The evening world., 1918-05-08
CAPT. J. N. HAIL.,
US. AUTHOR-FLYER,
LOST IN SKY FIGHT
Noted Aviator Missing After
Helping Down Two Ma
chimes in Germany.

AN NhAHSDf Auobuhgt "uY Nby
Associated Press).-After a thrilling
battle with enemy airplanes ten miles
north OF Pont-a- Mousson. Capt.
james Norman Hall. one OF the lead
ing American ovintors, made a spiral
dive for the earth ana was last seen
close TO the ground, apparently try
ing to land His subsequent fate is
unknown.
Captain Han. with two others, was
patrolling this morning between st.
Mihiel and Pont-a- Mousson. when
they were over Pagny- Moselle
four enemy Albatross alrplanes.
painted with black and white stripes,
were seen.
The Americans attacked. Captain
Han singing out one of tho enemy
and driving him downward while fir
ing with his machine gun. The pair
made a spiral dive from six thousand
metres to four thousand, when the
German suddenly reversed his ma
chine and started 20 rise. In a quick
turn no poured deadly stream OF
machine gun bullets into tho bottom
OF Halls machine. Captain Hall
promptly came out OF the spiral and
made "A dive for the earth. He was
last seen attempting 10 complete this
manoeuvre.
In the meantime tho enemy mn
chimes that the other Americans had
engaged dropped toward tho ground.
IT Is unknown what happened tu
them. but two OF them apparently
were in distress. No credit for a VIC
tory is given the Americans because
official vGrltlcation OF the destruction
VI the enemy was impossible
Capt. Halls machine had painted
upon its side the first American air.
plane insignia 10 appear on the battle
line. 1t was in the form OF that IN
the ring" sign, showing a starry
striped high hat usually pictured on
Uncle Sam, surrounded by "a gold an
ring.
The whole American air service is
mourning Halls loss. Capt. Hall was
popular throughout the army, and
had won admiration by his daring,
GOODNESS and skill in handling his
machine.
The Captains flying companions are
all certain he would have knocked out
his opponent had It not been for a
manoeuyre unheard OF, 80 far as
American and French pilots i'm this
section OF France are concerned. II
has been considered dangerous to the
last degree to bring up a machine
sharply from a downward plunge bs-
cause tho strain Is almost certain 10
cause the collapse OF some vital part
Cf the plane. The German aviator
whom Cap:. Hall was pursuing. being
hard pressed, adopted this despsra "a
cxpedient 10 escape death. and woI.
lie was thus enabled to put a stream
OF bullets into tho bottom OF Halls
machine.
The Captains companions waited
for several hours after the fight for
him 10 return TO tho hangar before
biving him up for lost.
Despite the bad weather German
machines were out in force. Alarm
after alarm was answered by the
Americans. Lieut.. Cunningham en-
gagged one machine. wien fve more
Of the enemy Joined in. The Lleuten-
ant kept up the fight until his ma
chine gun jammed, when he returned
to the American lines with ten bullet
holes in his plane.
The usual German game was 10
have a small number OF planes ap-
pear near the American lines, while
reserve OF four or fiye machines re-
mained out OF sight until the Amcri-
cans came into action. The reserves
would then swoop down In an attempt
to wipe out the Americans. The
| American aviators met this by an
swering alarms with twice the mum
ber Of machines It was reported the
Germans had.
American aviators used Nieuport
pursuit machines as their hgh.' Q
weapons The Americans engaged In
photography and artillery regulating
work also had TO fight Two Ameri,
cans protecting Photographic ma.
chime were attacked by two Germans
The night lasted FOR hair an hour l..
ended when one ierlnan went wob
bling to the ground about three kn1
I. sters ..thin tho German lines. =
fight took place about two kllometsr!
behind the German positions
As result OF days activity Il Il
believed tho Germans sent some O.
their best ors TO this sector 10 at
tempt to lnnihilate the American fly
ing force.
2 German machines were out in force
apparently hunting for the Ameri
cans all day, despite tho bad wealth
er The Americans answered alarm
Throughout the day lust as the enem,
hoped they would, once a Lieuten
ant answered an alarm for one en-
envy machine which was reported I,
be dying low. When he approachc,
the enemy, Ave additional German