The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-08-30
AMERICAN<ACE BRINGS
DOWN MANY AIRPLANES
Since December, 1917, Has De-
stroyed 20 Enemy Planes and
One Balloon.

impression there is nothing eXtraOr-
dirary in the making of n star of the
air fleet OF the big things he has
done he tells in in so quiet a wav
that they appear ordinary. His
fight took place. June 5. when he
engaged 10 Germans and shot down
five OF them.
year ago he was feeling his way
on Penguin, the machine that is
given to all beginners because II can
not fly of the ground Now his ay-
erage is three victories a month
having destroyed 20 enemy planes
and an observation bolloon since his
debut. December 20, 1917. Not all
OF these have been officially record
ed.
Putnam shows in the air the same
ardent aggressiveness that the Ger
mans have been grieved to observe
In our infantry. Like great many
new fiiers, he sailed bildIy over the
lines far into the territory occupied
by the Germans to provoke battle.
In consequence number of his vic
tories could not be officially confirm
ed and the risks were largely in
creased. Twice he has had to plane
back over the lines with his motor
out or commission and his machine
shot up.
After seven months training and
one months service at the front he
fought his first battle and won II
January 10. Wally Winter. of Chi
cago, flying in the same patrol. said
Putnam saved him during this fight
putnam now saye he was the man
who was saved by Winter FLYING
in high wind that bore him over
into the enemy's territory he sighted
two Germans below him making for
the French lines. Eae drove after
them and got one AZ 1000 yards
height. Then he discovered that the
other German was manoeuyering
above him and that higher up Win
ter was coming down followed by two
more of the enemy. He took height
to meet Winter and the Germans
abandoned the fight.
A curious accident in his second
fight. January =, gave Putnam tho
unpleasant sensation OF being at his
adversaries mercy. He made such a
sharp drive after his man that his
machine turned turtle and all his
spare ammunition fell out. He had
fired his last cartridge from his gun.
when the German wabbled and
crashed about two miles inside the
German lines. Putnams last shot
had done for him.
A week later he had another mar
row escape when in a fight with four
two-seaters his machine was shot al
most to pieces. He just managed to
drive under his adversaries and
plane back to the French lines.
Putnam began work with the
squadron of Lieutenant Madon on
monoplane March IA and the same
day ran into a patrol of Is Germans.
knowing he had the advantage in
speed he decided to make quick at
tach, then dive. All the Germans
least, in dizzy nose spin, making
the third success officially credited
ohm. The next day he downed a
two-eater in a fight with two; his
gun jammed and he had to dive
away from the second.
One Of his longest and hardest
combats was April IL when he en-
gagged four two-seaters during 35
minutes. One of them crashed.
The afternoon OF the following day
he ran into one Of the German "cir-
cusses;' there were six in the group
and he got two OF them. These
made five adversaries shot down be-
tween March IA and April II from
a monoplane. 4
Engaged at close quarters with a 4
two-seater on May Is he got neart
enough to see the German gunnerI
fall forward on his quick'sfirer when
he sent a bullet home. Putnam was
brought down himself for the. first
time June 2. but without personal
damage. He was one OF two fighters
protecting two,s accommodating MAJ
chimes when he sighted IL Germans.
He signalled, but the reconnoitering
planes continued their course. Two
minutes later theRGermans came on
in two groups, one OF five above and
one OF six below The reconnoiter-