The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-02
CAPT. RObT. TEACH
 TELLS OF AVIATION ! SERVICE OVERSEAS
Local Officer Speaks Inter- estingly of War and of x Birmingham Boys He
 Met in France

Capt. Robert c. Thach Is spending
 two weeks furlough in the city after
 an absence of 16 months overseas,
 where he made an enviable record in
 the training section of the air service. sCaptain Thach, who had previously served as a sergeant on the Mexican
 border, volunteered in the spring of
 1917 and was commissioned a lieuten-
 ant in the cavalry. Shortly after he
 obtained transfer to the aviation
 branch and was graduated as a pilot at the Mineola flying field. from where he went to France in october, 1917. Being an officer on the staff of the chief of the air service. Captain Thach was afforded many opportunities to study conditions in France. as his work consisted of experimenting training Sschool activities in various parts of the country. He was also called upon to make frequent visits to the front for the purpose of obtaining all the latest aviation ideas that would be Ot suse to birdmen in training.
 While with the British forces last summer, Captain Thach, acting as pilot. went on several bombing expe
 ditions over the lines. He declares
 that he felt absolutely safe on such excursions. as the darkness was am
 pie protection against German anti aircraft guns Captain Thach declined
 to say much about himself. but spoke Interestingly of other Birmin gharn boys whom he had seen and whose work in France he was familiar wi.b
 Bill Badham certainly acquitted himself nobly in the aviation, and brought down many German planes, said Captain Thach. "He is reputel to be one of the most fearless fighters and also one of the most popular fel-
 lows in the air service
 rr,I-. l-.- the magnificent work of Captain Brad \ ley Saunders, who as an observer waa in active service at the front from
 March of last year up to the time the armistice was signed. Lieut.. Meredith Roberts, the popular Birmingham av- ator who was killed in a collision, served under Captain Thach for some
 time, but was in training at ISsodus, France. when his unfortunate death occurred Meredith was another dandy flyer" said Captain Thach. 'lie made good from the start and much was expected of him. His untimely death grieved us considerably
 Captain Thach also saw Lieut.. Henry Badham in France, and spoke of his
 hard luck in-being accidentally crip-
 pied in such a manner as to preclude
 the possibility of his serving again. Captain Thach states that he heai 1
 much of the exploits and bravery of
 the Rainbow division. One Birmin5- ham officer among them. Lieut. Ben Moore, was wounded three times.
 "As I passed through Paris on my
 way back I ran across Jelks Cabaniss, '
 said Captain Thach "He is looking { fine and expects to be in France Cor
 several months yet.
 Captain Thach arrived at Boston on xJanuary 20 and was given a leave of
 absence before being assigned to Washington, where for the next two or three months he will assist in the j readjustment of the air service to q 3 peace time basis Captain Thach was 5: unfortunate in being taken sick with z pneumonia last October, just at the < time he had received pursuit orders ts
 go with squadron of British planes 8 in search of boche airmen.s,s He has now completely recovered, however.