Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-03
WAR FLYERS TO SEE
/ MEDAL PRESENTED
Rickenbacker Ceremony on
Thursday Occasion for Re.
&c. union of Squadron.

The presentation by President Hoover
Of the Congressional Medal Of Honor to
Capt. Edward v. Rickenbacker, Amer
!ca's leading war ace, at Boiling Field
casion for q reunion of former officers
of the cath Aero Squadron, which was
commanded by Rickenbacker In France.
Invitations have been sent by Maj.
Gen. James E Fechet. chief of the
Army Air Corps, to As living former
members of the wartime cath, two OF
when now are living in the National
Cap al. The list includes. six OF the
Nations aces and IA others VINO are
credited officially with victories over
enemy airmen. The term ace. which
is not oficially recognized by the War
Department, is applied to those credited
with five or more official victories over
enemy flyers in combat Capt. Ricken-
hacker is officially credited with 20
victories.
The two Washington members Of the
famous "Hat-in- the-Ring" Squadron,
as the oath was known, as c. E.
Fauntleroy and Chester A. Snow,
neither OF whom Is credited ofnciany
with a victory.
All Not to Attend.
Though as invitations have been sent
there are a number Of other members
of the squadron who will not receive
them. since they could not be reacheo
in time to permit them to come here 70
nav their respects to the honored COM
rade in arms because Of their residence
in other parts of the world, one OF them
as far away as Indo-C China.
Former members of the Gath who
still are with the Air Corps are Maj
Maxwell Kirby, Maj. Carl Spatz and
Capt. Frank CD. Hunter. Maj. Kirby
now Is in command Of Luke Field,
Hawaii, and Mai. Spatz and Capt. Hun
ter are at Rockwell Field, Coronado,
Calf Spatz ana Hunter may ny across
the country for Thursdays ceremonies.
The six aces In Rickenbackers
squadron expected to attended are Capt.
Hunter, who had nine official victories;
James A. Meissner, Birmingham, Ala.'
eight victories; Reed M. Chambers
New York, seven victories; H. Weir
Cook, Indianapolis, Ind, seven victories;
Douglas Campbell, New York, six VIC
tories. and Edgar G. Tobin, San An
tonic, Tex, six victories. The wartime
pilots of the cath have been invited
to attend the ceremonies.
In Higher Rank Now.
Though Rickenbacker will be referred
tn during the ceremonies by his war
time title of captain" he now holds
the rank of colonel in the Army Spe-
cialist Reserve Corps. $50
$50 pm. with the arrival Of the Presi-
dent. F. Trubee Dawson, Assistant
Secretary of War for Aeronautics, VIII
act as master of ceremonies. The cita-
ton of Capt. Rickenbacker Tor the
Congressional Medal Of Honor, the
highest award for gallantry IN battle
the Nation can bestow, will be read by
Gen. Fechet and the medal then will
be presented by President Hoover
After accepting the medal, Capt. RICK.
enbacker will present to the presioent
his former comrades in the 94tn.
An impressive aerial demonstration
is to begin at PAS pm. with the take-
Oft of the 1st Observation Squadron, the
ID Bombardment Squadron and the
oath Pursuit Squadron, all OF which VIII
9iy here this week for the ceremonies.
There will be O review OF the squad
rors in mass and line by the President
The single scatter pursuit planes Of
the gath Pursuit Squadron, successor
To the wartime oath Aero Squadron,
viii demonstrate the famous "Lufberry
circle" method Of attack and there VIII
be a combined bombardment ana pur.
suit demonstration. The squadrons WIZ
land at 500 pm. All speeches, music
by the Army Band, and a description
Of the ceremonies and aerial demon
stration will be broadcast over the Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. network, In
GLIDING station WRC. The award OF
the medal will honor the aces feat OF
attacking single handed seven German
planes and shooting down two OF them,
September Is, 1918.