The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-08-01


gun. | escaped the machine guns and
the Flaming onions" but "Archie," the
antiaircraft fire, got me four or hve
times. Every time q bullet plugged
me, or rather my machine, 1t made
loud bang, on account of the tension
on the material covering the wings.
None OF their shots hurt me until
| was about mile from our lines. and
then they hit my motor. Fortunately
I still had altitude enough to drift on
to our own side of the lines, for my
motor was completely out OF commits
sion. They just raised the dickens
with me all the time / was descend
ing. and began to think would
strike the ground before crossing the
line, but there was n slight wind In
my favor, and 1t carried me two miles
behind our lines. There the balloons
had gone out to get had the satisfac-
tion of "pin-pointing" me. Through
the directions which they were able to
give to their artillery they commenced
shelling my machine where it lay.
This particular work Is TO direct the
fire of their artillery, and they are
used Just as the artillery observation
airplanes are. Usually two men are
stationed In each balloon. They ascend
to height OF several thousand feet
about five miles behind their own lines
and are equipped with wireless and
signaling apparatus. They watch the
burst of their own artillery, check up
the position, get the range, and direct
the next shot.
When conditions are favorable they
are able to direct the shots so accu-
rately that 1t is quick work destroying
the object of their attack. 1t was such
balloon as this that got my position,
marked me out, called for an artillery
shot, and they commenced shelling my
machine where II lay. IL | had got
the two balloons instead Of the air.
plane, probably would not have lost
my machine, for he would In all proba'
bility have gone on home and not both
cred about getting my range and caus
ing the destruction Of my machine.
landed In part OF the country
that was literally covered with shell
holes. Fortunately my machine was
not badly damaged by the forced land
Ing. | lelsurely got out walked around
II to see what the damage was, ant
concluded that 1t could be easily re
paired. In fact, | thought II coult
find space long enough between shel
holes to get n start before leaving th'
ground that / would be able to fly or
from there.
I was still examining my plane ant
considering the matter Of few sligh
repairs, without any particular though
for my own safety In that unprotected
spot, when shell came whizzlnl
through the air, knocked me to tn
ground and landed a few feet away
II had no sooner struck than / mad
run for cover and crawled into
shell hole. I would have liked to ge
farther away, but didn't know wher
the next shell would burst, and
thought | was fairly safe there, so
squatted down and let them blaz
away.
The only damage l suffered wa
from the mud which splattered up 1
my face and over my clothes. Tha
was my Introduction to shell hole
, and resolved right there that the ir
fantry could have all the shell-hol
fighting they wanted, but 1t did no
appeal to me, though they live In ther
: through many a long night and l ha
] only sought shelter there for fe,
; minutes.
= After the Germans had completed
demolished my machine and cease
' firing. I waited there short tim'
: fearing perhaps they might send owe
r u lucky shot, hoping to get me afte
! all. But evidently they conclude
( enough shells had been wasted on on
{ man. / crawled out cautiously, shoe
the mud Off, and I looked over In tn
}. direction where my machine had ono
d been. There wasn't enough left for
n decent souvenir, but nevertheless l Sc
$ a few, "such as they WERE" and reat
n lily observing that nothing could b
Y done with what was left, made m
v way back to infantry headquarter
S where l was able to telephone in
Q report.
t A little later one of our autom
It biles came out after me and took n
l. back to our airdrome. Most of N
squadron thought l was lost beyon
s doubt, and never expected to see ii
o again. but my friend, Paul Raney, h0
II held out that / was all right, and ,
It / was afterwards told, said, don
send for another pilot; that Irishma
t. will be back. If he has to walk" Al
l. he knew that the only thing that kel
# me from walking was the fact that OF
h own automobile had been sent out
a. bring me home.
e | had lots to think about that da
IS and / had learned many things; OF
e was not to have too much copfden'
}. In my own ability. One Of the men
t. the squadron told me that | had be
l- ter not take those chances; that
'e was going to be long war and
" would have plenty of opportunities
Is be killed without deliberately "wishll
p them on myself. Later was to lea
e. the truth of his statement.
D. That night my "flight'-each squa
"a ron IL divided info three FLIGHTS. co