New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-08-09

they are one Of the hardest things to
90 through, If they hit the machine
il il bound to catch fire and then the
jig is up.
All the time, too, ! was being at
tackled by "Archie"-the antiaircruft
gun. | escaped the machine guns and
the claiming onions" but Archie" the
antinircraft fire, got me fouf or five
times. Every time IA bullst plugged
ne. or rather my machine, 1t made Il
loud bang, on account of the tension
on the material covering the wings.
None of their shots hurt me until
| was about a mile from our lines. and
then they hit my motor. Fortunately,
| still had altitude enough to drift on
TO our own side Of the lines, for my
motor was completely out of commits
sion. They Just raised the dickens
with me all the time l was descend
ing, and | began to think l would
strike the ground before crossing the
line, but there was a slight wind In
my favor, and II carried me two miles
behind our lines. There the balloons
| had gone out to get had the sntisfac-
tion of "pin-pointing" re. Through
the directions which they were able to
give to their artillery they commenced
Smelling my machine where 1t lay.
This particular work is to direct the
fire of their artillery, and they are
used inst as the artillery observation
ai.rlaneS are. Usually I'VE men are
stationed in each balloon. They ascend
10 II height of several thousand feet
about five miles behind their own lines
and are equipped with wireless and
signaling apparatus. They watch the
burst of their artillery, check up
the position, get the range, and direct
the next shot.
When conditions are favorable they
are able to direct the shots so nccr-
rately that it is quick work destroying
the object of their attack. 1t was such
Il balloon as this that got my position,
marked mo out, called for an artillery
shot, and they commenced Smelling my
machine where it lay. If l had got
the two balloons instead of the air
plane. | probably would not have lost
my machine. for he would in all proba-
bility have gone on home and not both
cred about getting my range and caus-
ing the destruction Of my machine.
| landed I'm Il part Of the country
that was literally covered with shell
holes. Fortunately my machine was
NAT k,,lJ,, ,Jnnnr,l Ia, a., c,,,I I,.J
ing. ! leisurely got out, walked around
it to see what the damage was, and
concluded that 1t could be easily re-
paired. In fact, | thought If | could
find Il space long enough between shell
holes to get a start before leaving the
ground that would be able to fly on
from there.
| was still examining my plane and
considering the matter of Il few slight
repairs, without any particular thought
for my W safety in that unprotected
spot, when Il shell came whizZing
through the air. Knocked me to the
ground and landed n few feet away.
II had no sooner struck than I made
Il run for cover and crawled into a
shell hole. | would have liked to get
farther away. hut | didn't know where
the next shell would burst, and |
thought ! was fairly safe there. so I
Squatted down and let them blaze
away.
The only damage | suffered was
from the mud which splattered M in
nv face and owe my clothes. That
my Introduction to a shell hole,
md | resolved right there that the in
could have all the shell-hOle
lighting they wanted, hut 1t did not
appeal to me, though they live in them
through many II long night and | had
,nly sought shelter there for a few
minutes.
After the Germans had completely
demolished my machine and ceased
iring, | waited there a short time,
perhaps they might send over
/, lucky shot. hoping to get me after
III. But evidently they concluded
enough shells had been wasted on one
nan. I crawled out cautiously, shook
he mud off. and I looked over in the
direction where my machine had once
'een. There wasn't enough left for a
souvenir, but nevertheless | got
few, such rs they were" and read
~ observing that nothing could be
lone with what was left. l made my
way back to infantry headquarters,
where | was able to telephone in a
eport.
A little later one of our autOmo
lies came out after me and took me
Jack to our airdrOme. Most of my
quadron thought I was lost beyond
IOubt. and never expected to see me
gain; but my friend. Paul Raney, had
ueld out that l was all right. and as
was afterwards told, said, Don't
end for another pilot; that freshman
ill be back, If he has to walk" And
e knew that the only thing that kept
ne from walking was the fact that our
wn automobile had been sem out to
ring me home.
l had lots to think about that day.
l had learned many things; one
'as not TO have too much confidence |
4 my W ability. One of the men In
he squadron told me that l had bet
ar not take those chances; that il |
as going to be a long war and l
have plenty of opportunities to |
e killed without deliberately wishing |
hen n myself. Later l was to learn |
ne truth of his statement. !
That night my ''fiight"-each squad I
Do is divided into three flights. con-