New-York tribune., 1918-11-08
Heroic Aviator
Protects Cornrade
From the Enerny
Lieutenant Potter Guards
Machine Whose Observer
Had Been Killed

WASHINGTON, Nov. Z. General
has awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross to the following named officers
for the acts of extraordinary herolsm
set forth after their names:
First Lieutenant William Clarkson
Potter, 20Ch Aero Squadron. For ex-
traordinary heroism in action near Dun
sur Meuse, France, September 26, 1918.
A formation of eight Liberty bombing
planes, while on daylight bombing
mission on Dun-sur- Meuse,w was attacked
by force of enemy planes three times
its number. Lieutenant Potter saw that
the observers guns of the leading ma
chine were inactive, while its pilot ex-
erted great effort to control his ma
chine. Under conditions demanding
greatest courage and determination,
Lieutenant Potter flew in close to the
leader SO as to protect him from the
rear. This position he held under ever
increasing enemy attack and in face of
the fact that his leader continued on
into Germany. The conditions became
more desperate, still Lieutenant Potter
hung on, until his leader was finally
able to make turn about to the Allied
lines. On landing it was found that
the observer of the leading machine
h ad been killed and had fallen and
jammed the controls, making q turn
impossible. Lieutenant Potter, by his
courage and disregard of danger, saved
the life of his leader and brought his
machine safely back to our lines. Home
address,: Mrs. Clarkson Potter, mother,
IL Avenue du President Wilson, Paris,
France.
Second Lieutenant Louis C. Simon
jr., 147th Aero Squadron. For extraor-
dinary heroism in action in the region
of Hadonville-les- -Lachausse, France,
September 16, 1918. While on a pro-
lection patrol for American observation
planes from the 99th Aero Squadron
Lieutenant Simon was fired upon by
gardless of his personal danger, he i'm
mediately engaged the enemy, although
alone, drawing them down and away
from the observation planes, which
continued their important work unmo-
Tested. Lieutenant Simon continued
lighting the three Halberstadts tiercely
in spite Of the odds against him. He
finally succeeded in getting on the tail
of one, and after firing short burst a,
close range the enemy plane fell out OF
control The remaining two planes
ed fast, with motor full on. Homo ad-
dress: Mrs. M. E. Simon, Normandie
Hotel. Columbus, Ohio.
Second Lieutenant Wilbert w. White
147th Aero Squadron. For extraordi-
nary heroism in action in the regions OF
Etain and Chambley, France, Septem-
ber ID, 1918. While protecting three
Allied observation planes in the region
of Etain Lieutenant White was attacked
by three Halberstadt fighters. He en-
gagged them Immediately. successfully
fighting them off and leading them all
away from the observation planes
which were thus permitted to carry or
their work unmolested. While return
ing home he dived through q cloud to
attack an enemy balloon near Chambley
bringing it down in flames. Two Fokker
scouts then attacked him, and although
he was alone with intrepid courage he
attacked the first Fokker head on
shooting until it went dwon into q
vertical dive out of control Pulling up
sharply, he fired a long burst at the
second Fokker as it went over him, put
ting it to immediate flight: Home ad-
dress: DR.. W. w. White, sal Lexington
Avenue New York