New-York tribune., 1919-02-06
Z NewY Workers
Win W WarCrOss
L or Air Feats
Lieut.. Percy Pyne, Jr., Beat
Off II Enemy Planes
In One of His Flights

Seven air service officers from New
York arc among the wearers of the
Distinguished Service Cross, according
to the official citations just released
from Washington
They are First Licutenants Percy
Rlvington Pyne, jr., of $50 Park Ave
nue., First Lieutenant Harold II. Rem
ington Deb Vernam, Of 66 Broadway:
First Lieutenant Harold II. George of
2l0 East Tenth Street, First Lieuten-
ant Byron I. Burt jr., of 1O8 West
Seventy-third Street. Second Lieuten-
ant Sigbert A. G. Norris of 1928 East
Slxtleth Street, First Lieutenants War
rem Edwin Eaton of Norwich, N. Y. and
William w. Waring, deceased, Of
Franklinville, N. Y.
Lieutenant Pyne, a son Of Percy Riv-
Ington Pync, banker. fought a fight
nigh above Dunsur- Meuse which even
the official phraseology of the COM
munique cannot fail to picture as tre-
mendously daring and splendid.
Detailed as an escort for three pho
tographlc planes, Lieutenant Pyne went
over the lines the morning of October
Z3, 1913. formation of five Fokkers
dove on the four Yankee machines.
Pync attacked once, and his fire and
that of the three observers in the pho
tographic machines caused the enemy
to withdraw.
Inc work of taking pictures went
on. Again formation-this time Of
seven hun scouts-was seen approach
ing. They attacked. DESPITE the odds.
Lieutenant Pyne dashed into the middle
of the hostile formation twisting,
turning half-rolling and shooting as
fast as his guns would work. He broke
up the formation. One Hun went crash
ing down to his death, and the re-
naming six limped back to their aero
drome.
Another remarkable feat is that per
formed by Lieutenant Vernam. On
octoper IO, 1918 near Buzancy he sue
cessfully attacked two stationary bal
looms. AS soon as his plane was sighted.
the enemy began to haul down their
gas-bags Lieutenant Vernam followed
them down, despite the fact that sew
eral German scouts were above him.
and fired one. He then turned his
guns on the other and when only a
lew hundred feet above the earth sue
ceeded in setting it afire.
lie was five miles over the lines and
not more than ten meters up. Machine
guns, anti aircraft, rifle, and field guns
plazed away at him. Zig-zagging like
q bat and climbing all the time. the
Yankee pilot fought his way back to
ms own 'drome. His machine was
rlddled, but he was unscathcd.
The Official Awards
The official awards follow:
rirst Lieutenant Percy Rivngton Pyne.
lV3d Aero Pursuit Squadron For extraordi
,iary 1i hcroism IN action near Dun-sur- -Meuse,
t)CtObac
.hree planes on Photographic mission. Lieu
tenant Pyne attacked and drove off five enc
my machines tl'okker type) Later another
German formation of seven (Fokker type) was
encountered but despite the odds Lieutenant
tyne swung up into the midst of the enemy
ana scattered them, diving on one of the FOX
4I Kers and sending it crashing to the ground.
City. A'e" AoiN
flrst Lieutenant keminton Deb Vernam
pllot, z1d Aero Squadron For extraordinary
herosm IN action near Buzancy. France, Oc.
@ eopsr ~, 1917. Successfully attacking two
nests Lieutenant Vernam displayed the hipb.
est degree OF daring. He executed his task
despite the fact that several enemy planes
were above him. descending to an alt;tnJa ~
less than ten metres when five ni1es u,ith; >,
the enemy lines. His we'll directed fire caused
ce po'n - pai'oons to burst into flames. Address.
oo ,inroadway New York City.
fIrst Lieutenant Harold H. Ceorye 12Q+b
aero Squadron. For extraordinary bero;s,,,
III ~ action near Bantheyille, France Octohor
-, l9lo. Lieutenant George displayed great
oo,,I oouraee IN attacking formation of four
enemy planes (Fokker type). destrnvino t,'l
OF them in terrific fight and driv;na ~ tso .
olher TWO back to their own territory. Homo
City. ''' ''iee'' NE" York
First Lieutenant Byron 4. Burt. ir A,;o
s.ou oeSton observer Balloon Section. For
repeated acts Of heroism in action neo. -:
court France. Aug. Ali near Sommediene
france trance Sept; l6 and near Avricourt, France
~, w. - I'lS. On each of these OCCASIONS
lieutenant Burt remained with his balloon
making Important observations of the ans.
my positions and directing our artillery five
until hie ballon was set on fire by incend;orv
bullets from enemy aircraft On one occasion
ne refused to jump until his companion. a
student observer was safely away. Ho,oa
address. lO8 West Seventy third Street New
York City. A'e"
Second Lieutenant sigbert A. G. Norris.
nsi"'ion M eectlon' observer, 18th Aero Squad
ron. For extraordinary heroism in action
near Dun-sur-Meuse FRANCE, Sept. 96. 1918
Deeming it impossible to catch their own
formation Lieutenant Norris, with Lieutsn.
an' " "t'nan sVaFing pilot, attached themselves
10 formation from the goth SQUADRON and
engaged in Il t!frty-fiye minute fight WITH
thlrty enemy aircraft. Five of the s0th
squadron were lost and tho observer of one
he wounded man had fallen to n position
which had made the control of tho machine
diiicuit. Lieutenant Norris immediately mo-.
TONED ior his pilot 10 take a position be-
tween the enemy formation and the cripnled
companion, in order to protect il and cor-
tinued to fight off the enemy 'ulanes MI,
our lines were crossed
First Lieutenant WilIium w. Wnr;ur do
ceased Aviation Section, pilot For exfrsor-
dinaiy heroisn N action near Duu-sur
Mouse. france, Sept. g. 1913. Deeniny il
impossible to catch their own formation
l,ieutenant Waring. with Lieutenant Slgbert
Norris. observer, attached themselves 10 a
formation from the Goth Squadron and en-
gagged in thrty-fvc minute fight with
thirty enemy aircraft. Five of this SQUADRON
were lost and the observer of one Of tho
three remaining planes seriously wounded.
The wounded man had fallen in n position
which made the control of the machine diff.
cult. Lieutenant Warng Immediately placed
his machine between the enemy formation
and the crippled companion in order TO pro
tcct 1t. and continued to fly in this place
until our lines were crossed and the enemy
ecouts driven off, Home address, Franklin
VILE N. y.
First Lieutenant Warren Edwin Eatop
Aviation Section, 103d Aero SQUADRON. var
extraordinary herosm In action near Bnnthc
vile, France. Oct 10. 1918. With one Other
pilot I4ientcnnt Eaton engaged an enemy
formation of eleven planes (Fokker tvpel
though another hostile formation was direct
~ above them. After severe combat Lieu
tenant Eaton destroyed one of the enemy
planes and, with his companion, drove down
another out of control. Home address. Nor
wch. NJ. Y.