The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-09-20
1t. David E. Putnam Re-
counts Adventures With
Yanks In France.
DOWNS 20 HUN PLANES

FnAINSTI, July
of The Associated Press)-The story
of Lieutenant David Il. Putnam. Of
Newon, Mass, the leading ace OF Am.
erican aviation, as he tells 1t, gives
the impression that there is nothing
extraordinary in the making of star
of the air fleet OF the big things he
has done he tells In so quiet way
that they appear ordinary. His great.
est fight took place on June S, when he
engaged ten Germans and shot down
five of them.
A year ago he was feeling his way
on a Penguin, the machine that is CIV
en- to all beginners because 1t cannot
fly off the ground. Now his average Is
three victories month, having des-
troyed 20 enemy planes and an OBJ
servation balloon since his debut. De-
cember 90. 1917. Not all of these have
been officially recorded
Putnam shows in the air the same
ardent aggressiveness that the Ger
mans have been grieved to observe in
our infantry. Like a great many new
fliers, he sailed boldly over the lines
far into the territory occupied by the
Germans to provoke battle. In conse.
quence number of his victories could
not be officially confirmed and the
risks were largely increased. Twice
he has had to plane back over the
lines with his motor out of commits.
sion and his machine shot up.
After seven months training and ono
months service at the front he fought
his first battle and won 1t on January
10. Wally Winter, of Chicago, flying
in'the same patrol, said Putnam saved
him during this fight. Putnam now
says he was the man who was saved
by Winter. Flying in high wind
that bore him over into the enemy's
territory he sighted two Germans be.
low him making for the French lines.
He doye after them and got one at
1000 yards height. Then he discover
ed that the other German was, man:
Oeuvering above him and that higher
up Winter was coming down followed
by two more of the enemy. He took
height to meet Winter and the Ger
mans abandoned the fight.
A curious accident in his second
fight, January q, gave Putnam the un-
pleasant sensation of being at his ad-
versaries' mercy. He made such
sharp dive after his man that his ma
chine turned turtle and all his spare
ammunition fell out. He had fired the
last cartridge from his gun when the
German, wabbled and crashed about
two miles inside the German lines.
Putnams last shot had done for him.
A week later he had another mar
row escape when in a fight with four
two seaters his machine was shot al
most to pieces. He just managed to
dive under his adversaries and plane
back to the French lines.
Putnam began work with the squad
ron of Lieutenant Madon on mono
plane March IA and the same day ran
into a patrol of Is Germans. Know.
ing he had the advantage in speed he
decided to make quick attack then
dive. All the Germans followed him
down, one of them, at least, in a dizzy
nose spin. making the third success
officially credited to him. The next
day he downed two scatter in fight
with two; his gun jammed and he
had to dive away from the second.
One of his longest and hardest COM
bats was on April IL when he engaged
four two seaters during thirty-ive
minutes. One of them crashed. The
afternoon of the following day he ran
into one of the German 'circuses"
there were six in the group and he got
two of them. These made five adver-
saries shot down between March IA
and April IL from monoplane.
Engaged at close quarters with a
two scatter on May Is he got near
enough to see the German gunner fall
forward on his quick frer when he
sent bullet home. Putnam was
brought down himself for the first
time June 2, but without personal
damage He was one of two fighters
protecting two accommodating machines
when he sighted IL Germans. He sig.
nailed but the accommodating planes
continued their course. Two minutes
later the Germans came on in two
groups, one of five above and one of
six below. The accommodating planes
dove for their lines and Putnam for
the first time in his career gave him
self up for lost.
One Of the Germans had succeeded
in cutting off the accommodating
planes. Putnam dove and drove him
down. Another German dove at the
second reconnoiterer and Putnam fol-
lomad him Tho nar,oou U,,,t Lfc unc q