The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-05-29
British Aviator of Twenty-Five Is
the Most Successful of
Air Fighters.
DOWNS 81 ENEMY PLANES
Captain Mccudden Wins the Victoria
Cross and About Every Other Honor
His Government Can Bestow
for Gallantry.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS flying men or
men interested In flying meet today, be
Ii In Britain or at the British front in
France, there is only N name on
their lips. II Is that of Capt. James
Byford McCudden, who has just been
awarded the Victoria cross, the most
honorable decoration that British
valor can win, and who, In receiving
Ii, has been officially revealed as the
greatest and most successful air
fighter, living or dead, that the allies
have yet produced. Captain McCud-
den, who Is only twenty-five, has a big
ger bag of hostile machines brought
down than Bishop, Guynemer or Ball,
or any other flying man that the war
has brought forward, with the single
exception of Baron Won Richthofen,
who recently was killed In action.
McCudden's record of hostile ma
chimes accounted for up to February
81 was "a. OF these AZ were definitely
destroyed-four of them in just 80
minutes. 10 falling on the British side
of the lines. Only II out Of the "a
were driven down out of control.
Wins Victoria Cross.
No wonder that, In recounting the
feats of the young British champion,
even the writer's of the sober Official
Gazette are inspired to use the Ian
guage of enthusiastic admiration. They
tell us that Second Lieut.. Temporary
Captain) James Byford McCudden,
ID. s. o., M. c., M. NJ, Royal Flying
corps, has now received the V. G. "for
conspicuous bravery, exceptional per-
severance, keenness and very high de-
votion to duty on various occasions
during December, 1917, and January
and February Of the present year"
AS the other initials after his name
indicate, Captain McCudden also has
the distinguished service order, the
military cross and the military medal.
Moreover, he has added a bar to both
his d. s. o. and his military cross.
s"The military medal" says the off,
cial announcement, twas awarded this
officer (when a flight sergeant In the
r II. Co. for consistent gallantry.
courage and dash during the month of
September, 1910, In attacking and de-
~stroying an enemy machine and fore
Ing two others to land. He also twice
crossed the enemy lines at a very low
altitude In attacks on hostile balloons
under very heavy fire.
"The military cross was awarded for
conspicuous gallantry In action on
February 10, 1917, OF which occasion
this officer followed a hostile machine
down to a height Of 800 feet, and
drove 1t to the ground.
Conspicuous o~alIantry.
captain McCudden earned the bar
to his military cross for conspicuous
gallantry, dash and skill during the
period of August 15-September %,
1917, when he took part In many often
sive patrols (over thirty of which he
led), and destroyed five enemy ma.
chimes, driving three others down out
Of control.
1.-THE distinguished service order
was bestowed ON him for conspicuous
gallantry on November 20, 1917, wheI
he attacked and brought down an en-
envy two-seater within u lines. bott
occupants being taken prisoner. He
also encountered an enemy machine
during very bad weather conditions
at 1900 feet and fought 1t down to {
height of 100 feet, when 1T was de
stroyed. Captain McCudden cam
down to within q few feet Of tn,
ground In the enemy's lines and finall.
crossed the line at a very low altitude
Subsequent to the award of the bar t.
the military cross he had been respon
sible for the destruction Of seven enc
my machines, two of which fell within
our lines.
"For his skill and gallantry on No
vember %, 1917, Captain McCudder
was awarded a bar Of the distin
guished service order. On this occa
sion he destroyed four enemy ma
chimes, three Of which fell within oul
lines, by fearlessness and his clever
maneuvering. He also drove his pa
troll against six enemy machines, driv
ing them or"