The sun., 1919-02-06
NEW YORK AIRMEN
WIN VALOR CROSS
Four Pilots or Observers Dec
grated for Heroism in
Aerial Fighting.
BALLOON MAN rs A HERO
Repeatedly Remained at Work
Until Forced to Jump With
Parachute.

extraordinary heroiGn IN q thirty-five
minute battle with thirty German air
craft near Dun sur Mouse, France, on
September 26 last has won the Dis
tinsuished Service Cross for Second
Lieut. Sigbert A. q. Norris OF 4s9 Fifth
avenue. His name Ia included in the list
OF crosses awarded to-day in the name
| Of the President.
Lieut. Norris, an observer in the Elev-
enth Aero Squadron. was flying with
Lieut.. William Waring as pilot They
became detached from their own forma-
tion and attached themselves to a flock
OF planes from the Twentieth Squadron
which engaged tho thirty enemy fiiers.
| Five of the machines in the Twentieth
Squadron were sent crashing to the
earth and the observer of ono OF the
| remaining planes was seriously wounded.
The wounded man had fallen in a posi-
| ton which made control of the aircraft
difficult. Lieut.. Norris Immediately mo-
toned for his pilot to take n position
between the enemy formation and his
| crippled comrade in order TO protect him.
He continued to fight off the Germans
until the American lines were crossed
and they gave up the encounter.
| Observer Wins Cross.
| Another New York aviator First
Lieut. Byron T. Burt. Jr.. of 1903 West
lSeyenty-third street. an observer in the
Balloon Section, has been awarded the
cross for repeated acts OF heroism In
action near Gricourt France, from Al
gust 4 TO II. near Sommedieue Septem-
Ter 1e and near Avocourt october /. On
| each OF these occasions he remained
with his balloon making important OBJ.
| servations Of the enemy positions and
directing the American artillery fire I'M
I'll his balloon was ablaze from incen-
diary bullets fired by German aviators
On one occasion he refused to jump him
self until his companion. a student obs
server. had started safely In para
chute.
First Lieut.. Remln,on Deb vernam. a
son of Mrs. Philip ]. Ross. CO Broad
way. has been decorated with the cross
for heroisn in action near Buzancy
| France, October 10. He Is a pilot in the
Twenty second Aero Squadron Lieut.
Nernam displayed the highest degree OF
daring. according to the citation, in sue
cessively attacking two enemy balloons
which were moored TO their nets He
executed the attack despite the fact that
two enemy planes were above him. de-
scending TO an altitude OF less than ten
meters when five miles within tile Ger
man lines His we'll directed fire caused
both balloons to burst into flames.
First Lieut. Harold II George, 2ff
East Tenth street. attached TO the 39tl,
Aero Squadron. displayed extraordinary
| herotsm in action near Bantheville
France. October q and has received
the Distinguished Service Cross in con
sequence. The citation says that he
| showed great courage in attacking a
formation o! four enemy Fokker planes
destroying two OF them In a terrific
night and driving-the other two back &c
their own territory.
Another New York officer who dis
| tingu!shed himself while fighting with II,
! Seventy New Works own di
! '!sion 90 drafted men. is Lieut.. Thoma,
| l.. Fallon. The order citing him wa
signed 10y Col Raymond Sheldon. of The
General Staff, and said "Throughou
the advance from Oches TO the Mouse
| from November 10 November g. 1918
he personally supervised the mainte.
nance OF l!aiSon by runners throughout
| the regiment and continuously passed
| through areas sheled with Introduction
Are at great personal danger TO establish
, and maintain his system OF oommunica
| fion"