Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-13
FIGHTS 60 FOES
WITHIN AN HOUR
British Altman Has One of Most
Remarkable Experiences
of World War.
WAS oUT ON A lone HUNT
Destroys Four Hun Machines, Disables
Six, Suffers Three Gripping
Wounds and Brings Back
Machine In RepairabIe
Condition.

American Press Headquarters, Brit.
ish Front.-The war over great
many accounts of individual bravery
will be heard for the first time, but
none will excel this extraordinary tale
of British flying major, now recover
ing in hospital.
The major. in fast, single-Seater
scout, was out over the lines on lone
hunt. Discovering an enemy two-seat-
or machine at u 900 feet over the for
est of Normal, the major began climb
ing sharply to overtake him, got under
his tail, fired at point-blank range ana
saw me two-seater break in pieces and
fail, one occupant diving out in Il para
chute.
While watching the two-scater crash,
the major suddenly heard bullets snap
ping and kissing about him. Under
him was a Fokker biplane. Before he
could make turn he was wounded in
the thigh, the shock stunning him for
a moment SO that his machine fell in
an aimlesS spin.
Surrounded by Foes.
When he had recovered control he
found himself surrounded by Il Fox
kers in attack formation. lie drove at
the nearest and the two were at once
iockcving for favorable positions in
terrific manueNerS that carried them
through the other H. Chance Shsts
during these evOlutiOns sent down two
of the majors ndyerSaries, and then
ut ten yards he got on the tall of the
first Fokker, probably the squadron
leader, and shot him down IN flames
Then the major was wounded sec
ond time, this bullet SCATTERING the
bone of his left thigh. In II dead faint,
with his engine running at top speed
the BritiSher fell in wild sweeping
CIRCLES, until he once again regalned
his senses and was able to pilot his
scout,
But the major was again SET upon
by another squadron of u FokkeiS.
He charged straight at the machine
ahead o. him, firing ut the same time
The Fohker burst into smoke and fell
Then the other Germans now conferred
fire on him, Kidding his machine and
SCATTERING his left elbow 50 that tn,
arm hung useless. Unconscious again
wnen he came 90 he believed his left
arm to have been shot away, as it was
Tapping behind him.
Again he was attacked by another
squadron. Smoke came from his ma
chine and he believed himself on fire
He used all his strength to try for
collision once more and was still able
TO fire feebly. His success was repeat
ed. A Eo.k"r went down in flames AT
three yards range.
Makes Dive for Safety.
AS he was now too dizzy to see, he
dived to within few thousand feet OF
the ground just over the lines, his en-
CINE going full out so thar ii is
miracle his machine stood the strain
anG again he was attacked, this time
by eight enemy scouts.
The terrible descent seemed to brace
him. British observers saw him &c
through the most amazing spins, spir
ais, z"OmS and all the tricks of the
British scout fighter. In a l2-minute
engagement he drove down two Ger
mans out of control, broke free Of thu
others and came home Swimming trees
and trenches. He probably will pull
through.
In less than an hour the major had
engaged fifty to sixty enemies, destroy
ing four, disabling four to six, suffered
three gripping wounds and brought
back his machine in repairable condi
tion