The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-11-05

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Ishino to HE Comrades, and Aiso
Probably Astonishing 10 the Enemy
eddie Rlekenbaeker, Former Auto
Racer, Has Downed Seven.
The First army has Its cap on TO
Frank Luke. who has brought down
IL enemy observation balloons and
n plane within a week. Luke vol
unteered for probably the most peril
Gus air work, going out on stunts as
tonishing to his comrades, and also
probably astounding to the enemy,
writes Frederick A. Smith In the Chi.
cago Tribune.
l sought out this demigod Of avia-
ton who has become In a few days
the American ace Of aces In balloon
destruction. and found him to be a
boy OF nineteen, whose blue eyes show
Ingenious surprise when he is asked
about his exploits. His enterprises
contribute to the fine record of Amer
lean aviators In this offensive. Sixty.
three Boche planes have been downed
In a week, nine of which are already
officially recorded, and 80 balloons.
Chicago Boy Downs One.
Thorne c. Taylor. son Of Judge Tay-
lor of Chicago. dropped one, adding to
his already fine record. Eddie Ricken-
hacker, former auto racer. just out Of
the hospital after a mastoid operation.
added three to his string, two Of which
are official, giving him seven Boche air.
men to date.
When the offensive openeds volun.
teers were asked for balloon attacks.
Luke and Joseph F. Wehner Of Ev-
erett. Mass, stepped forward. although
they had only been pilots at the front
for a few months. They started. but
became separated; but each got q
balloon. That means they went singiy
far across the foes line and flew close
to the ground under the fire of machine
guns and aircraft guns, which. with
flaming onions" were filling the air
with fire. The onions are balls OF FIRE
intended to ignite the plane.
~ 10 az lAluL LuhC Ah L1C H1hfuC
campaign followed a Boche ace far
into German territory and dropped
him, but there was no chance to con-
firm this for the of1cial record. That
was his first blood, and he determined
his next accomplishment should be
made Official. After dropping the bal
loon In flames Luke recrossed our
lines, alighting near an American OBJ
servation balloon and getting an Inn
mediate written statement from the
observer, who saw the battle.
The next day Luke was accompa-
MED by Wehner. who. falling behind
and reaching the other side of the Ger
man front, vas Just In time to discover
Luke sending down a balloon In flames
unconscious Of the fact that seven Hun
planes were right or his tail. Wehner.
rising, came down on the Boche near
est Luke, shooting down the Hun and
saving his comrade. Wehner then
crippled another Boche. both then e.
Gaping. Luke's plane was riddled. a
bullet hitting under the seat back OF
him. damaging the tank and cutting O
strut
Attacks Antlalrcrax ounA
Saturday Luke went out with Joe
Dawson. getting another balloon. but
he was piqued because the bag didn't
burn. and descended almost to the
ground, driving the antiaircraft gun
ners away from their pieces.
Young Luke. who quit school In
Phoenix. Ariz., to enter the war,
a Germany a loss Of $1,000 for
each balloon dropped, In addition to
valuable instruments and maps reQuir-
ing months to make. On Monday eve
ming Luke and Wehner announced that
they would get three. the first at 2 rs.
the second at 7:30 and the third at
7:45. Observers near the front saw
the three fall almost exactly on sched-
ule. The daring flyers were forced 10
return after dark. but were guided by
rockets and flares. and finally reached
home, both wrecking their machines In
aiighting.
The Arizona boy one night on re-
turning after bagging two o was
forced to land far away and was picked
up after walking some distance, sus-
pected AZ q German In an American
uniform. He proved his identity. but
was forced to walt until morning be-
fore returning to his airdrome.
R~ickenbacker Is a different style OF
battler. "He lies In the suE." often
10000 feet high. attacking only when
be has the advantage or some com
rade beneath needs help. He always
flies alone. On Saturday. northeast of
viguelies. Rickenbacker encountered
four Boches who were pursuing Amer
lean bombers back toward III lines,
He Unanswered into the SUI and came
down on the rear German. then rising
sharply or "zooming the German" He
aoaopaH 60 a oo(a altitude aaatlv as