Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-19
ACES UP! By JOHN KNOX
The Fact Story of American Aviators in the World War
Part 2-Thc Lafayette Escadrillc
CHATTER Y
CHAPTER Y.
VICTOR CHAPMAN won his spurs
on that same May morning
I which saw the victories and
wounds of Thaw and Rockwell

" which saw the victories and
wounds of Thaw and Rockwell.
Attacking three German aviatiks
far behind the enemy lines. almost the
first enemy shot sliced long rip in his
forearm Forgetting the intense pain
and loss of blood in the thrill of COM
bat. he continued his attack until one
OF the Germans crashed and second
went down ont Of control: the third
fed Miles from home. wounded and
With new enemies Swarming TO attack
him Chapman succeeded in winning
his way back to the French lines. His
two victims had fallen far out of sight
Of the French ground observers. and
neither was ever officially acknowledged
although he WAS praised for his heroiSm
il the following citation:
CHAPMAN. VICTOR. corporal pilot
Of Escadrille and American citizen. en-
listed for the duration Of the war. He is
a pilot remarkable for his audacity. con-
stantly hurting himself upon enemy air.
planes without regard To their number
or their altitude On MAY "a he at
tackled alone three German machines.
during which combat he had his cloth
ing cut with many bullets and received
n wound IN the arm
Capt. IhawS CITATION.
Thaw. already twice cited before he
Joined the Escadrille. was made a
Chevalier of the Legion Of Honor and
given the following citation
"THAW. WILLIAM, lieutenant in
Escadrille ia. American. enlisted VOL
unfairly for the duration of the war.
He is a pilot remarkable for his address.
his devotion Ia duty and his contempt
for danger He has recently taken the
offensive in l8 combais IN the air, all
within a short period, On the morning
of May "a. 1916. he attacked and
brought down an enemy airplane. The
same day he again attacked a group
Of three enemy machines and pursued
them from an altitude of 4.500 meters
down TO 1000 meters. Severely wounded
during the course Of the fight. he sue
ceeded. by his energy and audacity. in
directing his airplane within his own
lines. where he landed safely although
the machine was badly crippled"
Rockwell received the Medaille Mill
taire and the following citation from
Marshal Joffre:
The Medaille Militaire has been con-
ferred upon the following soldier:
ROCKWELL. KIWWIN YATES. cor
poral in Escadrille 1874. Enlisted for the
duration of the war, and was wounded
first on May 9. 1915. during bayonet
charge. He passed into aviation, and
has proved himself a skillful and
courageous pilot. On May IS. 1915. he
attacked and shot down a German air
plane. On May "a. 1916. he did net
hesitate in attacking large group of
enemy machines. during which combat
he was seriously wounded in the face.
This nomination carries with IL the
Croix de Guerre with one palm.
"JOFFRE."
Thaw was the most seriously wount -
Of the days casualties in the Escadrille
His shattered arm put him definitely
out Of the fighting for weeks to come.
In telling Of MS visit to Thaw at the
hospital Capt. Thenault. the French
commander of the Escadrille. draws a
graphic picture Of conditions during the
German drive on Verdun. Capt. The
nault says:
The roads were choked. for the Ger
mans were firing on the Meuse bridges
Shells were bursting in the water, rails
ing splendid fountains. Fish fioated
belly upward on the surface and ouI
poilus. careless OF the shellfire. picked
them out with nets. delighted with the
nGAIbiOIl 10 littiI HlGSS. we IOuIlQ 1SshN
comfortably fixed UP and well looked
after. They were going to put his arm
In plaster and send him of two days
later TO the American Hospital at Neuil-
ly On the outskirts Of Paris He told
us that while he was engaged in a com.
bat he received from the German ma
chine gunner a ball which had frac-
tured his left elbow Despite the agony
Of the wound and the loss Of blood. he
vas able 10 keep control OF his plane
He had only one thought--to get
back westwards. Quite exhausted. ne
landed In the barbed wire without
knowing where he was. Then he saw
blue uniforms. He was saved"
Air Fighting at Verdun.
The pageant OF verdun marched on
T1thout regard 10 casualties. Every day
Then weather permitted. the Escadrilie
pairolled observed and fought The
Americans learned their art rapidly In
the great school OF experience. and
chafed at the restrictions imposed by
formation flying and the wise caution
II the French High Command which