El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-19
FIGHTS 8 AIR
BATTLE5I IN DAY.
Lieut.. Fonck Breaks All
Records in Downing Six
Planes in One Day.

EAL=Aa p rance q 4ue Isl cores
pondence Of the Associated Press
Lieut. Rene Fouce. the young French
ace OF aces" fought three distinct
BATTLES in the ai- when he brought
down six German airplanes IN one
day. His record never has been
eluaied in aviation.
AlI three engagements were fought
within two hours. In all Fonck fired
only S. shots. an average OF little
more than uiue bullets for each en-
cmv brought d0Wn-an extraordinary
record en- view Of the fact that avia-
tors often fire hundreds OF rounds
without Gripping their opponent
The first fight, in which Lieut.
Eouclz brought down three German
machines, lasted only a minute and
half. and The young Ereuchman fired
only - shots
Has 60 to His Credit.
Although Lieut.. Eolck is officially
credited with bringing down - en-
envy airplaues in all, military aTiators
believe shat he has sent down at least
so machines. lie is q years old is
cool In battle and handles both ma
chine gun ana airpiane with great
skin
4Ga-4aaa-- W. % NAlaEa AAAla-
uaui0na on patrol IN the Mureuil-
1Iontdidier sector on Eay when the
French squadron met three German
two-seatcr afrplaues coming toward
them I'm arrow formation Signaling
TO his companions, Lieut. FOuck OWED
ar the leading German plane and. with
few shots sent 10 down IN names
F0ncl1 turned 10 the left and the sec
ond German followed in an effort 10
artacT- him from behind but the
Frelchman made a quick turn above
Kim and with five shots sent the sec
'ud enemy down 20 death. Ten sec
onds had barely elapsed between the
Two victories
The third German headed for home.
but when Lieut. EoncE apparently
gave up the chase and turned back
towards the French lines, the German
went after him and was flying par
lllel and q little below, when Fonck
made a quick turn. drove straight at
him and sent him down within half
mile Of the spot where his Two COM Z
rades hit the earth.
This ended the first engagement. /
Wins In Daring Engagement
several German observation bal I
looms had been brought down by
french aviators. Lieut. FOnck re- /
turned to his camp and waited three Z
Quarters OF an hour for the Germans Z
DO learn OF that fact and send their I
Then he. with two companions went 4
out 10 meet them. Above Alontdidier I
he came upon a German plane which I
was regulating the enemy artillery /
fire. dived 1000 feet and sent the Ger
man plane 20 earth with a few shots
Taking refuge in a cloud, F0nck lost I
his two companions. Emerging from (
the mist 10 start for his own lines,
Lieut. Fouclz saw before him four
siugle-seater PfaIZ airplaues. pro-
-ecred at 1890 feet above by five Ger
man Alhatr0sses, making for the
French trenches with the conveying
planes leading. In a ten second flight
Fonck overlook the rear PtalE ma
chine, fired and saw 20 fall
Az the sound OF his gun the two
Pfalz machines in the center OF the
German group turned, one 10 the right
and the other TO the left 10 attack the
iarine Frenchman, but Fouck drove
took the fourth Pfalz machine a
few shots under frs tail sent % down
iu flames and the victor flew Off 10
safety. leaving the two other Pfalzs
and five Albatrosses wondering what
had struck the squadron
The arr fights were staged from
800 10 5000 feet up The first Ger
man fen at sos PA. and the last az
i-s5 pm
Lieut. Fonck used an ordinary Spad
machine equipped with two rapid fire
guns lie has been pilot since 1915.
passing into a chaser squadron about
e year ago. on the day following his
SIS victories ne was made an officer
~ the Legion Of Honor and subse-
luently was promoted first lieutenant.