The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-26
j, s. AIRPLANES
ACTIVE IN TOUL
Pursuit Squadron Engaged in
Number of Clashes With
German Machines.
MORE VICTORIES SCORED
Tennessee Aviator Achieves
Success in Unequal
Combat.
MORE VICTORIES SCORED
Ru Ire AsAecinted Prees.

.
WITH THE AMERICAN Army IN FRANCE
May ~ (delayed) An American aerial
pursuit squadron is operating over the
American sector northwest OF Toul It Is
permitted to announce. All the pilots
whose air exploits have been recorded
up to this time belong to this squadron
which has special insignia. The
squadron is flying In Neuport chasing
machines.
The first victories, in which the Amer
lean squadron brought down two Ger
man machines. were gained the day af-
ter they took up flying on this sector,
The occupants OF the German machines
were made prisoner.
Other machines. aside from those in
this squadron. also are flying on the
Toul front. The fact that an American
squadron was there could not be mem
toned previously because 1t was not de-
/ sired that the Germans should know OF
/ the fact.
But after there have been so many
fights at close range and two American
machines have fallen II Is believed GER
tain the enemy knows an American
squadron is operating on this front
There Is also the fac; that Capt. James
Norman Hail has fallen behind the Ger.
man lines and been made a prisoner,
Downs German Airplane.
| Lieut. Edward Buford. Jr. OF Nash.
vile. Tenn. to-day was officially cred
lied with shooting down a German air.
plane over ST. Mihiel on May 90.
Bu!ord while patroiling encounterst
two German pursuit planes. The fight
ing continued only a few minutes, Lieut.
Buford attacking one of the German
planes, which tried to lead him into the
| fire from the other, Suddenly Lieut.
Buford looked overhead and saw two
/ more Germans coming down from ou
of the clouds for him ie took a dive
all OF the Germans diving at the same
time. and when he came up he had one
OF the enemy planes in front OF him
Buford began firing with his machn,
gun causing his adversary to LisarCeaI
in nose dive. Although he was sure
he had hit the German. 1t was not until
to-day that the victory was confirmed
A few minutes hter Lieut.. Bu.ord by
manpuvring managed to get behind two
OF the remaining three machines and
opened FIRE. but hts machine gun jammed
| As he was unable TO use his weapon he
started In a series OF skilful dives and
turns and was successful In shaking OF,
the three enemy planes.
| Lieut.. Edward Rickenbacher. the
! former automobile racer. has added an.
| other aerial victory to his record. An.
! nouncement was made to-day that i,
had been confirmed that the Lieutenan,
, shot down a German biplane In the
/ neighborhood OF Thiaucourt on MAY 90
The fight took place $500 metres in the
| air.
Gets ON Enemy's Tail.
! With another pilot Lieut.. RckenbacheI
engaged In n long hght with two enemy
, machines. Rickenbacher finally got or
| the tail OF ono machine and fred more
! than score OF shots at short range
The enemy machine went into a spinning
nose dive, but 1t was uncertain whether
1t hit the ground. 30 the Lieutenant was
not credited with a victory at the time
| To-day positive confirmation that the
machine crashed to the ground was OBJ.
tained.
No confirmation Is obtainable con.
cerning the German report that thre,
| American airpianes have been shot dow I
! In the Lys region.