shoot
ing and wondered who would make
the first move in that ticklish situa-
tion. 1 hadn't long to wait. The 80
meters were reduced to 20, then Is,
then 1O--and then my last gun jam
med and I pulled up, the Boche
shooting by under me.
Chased by the BOche
That was bad enough as IL was,
but then horrors of horrors! my
motor stopped and had to dive. And
that doggone Hun chased me down
$500 meters before the engine work.
ed again, with me doing an aerial
tango the whole way down.
Talk about the "perversity of in
animate objects." fain am ready to
believe Dad, for he makes the asser-
ton quite often. Since both guns
were utterly useless, there was moth
ing for me to do. but go home; but l
climbed up again to see where the
photo planes were anyway, as It's an
ironclad rule never to leave the
planes you're protecting. They had
probably gone home though, for I
could find them no where, so I did
likewise. And then / discovered that
my second gun had not jammed, but
run out of cartridges. In all had
fired some 400 shots and all the dam
age done was so many holes in the
atmosphere. Pretty rank shooting
eh? However. don't forget one has
to aim these machines to shoot, and
this was a new plane to me.
Lost in the AIR
The next day was sent UP with
another American to patrol at 5000
meters for the Boche photo Zings
which come over so regularly and 1
was made leader, but my comrade
didn't follow me so we'll and looking
around one time I beheld him some |
miles away, a mere speck I'm the dis |