The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-10-21
BOMBING SQUADRON'S
START SPECTACULAR
Preliminaries to Raid into Enemy
Country Inspire Appreciation Of
Our Power in the Air.

WITH AMERICAN ANIATORS IN
FRANCE, Sept. 30 correspondence of
The Associated Press The start of an
American bombing squadron on raid |
into German territory is a spectacle to |
stir the enthusiasm of an American and |
inspire him with an appreciation 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 lounged III
shady spots jibing one another or idly
commenting upon the evolutions of prac-
tee airplanes overhead, when the cor
respondent of The Associated Press Wis
! tied the flying field.
Out of a concealed and camoutiaged
office hut there stepped suddenly the
flight leader, Lieutenant Gunderlach, who
already has been 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
straggle over much and had not kept
sufficiently punched"
| Hot criticism poured from his lips and
| the youngsters were silent in embarrass-
ment. The leader did not spare them,
but iterated and reiterated that 1.-The for
nation is the thing, the squadron is the
/ thing" and finally, God help stray
gler"
! Then. the ordeal over, the aviators
went silently to their quarters for their
great heavy. Arctic clothing In the
turn of hand they were back on the
field, swathing and swaddling themselves
to the eyes, tucking chocolate into their
4 pockets flor they get hungry up in the
air. or breaking open a fresh package of
chewing gum, which helps to alleviate
nervousness and has a steadying effect.
! The last machine gun had been tested,
, the last propeller had been twirled I'M
; til it revolved at lightning speed. The
commander gave an almost impcrcapti-
BILE wave of his hand.
Airplane number one, bearing the
flight leader threw off its restraining
mechanics and swept in enc big curve
across the field taking" clumsily
across the field with its weight OF
bombs, to a position from which il
could rise at the head Of the group.
One by one the Others followed suit
taking up position just behind and tC
!, the right and left of the leader unit
: they were spread out like huge covey
: of ungainly but marvellously colored
birds As they waited they tossed ou
! rockets which, despite the brilliant sun
! light farcd binding red and white
! The test was complete. They were
ready for the start.
Again the commander gave signal
the noise of the motors rose to deafen
7 ing proportions. The great covey begal
!, to move, gaining speed as they spec
II northward across the field. then one afte
: another ''took off the ground. All tn
y clumsincss of the taxing" was gon,
:, The machines had become graceful bird
s. in fact
g Swiftly they rose while still With
y sight, to a great height, looking for a
the world like flock of geese with I'll
leader at the neck of the formation
y Later ON. when about to cross the lin
i they would draw closer together into
y compact, tightly knit group. but alwa1
Y following, whether to left or right. Il
Y two little white pennants streaming OF
~ from the leaders machine.