The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-23
FIGHTS BOCHE
.FLIER HIGH in
AIR AND WINS
BUT BRILLIANT FEAT
or AMERICAN AVIATOR WHo
CHASED HUN MACHINE HOME
AND DoWNED HIM.

"
FRANCE. Tuesday, May 2i.-(By Asse-
ciated Press. Lieutenant William II
Tavlar of New York, chased Germah
hinlane from the American lines 10
over pagny-sur ?Moselle, north OF Pont-
a-AIo,seon today and defeated the
Roche in a desperate fight o.OOo 1eet Ia
the air. A bullet from the enemy ma
oh ine barely missed Lieutenant Taylor
and punctlIred a wing of his alrplane.
A second later the lieutenant saw one
| Of his traced bullets penetrate the iuse-
lage of the enemy machine Wnere tho
| observer was working machine gun
and there was no more fire from the
German.
Lieutenant Taylor continued to fire at
| the German pilot and after 4oo shots
| had been fired, most Of them at apout
70 yards, the enemy maehine Went
spinning toward the earth IN nose
dive.
/ In addition to Lieutenant Fayior
fight there We're several others IN tns
bright sunny skies today. Two Amerl-
can aviators chased two enemy ma
chimes to Thiacourt and there attacked
them. One of the American pilots
! fired from directly under the tail of
German machine which went spinning
/ toward the ground from four thousand
metres TO five hundred where 1T was
seen to straighten out and escape
The story of Porter's encounter with
the enemy says:
potter left the North Sea station IN
a British sea plane and steered due eas;
until six miles west-southNest OF North
finder light. Another plane accom-
panied Potter and kept position to star
hoard throughout the action. Two
enemy planes We're sighted to port
heading towards them flying low. Both
British planes dived about 100 yards
apart, closing upon the nearest Ger
. man.
Fire opened from Doth at close
range.
"Potter's companion had emptied one
drum from the forward cockpit when
the gun jammed. Two more hostile
planes then appeared overhead, attack
ing vigorously. Both Britons turned to
the west, pursuing one OF the lower
!, enemy, who was soon lost TO view
: Three others passed astern, following
, at sharp angle. Potter WAS close above
! his companion and dove to within tOt
, feet of the water.
- Both machines flattened out and
:; Potter's companion being faster throt
> tied down until Potter came abreast
:, Thus they ran westward at full speec
close together for several minutes un-
der continuous volleys from the rear
-Four more enemy machines now ap-
!, peared in v formation. OF seven Ger
mans In action, four were attacking
: Potter and the others his companion
Potter fell behind and began to zig gag
!, He first veered slightly starboard, ther
= turned to right angle to part.
Again his companion throttled dowI
!, to let him catch UP and began climbins
= to reduce headway. Potter dodget
? again. but was then broadside to al
= enemy machines under their fire onl.
: fifty feet from the water. His compan
= ion. $50 feet above, saw Potter's ma
: chine burst into flames. come dow
crash on the port wing tip.
y POTTER was last seen on the surfac
: amid flames, which suddenly turned t
a huge cloud OF smoke.
Two of the enemy circled over tn
spot, then Joined the other side. Whel
the pail had cleared, not even wreck
!, age was visible"
Potter enrolled September o6 last a
a second class seaman in the flynn
:, corps. He was promoted to an ensign
November . ordered to France, late
: being sent to England.
= Concerning Patter's brave conduc
iti AMI his eagerness to engage with tn
: enemy the commanding officer of tn
- British North sea station wrote,
3 Potter always displayed the creates
= eagerness to fly at all times. The lon
= reconnaissance in which he shot dow
the German seaplane, he displaye
great courage and GOODNESS He wa
- very popular at this station"