The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-20
MAJOR LUFBERY
DIED IN FIGHT
Famous American Aviator
Defeated in Aerial
Battle
BULLET PUNCTURED
A GASOLINE TANK
He Is to Be Buried in France
with Full Military
Honors


Sunday, May 10 by Associated Press
Major Raoul Lufbery, who had been
regarded as the best aviator in the
American air service was shot down in
flames and killed this morning by big
German triphne which he was attacking
Lufbery jumped from his flaming ma
chine when 800 yards above the ground.
He had seventeen victories TO his cred
1t. Lufberyt home was in Wallingford,
Conn.
The German machine which brought
Lufbery down and which was armed with
two machine guns with an operator for
each piece, got away.
| Lufbery's only wound aside from
those received when he crashed to earth
was bullet hole through the thumb.
Apparently the same bullet punctured
one of the gasoline tanks of his machine.
The German machine was under heavy
antiaircraft fire several times, both be-
fore and after the alright, and one ex
plosion of a shell upset the enemy plane,
but il managed to straighten out again.
IL was about 10 o'clock this morning
when a German triplane suddenly de
scended from the clouds, apparently be-
cause of engine trouble, until it was
only some 500 metres over the city of
Toul. The American flyers were on the
alert and some of them headed for the
fighting line to await the enemy on his
return.
Lufbery and the pilot of another ma
chine made after the German, who quick
ly ran away from the direction of the
line, the two American machines follow
ing him Eight miles away from the
enemy's line, Lufbery was seen to at
tack from under the tail, but then he
drew off as if his machine gun had
jammed. Two minutes later he again
attacked from the same position and al
most Immediately his machine burst into
flames.
Lufbery's victors Reported Captured.
A French aviator this afternoon shot
down an enemy plane back of the Lune
vile sector. Two men from the plane
were captured by the Americans. The
German came from somewhere in the |
rear. 1t is reported, although not con-
frmed that this is the machine which |
brought down Major Lufbery.
There has been extraordinary aerial |
activity all day in this sector.
Major Raoul Lufbery has been at
tached to the American aviation corps
less than four months, but before that
he had made brilliant record as mem
Der of the Lafayette escadrille with the
French atmy, and was generally account
ID the leader of the American aces. Only
recently he brought down his 18th enemy /
machine, which SO far as is known was
he number standing to his credit when
le was killed and which is by far the
argest credited to any American aviator,
'ither with the American or the French
Irmy.
Lufbery's father was native. born
American, but his mother was French
woman and Lufbery himself was born in
france "a years ago For the greater
art of his life he was traveller, taking ,
p occupations in various parts of the
World where his fancy led him. Thus,
or instance, he served at one time for
s months with the American army in ,
he Philippines and was successfully oc- !
upied at times in Algeria, Egypt, Tur
ey and in various parts of Europe
Lufbery joined the French aviation
ervice in l9l6 and soon began to develop /
larked skill as an airman with the fa :
lous Lafayette escadrille. BY Novem :
err of that year he had shot down six
lachines and had been cited for bravery,
nd early last year he won the cross of Z
ne Legion of Honor. Later he was pre- )
,nted with the gold medal of the Aero
lub of France, the British military med
|, the war medal of the Aero Club of :
merica and several times had been cited :,
French army orders, once as IAN in 7
pilot" He had several mar
w escapes from death.
When the American air service began
assume active shape in France, Luf- I
Try was commissioned major in the
merican army and late in January of
lie present year was inducted into the
nited States service with that rank. n