Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-21
Start of American
Bombing Squadron
Inspiring Spectacle
Correspondence Associated Press1

Correspondence Associated Press.l
with American Aviators in France
Sept 2S.---The start of an American
bombing squadron on a raid into Ger
man 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
in shady spots jibing one another or
idly commenting upon the evolutlons OF
practice airplanes overhead, when the
correspondent of the Associated Press
visited the flying field.
Out of a concealed and Camouflaged
office hut there stepped suddenly the
flight leader Lieutenant Gunderlach.
who already has been named in the
official American communicate 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 ten
dency to straggle over-much and had
not kept sufficiently punched"
Hot criticism poured from his lips
and the youngsters were silent in EN-
barrassment. The leader did not spare
them but iterated and reiterated that
1.-The formation is the thing. the squad
, ron is the thing" and. finally, God help
a straggler."
Then, the ordeal over. the aviators
ILL ~. fnv hptr
great. heavy. Arctic clothing. In the
turn Of a hand they were back on the
field. swathing and swaddling them
selves to the eyes, tucking chocolate
into their pockets (for they get hungry
up in the air) or breaking open fresh
package of chewing gum, which helps
to alleviate nervousness and has q
steadying effect.
The last machine gun had been
tested. the last propeller had beer
twirled until it revolved at lightning
speed. The commander gave an almost
imperceptible wave of his hand.
Airplane number one. bearing the
flight leader. threw off it's restraining
mechanics and swept in a big curve
across the field. taxi ing" clumsily
across the field with it's weight OF
bombs. to a position from which ii
could rise at the head of the group.
One by one the others followed suit
taking up position just behind and to
the right and left of the leader until
they were spread out like huge covey
of ungainly but marvelously colored
birds. AS they waited they tossed out
rockets which. despite the brilliant
sunlight. fared a binding red and
white. The test was complete. They
were ready for the start.
4, Again the commander gave a signal
The noise of the motors rose to deafen-
ing proportions. The great covey be-
gan to move. gained speed as they sped
northward across the field then one
after another took off" the ground
All the clumisness of the "taxi-ing
was gone. The machines had become
graceful birds in fact.
Swiftly they rose, while still within
sight, to great height. looking for al
the world like a flock of geese with the
| leader at the neck Of the formation
Later on. when about to cross the line
they would draw closer together into
a compact, tightly-knit group, but al
ways following. whether to left OF
right, the two little white pennants
streaming out from the leaders, ma
chine. s~