Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-15

or forgets to open them again when
climbing. So Putnam did the other
day when he dove on some Boches-
shut the shutters and then interested
in the Tight forgot all about them,
and pretty soon his water was boil
ing, steam coming out of his tank
like an engine ready to leave the
station. His temperature was way
above the danger point, so he
promptly dove for home, wondering
what in Sam Hill was wrong. Judg-
ing from the humor he was in when
he landed, the warm remarks he
was addressing to that-must
have made the temperature go up
ten more degrees.
Putnam's Work
He got one Hun though since
joining this escadrille, he has gone
through the Huns like whirlwind
having knocked down three officially,
and last night Dowled over five out
of a patrol of ten. He's a wonder
but details of his fights have to be
pried out of him and then they are
very Unsatisfactory. About all he
will say is that he dove at the Hun,
held his fire until he say the pilots
head clearly and then let go point
blank with both guns, indeed much
the same as his ancestor at Bunker
Hill, who waited until he saw the
whites of their eyes. Anyway we
had learned the secret-get UP close
and then shoot.
Quite simple indeed to think about
but practically it takes some nerve
to calmly hold your fire until you
nearly hit mis- plane, all the time
wondering whether your motor will
respond when you pull up to climb
out of that nest of hornets, and
whether your guns are working; also
if while you are interested in the
Hun directly in Front, another don't
maneuVer and get on your tail.
Nothing III Details
My plane should be ready for to-
night, it being under repairs all
morning, as last night a magnetic
broke, along with several wires, so
L was wise in coming down instead
of going to the lines as l had
reckless idea of doing. In that
case l would have surely gone Zen
panne,' with so much of my motor
busted, and just now that's dang
erous, for the grain crops are grow
ing making former good landing
fields nothing but high grass and
grain. Landing in such stuff means
a somersault sure-and maybe other
things, so l have no desire of being
put to the test of picking out field
"a nice green one-from way up on
high and get down to find it's COM
posed of ripping grain
From our usual altitude of 5000
meters such details cannot be noticed
as all green fields look alike. Even
roa DIS are hard to find, and railroads
almost impossible, and of late the
sky is nearly always polluted with
big white bollowy clouds. which sure
are a nuisance for one can only see
where he is at through the holes in
the clouds, and these Spads are blind
enough without that Looking out
over the side about all the pilot can
see beneath him is his lower wing.
Honestly l was over the city of
Rheims the other day and was look
ing everywhere for it, finally l stood
up on one wing and there 1t was
right under me, hidden by my wing
all the time. Yea boy! It's a great
life If you don't weaken! Don't for
get to send my mail to the Y. M. c..
8. address in Paris, for / may move
any WALTER
p. S. Am sending enclosed two
pictures. Dlu you get Iheh
(To censor)-Say! If you won't
pass the whole picture, please cut
ont little me and send it. It's of
no military importanc to the Huns
unless they use it to frighten their
chiloren.
Sergeant Putnam's wonderful
work in downing five enemy planes
in one day was told in Associated
Press dispatches from the front last
month and Putnam is a descendant
of General Israel Putnam. "Old Put"
of Revolutionary fame and has been
flying with Shaffer for some time.
His record is one of the best yet
made by Americans at the front.