The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-03-19

The ups and downs of American
overseas aviation In the early days
OF the war may be read IN the indl.
vidual story ~ Lieut. Norman y.
Archibald. a pioneer American "air
nat who has recently returned Ia
his home Ia this city.
A the speaker at Ia. noon meet
Ing OF the Municipal league, Tues.
day. az BIRDS cafeteria. Il. gave an
absorbing account of his war service.
from the time he left New York. In
October, 1917. until he was released
from German prison camp by the
rcvolutionists, on November rs. and
sent back 10 France.
Archibald. along with group OF
Americans who had gone overseas
TO get into the flying game. was sent
for training 90 issoudon. France.
where there were only two hangers
and two squadron- Of mechanics 20
Identify II as an aviation camp. BE.
fore the close OF the war. this field
became the largest American train.
ing camp In Europe. Only French
planes were available nj that time.
and these. SO poor that when these
American students were sent by the
commandment to the French inatruc.
tor, he threw up his hands In de.
spalr.
"A suicide ciub-you can never fly
in these planes"
Hut They Did
But fiy they did. rs out of tho II
students. and were shortly sent
down To the front. qualified to go In.
to action as chasH. pilots.
Archlbalds squadron. IN. abth,
participated In the air battles 81
Chateau Thi-rry. and ven credit for
az official and ~ "unofficial' Hun
planes. Eddie Rickenhacker was "a
patrol leader In joint squadron
operating with the s5th In this sec
tor.
speeted among the men for his keen
judgment lie would never lead a
patrol into an impossible position
On the sth OF September Archibald
Flew out In formation above the Ar.
sonnc sector one % his details was
to shoot German observation bal
looms. ARD He aarficd lnccndikry but.
let's for 1.t purpose, He was flying
nj a height OF ooo feet and had sue
cceded lu picking off a boche balloon
and an acropianc. when suddenly his
engine went wrong. While endsas'
oring to RICH, II. h. fell into IA heavy
an,i.aircraft fire which stripped the
radiator from his machine.
at was like losing IN. steering
power OF an automobile. WIN the
control gone. the machine ccmmenc'
ed to sid.siip. aud slow spiral was
the heat I could do. In that way ]
landed with Jolt on n shell strcwn
field. and found about 100 Germans
standing around with lowered guns.
AS N were the whole American
army. ready to attack them"
Taken 10 Headquarters
lie was taken 10 headquarters and
rigidiy questioned when II was dis.
covered that he carried a magazine
II ineendiary bullets. an offense
punishable by death. according 10
the rules OF war.
At this juncture German balloon
scout. who had neglected 10 repor,
the presence of Archibaid's plan. In
the vicinity. In order To clear him
self. stated that he had been attack
ed by the American and had brought
down his plane.
Tn. post commander accepted II
as a justification for the presence 81
lneendlary bullets In Archibald >
machine. but Archibald did not know
that he had b~en cleared OF the
charge. A big automobile with an
armed guard arrived. and he was
told he was going to take ride.
n was afraid that that was the
last ride I was going 10 take. hut |
didn't let them know thought they
were going TO shoot me didn't
want to put the idea into their
heads"
Placed In Confinement
At Contains he was placed 10 soil
tary confinement for four days. Here
n German intelligence officer cues.
toned him .cniaiiy. but offered him
nothing better than bitter coffee.
black bread and carrot jar. the first
food he had seen In 30 hours. but
nothing he wanted 10 eat.
During his journey from one Ger
man prison camp to another. Archs.
bald met several other captured
Americans, and relates how on one
occasion they discovered a German
spy among them and dcludcd him
With tales of Americas great army.