Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-11

Germany several more left us. stu
we kept on, and learned when we got
back that we had been thirty miles
the other side\ of the lines. whlcIl
sure caused q holler from several OF
my comrades. for the majority OF
the trip was made with only three OF
we spads protecting the photograph,
ers. They wanted to know, why an
those other pilots left and eNactiy
what kind of motor trouble they had'
Fortunately, no Boches were in the
sky, or there might have been diff
ferent story. AS for me, L nearly
strained my eyesight looking Tor PAL
looms, for since there were no Boches
around / had nothing to fear, as |
have long since grown contemptuous
of archie" But 1 was out of luck,
for not a balloon was up, although 1
did see several lying on the ground.
But 1 had been strictly. forbidden to
attack balloons in their beds, as |
continued looking. Being at 6,O0O
meters made picking out such OBJ
jects, highly camoufiaged as they are.
very different.
Right Near Rheims
We were nearing Rheims on our
way back when l thought l saw two
balloons quite close together. al
though not very high. 1 did not know
how high, but 1 sure was going DOWN
and have look. With this idea IN
view, 1 flew up alongside my COM
right about turn and with the sun at
my back dove steeply for those two
uot-beilied objects far. far below.
Looking behind, to see If my comrade
was following. l was pleased to see
him right on my trail.
One on the Hun
This helped my confidence wonder
fully. for he is very good pilot with
twelve Boches to his credit, and with
hom to take care of any attacking
Boche | would never need worry. SO
l dove a little sleeper, although |
had been diving pretty steep before
but l wanted to get down there
quick before "archie" discovered me.
He must have been having quite a
time doing that too, because he had to
look right into the sun to see one,
something almost impossible. Thus l
had dropped 5000 meters before he
even knew l was on my way, and then
his shots were miles away. Golly, l
sure was making time.
Carrying On
Everything was whistling, wires
especially were playing a tune that
instructors had often told me was
close to suicide. but these chase
planes were supposed to stand most
any strain, and spad generally does.
Therefore, l kept on my whistling
way. Objects began to acquire a
new distinctness, and soon one of the
balloons resolved itself into enorm-
Gus barrack. The other was, indeed,
a balloon. but it was lying on the
ground, and remembering my orders.
/ did not attack, but pulled out of
the dive and swung back for our lines,
still looking for possible Boche TAX
ing the higher air via a balloon.
None greeted my sight. however, and
Boche plane lowering into view
some distance off, l started for home.
Seven Miles I'm Germany
7 GprnH V
then, besides my gasoline was nearly
all, so it looked as if fighting was
foolish, even if we were two to one.
Strange to say, the pilot with me did
not see this Boche. but the manner in
which l signalled him that was
going to attack pleased him nightly,
and he is still telling 1t to the other
pilots with many trimmings, judS .ng
from the motions he is making.
WALTER.