Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-01
NER|CAN AVIATOR
7RECE|VE MEDALS
lieutenant Chamberlain, of Tex
as, in Battle With Twelve
Boche Planes.
sCATTERS ARMY DETACHMENT
Then Carries Wounded French
Officer Back to Place
of Safety.
sCATTERs ARMY DETACHMENT
IBy Associated Press.]

(By Associated Press1
LONDON. August 31.-First Lieuten-
ant Edmund G. Chamberlain. Of San
Antonio. Texas. a graduate OF Prince
ton and the University OF Texas. and
aviator attached to the United States
Marine Corps, has received simultane-
Gus recomme ndat tions for the Victoria
Cross and the congressional medal Of
honor for an exploit in which he ig-
ured on July 2S.
On that day. over the British front.
an aerial battle with twelve German
machines. He destroyed five of them.
damaged two others and. sweeping
earthward with damaged plane. scat
tered detachment of German soldiers.
After landing. he bluffed three others
into believing his compass was bomb
carried a wounded French officer back
to safety and finally refused to give
his name to the British officer in COM
mand of aerial forces in that section
Of the front. because Of his fear Of be-
ing reprimanded.
The story, which is one of the most
war. also has been cabled> to America
by the London office of the Committee
on Public Information.
Lieutenant. Chamberlain appeared at
British aviation camp on July q and
informed the major in command that
he had personal, but not official. per-
borne out by the young mans superb
or. who says that Lieutenant Chamber
lain had asked to be permitted to go
up near the front during a furlough.
because ne desired to get some more
experience before resuming his work.
The British commander was in need
berlain he could go. On this flight
The young American brought down one
German airplane in flames and sent an
other whirling down out of control
nj
tachment of thirty aviators who went
cut over the battle field through which
she ,s wefe being driven by the
about over the fleeing Teutons. they
we're attacked by an equal number of
Serman machines. 1t was hurricane
battle from the first. and almost at the
inception OF the combat the British lost
three planes.
TEMPEST OF MACHINE
BULLETS IS ENCOUNTERED
In the tempest of machine bullets
that roared about his machine Lieu
tenant Chamberiain's engine was dam
aged. One of his machine guns be-
os the an,inn ana Rn, ne seemed 10 be out
FOR home he remained to offer assis-
tance to two other airplanes which had
been attacked by twelve German ma
chimes.
His machine had lost altitude. owing
10 engine trouble, but when he was at
tackled by a German. he opened such
dive toward the earth.
His two companions were now en-
and Lieutenant Chamberlain Went to
shSsa hsr ins Hss His bs sctSn
His engine was now working better.
NTH up Of Ta sent the and
ssha'lsTsas st s with another voiiey from
chamberiais iooped out u9en of ee4don
enemy machines which had gathered
he he sh shos h wing a Of he iaee
machine
ea4s e1 81 the the sI Tb. Ssn e
engine had gone dead" and he was
shells fired at him by the ehemy's
his destination he saw beneath him a
Se gns o 5F0ops ane t IS
but which he had succeeded in putting
tered and Lieutenant Chamberiain flew
on for an eighth Of mile and came
He, found. that he could not carry
off the eNGuipment N Of his machine. SO
ns hs s e dd So he
encountered a patrol of three Germans.
He shouted to them to surrender,
waving a compass above his head like
the third surrendered.
The, American started again for the
French officer, whom he picked up and
carried driving his prisoner before
him. He waded brook under heavy
fire and finally arrived within the
British lines in safety with the French
officer and the German prisoner.
He then reported ready for duty"
and asked the major in command OF the
British airman not to make any. report
name. The major was unable TO :keep
the affair quiet and the full details
were made part Of this official re-
port Of the days fighting.