Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-02-01
Walcott, Since Shot Down Over
German Lines, Tells of
Comrades Daring.
MAKES Dive or 1000 FEET
Aviator Reaches Ground Safely Al
though All the Wires on His Ma
chine Are Loosened Spend
Holiday in Air.

| Washington.-WO pictures of the
work of the members of the Lafayette
Squadron and other American aviators
in France are given in letters which
DR.. Charles d. WalcOtt, secretary of
the Smithsonian institution, has re-
ceived from his son, E. s. Walcott,
whose airplane fell somewhere be-
hind the German lines" along the west
ern front. The illusions TO the work
of the American aviators contained in
these letters are all the more interest
ing at this time in view of the fact
that the men about whom Walcott
wrote have just been commissioned in
the American air service on the rec
ommendation of General Pershing.
Doctor Walcott has received a dis
patch from Paris informing him that
his son fell within the enemy lines
December II while fighting three sin
gIe-seaters, after having demolished an
enemy two-seater, and that his fate is
uncertain. Inquiries are being made
to ascertain, if possible. from Germany
whether young Walcott was seriously
injured or not.
In letter dated November 10, in re-
Spouse TO an inquiry about Campbell.
ported lost, young Walcott wrote as
follows:
Campbell was in the Lafayette Es-
cadrille, and they are a member of the
same group as Squadron "a, so l have
asked them about him. He was on a
patrol with another chap; they attack
ed some Boches, and when it wasover
the other chap was alone. Campbell
was brought down in German territory
and so reported missing l believe the
chap he was with has seen and talked
to Campbell's father or some close rel
alive since.
Another chap named Bulkely was
brought down in similar circumstances
about the LIST of September Ten days
ago word was received from the Amer
lean embassy that he had communi
Gated with them, a prisoner in Ger
many.
"There are many similar cases
where men brought down with crippled
or wounded, escaped de-
struction by a miracle. The only sure
thing is when machine goes down in
flames or is seen to lose a wing or two.
'For instance. there are two officers
IN the group who are in the best of
health and daily working. Several
months ago they were on patrol TO-
yether and cOIlided in the air One
machine cut the tail rigging complete |
y off the other plane. and then they
one plane without a tail
md the other machine with various
)arts Of tail mixed among the cables /
md struts of one side of his machine. |
They both landed in France, one on his /
wheels. followed by a capotage, or
turnover, the other quite
upside down. Then a term
n the hospital, and back they are
gain.
Kenneth Mari. an American and Il
riend of Pete's, had the commands of
9th his controls cut in a combat, the
udder and elevator, leaving him moth
IL Dut INC diACiOns lhC DdiuntG
ontrol. and the motor. He landed with
My a skinned nose for casualties, and
OF a decoration for it.
Dives Vertically 10000 Feet
another chap, in an attack on cap
We balloons. dived for something like I
1000 feet vertically and with full mo-
,r on, thereby gaining considerable
Deed, as you can imagine. He came I
ght OH top of the balloon, shot and. ,
} keep from hitting 1T, yanked as I
,ughly as he could, fiattening out his {
we in the merest fraction of sec
nd. Imagine the strain on the ma {
line When he got home all the {
Tres had several inches sag in them; v
lie metal connections of the cables in '
the struts and wood of the wings
I'd bit into the wood enough to give ?
e sag. G
Machines are built to stand iIn-