Middletown transcript., 1919-11-01
ENSIGN Tells E(![[.S| Of. r
j SEllPlIANE FIGHT !
Qnjoer Describes How American
and British AMiators Held
Oft Superior Forces. !;
four MACHINES ATTACK 20
Interesting Account Of an Exciting
Aerial Combat During the Late
War-eattle Enemy for
Several Hours.


I: War-eattie Enemy for
Several Hours.
Washington.-One Of the most In
teresting accounts Of an aerial combat
ih the late war was made public re-
Gently by the navy news bureau, which
has headquarters In the navy depart
ment In Washington.
The STORY is told In the report OF
Ensign r. B. Keyes Of the United
States Naval Flying corps to Admiral
Sims, and relates how four British
seaplanes operated by American and
British aviators fought 20 German ma
chimes several hours in defense of q
British plane that had been forced to
descend to the water for repairs.
Ensign Keyes was the front gun
layer Of one Of the machines, in which
Lieutenant Galvayne Of the British
Royal Air force was second pilot. In
his report the aviator says:
"Our three machines from Felix
stowe rose from the water at noon,
-circled into patrol formation, and pro-
ceeded along the coast to Yarmouth.
Here we were joined by two more
planes. At one O'Clock the squadron
turned east. Soon we perceived the
Dutch coast and followed the sandy
beaches of Texolt and Vlie!and islands
until we came to Terschelling.
Sighted German Planes.
"At Terschelling we veered west,
but we soon had to turn back because
one machine (Eaton's) had come to
the wate> With a broken petrol pipe.
We circled n, and Is minutes later
sighted five German planes steering
west, which would soon bring them
upon US.
Lieutenant Galvayne was seated
near the wheel. His duty was to
kneel with eyes above the cowl and
direct the pilot. I was in the front
cockpit, with one gun and 400 rounds
of ammunition. In the stern cockpit
the engineer and wireless ratings were
to handle three guns.
I'VE took battle formation and went
forward to meet the enemy machines,
but when almost within range they
turned and ran away from US. At
once we gave chase, but soon found
that they were too fast.
I'VE had chased these planes to keep
them away from the machine on the
water, which otherwise would have
been shot to pieces. Finding now that
they could keep out of our range, we
turned back and again circled the dis
abled plane.
"Soon the enemy once more came
close, and we gave chase second
time. But instead Of five machines,
as before, there were only four.
"Suddenly we discovered that large
number of hostile planes were steering
toward US, not in the air with the four
planes. but very close to the water.
Ten machines were in this group, but
they were Joined in few minutes by
i've more.
I'VE swung into battle formation
and aimed for the middle Of the feet.
When we were nearly within range
four planes on the port side and five
on the starboard side rose to our level
Of 1900 feet. Two planes passed d.
rectly beneath us, shooting upward.
Firing was incessant from the begin
ming, and the air seemed blue with
tracer smoke. The Germans used ex-
plosive bullets. gave most Of my
time to the four planes on our port
side, because they were exactly at our
level and within good range, about
200 yards.
"Once looked round and noticed
that Lieutenant Galvayne was in q
STOPPING position. BY bending lower
L discovered that his head was lying
in q pool Of blood.
"From this time on have no clear
idea Of just what our maneuvering
was. Evidently we put up running
fight, steering east, then circling. Sud-
denly f-found that our machine. had
been cut off from the formation and
we were surrounded by seven enemy
seaplanes. We were steering almost
southwest. We fought for ten miles
or so, until we drove the seven Ger
mans off. One Of them was driven
down out of control and made very
Door landing. Another was badly hit,
side-slipped, and crashed in flames
from a height Of 1000 feet. All were
severely punished.
Lieutenant Galvayne Killed.
"The engagement had lasted about
half an hour. We descended to the
water at 4 AS p. m. ten miles north
west Of Vlieland. There I loosened
Lieutenant Galvayne's clothing, made
his position easier, and felt for his
heart, which was sure was beating
feebly. Then we rose 1900 feet and
SIGHTED two Yarmouth planes. We
picked them up, swung into formation
and laid our course for Yarmouth. At
7:1O we sighted land, and 20 minutes
after were resting in front Of the Yar-
mouth slipway. We at once summoned
medical aid, but found that nothing
could be done for Lieutenant Gal
wayne. A shot had gone through his
head,
SOur boat was riddled. A number
Of shots had also torn the top between
the front cockpit and the beginning
Of the cowl. The duration Of the fight
vas seven hours and ten minutes"
vwartlme shipbuliding Campaign In
ths United states Produces Over
r 000 m TAna