Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-09-17
FLYERS Who QUIT
TELL EXPERIENCES
Thril|-Free Life Is Good
Enough for Some of Noted
War Aces.

run ntired Nth tragedy for An,eri-
can World War air aces. This
article, one in series on war
flyers, also tells of those ,oho fought
until the purpose ,oas gained, then
hung up their goggles for all time.
~ the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, September 17-Capt,
Jerry c. Vasconvells of Denver, Colo.
now lives the quiet, thrill-free life of
an investment securities company ex-
ecutive in Denver, Colo, but when he
was winning his war ace wings he saw
many things that have stayed in his
memory.
The captain, who eliminated five
German airplanes and one observation
balloon during the world struggle in
France, still declines to talk about his
personal achievements, but he tells
here today about one Of the most hor-
rible things he saw while in action.
To wit:
THE one experience that perhaps
stays with me the most wildly was
when flying around $4,000 feet my
deputy flight commander was hit by a
stray bullet from a German plane
HE few alongside of me for a
matter of seconds, threw of his
helmet, goggles, waved, looked out at
the front of his plane, which was
commencing to throw out dense clouds
Of smoke, looked over, smiled and
waved again and the plane exploded
There was, of course, ample oppor-
tunity for him to have jumped many
times; however, in those days we did
not haye parachutes. The horror of
sitting there knowing positively what
was going to happen in few seconds
and being absolutely powerless to help
him in any way still is very vivid in
my mind"
Rickenbacker Incident.
Capt Vasconcells tells of a funny
incident that happened to Capt. Ed
ward v. Rickenbacker, ace of Ameri-
can aces.
1T happened in our camoufaged
shack on the advance field of verdun,"
he said.
"One early morning Capt. Ricken-
hacker and myself had each set fire
an enemy balloon. He landed at my
field with trouble with his propeller.
I'VE were sitting in the shack drink
Ing red-hot coffee when about SO
yards behind us large naval gun
fired. We had neglected to tell Rick
about the location of the gun.
1.-THE result was both humorous and
painful. Rick. about to take drink
of coffee, through involuntary re-
action to the sudden noise, threw the
entire cupful in his own face To this
day, he insists that we had the gun
especially placed, that we knew it was
going to fire and deliberately and with
malice of forethought did not tell
him OF its existence"
The Armistice ending the World
War became effective the morning of
November ii, 1918.
Lieut.. Guthrie Out for Good.
On that day Lieut.. Murray X.
Guthrie, who now lives in Minneapolis,
MINI, quit flying. and he has not
been at the controls of plane since.
He flies on passenger airplanes, how
ever, as does Capt. Vasconcells.
Lieut.. Guthrie destroyed six enemy
ships.
Following him closely In getting
out Of the air was Maj. Charles J.
Biddle. who put seven German planes
out of commission. now is practicing
law. His last night as pilot followed
the signing OF the Armistice by week.
He few from the old Saint Mihiel sec
tor to Paris to check some supplies TO
his base and called it career.
Quite In contrast. however, is Capt.
Clayton l.. Bissell, stationed at Wheel
or field, Hawaii
He is still member OF the Nation s
Army Aerial Corps, and still enjoys
flying as much as ever
AS a veteran service f1ier, Capt
Bissell has made many official tests
OF Inventions intended to improve
airplahes and eliminate hazards.
Another retired f1ier is Capt. Edgar
g. Tobin of San Antonio, Tex, who
sent six German ships to destruction
He few until 1881. He occasionally
flies in the three ships owned by his
own company.
Brooks Retired in 1920.
Capt. Arthur Raymond Brooks oil
birmingham, Mass, continued to fly
for his country after the end of the
war, finally retiring in 1920 after
having commanded the first pursuit
group composed of squadrons "a, IS
~ and lat at Kelly Field, Tex.
Then he entered the air mail service
He has, for the last nine years, beer
supervisor of the air operations grouy
OF the Bell Telephone Labora tories
Inc, of New York.
The spad Capt. Brooks few at tn,
close OF the war now rests in tn
Smithsonian Institution at Wash
4ngton.
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