The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-10-25
EXCITING TIMES ALOFT.
Harold Mayforth, Old Twin State Catch
er, Writes of Experiences.

His experiences as an American flyer
in France are illumnatinglv set forth in
a letter which Harold Aiayforth, the old
University of Vermont and Twin State
league baseball catcher. addresses to his
former teammate. William T. Maiden of
Barre, at present member of the fac
ulty and athletic coach at Montpelier
seminary. Lieut.. Mayforth is attached
to the oath aero squadron of the Amer
lean eXpeditionary forces, and writing
under date of Sept % he says:
Dear Bill: Mind YOU. the other day
| actually received 4 letter from Jake
Malcolm. 50 thanks to you for lacking
him up. 1t was short and sweet to be
sure, but nevertheless, | was happy to
receive it.
presume you are back at school now.
starting another year. Hope you are
feeling like William Maiden of old again.
Time hops right along. doesn't it? |
have forgotten just when | wrote you
last. but | imagine it was before | re-
ported TO the oath aero squadron. /
like the squadron, Bill, the fellows and
the work we are doing The oath, with
the 9lst and 9th "a night reconnais-
ance squadron make up the observation
group of the LIST army. All our work
is far into Germany at an altitude of
around 5000 meters, and is much more
pleasant work, | believe, than that of
an army corps squadron. The latter
operates over a small sector, while we
cover large area p Aldrich is with
the l35th aero squadron-an army corps
squadron. When assigned to squadrons.
we were all split up.
/ Tho lSt army plaapnd nm nr0Dprly in
the Saint Mihiel sector. as you know.
The detectives of the drive were limited
and everyone is of the opinion that we
could have gone on farther. but Gen
Foch has his plans and they must be
adhered to. The drive was quick, strong
and most decisive 1t sort of took the
Huns off their feet. 1t was several days
before we could learn of activities in
the rear OF Germany's retreating lines
in that pocket-it seemed they were very
slow Their air forces concentrated
rather quickly. however. and after the
first few days we never left the grouno
without getting into battle with boch,
planes. We travelled in formation O.
five planes and those scoundrels would
pouncc on us with ten or dozen. an'
not unless they had that number o
chase planes. We lost a couple of ship
at different times. but got as many o
theirs, if not more. Lieut. Duran'
twhom | came to the oath with and hi
pilot were in a formation when hopes
upon by bunch of boches- things be
! came too hot, and Goodfellow. the pilot
started to nose down with full engine o
. in an endeavor to outdistancc the Hun,
but thew kept on his tail and it is be
= lieved shot Durand and GoodfellOw bot
to the ground.
Another morning Lieut.. Clark and hi
:; pilot We're scheduled with. Lieut.. As
u and myself on a daybreak reconnai'
sance into Germany. We left in tn
darkness in order. to get our altitude an
l, be over the lines just as the day wa
e breaking. 1t was a rotten morning, I'll
l. clouds were in banks at $500 meter
r and storms were coming up contlnuall.
L 1t was necessary to fight a powerfl
n wind all the way home and Clark an
e Bradfield never did DOME in. We expe'
they were driven far into Germany ov'
he clouds and eonldn't get back again
the wind. gasoline gave out. or wiz
not-anyhow. thew failed to return al
doubtless now arc prisoners of war.
n First day after the start | was ov
he lines with Ash. flying at less tina
700 meters. looking for trouble and dal
20 near got it. The nti-aircraft guns ga
RS us warm reception, but our speed "
H. must have been making nearly 1870 xii
:, meters an hour) and Ash's, Sing Il
ut nlane was what saved MS We head
II, for German observation balloon al
IN they Put mp, a perfect barrage to g
Va. Needless to saw we altered o
m course and beat it. Never saw a Doc
ne plane during the entire journey--th
n hadn't had time to concentrate at IL
It. time. Well. now we have moved and e
is, pect something to take place very soc
l will write you again,