The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-20
CHAMBERS, FIRST
MEMPHIS ACE, IS
CAPTIVE At HOME
Friends and Fair Ones Over
WheIm Flyer Who Wears
Many Decorations for Help
ing Sweep Huns From Air.

w nat bdIDn hIClLl1OItA Win Ia lily
ing circus could not do; what scores
of other German flyers failed to do;
what they would have given all they
possessed to accomplishment Is, bring
down n capture Mai. Reed Chambers,
Memphis leading ace and third in rank
among the aviators of America, was
brought about in less than a minute
Thursday afternoon in the Peabody ho-
tel lobby, when the boyish young hero
Of the air surrendered to his cronies
and friends and after half an hours
hugging and handwriting was whisked
der guard of a captor fair Of hair and
rosy OF cheek, in whose hands he
I seemed a willing prisoner.
Unannounced save to his closest
friends and with modesty characteristic
Of the ~clean-cut flyers for freedom.
his adoption after 20 months Of service
over the battle lines OF h western
front. On his breast he wears every
decoration in the power OF the allied
commanders to confer. He is officially
accredited with having downed in &C
ton seven hostile airplaneS n unof-
ficially is reported to have disposed OF
at least -four more. OF these latter he
does not speak, inquiry along that line
bringing the usual I'VE won't discuss
that OF the true hero loath to discuss
his exploits from fear OF seeming boast
full.
Left a Private-Back Major.
Maj. Chambers wears the distin-
guished service cross with four oak
leaves, s~ignifying that he has engaged
In four adventures, any of which would
have won for him that coveted honor.
The croix de guerre with " palms
and two stars, surmounted by the medal
Of the Legion OF Honor, highest dec
grafton the French confer. also is
worn by the Memphian. A silver star
on Maj. Chambers left breast signifies
that he is recognized as one OF the 10
leading flyers of the American expedi-
he stands third in that distinguished
Delightful" was about all the boy
~ish-looking young hero could say on
his arrived in his home town and toe
busy, in the effort to relax ana NOR
which have made his name immorta
in the fight for democracy.
In command of the saith aero squad
ron of the American air service, MAJ,
Chambers arrived in Memphis Thursday
from Mitchell field, Mineola, L.. /. He
landed in New York city on the last
dav of May, stepping on American SOL
for the first time since October, 1917.
Rescued Rickenbacker.
AS a member of Eddie Rickenback-
er's flying circus, Maj. Chambers won
his greatest honors and once saved tnt
former auto racers life when the lat
ter was hard pressed by a superior
force of enemy flyers. R~ickenbackel
and Mai. Chambers became pals II
their experiences as comrades IN arms
' and after both are discharged from TN
service they plan to go into the AUTO
mobile business in Los Angeles. cal;
return to New York next Monday ant
will receive his discharge. after which
he will at once begin plans for re
> entry into the automobile business. Foi
five years previous to his enlistment NJ
was a salesman for the Memphis over
land company,
probably Mai. Chambers most darint
exploit was the fight with a squadron
Of Fokkers and a Hanoverian plan
which had surrounded R~ickenbacke
and were about to succeed in their con
certed effort to drive the American &C
Maj. Chambers scared far above tn
enemy planes and suddenly dive
: straight downward into the midst o
them, firing as he darted downward
One Of the Fokkers fell out of commits
sion back of the American lines an
4 the squadron flew to cover well beyon'
the German first line trenches.
While still a lieutenant Chamber
was sent out to protect an observation
plane one day during the fighting
o around Chateau Thierry. Several 9th
ers were in the party. Suddenly a flee
d Of Fokkers appeared apparently iron
nowhere and in overwhelming number
began peppering the Americans wit
their quick firers. Outnumbered, tw
American planes were shot down. Lieut.
o Chambers, however, with his compan
a ion. lodged the clumsy Huns, helpe
) the observers complete their task an
escorted both planes back to the Amer
lean lines in safety. For this he wa
awarded the Croix de Guerre n 70
e later exploits he was given two palm
and two stars. @t
In the Argonne forest drive Ma
Chambers won his d. S. C. He downe
a Fokker after a terrific battle wit
similar action during the Argonn
drive he was awarded three oak leave!
Wins Legion of Honor.
AS a climax to all the honors won tn
: French government, finally showed 1t
appreciation by making the youn
Memphian a member Of the Legion
j, Honor, the highest military d~ecoratio
v in Its power to give. The honor ha
been conferred on but four Americana
two of whom, by the way, are fror
&c Memphis-Maj. Chambers and Lieuten
. ant-Commander Cecil Sellars, who re
y Gently returned from overseas duty.
Leaving a remunerative position a
retail salesman for the Memphis Over
land company, 413 Monroe avenu,
q Chambers first enlisted In the Chicka
o saw Guards. He made a splendid rec
ord In service along the Mexican Dor
der with the Chicks and returned t
Memphis a finished soldier.
n The lure of the air got into his vein
1t after Ms return to Memphis and en
n listment in the aviation service fol
= lowed, Mai. Chambers was among III
e first to finish the instruction afforde
Ir under Capt. Christie at the local avia
ton school, and when 1t was discor