The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-23
AMERICAS AIR SERVICE.
The Start OF :. Bombing Squadron
Described.

With America .Aviators in France.
Sept. 80 Correspondence OF The. ASS
sociated Pressl-The start OF an
american bombing squadron ON "a & &
raid into German territory is "a spec 9
tacle 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
louuged in shady spots jibing one
another or idly commenting upon the 4
evolutions of practice airplanes over !
head, when the correspondent OF the
Associated Press visited the flying
field.
Out of concealed and ca1notl-
tagged office hut there stepped sud-
denly the flight leader, ! Lieut.. Guns Z
derlach who already had been naIn- 7
cd in the Official American conarnu- z
nique for prowess in the air
The aviators sprang to their feet
and gathered around their leader Tor
the final instructions. He had not been
at all satisfied with the two perform
ances of the day. They had shown
tendency to straggle over-much and
had not kept sufficiently "Dunched.&
Hot criticism poured from his lips
and the Youngsters were silent IN eTn-5
bar assment. The leader did NOT
spare them, but iterated and reiterL
ated that 1.-The formation is the thing.
the squadron IS the thing" and, hnal-
", 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 q hand they were back on
| the field, swataing and swaddling
themselves to the eyes, tuck1ng choc-
olate into their pockets lfor they get
hungry up in the air) or breaking
open a fresh package Of chewing gum.
which helps to alleviate nervousness
and has steadying effect.
The last machine gun had been
tested, the last propeller had been
twirled until it reVolved at lightning
/ speed, The commander gave an all
most imperceptible wave of his hand.
Airplane number one, bearing the
fight leader, threw off it's restraining
mechanics and swept in a big curve
across the field. taxing cfumsily
across the field with its weight OF
bombs, to a position from which It
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 a huge
covey of ungainly but maryellously
colored birds. AS they waited they
| tossed out rockets which, despite the
brilliant sunlight, fared binding
red and white. The test was COM
plete. They were ready for the start
Again the commander gave a sig.
nal. The noise Of the motors rose to
deafening proportions. The great
covey began to move, gained speed as
they sped northward across the field,
then one after another took or the
ground All the clumsiness OF the
taking was gone. The machines
had become graceful birds in fact.
Swiftly they rose, while still Within
sight, to a great height, looking for
all the world like flock Of geese
with the leader at the neck. of the for
nation. Later on, when about TO
cross the line they would draw CLOS
er together into a compact tightly
Knit group, but always following,
whether to left or right, the two lite
tie white pennants streaming out from
the leaders machine.