The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-02
MEDAL OF HONOR
and A VICTORIA
CROSS FOR This
MARINE AVIATOR
American Lieutenant Shot
Down 5 German Planes
and Damages Two
SPRAYED INFANTRY
WITH MACHINE GUN
Took One Prisoner By
Bluff and Rescues a
Wounded Frenchman

London, Sept. First Lieut.. Ed
mund G. Chamberlain, of San An
tonic, Texas, a graduate Of Prince
ton and the University of Texas and
an aviator attached to the United
States Marine corps, has received
simultaneous recommendation for
the Victoria Cross and the congress
sional medal of honor for an exploit
in which he figured on July IS.
On that day over the British front
he took part in an aerial battle with
twelve German machines. He de-
stroyed five of them, damaged two
others and sweeping eastward with
a damaged plane, scattered de-
tachment of a, German infantry. At
ter he landed he bluffed three others
into believing his compass was a
bomb and captured one of them. He
then carried wounded French Off
Ger back to safety and finally re-
fused to give his name to the British
officers in command of aerial forces
in that section Of the front, because
OF his fear of being reprinanded.
Lieut.. Chamberlain appeared at a
British aviation camp on July and
informed the major in command that
he had personal, but not official per-
ission to visit the camp. This is
borne out by the young mans supe-
rior who says that Lieut.. Chamber
lain had asked to be permitted to go
up near the front during a furlough
because he desired to get some more
experience before resuming his work.
Could "Go Along" .
The British commander was In
need Of aviators and, as there was a
n laqVa
told Lieut. Chamberlain he could go
along. On this flight, the young
American brought down one German
airplane in flames and sent another
whiTling down out Of control.
The next day came Lieut.. Cham
berlain's wonderful exploit. He was
one of a detachment Of thirty avia-
tors who went out over the battle
field through which the Germans
were being driven by the allies. AS
the thirty machines scared about
over the fleeing Teutons, they were
attacked by an equal number of Ger
man planes. It was hurricane bat
tie from the first and almost at the
inception Of the battle the British
lost three planes. In the tempest of
machine gun bullets that roared
about his machine, Lieut.. Chamber
lain's engine was damaged. One Of
his machine guns became jamned,
and he seemed to be out Of the ac-
ton.
But, instead of starting for home,
he remained to offer assistance to
two other airplanes, which had been
attacked by twelve German ma
chimes.
His machine had lost altitude, ow-
ing to engine trouble but, when he
was attacked by q German, he open
ed such a hot fire that the enemy
went into dive toward the earth.
His two companions were now en-
gagged in a life and death and Lieut..
ance. His action probably saved the
lives Of the two Englishmen.
His engine was now working bet
ter. He climber up toward the en-
envy, and, with a burst of fire, sent
one OF them crashing to the earth.
second was shattered with anoth-
er volley from his machine gun.
Then Lieut.. Chamberlain leeped out
Of q Gordon Of enemy machines
which had gathered to finish him
and, as he sailed away, he shot the
Leader Shot Down.
The leader Of the German SQUAD
ron came straight at him but was
met with such a torrent of bullets
that the airplane Joined the others
sent to earth by the American.
The lieutenant turned for the Brit
ish lines, his engine dead" and he
was forced to Yolplane, carefully
picking his way through the smoke
clouds Of shells fired at him by
the enemy's anti-aircraft cannon.
AS he made a wide sweep toward
his destination, he saw beneath him
a column of German troops and into
1t he poured a gust Of machine gun
bullets from the gun which had been
damned, but which he had succeeded
in putting into action again. The
Germans scattered and Lieutenant
Chamberlain flew on for an eighth
of mile and came to earth.
He had found that he could not
carry off the equipment of his ma
chine, so he took his compass and
started running across the fields. As
he did so he encountered a patrol OF
three Germans. He shouted to them
to surrender. waving a compass
above his head, like a bomb. Two
OF the enemy ran, but the third sur
rendered.
Picked Up Wounded Man.
The American started again for
the British lines. but came upon a
wounded French officer, whom he
picked up 0and carried driving his
prisoner before him. He waded a !
brook under heavy fire, and finally
arrived within the British lines in
safety with the French officer and
the German prisoner
He then reported ready for duty"
asked the major in command of the
British airmen not to make any re-
port of the affair and refused to give
his name. The major was unable 10
keep the affair quiet and the full
details were made apart of his Off
ciaI report of the days fighting.
Lieut.. Edmond c. Chamberlain
was born June ia. 1891, at San An
tonic. Texas.
During the period when American
troops We're grouped along the Mex
lean border he did scouting duty
along the Rio Grande. He became a |
second lieutenant of the marine
corps on August 1, 1918.
lie was officiall reportd to have
been engaged in bombing raids over
the enemy lines, according to ap-
prevail made at Washington on Aug.
25.
EARN FIRST LODGE FUNDS.
Women shock Grain TO Start Their
Organization