The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-22
PHIL CAME DOWN IN
BRAVE FIGHT TO END
Topeka Ayiator's Fatal Crash De.
scribed by an Eye Witness.
When Plane Hit Ground 1t Exploded,
officer Writes From France.
BEST FLYER IN THE CAMP
Superior officers Pay Great Tribute to
Loyal Topekan Overseas.
He Gave His Life Safeguarding Lives
of Hundreds of Pilots.

Robert T. Billiard has received sew
regret at the death of Lieut. "PhiI'
Billiard. his brother, who recently was
killed in an aeroplane accident abroad,
while in line of duty.
Besides expressing the heartfelt
sympathy of friends, the letters are
invaluable to the Billiard family on
account of their brief description of
the manner in which the Topeka avia-
tor met his death. To most people
who have a loved one taking an active
part in the war. their greatest dread
is to hear, simply of his death-noth-
ing definite, no description-no soft
ening features which may make it
easier to bear-the worst fear of all
the unknown.
In a letter from Lieut. Paul Now
ers, written July IS. Lieutenant Now
ers says, IT was told of the accident
this evening by young aviator who
he said that Phil fought the plane all
the time of the fall. He tried his best
to right the plane but failed, the
result being-his death. The hard
part of the whole thing is that the
only way they knew who it was was
by the Identification tags. There was
absolutely nothing left of the boy, as
the machine seemed to explode when
it hit the ground, flying into a thou
sand pieces. 1t was one of the new
Liberty motors at that. This young
fellow told me also how well Phil wa !
liked by all and at the time was the
, chief tester at the camp. He was con-
-idered the best flyer at the camps by
the officers in charge and everybody
looked up to him. This, says Lieuten-
ant Mowers. is all that he was able to
find out about the accident but adds
that he will write further if he is able
to learn anything else.
Chief Testers Tribute.
Lieut.. William NJ. Conant, jr., chief
tester at the third aviation instruction
center writes on July rs as follows:
My duties here as chief tester gave
me occasion to watch PhiPs work
closely and 1 am writing you a few
lines to tell you that he was without
doubt one of the best men I had and
was absolutely fearless. His ability as
a pilot was unquestioned and it was
terrible blo'E to see him fall. His
death was instantaneous, so that there
was no suffering. His loss in the
country's service will be great because
in doing the work as he did, he safe
guarded the lives of hundreds of less
experienced pilots. His character was
excellent and he was all that a man
should be-" Lieutenant Conant en-
closed a check for $50. sixty francs in
cash and a gold ring, which was all of
value that could be found in his eff
feets.
Another letter is from Lieut.. Roy
E. Keeling, 636th aero squadron in
which Lieutenant Keeling says: Thru
long and intimate association, BILL
as he was always Familiarity called, and
1 became the strongest friends"
Lieutenant Keeling met Phil at
Garden City, New York, where they
| Joined the 50thl aero squadron.
I'VE came across on the same boat"
says Lieutenant Keeling, "eating at the
same table and being assigned to the
same hfeboat. We were together
during our stay in England, and came
across the channel together. During
our travels in France from post to
post, we have always shared compart-
mentS in trains and rooms in barracks.
/ We would always go to town together,
and share mutual joys and sorrows.
! We felt between US that great moving
power which only companionship in
arms can bring about; we were pals
in the largest and truest sense of the
I word"
It was in March. when according to
| Lieutenant Keeling, he and Phil we're
s parated, Billiard going to the Third
aviation center and Keeling to the
| Second. Later Phil was sent to Italy
for advanced training and after finish
ing the instruction there he was re-
turned to his former post at the Third
aviation center.
Lieutenant Keeling says further, att
was calm, [eaceful day in the
spring of this year, when a small
earth, and once more, as the pilot
| descended from his seat, the smiling
| face of Bill greeted me. Twice a
| month thereafter Bill flew to this
field to see me, and the days of his