The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-06
LOCAL BOY SAW
PLANES BURNED
AT colonies
Thousands of Dollars Worth
of Material Went up in
Smoke, Says MacLeonhardt

Thousands of dollars worth or army
supplies and military stores were de-
stroyed at the big air service center at
Colonies les Bellies, according to
Charles MacLeonhardt, an employe of
the Palladium, who recently returned
from France, where he served as a
member Of the Third Air Service Me-
chanic's regiment.
MacLeonhardt was stationed at Co.
lombes les Bellies for about ten months
and during this time, he said not only
were airplaues destroyed, but much
other valuable military stores was
burned by the military authorities.
MacLeonhardt was a member OF the
provost guard at the air station.
According to his statement, salvage
operations were started long before
the signing of the armistice, but none
OF the captured material was repaired,
nor was any effort made to sort the
good from the bad, but the entire lot
was thrown on a heap and as soon as
the armistfce was signed wholesale
destruction Of these salvage piles was
begun.
Was Provost Guard.
"At one time while on provost guard
duty, had nine German prisoners out
on fatigue work" MacLeonhardt said.
"A large quantity Of camouflage mate
rial, which was considered very valu-
able, was totally destroyed.
This material had been brought to
the park before the armisice was
signed, and instead OF caring for 1t
properly, It was allowed to remain In
the open, where It soon started to rot.
There were plenty Of hangers on the
field where this could be stored. AT
the orders Of my commander, I took
the stuff and dumped 1t into a large
hole where the had been removing
gravel.
"The captain at first suggested that
oil be thrown on the cloth and then
burned, but 1t was later decided to use
It in filling the hole OIL In France at
that time was very expensive. but nc
apparent thought was taken Of costs
"At this station, the authorities also
went to an expense Of approximately
1900 in Transforming a hangar into
a dance hall Many valuable aero
plane parts, such as propellors and the
like were used to decorate the build
ing, and some Of the most expensive
material obtainable was used for the
floors This hangar, after 1t hat
been transformed, was used chiefly BY
officers, and on Saturday nights, {
guard was posted outside the building
to keep out enlisted men,
Numerous instances were cited b!
MacL eonhardt, where he witnessed
the actual burning OF airplanes. Thes'
planes, according to his statement
we're brought into the station by sal
wage crews, the motors removed, ant
in some instances the planes dis
mantled and stored
Bonfres Of Arplanes.
"They would bring these planes int
the station" he said "and after the.
had been stored there for a while
an order would be issued to get ri
Of them, and after that We could Sc
little bcnfires Of airplanes scatere
over the park. Most of the airplane
we're burned after the armistice wa
signed. Before the armistice most c
the salvaged material was shlppe
away from the station
This work Of destroying materis
went on in an open manner. and al
narently no effort was made to SUI
press information concerning tn
work, according to MacLeonhardt. TIL
work at the station was all local ope
atoms. and none Of the orders cam
from higher authority, he said.
MacLeonhardt left Colomf es le
Bellies on May 5, and at that time tn
burning of a huge store or aeroplane
which has since resulted in an offici;
investigation, had not been made. H
said however that at he time he lie
the station, there We're a number
aeroplanes scattered over the fiel
and apparently in good condition.
II imagine that these were II
planes that were later burned whe
The field was finally closed, Ma
Leonhardt said.