The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-01-08
british A|RMAN
, FOUGHT 50 HUN
FOkKERS ALONE
He Lives TO Tell Tale After
Downing Ten,
By GeoIge T. BYe.

AMERICAN PRESS II T. A D.
QUARTERS. British Front. Jam a
The war over. great many &C.
counts Of individual bravery will be
heard for the first time.
None will excel this extraordinary
talt OF British flying major, now
recovering in hospital. which was
tod ME today.
The major, in a fast single scatter
scout, was out over the lines on n
lone hunt. Discovering an enemy
two.Scater machine at q 600 feet over
the forest OF Normal, the major be-
gan climbing sharply TO oyer,akc him.
The enemy tried his hardest TO pull
away, bu, the major in his faster ma
ehre got under his tail. fired at
point-blank range and saw the two
seater break in pieces and fall, one
occupan, diving out in a parachute.
Sustains Bad Wound.
While watching the two.sea,er
crash, the major suddenly heard bull
lets swapping and Kissing about him.
Under him was Fokker biplane. Be
fore he could make a turn he was
wounded IN tho thigh the shock stun
ming him ior moment so that his
tnachne fell in an almleSs spin.
When he had recovered control he
came OF, Of the spin only to find
himself surrounded by fifteen FOX
kers in attack formation. As he was
IN for a desperate dog fight" the
major decided 10 try to engage his as
sailants singly. lie drove at the
nearest and the two were at once
jockeying for favorable positions in
terrific mancuvcrs that carried them
Through the other fourteen. Chance
shots during these eyolutions sen,
down two OF the majors adversaries
and then at ten yards he got on the
tail" Of the first Fokker, probably the
squadron leader, and shot him down
in flames,
Then the major wa, wounded q
second time, this bulle, shat,ering the
bone OF his left thigh. In dead
faint. with his engine running at top
speed. the BritiSher fell in wild swoop-
ing circles, until he once again re-
gained his senses ard was able to pilo,
his scout
A scout machine requires dexterou,
handling, even for Straigh, flying One
hand works the 10Y stick which
controls the elevation or descent o'
the machine, as well as the machine
gun firing lever; the other, III,
throttle and engine controls. Boil
feet are needed for the rudder bal
which guides the airplane to rlgh
or left
Fokkers Surround Him.
Consequently, when the major wa
again set upon, by another squadron
Of fifteen Fokkcrs, with his maneuv
erinp ability greatly impaired, hi
legs giving him terrific pain ever,
time he pressed on the rudder bar
weak from loss OF blood, he decided
lis time had surely come and mad
no his mind to destroy himself AM
one more enemy in a collision.
He charged straight at the machin
ahead Of him, firing at the same time
but intent upon rammlng the enem,
However, when within two or thre
feet of the major, the Fokker burs
in smoke and fell. The other Ger
man, now centered fire oa him, RIA
ding his machine and shattering hi
left elbow so tha, the arm hung dow
useless. Unconscious again, when n
came to he believed his lett arm I
have been shot away as It was zap
eine behind him. Hi, left leg wa
nuerly without feeling. His r'gh
cav. him great pain The bottom o
n. cockpit held a pool OF bloc
mixed with shred, of his clothing.
He Bags Another.
Again he was attacked, by anothe
houadron. Smoke came from his ma
chine and he believed himself on iir'
Ee used all his strength to try tor
collision once more, and was so'' ao'
10 fire ie.bly, His succe" was re-
eeated. A Fokker went down
1Iame At three yard, range
A. he wa, now too dizzy to see, y
uiyed to within few thousand rec
AZ the ground, Just over the lines, n!
engine going "iull out" so that II
:i. ,L,, HI. r,aNhinc stood IN