The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-25
AMERICAN AIRMEN STIR ENTHUSIASM
 DURING FLIGHTS

With American Aviators in Franca, Oct. 25-(Correspondence of The Associated Press)-The start of an American bombing squadron on a raid ! into German territory is a spectacle to stir the enthusiasm of an Ameri- can and inspire him with an appre- | citation of Americas growing strength ] in the air. The squadron already had been over the German lines twice that day with fair success and the aviators lounsed in shady spots jibing one an- | other or idly commenting upon the | evolutions of practice airplanes over head, when the correspondent of The Associated Press visited the flying field.
 | Out of a concealed and camoufaged office hut there stepped suddenly the flight leader, Lieut.. Gunderlach, who already has heen named in the official American communique for prowess in the air.
 The aviators sprang to their feet and gathered around their leader for the final instructions. He had not been at all satisfied with the two performances of the day. They had shown a tendency to struggle over- much and had not kept sufficiently "bunched."
 Hot criticism poured from his lips and the youngsters were silent in em- barrassment. The leader did not spare them, but iterated and reiter- ated that "the formation is the thing, the squadron is the thing" and, final ly, God help a .straggler."
 Then, the ordeal over, the aviators went silently to their quarters for their great heavy, Arctic clothing. IT the turn of a hand they were back on the field, swathing and swaddling themselves to the eyes, tucking choco- late into their pockets (for they get hungry up in the air) or breaking open fresh packages of chewing gum which helps to alleviate nervousness and has steadying effect.
 The last machine gun has been test- ed, the last propeller had been twirl- ed until it revolved at lightning speed The commander gave an almost i'm F perceptible wave of his hand. AirDlane number one, bearing tho flight leader, threw off it's restraining mechanics and swept in a big curve across the field, "taxi-ing' clumsilJ across the field with it's weight o1
 bombs, to position from which il 7 could rise at the head of the group
 One by one the others followed suit
 taking up position just behind anc to the right and left of the leader
 until they were spread out like { : huge covey of ungainly but marvel : ously colored birds. As they waited they tossed out rockets which, despite the brilliant sunlight, flared blind
 ing red and white. The test was complete. They were ready for tn:
 start.
 Again the commander gave signal : The noise If the motors rose to deaf
 ening proportions. The great covey began to move, gained speed as thel
 sped northward across the field, theI
 one after another took off, thi ground. All the clumsiness of tht "taxi-ing' was gone. The machines had become graceful birds in fact.
 Swiftly they rose, while still withf:
 sight, to a great height, looking fol all the world like a flock of geese wit! , the leader at the neck of the forma tion Later on, when about to eros
 the line, they would draw closer to
 gether into a compact, tightly-kni group, but always following, whethe,
 to left or right, the two little white