The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-22
Work of Aerial Bombers Is So Swift and Certain That Only Three of Two Score Planes Have Chance to At- tack Vessel
Rr As.ocialed Pre..

oirect hlt with a lb3-pound aerfal bomb dropped from an F-5-L type seaplans sent the former German submarine U-i17 to the bottom of the Atlantic today and abruptly termi- mated the first of a series of ex- periments by the army and navy to test the ability of naval vessels to withstand damage inflicted from the air. The one-time German commerce raider and submarine mine planter was bound for Davy Jones' locker just 1s minutes after the first saivo of bombs was launched.
 The bomb that settled the fate ot the U-117 was one of a salyo Of nine dropped from three planes that constituted tho first and only aerial division to engage in the actual at tack. A few minutes before the fatal salvo was fired the same d. vision had dropped three bombs to get the range. The projectiles were hurled from g height of about 1,ioU feet while the planes were making more than 100 miles an hour. It was only six minutes after the second salvo was launched that the u-1l7 made it's final crash dive to find a resting place 50 fathoms deep. The sinking of the U-t17 In so short e time came as a surprise to most of the army and navy officers who witnessed the experiment, many of whom had been frankly skepti- cal regarding the ability of the planes to even hit the submarine, regardless of the fact that all the condition favored the attacking force and no effort was made to simulate actual war conditions The U-117 was securely anchoeeF and the bombing planes were fur nished with charts showing the eA act position of the target, but fe expected that fatal injury woul.s be inflicted on the U-boat s quickly.
 Called for (. Planes.
 The plans for the test called fol participation by 24 naval and marine planes and later attack by 23 army machines of the naval craft failed to sink the submarine Nearly goo bombs were provided for the affair but only 12 were used and of the 47 aircraft scheduled to take part in the bombing only three obtained a shot at the target while three more were robbed of their chance after reaching the scene, by the effective work of the first division
 The division that sunk the C-ll7 was commanded by Lieut.. Deios Thomas The three planes were commanded by Lieutenants keene. Rumill and Garvey.
 Although the detailed plans for the exercise called for the appearance of the first division of three F-5-i. ltype planes over the target at , o'clock, it was an hour later when the division was sighted Led by lLieut. Thomas, the planes ap- preached the target in battle forms : ton. Each plane carried four 16S- bound bombs, each bomb containing l116 pounds of T. N. T. As the di- vision swung round for the run pa st the U-117, the planes dropped down to about HOO feet from the surface land when the head of the formatipn was almost over the bow Of Y,e lu-l17 observers saw three bombs lone from each plane, drop in a graceful curve toward the sub marine. An instant later great column of water shot up over the craft, almost entirely obscuring i'-
 Perfect Calculation
 As the spray and mist cleassd laway, it was evident that while direct hit had been made with II first salvo fired for ranging pur' poses, the aviators had calculated tis Iranae so closely that not bomb fslj more than the length of the subrna, Urine away from the target. The bosS Of the T-117 was lifted clear of she !. water by the force of the explosion and as the vessel settled back it wa thought for a time that 1t was slowly sir.king.
 h the meantime the three planes had circled around and were. aEain approaching the target against the wind This time veritablc deluge fof bombs was dropped. each plane launching three. and the nine pro Ijectiies formed an almost perfect pat tern 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 nir along with the water this time. and 1.-the submarine seemed to be almost lifted from the water by the terrific Impact
 One Direct Hit
 Members of the official observing party credited at least one direct hit to the salvo. and it was thought pos soble that another bomb might lisvs found a place in the U-boat's vitals. Almost before the mist and dust of the explosion had cleared away, ,shs submarine began sinking slowly hy the bow and six minutes after the salvo was launched the bow had en ltirely disappeared from sight Even with nearly half the vessel under water, however, the former com Imerce raider and mine planter -e- lfused to concede defeat to the enc lmy in the air.
 Several times the bulk disappeared from view, only to reappcar again lfor an instant wailowing helplessly lin the trough of the long Atlantic lroliers Finally the coming tower slipped beneath the surface and | failed to reappear. and with last ] ldespairing effort, the wounded yes sel lifted her stern high into the al, and dived straight for the bottom.
 In the mea ntime another division or aircraft had appeared on the scene ready to take up the attack. Other naval planes at Hampton Roads and Yorktown. Va, and army craft at { Langley field had no opportunity ts engage in the attack.
 Crashes to Ocean
 During tho test SE-5 type Dop- tx:ith single-seater army plane. pilot ed by Col. c. C. Culver, chief of tho radio section of the army air service and said to one of tho pionAsr fliers of the armN crashed to thl surface of the ocean shortly Afteu : Ethe attack was concluded Whom hls machine struck the water. Colonel : lCulver was thrown clear. The ma chine remained afloaat and the off lcer made his way back to 1t, assisted by one of tae crew of a big seapiare that vas idling on the water neArby and clamiy climbed upon the fusilaxs to swait developments.
 Btats were immediately rushed te the scene from several nearby shins