The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-07-16
MERE BOY is KING OF AIR,
KEEPS HUN OUT or CLOUDS

LONDON, June 3o---6reatest of all
living aviators, in the estimation of
aviarors themselves, is Capt. James
by ford McCudden, the twenty-five
year old hoy who was recently awarded
the Victoria Cross.
McCudden Has brought down more
enemy planes than such famous flyers
MS Guynemer, Ball and Bishop. The
late German champion, Baron Won
Rrchtofcn, who was killed recently,
had more victories to his credit, but
a>IatOrs state that the German flyers
are credited with victories in cir.
cumstances under which Allied flyers
cannot fatten their totals. 1t is a
question Of how reliable the German
records are, but Allied flyers are
careful not to try to detract from the
glory of the enemy champion.
McCudden has accounted for fifty
four enemy planes, and forty-two Of
these have been definitely destroyed.
He destroyed four planes in ninety
minutes. Nineteen of the destroyed
planes fell on the British side of the
line.
How " @. Was Won
No wonder that, in recounting the
fcats of the young British champion,
even the writer's of the sober Official
Gazette are inspired to use the Ian
guage Of enthusiastic admiration. They
tell us that Sec. Lieut.. Temporary
captain) James Byford McCudden,
D. S. O., NJ. c., NJ. NJ, Royal Flying
CORPS, has now received the V. C. for
conspicuous bravery, exceptional per
severance, keenness and very high
devotion to duty on various occasions
during December, 1917, and January
and February of the present year -
Capt. McCudden also has the Dis
tirguished Service Order, the Military
Cross and the Military Medal. More
over, he has added bar TO both his
d. s. o. and his Military Cross.
1.-The Military Medal" says the Of
fetal announcement, twas awarded
this officer, then a flight sergeant in
the R. F. c., for CONSTANT galIantry,
courage and dash during the month
If September, 1916, in attacking and
forcing two others to land. He also
twice crossed the enemy lines at n
very low altitude in attacks on hos
tile balloons under very heavy fire.
1.-THE Military Cross was awarded
on February Is, 1917, on which oc-
rasion this officer followed a hostile
machine down to q height of 300 feet,
and drove it to the ground.
"Capt. McCudden earned the bar
to his Military Cross for conspicuous
gaIlnntry, dash and skill during the
ucriod of August Is to September rs,
1917, when he took part in many of
frpsive patrols lover thirty of which
he led) and destroyed Ave enemy ma
chimes, driving three others down out
of control.
Daring Encounters
"The Distinguished Service Order
was bestowed on him for conspicuous
caIlantry on November %, 1917, when
he attacked and brought down an
enemy twO-seater within our lines,
both occupants being taken prisoner
He alsD encountered an enemy machine
during very bad weather conditions
at 1000 feet and fought it down to a
height of one hundred feet, when il
WAS destroyed. Capt. McCudden came
down to within a few feet of the
ground in the cnemy's lines, and final
iv eros sed the line at a very low alti
tude Subsequent to the award of the
bar to the Military Cross he had been
responsible for the destruction OF
se!"u errmy machines, two of which
fell Within our lines.
"For his skill and gallantry on No