The Washington times., 1919-02-26
CITY'S FIRST ACE
TELLS OF FIGHTS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

two-seater, carrying a pilot and an
observer. had an advantage. 1
could maneuver my machine more
easily and quickly than the Germans
could their machine and prepared to
I attack him. He fired at me and missed.
Circling around him for about ten
seconds I found him in a position
which made a good shot for me-
fred. Down he went. Hardly had ]
had time to watch him fall when two
other machines came after me.
Foe Wanted Revenge.
at looked as If they wanted ven
geance. I was not keen on fighting
them. 1t would have been fine If /
had a good machine and was prepared
to meet them. In a few minutes they
reached me. Both were two-seaters.
maneuvered above them, below
them, to the right and left Of them.
1t was either my life or theirs. In
spite Of the danger, fighting two of
Germany's best aviators thrilled me.
81 maneuvered in the air. finally
getting a firing range on one of the
Huns. He had no chance to change
his position, and fired. His machine
crashed to the ground. The second
plane approached me. 1 got the range
OF that machine also and fired. Ny
machine crashed to the ground. For
this was awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross.
my first engagement was during
the early part Of July.
with eighteen other pilots was
sent on patrol duty. After flying for
about a half hour, we discovered a
squadron of German planes speeding
toward us. We quickly got into
formation and prepared to meet the
onrushing attacks of the German air
men. Our machines were crowded
closely together. The enemy machines
were also. When machines are in
close formation while attacking the
enemy it is customary for each man
to pick plane to go after. Fighting
in close formation is sometimes
known as dog fighting.'
well, the German airman, travel
| ing at a speed Of 100 miles an hour
quickly came within firing distance
of us. 1 picked my man and went
after him. At this time I was using
one-seated plane. Both the steering
gear and gun are operated from the
same levers. The German machine
began circling above and below me. !
kept my gun on the machine as much
as possible. In a few seconds my op.
portunity for a good shot came.
fired. Down went the plane.
"The German pilot also had an OBJ
server with him who was directing
the gun fire. 1t was all simple-just
lucky shot.
Got Second Plane.
"a short time later 1 got my Sec
ond German machine. 1t was not diff
hcuIt, although it was exceedingly
dangerous.
"The machine approached me. Il
was a two-seater, the observer using
1 the gun to get a firing range on me
circled around for about two min
utes. His observer got my range
fired and missed me.
"He had a good chance to get me-
| A sudden turn in his machine, as M
was trying to fire, brought him will
his own gun pointing in one direc
| ton and the cockpit OF his machine
almost on a direct line with my gun.
"I fired at him and my first shU
took effect The machine went crash.
ing to the ground. By this time
was thoroughly enjoying air fights
It was a case Of a Germans life o.
yours or something like the best mar
wins
I'm September I downed two ba!'
looms. Attacking balloons is very
| little fun. Once we get the range oI
them they have little chance Of es'
Gaping, if any. In attacking a bal
loon you make what is called tint
nose dive. In this dive you get hun
dreds of yards above the enemy bal
| loon. During this downward dive yoC
constantly fire.
Nearly Always Hit
'Your chances of missing the Hur
balloons are slim. On my first attach
o ma balloon the observers in the bal
loon fired their machine guns at me
and when I got very near them they
fired what is known as an onion at
tack An onion attack is used more
I to excite the aviator than any thing
else. Abut ten large balls, like hand
grenades, and each with large wire
connecting them, are fired towarC
you"
"FinaIIy this onion balloon go
near me. The onions began eXplod
ling. In a few minutes the air 70
many yards around was filled will
observers shot at me and missed.
dived toward the machine and fire.
my shot, being successful. | got m.
second balloon the same way.
"In October l got my last plane
Again l was in a poor machine. Tn
. engine was constantly missing, and
was gradually dropping toward tn
ground. A German, also a membc
of the RichthOfen circus, approacher
me. He made a bad move and hi
machine came directly in range wit
my gun. I fired. Well, another Hu,
gone to-heII. That is all
Won't Tell OF HerOism.
The officers mother. Mrs. Hudson
who lives at the ShOreham Hotel, toll
this story to The Times.
There is one event that Donal
: will not tell TO reporters she said
This was when he saved his bunkie'
life. His bunkie was a man name
Hoover. Both were flying in the ri
: and two German airmen attacke
Hoover. Donald was some diStanC
; away, and the two Hun maChin"
: gradually closed in upon Hoover. !
looked as if Hoover was lost.
Donald told me that he decided {
try and save his bunkic, or lose his lif
in doing il. So Donald went after tn
two machines. When he came nea
them he found the only way he coul
save Hoover would be by crashing int
them. which meant almost sure dealt