The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-07-06
ACE DOWNS SIX
PLANES;F|GHTS3
BATTLES IN DAY
Record Of Lieutenant Fonck
Never Has Been Equa|ed
In Aviation.

PARIS, July 4. 49, Lieut.. Rene
Fonck, the young French lace of
aces" fought three distinct battles in
the air when, on May 8, he brought
down six German airplanes in one
day. His record never has been
equaled in aviation.
All three engagements were fought
only Sc shots. an average of little
more than 9 bullets for each enemy
brought down; an extraordinary
record in view of the fact that await
ors often fire hundred of rounds with
out Gripping their opponent.
The first fight, in which Lieutenant
Fonck brought down three German
machines, lasted only minute and
a half and the young Frenchman fired
only % shots.
Although Lieutenant Fonck is Of
flcially credited with bringing down
~ enemy airplanes in all, military
aviators believe that he has sent down
at least 60 machines. He is "a years
old, is cool in battle and handles both
| machine gun and airplane with great
skill.
Fonck was leading two other COM
| panions on a patrol in the Moreuil-
| Montdidier sector on May 8 when the
| French squadron met three German
| two-seater airplanes coming toward
| them in arrow formation. Signaling
to his companions, Lieutenant Fonck
dived at the leading German plane
and, with a few shots, sent it down in
flames. Fonck turned to the left and
to attack him from behind, but the
j! Frenchman made quick turn above
| him and with five shots sent the o.
ond Hun down to death. Ten seconds
had barely elapsed between the two
victories.
I The third Hun headed for home,
but, when Lieutenant Fonck app:r-
emily gave up the chase and turned
back towards the French lines, the
German went after him and was fly
ing parallel and little below, when
Fonck made quick turn, drove
straight at him and sent him down
| within half mile Of the spot where
his two comrades hit the earth.
This ended the first engagement.
Several German observation bal
| looms had been brought down by
French aviators. Lieutenant Fonc K
| returned to his camp and waited three
quarters Of an hour for the Germans
| ~ =
chaser planes to the scene of action.
Then he, with two companions went
out to meet them. Above Montdidier,
he came upon a German plane which
was regulating the enemy artillery
fire, dived 1000 feet and sent the
German plane to earth with a few
shots. Taking refuge in cloud
Fonck lost his two companions.
Emerging from the mist to start for
his own lines. Lieutenant Fonck saw
before him four single-seater Pfalz
airplanes protected, at 1900 hundred
feet above, by five German Albat-
rosses, making for the French
trenches with the conveying planes
leading. In a 10-second flight, Fonck
overlooked the rear Pfalz machine,
fred and saw it fall.
At the sound of his gun, the two
| PfalZ machines in the center of the
German group turned, one to the
right, and the other to the left to
attack the daring Frenchman, but
Fonck drove his airplane swiftly
ahead, and overlook the fourth Pfalz
machine. A few shots under its tail
sent it down in flames and the victor
flew off to safety, leaving the two
other LIS and five Albatrosses won.
derinG what had struck the squadron
The air fights were staged from
$500 to 5000 feet up. The first Ger.
man fell at 4:05 p. m. and the last
at 6:65 p. m.
Lieutenant Fonck used an ordinary
Spad machine equipped with two
rapid fire guns. He has been a pilot
since 1915, passing into chaser
squadron about a year ago. On the
! day following his six victories he was
made an officer of the Legion Of
Honor and subsequently was promoted
first lieutenant.
Kaiser, kultur. kamerad--all spelled
with a ok" What an awful thing tt
do to a perfectly innocent letter. The
poor thing may never recover from
such triple blow.