The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-09-03

An American aerial pursuit SQUAD
ron Is operating ever the American
sector northwest Of Toul 1t Is per-
mltted to announce. All the pilots
whose air exploits have been recorded
up to this time belong to this SQUAD
ron, which has a special insignia. The
squadron is flying in Newport chasing
machines.
The first victories, in which the
American squadron brought down two
German machines, were gained the day
after they took up flying on this Sec
TOR. The occupants Of the German ma
chimes were made prisoners.
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 men
toned previously because It was not
desired that the Germans should know
Of the fact. ...
But after there have been so many
tights at close range and two American
machines have fallen it is believed GER
tain the enemy knows an American
squadron is operating on this front.
There is also the fact that Capt. James
Norman Hall has fallen behind the
German lines and been made a pris-
oner.
Downs German AlrpIane.
Lieut.. Edward Buford, Jr., of Nash
Vile, Tenn, was officially credited with
shooting down German airplane over
st. Mihiel on May %. ..
Buford while patrolling encountered
TWO German pursuit planes. The fight
ing continued only few minutes.
Lieut.. Buford attacking one of the Ger
man planes, which tried to lead him
into the fire from the other. Suddenly
Lieutenant Buford looked overhead
and saw two more Germans coming
down from out of the clouds for him.
lie took dive, all of the Germans div.
ing 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 machine gun. causing
his adversary to disappear in a nose
dive. Although he was sure he had hit
the German, 1t was not until later that
the victory was confirmed. f.
A few minutes later Lieutenant Blu.
ford by maneuvering managed to get
behind two Of the remaining three ma
chimes and opened fire, but his ma
chine gun jammed. As he was unable
to use his weapon he started in a Sc
ries of skilful dives and turns and was
successful in shaking off the three ene-
my planes.
Lieut.. Edward Rickenbacher, the
former automobile racer, has added an
other aerial victory to his record. An
nouncement was made that it had been
that the lieutenant shot
down a German biplane in the neigh
borhood of Thiaucourt on May %. The
light took place $500 meters in the
air.
Gets on Enemy's Tail.
With another pilot Lieutenant Rick
engaged in a long fight with |
TWO enemy machines. Rickenbacher
inally got on the tail of one machine
and fired more than a score Of shots at |
short range. The enemy machine went
nto a spinning nose dive. but it was
Uncertain whether it hit the ground,
10 the lieutenant was not credited with
victory at the time. Positive con-
that the machine crashed to
ne ground has since been obtained.
No confirmation is obtainable con-
erning the German report that three
airplanes have been shot
lown in the Lys region.
McAdoo to Have Complaint Box.
Washington. Establishment of a
abroad administration bureau for
and complaint to be locat-
d at the director generals headquar-
ers and to which the public is invited
0 write, was announced Monday by
director General McAdOo.