The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-09-20
YANKEE ACE IS
4 MODEST HERO
Nephew Of Mr.. and Mrs. John David
81 Vandalia Is Making Good IN
France

the nephew of Mr.. and Mrs. Jonn
David of Vandalia. Miss Putnam. MS
lister. arrived last week from New
ton. Mass, for an extended visit IN
the county.
with the American Army in FRANCE,
Sept. 1O.-(Correspondence OF Inc
Associatde Press)-The story OF Lieu
tenant David E. Putnam OF Newtoh'
Mass. the leading ace OF American
aviation. as he tells it, gives the I'M
preston that there is nothing extra
ordinary in the making OF a star OF
the air fleet. Of the big things ne
has done he tells in so quiet a way
that thew appear ordinary. His great
est FIGHT took place on June ,. when
he engaged 10 Germans n snot oo"n
five Of them.
Three a Month Average
A year ago he was feeling his way
on a Penguin, the machine that Is
given to all beginners because It can
not fly off the ground. Now his av-
erape is three victories a month, nav.
ing DESTROYED 20 enemy planes and
an observation balloon since his DEBUT.
December 20, 1917. Not all OF these
have been officially recorded.
Putnam shows in the air the
same dIucNt dSS1CSSlNCICSo ChoC AN
Germans have been grieved to OBJ
serve in our infantry. Like a great
many new fiers. he sailed boldly over
the lines occupied by the Germans to
provoke battle. In consequence a
Officially confirmed and the risks were
number of his victories could not be
largely increased. Twice he has had
to plane back wei the lines with his
motor out of commission and his ma
chine shot up.
Wins First Battle
After seven months training and
one months service at the front he
fought his first air battle and won it
or January 10. Wally Winter of Chi
cago, flying in the same patrol, said
Putnam saved him during this fight.
Putnam now says he was the man
who was saved by Winter. Flying
in a high wind that bore him over
into the enemy's territory he sighted
two Germans below him making for
the French lines. He dove after them
and got one at 1000 yards height.
Then he discovered that the other
German was m%aneuvering above him
and that higher up Winter was COM
ing down followed by two more of
the enemy. He took height to meet
Winter and the Germans abandoned
their flight.
A curious accident in his second
fight, January p, gave Putnam the
unpleasant sensation Of being at his
adversaries' mercy. He made such a
sharp dive after his mar that his ma
chine turned turtle and all his spare
ammunition fell out. He had fired
the last cartride from his gun when
the German wabbled and crashed
about two miles inside the German
lines. Putnam's last shot had done
fer him.
Another Close Call
A week later he had another mar
row escape when in a fight with four
two seaters his machine was shot al
most to pieces. He just managed tc
dive under his adversaries and plane
back to the French lines.
Putnam began work with the squad
ron of Lieutenant Madon on a mono
plane March IA and the same dav RAJ
into a patrol of Is Germans. Know
ing he had the advantage in spec,
he decided to make a quick attacl
then dive. All the Germans followe,
him down, one of them, at least, il
a dizzy nose spin, making the thir,
success officially credited to him. TIL
next day he downed a two scatter il
a light with two; his gun jammed an.
he had to dive away from the second
One of his longest and hardest com
bats was on April II when he engage,
four two seaters during 35 minutes
One of them crashed. The Afternoon
OF the following day he ran into on
OF the German "circuses;" there wer
six in the group and he got two o
them. These made five adversarie
shot down between March ID an,
April II from a ~monoplane.
Sees His Foe Die
Engaged in close quarters with
two scatter on May Is he got nea
enough to see the German gunner fal
forward on his quick firer when h
sent a third bullet home. Putnam wa
brought down himself for the frs
time June 2, but without persona
damage. He was one of two fighter
protecting two accommodating ma
chimes when he sighted II Germans
Two minutes later the Germans cam
on in two groups, one of five abov
and one of six below. The %reconnoi
tering planes dove for their lines an
Putnam for the first time in his ca
reer gave himself up for lost.
One OF the Germans had succeede
in cutting off the reconnoiterin
planes. Putnam dove and drove hil
down. Another German dove at tn
second reconnoiterer and Putnam TO
lowed him. The German put his nos
up" which in aviation ~parlance, NEAR
that he made a steep upward turI
and put three bullets into Putnam
motor. He got one in return that ser
him down in a crashing slide on tt
wing. Meanwhile the six machines
the higher group were firing and or
OF their bullets went through the m;
chine within half an inch of Putnam
foot. His motor was now out of con
mission and he was looking for tv
disasters at once-a fall of 400
yards and the final bullet. Again tt
Germans abandoned just as they we.
about to get him and he managed
fall just softly enough to break not
ing but "wood."
His Best Fight
The great flight that made Putna
famous in France was after the ba
tle.,eld of Rheims on July 5. In
half-hour combat he shot down fl
of on enemy squadron of 10 alb
trosses. 1t was close and difficl
work, for the Germans maneuver
skiltully and closed in on him un
he could see pilots plainly in thu
seats as their machines passed und
him. He waved his hand to one
them and the German returned t