Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-31
ACES UP! By JOHN KNOX
The Fact Story of American Aviators in the World War
Part 3-Our Naval Air Forces

idea Of drawing It's fire and keeping 1t
on the surface until help came.
In a quarter of an hour another sea-
plane arrived, flown by Capt. Eaton.
He, too, dropped his one bomb, and
again the missile failed to explode. The
submarine again submerged before fur
Their reinforcements could arrive. The
first, last and only submarine attack On
the coast of the United states was over,
and for the first time our shores had
been defended by airplanes against
direct enemy attack.
In his report of the engagement the
commanding officer Of the Chatham
naval air station wrote:
Ensign Eric Lingard was the first
aviator to ever engage an enemy vessel
on this side of the Atlantic. This was
on July 81. 1918. when German sub
marine shelled tug and four barges
off Orleans. Mass. Lingard was the
first pilot to reach the scene, flying one
Of the II. S. boats. and Special Mechanic
Howard who was his observer on that
flight. said: Lingard is the most Won
derful pilot / ever rode with. He flew
exactly over the center of the subma-
rine' If the bomb had functioned, the
submarine would have been done for.
'P. B. EATON,
Captain Of Engineers, U. S. Coast
Guard, Commanding"
The warm weather of July had faded
| into the chill of New England Autumn
when another call for help came to the
Chatham air station. 1t was on Octo-
Der 10, 1918. when the frantic call of
| the radio operator on a South American
steamer brought word that his ship was
being attacked by German submarine
Yell ~
/ 40-mile- gale that sent huge
rollers pounding on the beach and made
small craft hug sheltered harbors. Ger
| tainly it was no weather for flying. but
Lingard and another flyer. Ensign
Shields. volunteered to go TO the rescue
Of the inperiled ship. They succeeded
| in getting out of sight Of land on their
way to attack the submarine, but then
their engine failed and they were forced
| to land on the raging sea.
Forced Back.
| AS the long hours went by Lingard's
| companion, Ensign Shields, lost con-
seriousness and his inert body slipped
into the sea. Lingard seized his fainting
companion and dragged him back on
the water-logged wing. where he took
up the double burden Of holding on his
companion as well as himself.
Twenty-seven long hours after they
had been forced TO descend subnla-
rine patrol boat pulled alongside and
rescued both men. Lingard's long fight
for his life and that of Ensign Shields
was too much for his powers Of recuper-
alton. He died from pneumonia con-
tracted during that wild day and night.
His funeral at Annisquam, Mass, was
attended by host Of service men and
civilians. During the impressive mill
tary funeral seaplateS from Chatham
soaring through the heavens dropped
flowers upon the grave.
In speaking Of the personnel of the
Chatham station. DR.. Henry van Dyke,
then q Naval Reserve chaplain. said:
Early this morning one of your best
comrades brave youth. faithful off,
Ger. daring and skillful aviator passed
out of this life His death was the i'm
mediate consequence Of injury and ex-
poSure. which came 10 him in the course
Of duty as an air scout guarding the
shores OF our country"
tcopyrigh;. 1881
Tomorrow-Read the amazing story
Of the Nays Medal OF Honor man.
Charles Hammann, of the coast Of