The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17
FIRST ALL U. S.
AIR FLEET WINS
ATTACK. ON FOE
18 De Havilands Fly Miles
Back of German Lines and
Return Unharmed. I
RESULTS ARE IMPORTANT
Brig. Gen. FOulOis Commands
Reconnaissance Made Over
Surging Battle Field.
RESULTS ARE IMPORTANT
Special Despatch to TEE SUS,

Special Despatch to TEE SUS.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 16.-Secretary
Baker announced to-day that the first
all American air squadron. composed of
American built De Haviland airplanes.
equipped with Liberty motors and pi-
loted by American aviators, had been
the western front.
In command Of Brig.-Gen. b. +.
Foulois. who was in the first plane of
the lead flight. this American squadron
Of eighteen De Ilavilands crossed over
the German lines, penetrated for miles
back OF the German positions and re-
turned without a single casualty or mis-.
hap OF any description. The efforts of
Germany's crack aviators to down or
disperse the squadron or the attempts
| to break up the flight with antl-aircraft
guns are not yet reported by Gen.
Pershing. whose cable to Secretary
Baker merely announces the successful
result
II IL assumed. however, that the Ger
mans undoubtedly made desperate ef-
forts to prevent the carrying out Of this
important reconnaissance flight. for It
Il known that lGen. Fouiels LED the V
sheped9 American sasadrons se six mas
chimes each over = par1 % the GERMAN
line. where the battle has been surgins
and where It was OF extreme Importance
to the Germans to prevent their ene-
mics from asccrtsining what was going
on behind their lines.
Garry ptInf aud
Gen. Foulois's squadron formed part
OF wing of one of Gen. Pershing's di-
visions now doing conspicuous work.
, Each machine was equipped with pilot
,, and an observer. Two guns are installed
/ to shoot through the propellers. and two
more are in position to fire abaft. Lieut..
Blair Thaw. brother Of William Thaw.
was In command OF one Of the machines,
but the rest of the personnel Is not
given in the despatch.
The formation used called for three
groups Of six planes each. The altitud,
OF approximately 10000 feet made it
| possible for the De Havlands to be at
their best. for information from Per-
shing's headquarters shows that the De
! Haviland at 10000 feet plays all
around" the spad, the Neuport and the
other machines.
! The duration of the flight behind the
enemy lines was probably about fifteen
minutes. according to the aerQnautical
experts here in close touch with condi-
tions abroad. This was quite sufficient
time for the observers to bring back in
formation Of distinct value concerning
the movements behind the German lines.
Troop formations. indications Of further
retreat or attempts by the enemy to Sc
cretly mass troops are all disclosed BY
these reconnaissance Nights which have
now become an important factor in the
! war,
Several All American sguadrons.
| Gen. Foulois's flight marks the first
instance where an all American squad
ron has been In action against the
enemy, but 1t is fully expected now that
this and other squadrons will be heard
| from frequently. There are several all
American squadrons formed now and
still others are in the process of forma-
ton. A wing. as II Is called, is generally
composed of about ELK squadrons.
/ The news of Gen. Foulois's successful
Night was received with undisguised ella
tion by aeronautical officers here. To
them it marks the beginning of Amer.
ics's active part in the aerial war. IN
J the sense that II has put to the test the
American built planes operated by
| American trained aviators. AS one Of
ficer stated tonight:
We've now got all American planes
with all American motors and all Amer
lean pilots AMI we have reached the
stage where this all American combina-
tion has been sent out against the
enemy. All that remains now Is to in.
crease numbers all along the line"
Secretary Baker has ordered that
changes in the machines desired by Gen
Pershing be made before the craft leave
the factory and this is being done.