The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-05
MD. FLYER WRITES
OF WORK IN FRANCE

4 new type of plane that keeps
comfortably warm" at a height Of
three miles is a source OF great pleas
ure to Yankee airmen at the front. In
a recent letter to his father. C. a.
Snow, OF Fenwick, Nd, Lieut.. C. A.
Snow, jr.. member of the Ninety
fourth Air Squadron. First Pursuit
Group. Zone of Advance. tells OF this
new plane, and gives some OF the
flying maxims that are enabling
American scouts to sweep the skies
clear of foes.
Keeping always above the other
fellow is the most important part OF
air tactics, according to young Snow,
who tells how the Yanks are acquir-
ing proficiency in this new art. His
letter is as follows:
Different Plane.
We now have a different type
of plane. 1t is q wonder in
the air, but most Of my time on
the ground Is taken working with
and directing my crew OF three me-
chanics to keep the ship in running
order. Ny plane is much more roomy
and comfortable than the previous
type. and has another great advant-
age. Its stationary motor keeps II
comfortably warm at 5000 thousand
meters, 1890 feet more than three
miles, enabling one to fly in a light
combination and instead of big bun
glesome gloves, light gloves or none
at all. The machine is heavier and
does not handle quite az we'll as the
type which we previously used and
with which 1 made my flrst patrol
over the lines about ten days ago. On
the other hand, II has greater speed,
higher ceiling and will dive much
faster. Also II is far stronger and
practically unbreakable in the air so
you can understand that every one
here including myself is very much
pleased.
DAY before yesterday 7 made my
second patrol and saw much interest
ing activity along the lines, in fact
about all the activity along this see
tor. which is the most important sec.
tor in the world just now. We few
high along over the lines which were
covered in all directions by all types
OF allied planes. The visibility was
exceptional. but in spite or this 1
could not definitely recognize the
lines. I once had the idea that the
front was composed of two sets of
trenches. one allied and one boche,
with more or less definitely defined
no mans land between. Here at least
there are very few trenches visible, |
from 1000 meters, and have no very
clear idea whether they are French
or German"
See Many Fires.
saw many fires. sometimes vii
lagos burning and usually q low
haze OF smoke not from the parties"
or shells leaving the guns, as this is
smokeless. but from the "arrives' or
"eclats" bursting shells. Even this |
is 30 irregular that have yet been
unable to exactly determine the lines |
from IL. Anyway you see we are not |
in the position OF a balloon observer
with large maps in front Of him with
nothing to do but watch the ground !
from comparatively low altitude. !
The ground and what Is going on |
down there Is the least OF our wor- |
ries. Far more attention Is given to |
the air around in all directions, but |
especially above.
at also requires much attention to |
stick close to the leader. as he swerves |
first one way and then another up and |
down. Then one must Keep track OF |
NAo OAilGA HlNn IN the lorna ZION. IN |
fact. I can't adequately describe how
very busy a business IL is. We have |
SO far kept high. between 1000 aid !
5000 meters, most Of the time so that
fewer ny above US than below. When |
another group is seen above land II |
is always seen too far away to be
recognized) we keep an eye on IL and |
climb away till we are on top before |
we come around for a closer look |
When something is below and moth !
ing above we drop directly to within !
recognition distance OF what is be- |
low. When something IL both above |
and below we leave below alone. |
These principles are the most i'm |
portant part OF air tactics.
Sees Guns Flash.
1--WE have seen a few groups far !
away inside the enemy area. but have
not yet been able to get close enough !
to tell what they were. Maybe they |
were boches, maybe not, but one sure |
thing is that they saw us about as |
soon, " not sooner. than we saw them. /
In one part Of the sector which Is |
rather thickly wooded l noticed the |
occasional flash OF guns looking like |
small electric sparks. Yesterdays |
communiQue speaks OF a French |
artillery preparation, attack and ad-
vance. in the same region and I think
now that is what ! saw. We stayed
out SO long that several were forced
to leave the patrol for lack OF gaso- (
lene. and l got back only by switch
ing on my nourriCo-a small en-
Urgency gravity feed tank in the up
per wing, good for about fifteen min
utes. By gliding as much as I could
made the held with about two min