Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-22
WITH THE YANKS
ON REAL BOMB
ING EXPEDITION

WIN -hlueIFid1l +ANlatOrS IN France,
Sept. 17-(Correspondence of the AS
sociated Press)-The start of an Am
erican bombing squadron on a raid
INTO German territory is a spectacle
TO stir the enthusiasm of an Ameri-
can and inspire him with apprecia
ton of Americas growing power in
the air.
The squadron already had been
over the German lines twice that
day with fair success and the ayia-
tors lounged in shady spots jibing
one another or idly commenting up
on the eVolutions of practice air
planes overhead, when the corre-
spond of the Associated Press visit
ed the flying field.
out of concealed and camou-
tagged Office hut there stepped sud-
denly the flight leader, Lieutenant
iunderlach, who already has been
named in the official Amrican COM
munlque for provinces in the air.
Ihe avlators 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 tendency to straggle over
much and had not kept sufficiently
punched"
His criticism poured from his lips
and the youngsters were silent with
embarrassment. The leader did not
spare them, but iterated and reit-
Grated that "the formation is the
thing, the squadron is the thing"
and, finally. God help a straggler. "
Then the ordeal over, the aviators
went silently to their quarters for
their great, heavy, Arctic clothing.
In the turn of a hand they were
back on the field, swathing and
swaddling themselves to the eyes.
tucking chocolate into their pockets
for they get hungry up in the air) or
breaking open a fresh package of
chewing gum, which helps to al
leviate nervousness and has a stea-
dying effect.
The last machine gun had been tested.
the last propeller had been twirled unit!
1t revolved at lightning speed. The
commander gave an almost impercepti-
PIE wave OF his hand.
Airplane number one. bearing the
fight leader, threw of its restraining
mechanics and swept in a big curve
across the field. "taxi-ing" clumsily
across the field with it's weight of bombs
to position from which it could rise
at the head of the group.
One by one the others followed suit
taxing up position just behind and to the
right and left of the leader until thew
were spread out like a huge covev of
ungainly but marvelously colored birds.
AS they waited they tossed out rockets
which, despite the brilliant sunlight.
iared binding red and white. The
test was complete. They were ready
for the start.
Again the commander gave a signal.
Inc noise of the motors rose to deafen-
ing proportions. The great covey began
to move, gained speed as they sped
northward across the field, then one
after another took off, the ground. All
the clumsiness Of the "taxi-ing" was
gone The machines had become grace
full birds in fact
Swiftly they rose, while still within
sight, to great height, looking for all
the world like flock of geese with the
leader at the neck of the formation Lat
er on, when about to cross the line. they
would draw closer together into a COM
pact. tightly-knit group. but always fol.
lowing. whether to left or right, the two
little white pennants streaming out from
the leaders machine.