American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-06-21
BROUGHT DOWN SIX PLANES IN
ONE DAY.

-
The news has just come from Paris
that Lieutenant Rene Fonck. the young
French ace OF aces" fought three
distinct battles In the air on May s
and brought down sir German air
planes. His record never has been
equalied In aviation.
All three engagements we're fought
within two hours. In all Fonck fired
only SO shots. an average OF little
than nine for each enemy brought
down. This Ia an extraordinary rec
ord In view OF the fact that ayiatOrs
onen fire hundreds OF rounds Without
~grippllng their opponent.
The first fight. In which Lieutenant
FDnck brought down three German
machines. lasted only a minute and a
hall and the young Frenchman fired
only % shots.
Although Lieutenant FOnck Is Off
clally credited with bringing down az
enemy planes In all. military avlators
believe that he has sent down al least
80 machines. lie IL "a years old. Is
cool in battle. and handles both ma
chine and gun with great skill.
Fonck was leading two other com
panious on a patrol in the Moroiul-
M0nfdidier sector On May 5 when the
French squadron met three German
aeo-seater airplanes coming toward
them Ia narrow formation. signaling
10 his companions Fonck Owed at the
leading German plane and with o few
shots. sent Il down Ia flames. Fonck
turned 10 the left and the second Ger
-. 49, L.. -. .Ff.rf a.. aNTuAL
him from behind. but the Frenchman
made q quick turn above him and
viii five shots sent the second Hun
down 70 death. Ten seconds had bare
~ elapsed between the two victories,
The third German plane headed for
home. when Lieutenant Fonck appar-
entity gave up the chase and turned
toward the French lines. the German
went after him and was flying parallel
and q little below. when FOnck made
a quick turn. dove straight Al him and
sent him down within half a mile OF
fhs spot where his two companions
hit the earth This ended the engage-
mcnt
Several German observation balloons
had been brought down by French av.
AALNN|a AfAtANNAAMA AWAiNA A'NWN -
his camp and waited three quarters
of an hour for the Germans 10 learI
OF that fact and send their chase.
planes "a the scene OF action Then he
with two companions. went out q
meet them Above Montdidier he cam
upon a German plane which vas reg
nlatlng tho enemy artillery fire. dives
20e0 feet and sent the German plan
a. earth with a few shots. Takinl
refuge IN q cloud Fonck lost his W.
companions. Emerging from the mis-
a. start for his own linea Lieutenan
t'onck saw before him four single
eatcr Pfalx alrplanes protected. a
1900 feet above. by five German Alba
trosses. making for the French trench
- with the convoy planes leading
In a ten second night Fonck overtooI
shc rear pfalf machine. fired. and "a
A. fall
At the sound OF his gun the ia.
pfais machines In the center OF IA
German group turned. one TO the lel
aud The other 90 the right. 20 attac
the daring F~rcnchman, but Fonc
drove his airpiane swiftly ahead, an
overlook the fourth Pfalr machine.
few shots under is tail sent Il dow.
IA flames and The victor flew of I
safety. ieaving tho two other Pfaiz
and five Aibatross wondering wha
had struck the squadron.
The air fights we're staged from $50
10 500 feet up The first German fel
az t.o5 D. IA and the last at 1855 p. m