Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-11-08
YANKEE DOWNS
II BALLOONS
Boy Of Nineteen Is Hero Of the
American Army.
TAKES DESPERATE CHANCES
Volunteers for Most periious Air
Work, Going Out on Stunts Aston-
Ishing 10 His Comrades. and Also
Probably Astonishing 20 sho Enemy
Fiddle Rlckenhscker. Former Auto
Racer. has Oowncd Seven.


The First army has rs cap of TO
Frank Luke. who has brought down
IL enemy observation balloons and
one plane within week. Luke vol
unteercd for probably the most peril.
our air work, going out on stunts MS
tonIahing 20 his comrades. and also
probably astounding 70 the enemy.
writes Frederick A. Smith IN the Chi
cago Tribune.
sought out this dcniigod Of ayia-
ton who has become Ia few days
the American ace or aces In balloon
destruction. and found bin to be
hoy Of nIBeteen. whose blnc eyes show
Ingenious surprise when he Is asked
about his exploits. His enterprises
contribute 20 the fine record OF Amer
lean svintors In this offensive. sixty.
three Boche planes have been downed
Ia . week. nine OF which sre already
oEcielly recorded. and 30 balloons
Chicago Boy Downs One.
Thornc G. Taylor. son OF Judge Tay-
lor Of Chicago. dropped one. adding to
his already nne record. Eddie Ricksn-
hacker. former suto racer. Just out of
che hospital after 4 mnstoid operation,
added three u his string. two of which
are ofnciai. giving him seven Boche air
raen TO date
When the offensive opened yolun-
isers were asked for balloon attacks.
Luke and Joseph y. Wehner OF Ev-
srett. Mass. stepped forward. although
they had only been pilots at the from.
for a few months. They started. but
became separated; but each got
balloon. That means they went slngly
far across the foes line and iicw close
10 the ground under the fire ~ machine
guns and aircraft guns. which, with
flaming onions" we're filling the mir
with IRE. The onions are balls OF Ere
intended TO ignite the plane.
II Is said that Luke IN the Mnrnc
eampalgn followed iBoche nee far
into German territory and dropped
him, but there was no chance 10 con
arm this for The official record That
was his FIRST blood. aud he determined
his next accomplishment should be
made official. After dropping the bal.
loon IN flames Luke rrcrossed our I
lines. alfghiing nenr an American OBJ 1
seryati0n balloon aud getting M I'M 4
mediate written statement from the
observer. who saw the battle.
The next day Luke was accompa
Med by wehner, who falling behind
and reaching the other side OF the Ger
man front. was just IN time 10 discover
Luke sending down balloon In flames
OF the fact that seven Hun
planes were right on bis tail. Wehner,
rising. came down on the Boche near
csi Luke. shooting down the Hun and
saving his comrade. Wehner then
crippled another Bochc. both then es-
Gaping. Luke's plane was riddled,
bullet hitting under the sent back OF
him. damaging the tank and cutting
strut.
Attacks Ansaireraft cuns.
Saturday Luke went out with Joe
Dawson. getting another balloon, but
10 was plqued because the bag didn't
lurn. and descended almost 20 the
sround driving the antlnlrcraft gun
icrs away from their pieces
Young Luke. who quit school IN
'hoenix. Ariz, to enter the war.
ausrs Germany loss Of $1,000 for
aeh balloon dropped. in addition 20
Instruments and maps requir
Ok mOnihs 10 make on Monday eve
ling Luke and Nehuer announced that
hcy Nonld get three. The FIRST NJ .fa,
he seeoud at Tso and the third az
.45 Observers near ine front saw
be- three ian plinosl exactly on sched.
De-. The daring flyers were forced 70
,iurn after dirk. but were guided BY
ofksfs and flares. aud finally Reached
ono. both erceklns their machines IN
lighting
The Arizona boy one night ON re-
lgning aflar baaeiug two more was
breed O. inna far away and was picked
D afief Watkins some distance. sus
ecied IS CeemRu in nn American
niforn. ne pfNca Ass identify. but
as forced id pali until morning be-
ire retq,0iug o. BIS sir'lFome.
fackanbaetcr Is different sisie Of /
stiier. ene lies 10 the SUM-" often
5000 feet high. attacking only when
. has The advantage or some com
ade beneath needs help. He always
les alone. on Saturday, northeast OF
aruciles. Rlckenbacker encountered
our Bocbes who were pursuing Amer
nm housbers back toward our lines.
&c nsneuvered into the sun and CAME l
own on the rear German. then rising
hardly or "zooming the German. lie ,
scnpcd 10 safe altitude easily. a.
he downward swoop has such terrific
need II carries the plane up Ike
bash when the @zocm" starts.