Evening journal., 1919-02-03
FOUGHT HIS HUNS
Up IN THE AIR
Lieut.. Smart. Delaware Col
leee Football Star. Saw
ST. Mihiel Drive
BROUGHT DOWN ONCE
BEHIND O&N LINES
spssral Ia The Evening Journal.

Special to The Evening Journal.
NEWARK, Del. Feb. S-Lieutenani
Lawrence L. Smart OF the is5th Aero
Squadron. for three seasons star end
Of the Delaware collese football team,
has Just returned To this country after
A remarkable record 10 the aerial ser
vice on the western front from July
until the armistice was signed He had
several narrow escapes during fights
with en- my airmen, on one occasion
being b ought down behind his own
lines from a helghth OF several thous-
and feet but was unhurt. Lieutenant
Smart has been recommended for the
Distinguished Service Medal. While
credited ofleially with bringing down
but one enemy sirplane, he managed
IN several engagements 20 bring down
other Hun machines, which. because OF
the confusion OF battle were not placed
ofilcially to his credit. For the abil-
lty that he displayed In. successfully
guiding infantry contsct patrols, srtil-
ley adjustments. Photographic mis-
sions and aerial conbats, he was made
llght commander last August
The recommendations made by his
Commanding ofIlcer. Commander Ed
ward Landon, air service. United States
army. follows: Lieutenant Smart was
one OF the original pilots OF the i35th
Aero Squadron. His work from the
beginning has been highly satisfactory
and commendsble. lie arrived at the
squadron on July 30. He was made
Night commander on August % and
held that position with extraordinary
ability until November 25, the date he
left the squadron. He has lown many
successful infantry contact patrols. ar
tillery adjustments and photog aphio
missions. he has also engaged in sew
eral aerial combats. being offlcially
credited with the destruction OF one
enemy plane.
"He experienced the 81. MIhiel drive
September 70 and 10. For his oontin-
uous good work he has been recon-
mended for the Distinguished Service
Medsl. i recommend Lieutenant Smart
70 be commander" These reoommen-
datlons were made on November 25.
Lieutenant Smat. whose home Is In
Baltimore. was a student at Delaware
College when the Delaware militia was
sent 10 the Mexican border and he
with other Delaware College students
went with Company OF Newark. He
had made a reputation as a football
player. being one OF the best ends the
blue and gold ever had. Although only
% years OF ace he was recommended
for the First Oflcers' Training Camp at
Fort Myer, after this country entered
the war. and won his commission
there. lie was one OF IS out OF 500
men who qualified In the aviation sec
ton. He TOOK his ground school work
al Toronto University, and completed
at Hicks Field. Tex. He left New York
last March and after intensive train
ing was sent 10 the 81. Mihier sector
In July.
During his period OF active service.
Lieutenant Smart went through expert
ences which rival those OF many flyers
OF much longer service. On two occa-
sions his machine was shot from be-
meath him at great helshts. While In
reconnaissance with another American
machine 1900 feet over the So. MIhiel
sector, his observer. Henry Sheets. Of
Columbus. o., discerned six Hun ma
chimes over them. The Hun machines
had the advantage OF being above them
and between them and home.
I'VE had no choice but 10 80 through
that bunch" Lieutenant Smart said. in
discussing This experience. I'VE open
ed our engines wide and started diving.
They held Their helghth until we got
directly beneath them and then they
all came down down on us like shots,
with guns barking. Sheets waited un-
til they got down near us and then he
opened up and sure gave EN- -.
They attacked In the usual way, one
diving after the other for a little over
two minutes. The third 10 dive fell
into & vicious side slib' and left a
black smoke behind him. was sure
we knocked him out. On returning 10
our aerodrome we found four shots
through the wings Of our machine but
both OF us escaped uninjured"
Two days previous 10 the above ex-
perience Lieutenant Smart had & thrill
ing adventure while bombins the
enemy inland towns with propaganda
literature On returning they dropped
a few bombs over the enemy front line
trenches from q heighth OF not more
than 1000 feet The Huns responded
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