The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-06-03
YOUTH LEADS AS
KILLER OF HUNS
British Aviator of Twenty-Five Is
the Most Successful of
Air Fighters.
DOWNS 81 ENEMY PLANES
Captain McCudden Wins the Victoria
Cross and About Every Other Honor
His Government Can Bestow
for GalIantry.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS flying men OF
men interested in flying meet today, be
1t in Britain or at the British front in
France, there is only one name or
their lips. 1t is that of Capt. James
Byford McCudden, who has just been
awarded the Victoria cross, the most
honorable decoration that British
valor can win, and who, in receiving
it, has been officially revealed as the
greatest and most successful air
fighter, living or dead, that the allies
have yet produced. Captain McCud-
den, who is only twenty-five, has a big
ger bag of hostile machines brought
down than Bishop, Guynemer or Ball,
or any other flying man that the war
has brought forward, with the single
exception Of Baron Won Richthofen,
who recently was killed in action.
McCudden's record of hostile ma
chimes accounted for up to February
81 was 81. Of these AZ were definitely
destroyed-four of them in just 80
minutes, 10 falling on the British side
Of the lines. Only - out Of the 81
were driven down out Of control.
Wins Victoria Cross.
No wonder that, in recOunting the
feats of the young British champion,
even the writer's of the sober Official
Gazette are inspired to use the Ian
guage of enthusiastic admiration. They
tell us that Second Lieut.. Temporary
Captain) James Byford McCudden,
D. s. O., M. c., M. NJ, Royal Flying
corps, has now received the V. G. "for
conspicuous bravery, exceptional per-
severance, keenness and very high de-
vOtion to duty on various occasions
during December, 1917, and January
and February Of the present year."
AS the other initials after his name
indicate, Captain McCudden also has
the distinguished service order, the
military cross and the military medal.
Moreover, he has added a bar to both
his D. S. 0. and his military cross.
1.-THE military medal" says the Off
announcement, was awarded this
officer (when a flight sergeant In the
T.. f. CO. for consistent g~allantry,
SOo1 Sc dA0 uASA tlC III VI |
September, 1915, in attacking and de-
stroying an enemy machine and fore
ing two others to land. He also twice
crossed the enemy lines at a very low
altitude in attacks on hostile balloons
under very heavy fire.
'The military cross was awarded for
conspicuous gaIlantry in action on
February 10, 1917, on which occasion
this officer followed a hostile machine
to a height Of 800 feet, and
drove it to the ground.
Conspicuous GalIantry.
captain McCudden earned the bar
to his military cross for conspicuous
.sallantry, dash and skill during the
period Of August 15-September %,
1917, when he took part in many often
sive patrols Cover thirty Of which he
ed), and destroyed five enemy ma
driving three others down out !
If control. s ist~
1.-THE distinguished service order
vas bestowed on him for conspicuous
,allantry on November 20, 1917, when
lie attacked and brought down an en- e
my two-seater within our lines. both q
occupants being taken prisoner He 9
Ilso encountered an enemy machine =
Turing very bad weather conditions
It 1900 feet and fought it down to a :
Of 100 feet, when 1t was de- Q
troyed. Captain McCudden came o
lown to within a few feet Of the Il
round in the enemy's lines and finally C
rossed the line at a very low altitude. t.
to the award Of the bar to h
he military cross he had been respon- ).
ible for the destruction of seven enc
ny machines, two of which fell within =
url lines. e, CT
"For his skill and gaIlantry on No ty
ember %, 1917, Captain McCudden
as awarded a bar of the distin- b.
uished service order. On this occa- q,
he destroyed four enemy ma .,
hines, three OF which fell within our :.
mes, by fearlessness and his clever -
He also drove his pa
'ol against six enemy machines, driv. III
e them Off" ida