The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-10-19
YANKEE DOWNS
Il BALLOONS
Boy of Nineteen Is Hero of the
American Army.
TAKES DESPERATE CHANCES
Volunteers for Most PerlIous Air
Work, Going Out on Stunts Aston.
ishing to His Comrades, and Also
Probably Astonishing to the Enemy
Eddie Rlckenbacker, Former Auto
Racer, Has Downed Seven.

ndCer-7aS DoWned seven.
The First army has its cap off to
Frank Luke, who has brought down
IL enemy observation balloons and
n plane within a week. Luke vol
unteered for probably the most peril
Gus air work, going out on stunts as
tonisbing to his comrades, and also
probably astounding to the enemy,
writes Frederick A. Smith in the Chi
cago Tribune.
l sought out this demigod of avia-
ton who has become In a few days
the American ace of aces in balloon
destruction, and found him to be q
boy of nineteen, whose blue eyes show
ingenious surprise when he Is asked
about his exploits. His enterprises
contribute to the fine record of Amer
lean ~aviators in this offensive. Sixty
three Boche planes have been downed
in a week, nine Of which are already
officially recorded, and 80 balloons.
Chicago Boy Downs One.
Thorne G. Taylor, son of Judge Tay-
Tor of Chicago, dropped one, adding to
his already fine record. Eddie Ricken-
hacker, former auto racer, just out Of
the hospital after Il mastoid operation,
added three to his string, two of which
are official, giving him sever Boche air.
men to date.
When the offensive opened volun-
teers were asked for balloon attacks.
Luke and Joseph +. Wehner of Ev-
they had only been pilots at the front
for a few months. They started, but
became separated; but each got a
balloon. That means they went singly
far across the foes line and flew close
to the ground under the fire of machine
guns and aircraft guns, which, with
Flaming onions We're filling the air
with fire. The onions are balls of fire
intended to ignite the plane.
1t is said that Luke In the Marine
campaign followed a Boche ace far
into German territory and dropped
him, but there was nc chance to con-
firm this for the official record. That
was his first blood, and he determined
his next accomplishment should be
made official. After dropping the bal
loon i'm flames Luke recrossed oul
lines, ,alighting near an American OBJ
servation balloon and getting an i'm
mediate written statement from the
observer, who saw the battle.
The next day Luke was accompa
MED by Wehner, yho, falling behind
and reaching the other side Of the Ger
man front, was just i'm time to discover
Luke sending down a balloon in flames
unconscious of the fact that seven Hun
planes were right on his tail. Wehner
rising, came down OF the Boche near
est Luke, shooting down the Hun ant
saving his comrade. -Wehner ther
crippled another Boche, both then es
Gaping. Luke's plane was riddled, I
bullet hitting under the seat back o.
him, damaging the tank and cutting
strut.
Attacks Antiaircraft Guns.
Saturday Luke went out with 10,
Dawson, getting another balloon. Blu
he was piqued because the bag didn'
burn, and descended almost to tn
ground, driving the antiaircraft gun
ners away from their pieces.
Young Luke, who quit school II
Phoenix, Ariz., to enter the wal
causes Germany a loss of $1,000 TO
each balloon dropped, In addition t
valuable instruments and maps requir
Ing months to make. On Monday eve
ming Luke and Wehner announced tina
they would get three, the first at Z Ill
the second at 7:30 and the third q
T:45. Observers near the front sa,
the three fall almost exactly on sched
ule. The daring flyers were forced t
return after dark, but were guided b
> rockets and flares. and finally reache
home, both wrecking their machines 1
: alighting.
) The Arizona boy one night on r.
I turning after bagging two more wa
forced to land far away and was pickle
2 up after walking some distance, SUI
pected as q German In an America
uniform. He proved his identity, br
was forced to wait until morning b,
fore returning to his airdrome.
Rickenbacker Is q different style
9 battler. "He lies In the SUM-" ofte
3 10000 feet high, attacking only whe
he has the advantage or some con
! rade beneath needs help. He Away
Y flies alone. On Saturday, northeast
viguelles, Rickenbacker encounters
8 four Boches who were pursuing Anne
Q lean bombers back toward u line
8 He Unanswered into the sun and can
. down on the rear German, then risiT
sharply or "zooming the German" Il
escaped to q safe altitude easily.