Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-06
FONCK, A|RF|CHTER,
HOLDS WARS RECORD
"Ace of Aces" Brought Down
Six Germans in One Day; 3
in 90 Seconds.
Paris, June 19.-Licutenant Rene Fonck

Paris, June 10. Lieutenant Rene Fonck
| the young French "acc of aces fought
three distinct battles in the air when,
| on May s, he brought down six German
nirplanes in one day. His record never
has been equalled in aviation.
All three engagements were fought
within two hours. In all Fonck fired
only Sc shots, an average Of little more
than nine bullets for each enemy brought
down; an extraordinary record IN view
of the fact that aviators often fire hundred
OF rounds without Gripping their oppo-
ment.
The first fight, in which Lieutenant
Fonck brought down three German
machines, lasted only minute and n
half and the young Frcnchman fired only
twenty-five shots.
Although Iieutenan Fonck is officially
credited with bringing down AZ enemy
airplanes in all, military avlators be
lieve that he has sent down Mt least 90
machines. He is twenty-four years old,
is cool in battle and handles both machine
gun and airplane with great skill
Fonck was leading two other companions
on patrol in the Morcuil Montdidler
sector on May s when the French squa-
dron met three German two-seater AR
planes coming toward them IN arrow
formation. Signaling to his companions,
Lieutenant Fonck dived at the leading
German plane and. with n few shots,
sent il down in flames Fonck turned
TO the left and the second Hun followed
in an effort To attack him from behind,
but the Frenc Imam made a quick turn
above him and with FIVE shots sent the
second Hun down to death. Ten seconds
had barely elapsed between the two
victories
The third Hun headed for home but,
when Lieutenant Fonck apparently gave
IN the chase and turned back towards
the French lines, the German went after
him and was flying parallel and little
below, when Fonck made n quick turn,
drove straight at him and sent him down
within a half mile Of the spot where his
two comrades hit tho earth. This ended
the first engagement.
Several German obSCrv alton balloons
had been brought down ny French avlators.
Lieutenant Fonck returned to his camp
and waited three quarters OF an hour
for the Germans TO learn Of that TACT
and send their chaser planes to the scene
az action Then he, with two companies
went out to meet them Above Mont
didicr. he came upon German piano
which was regulating the enemy artillery
fire. divcd 1000 feet and sent the German
planc to earth with few shots Taking
refuge in cloud Fonck lost has two
companions Emerging from the mist
to start for his own lines Lieutenant
Fonck saw before HIM four singlc-scat
Pfalz airplancs protected. at 300
feet above. bv FIVE German Albatrosses,
making for the French trenches with the
convoving planes leading. In ten
second flight. Fonck overlook thhc rear
Pfalz machine. fred and saw II fall
At the sound Of his gun. the two Pfalz
machines in the center OF the German
group turned. one 10 the right and the
other to the left to attack the daring
Frenchman but FonCk drove hIs air
plane swiftly ahead and overlook the
fourth Pfalz machine \ few shots
under its tail sent it down in flames and
the victor flew off to safety, leaving the
two other Pfalzs and five Addresses
wondering what had struck the squadron.
The air fights were staged from 1900
to 6 700 feet up The first German fell
AT 4.O5 q IN and the last ut b65 p. m.
Lieutenant Fonck used an ordinary
Spad machine equipped with two rapid
fire guns. He has been pilot since 1915
passing into a chaser squadron about q
wear ago. On the day following his SIX
victories he was made an officer OF the
Legion Of Honor and subsequently was
promoted first lieutenant