New-York tribune., 1921-06-22
Two Salvos of II Missiles
From 3 Navy Planes at
100 Miles an Hour Send
Old Raider to Bottom
First Sky Warfare
Test Is Big Success
One and Possibly Two
Hits Made; Army Flyers
Don't Have a Chance

ON BOARD U. S. HENDERSON, OFF
CAPE CHARLES, Va, June Fl (By The
Associated Press. .)-Within sixteen min
utes after the first division of naval
seaplanes had attacked the former Ger
man submarine U-117 to-day it was
fifty miles from the Virginia Capes. A
direct hit with 163-pcund bomb did
the work. Only three naval planes had
a chance to attack
The direct hit abruptly terminated
the first of series of experiments by
the army and navy to test the ability
Of naval vessels to withstand damage
inflicted from the air.
The bomb that settled the fate Of the
U-117 was one Of a salvo of nine
dropped from three planes that consti-
tuted the first and only aerial division
to engage in the actual attack. A few
minutes before the fatal salvo was
fired the same division had dropped
three bombs to get the range. The pro-
jectiles were hurled from a height of
about LOO feet while the planes were
making more than 100 miles an hour.
1T was only six minutes after the Sec
ond salvo was launched that the U-117
made its last "crash dive" to find a
resting place fifty fathoms deep.
Witnesses Surprised
The sinking in so short a time came
as surprise to most of the army and
navy officers who witnessed the ex-
a = 1111n Mt
frankly skeptical regarding the ability
of the planes even to hit the sub
marine, regardless of the fact that all
the conditions favored the attacking
forces and no effort was made to
simulate actual war conditions. The
U-117 was securely anchored and the
bombing planes were given charts
showing the exact position of the
target.
The plans for the test called for
by twenty-four naval and
marine planes, and later attack by
twenty-three army machines if the
marine. Nearly two hundred bombs
twelve were used, and of the forty
seven aircraft scheduled to take part
in the bombing only three obtained
shot at the target, while three more
were robbed of their chance after
reaching the scene by the effective
work of the first division
Ihe division that sank the U-117
was commanded by Lieutenant Delos
Thomas. The three planes were com
manded by Lieutenants Keene, Rumill
and Garvey, and approached the target
in battle formation. AS the division
swung around for the run past the
u-117 the planes dropped down to
about 1,100 feet, and when the head of
the formation was almost over the bow
of the U-117 observers saw three
bombs, one from each plane, drop in
a graceful curve toward the subma-
rine. An instant later a great column
of water shot over the craft, almost
obscuring it.
Get Range in First SaIvo
AS the spray and mist cleared away
Jt was evident that, while no direct hit
had been made with the first salvo,
fired for ranging purposes, the avia-
tors had calculated the range so close
ly that not bomb fell more than the
length of the Submarine away from the
target. The bow of the U-117 was
lifted clear of the water by the force
of the explosion, and as the vessel set
SiSS b@SN ~ "oo eiouShS AOI q StiilC
that it was slowly sinking.
In the mean time the three planes
had circled around and were again ap-
preaching the target against the wind
This time each plane launched three
bombs, which formed an almost perfect
pattern around the U-117 as they struck
the water. A cloud of black smoke and
dust, centered with the red flash of the
explosion, flew into the air along with
the water and the submarine seemed
almost lifted from the water by the
terrific impact.
Members of the official observing
party credited at least one direct hit
to the salvo and it was thought pos
sible that another bomb might have
found place in the U-boat's vitals.
Almost before the mist and dust OF
the explosion had cleared away the
submarine began sinking slowly by
the bow, and six minutes after the
salvo was launched the boat had en-
tirely disappeared from sight.
Even with nearly half the vessel un-
der water, however, the former COM
nierce raider and mine planter refused
to concede defeat to the enemy in the
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