diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/7fffr10.txt | 2940 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/7fffr10.zip | bin | 0 -> 60457 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8fffr10.txt | 2939 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8fffr10.zip | bin | 0 -> 60512 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8fffr10h.htm | 3359 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/8fffr10h.zip | bin | 0 -> 2038468 bytes |
6 files changed, 9238 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/7fffr10.txt b/old/7fffr10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a55196f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7fffr10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2940 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Flying for France, by James R. McConnell + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Flying for France + +Author: James R. McConnell + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6977] +[This file was first posted on February 19, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, FLYING FOR FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Paul Hollander, Juliet Sutherland, Linton Dawe, Charles Franks + +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +FLYING FOR FRANCE + +With the American Escadrille at Verdun + + + + +BY + +JAMES R. McCONNELL + +Sergeant-Pilot in the French Flying Corps + + + + +Illustrated from photographs through the kindness +of Mr. Paul Rockwell + + + + +To + +MRS. ALICE S. WEEKS + +Who having lost a splendid son in the French Army has given to a great +number of us other Americans in the war the tender sympathy and help +of a mother. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Introduction + By F. C. P. + +CHAPTER + + I. Verdun + II. From Verdun to the Somme +III. Personal Letters from Sergeant McConnell + IV. How France Trains Pilot Aviators + V. Against Odds + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +James R. McConnell _Frontispiece_ + +Some of the Americans Who are Flying for France + +Two Members of the American Escadrille, of the French Flying Service, +Who Were Killed Flying For France + +"Whiskey." The Lion and Mascot of the American Flying Squadron in +France + +Kiffin Rockwell, of Asheville, N.C., Who Was Killed in an Air Duel +Over Verdun + +Sergeant Lufbery in one of the New Nieuports in Which He Convoyed the +Bombardment Fleet Which Attacked Oberndorf + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +One day in January, 1915, I saw Jim McConnell in front of the Court +House at Carthage, North Carolina. "Well," he said, "I'm all fixed up +and am leaving on Wednesday." "Where for?" I asked. "I've got a job to +drive an ambulance in France," was his answer. + +And then he went on to tell me, first, that as he saw it the greatest +event in history was going on right at hand and that he would be +missing the opportunity of a lifetime if he did not see it. "These +Sand Hills," he said "will be here forever, but the war won't; and so +I'm going." Then, as an afterthought, he added: "And I'll be of some +use, too, not just a sight-seer looking on; that wouldn't be fair." + +So he went. He joined the American ambulance service in the Vosges, +was mentioned more than once in the orders of the day for conspicuous +bravery in saving wounded under fire, and received the much-coveted +Croix de Guerre. + +Meanwhile, he wrote interesting letters home. And his point of view +changed, even as does the point of view of all Americans who visit +Europe. From the attitude of an adventurous spirit anxious to see the +excitement, his letters showed a new belief that any one who goes to +France and is not able and willing to do more than his share--to give +everything in him toward helping the wounded and suffering--has no +business there. + +And as time went on, still a new note crept into his letters; the +first admiration for France was strengthened and almost replaced by a +new feeling--a profound conviction that France and the French people +were fighting the fight of liberty against enormous odds. The new +spirit of France--the spirit of the "Marseillaise," strengthened by a +grim determination and absolute certainty of being right--pervades +every line he writes. So he gave up the ambulance service and enlisted +in the French flying corps along with an ever-increasing number of +other Americans. + +The spirit which pervades them is something above the spirit of +adventure that draws many to war; it is the spirit of a man who has +found an inspiring duty toward the advancement of liberty and humanity +and is glad and proud to contribute what he can. + +His last letters bring out a new point--the assurance of victory of a +just cause. "Of late," he writes, "things are much brighter and one +can feel a certain elation in the air. Victory, before, was a sort of +academic certainty; now, it is felt." + +F. C. P. + +November 10, 1916. + + + + +FLYING FOR FRANCE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +VERDUN + + +Beneath the canvas of a huge hangar mechanicians are at work on the +motor of an airplane. Outside, on the borders of an aviation field, +others loiter awaiting their aerial charge's return from the sky. Near +the hangar stands a hut-shaped tent. In front of it several +short-winged biplanes are lined up; inside it three or four young men +are lolling in wicker chairs. + +They wear the uniform of French army aviators. These uniforms, and the +grim-looking machine guns mounted on the upper planes of the little +aircraft, are the only warlike note in a pleasantly peaceful scene. +The war seems very remote. It is hard to believe that the greatest of +all battles--Verdun--rages only twenty-five miles to the north, and +that the field and hangars and mechanicians and aviators and airplanes +are all playing a part therein. + +Suddenly there is the distant hum of a motor. One of the pilots +emerges from the tent and gazes fixedly up into the blue sky. He +points, and one glimpses a black speck against the blue, high +overhead. The sound of the motor ceases, and the speck grows larger. +It moves earthward in steep dives and circles, and as it swoops +closer, takes on the shape of an airplane. Now one can make out the +red, white, and blue circles under the wings which mark a French +war-plane, and the distinctive insignia of the pilot on its sides. + +"_Ton patron arrive!_" one mechanician cries to another. "Your boss is +coming!" + +The machine dips sharply over the top of a hangar, straightens out +again near the earth at a dizzy speed a few feet above it and, losing +momentum in a surprisingly short time, hits the ground with tail and +wheels. It bumps along a score of yards and then, its motor whirring +again, turns, rolls toward the hangar, and stops. A human form, +enveloped in a species of garment for all the world like a diver's +suit, and further adorned with goggles and a leather hood, rises +unsteadily in the cockpit, clambers awkwardly overboard and slides +down to terra firma. + +A group of soldiers, enjoying a brief holiday from the trenches in a +cantonment near the field, straggle forward and gather timidly about +the airplane, listening open-mouthed for what its rider is about to +say. + +"Hell!" mumbles that gentleman, as he starts divesting himself of his +flying garb. + +"What's wrong now?" inquires one of the tenants of the tent. + +"Everything, or else I've gone nutty," is the indignant reply, +delivered while disengaging a leg from its Teddy Bear trousering. +"Why, I emptied my whole roller on a Boche this morning, point blank +at not fifteen metres off. His machine gun quit firing and his +propeller wasn't turning and yet the darn fool just hung up there as +if he were tied to a cloud. Say, I was so sure I had him it made me +sore--felt like running into him and yelling, 'Now, you fall, you +bum!'" + +The eyes of the _poilus_ register surprise. Not a word of this +dialogue, delivered in purest American, is intelligible to them. Why +is an aviator in a French uniform speaking a foreign tongue, they +mutually ask themselves. Finally one of them, a little chap in a +uniform long since bleached of its horizon-blue colour by the mud of +the firing line, whisperingly interrogates a mechanician as to the +identity of these strange air folk. + +"But they are the Americans, my old one," the latter explains with +noticeable condescension. + +Marvelling afresh, the infantrymen demand further details. They learn +that they are witnessing the return of the American Escadrille--composed +of Americans who have volunteered to fly for France for the duration +of the war--to their station near Bar-le-Duc, twenty-five miles south +of Verdun, from a flight over the battle front of the Meuse. They have +barely had time to digest this knowledge when other dots appear in the +sky, and one by one turn into airplanes as they wheel downward. +Finally all six of the machines that have been aloft are back on the +ground and the American Escadrille has one more sortie over the German +lines to its credit. + + +PERSONNEL OF THE ESCADRILLE + +Like all worth-while institutions, the American Escadrille, of which I +have the honour of being a member, was of gradual growth. When the war +began, it is doubtful whether anybody anywhere envisaged the +possibility of an American entering the French aviation service. Yet, +by the fall of 1915, scarcely more than a year later, there were six +Americans serving as full-fledged pilots, and now, in the summer of +1916, the list numbers fifteen or more, with twice that number +training for their pilot's license in the military aviation schools. + +The pioneer of them all was William Thaw, of Pittsburg, who is to-day +the only American holding a commission in the French flying corps. +Lieutenant Thaw, a flyer of considerable reputation in America before +the war, had enlisted in the Foreign Legion in August, 1914. With +considerable difficulty he had himself transferred, in the early part +of 1915, into aviation, and the autumn of that year found him piloting +a Caudron biplane, and doing excellent observation work. At the same +time, Sergeants Norman Prince, of Boston, and Elliot Cowdin, of New +York--who were the first to enter the aviation service coming directly +from the United States--were at the front on Voisin planes with a +cannon mounted in the bow. + +Sergeant Bert Hall, who signs from the Lone Star State and had got +himself shifted from the Foreign Legion to aviation soon after Thaw, +was flying a Nieuport fighting machine, and, a little later, +instructing less-advanced students of the air in the Avord Training +School. His particular chum in the Foreign Legion, James Bach, who +also had become an aviator, had the distressing distinction soon after +he reached the front of becoming the first American to fall into the +hands of the enemy. Going to the assistance of a companion who had +broken down in landing a spy in the German lines, Bach smashed his +machine against a tree. Both he and his French comrade were captured, +and Bach was twice court-martialed by the Germans on suspicion of +being an American _franc-tireur_--the penalty for which is death! He +was acquitted but of course still languishes in a prison camp +"somewhere in Germany." The sixth of the original sextet was Adjutant +Didier Masson, who did exhibition flying in the States until--Carranza +having grown ambitious in Mexico--he turned his talents to spotting +_los Federales_ for General Obregon. When the real war broke out, +Masson answered the call of his French blood and was soon flying and +fighting for the land of his ancestors. + +Of the other members of the escadrille Sergeant Givas Lufbery, +American citizen and soldier, but dweller in the world at large, was +among the earliest to wear the French airman's wings. Exhibition work +with a French pilot in the Far East prepared him efficiently for the +task of patiently unloading explosives on to German military centres +from a slow-moving Voisin which was his first mount. Upon the heels +of Lufbery came two more graduates of the Foreign Legion--Kiffin +Rockwell, of Asheville, N.C., who had been wounded at Carency; Victor +Chapman, of New York, who after recovering from his wounds became an +airplane bomb-dropper and so caught the craving to become a pilot. At +about this time one Paul Pavelka, whose birthplace was Madison, Conn., +and who from the age of fifteen had sailed the seven seas, managed to +slip out of the Foreign Legion into aviation and joined the other +Americans at Pau. + +There seems to be a fascination to aviation, particularly when it is +coupled with fighting. Perhaps it's because the game is new, but more +probably because as a rule nobody knows anything about it. Whatever be +the reason, adventurous young Americans were attracted by it in +rapidly increasing numbers. Many of them, of course, never got +fascinated beyond the stage of talking about joining. Among the chaps +serving with the American ambulance field sections a good many +imaginations were stirred, and a few actually did enlist, when, toward +the end of the summer of 1915, the Ministry of War, finding that the +original American pilots had made good, grew more liberal in +considering applications. + +Chouteau Johnson, of New York; Lawrence Rumsey, of Buffalo; Dudley +Hill, of Peekskill, N.Y.; and Clyde Balsley, of El Paso; one after +another doffed the ambulance driver's khaki for the horizon-blue of +the French flying corps. All of them had seen plenty of action, +collecting the wounded under fire, but they were all tired of being +non-combatant spectators. More or less the same feeling actuated me, +I suppose. I had come over from Carthage, N.C., in January, 1915, and +worked with an American ambulance section in the Bois-le-Pretre. All +along I had been convinced that the United States ought to aid in the +struggle against Germany. With that conviction, it was plainly up to +me to do more than drive an ambulance. The more I saw the splendour of +the fight the French were fighting, the more I felt like an +_embusque_--what the British call a "shirker." So I made up my mind to +go into aviation. + +A special channel had been created for the reception of applications +from Americans, and my own was favourably replied to within a few +days. It took four days more to pass through all the various +departments, sign one's name to a few hundred papers, and undergo the +physical examinations. Then I was sent to the aviation depot at Dijon +and fitted out with a uniform and personal equipment. The next stop +was the school at Pau, where I was to be taught to fly. My elation at +arriving there was second only to my satisfaction at being a French +soldier. It was a vast improvement, I thought, in the American +Ambulance. + +Talk about forming an all-American flying unit, or escadrille, was +rife while I was at Pau. What with the pilots already breveted, and +the eleves, or pupils in the training-schools, there were quite enough +of our compatriots to man the dozen airplanes in one escadrille. Every +day somebody "had it absolutely straight" that we were to become a +unit at the front, and every other day the report turned out to be +untrue. But at last, in the month of February, our dream came true. We +learned that a captain had actually been assigned to command an +American escadrille and that the Americans at the front had been +recalled and placed under his orders. Soon afterward we eleves got +another delightful thrill. + + +THREE TYPES OF FRENCH AIR SERVICE + +Thaw, Prince, Cowdin, and the other veterans were training on the +Nieuport! That meant the American Escadrille was to fly the +Nieuport--the best type of _avion de chasse_--and hence would be a +fighting unit. It is necessary to explain parenthetically here that +French military aviation, generally speaking, is divided into three +groups--the _avions de chasse_ or airplanes of pursuit, which are used +to hunt down enemy aircraft or to fight them off; _avions de +bombardement_, big, unwieldy monsters for use in bombarding raids; and +_avions de reglage_, cumbersome creatures designed to regulate +artillery fire, take photographs, and do scout duty. The Nieuport is +the smallest, fastest-rising, fastest-moving biplane in the French +service. It can travel 110 miles an hour, and is a one-man apparatus +with a machine gun mounted on its roof and fired by the pilot with one +hand while with the other and his feet he operates his controls. The +French call their Nieuport pilots the "aces" of the air. No wonder we +were tickled to be included in that august brotherhood! + +Before the American Escadrille became an established fact, Thaw and +Cowdin, who had mastered the Nieuport, managed to be sent to the +Verdun front. While there Cowdin was credited with having brought down +a German machine and was proposed for the _Medaille Militaire_, the +highest decoration that can be awarded a non-commissioned officer or +private. + +After completing his training, receiving his military pilot's brevet, +and being perfected on the type of plane he is to use at the front, an +aviator is ordered to the reserve headquarters near Paris to await his +call. Kiffin Rockwell and Victor Chapman had been there for months, +and I had just arrived, when on the 16th of April orders came for the +Americans to join their escadrille at Luxeuil, in the Vosges. + +The rush was breathless! Never were flying clothes and fur coats drawn +from the quartermaster, belongings packed, and red tape in the various +administrative bureaux unfurled, with such headlong haste. In a few +hours we were aboard the train, panting, but happy. Our party +consisted of Sergeant Prince, and Rockwell, Chapman, and myself, who +were only corporals at that time. We were joined at Luxeuil by +Lieutenant Thaw and Sergeants Hall and Cowdin. + +For the veterans our arrival at the front was devoid of excitement; +for the three neophytes--Rockwell, Chapman, and myself--it was the +beginning of a new existence, the entry into an unknown world. Of +course Rockwell and Chapman had seen plenty of warfare on the ground, +but warfare in the air was as novel to them as to me. For us all it +contained unlimited possibilities for initiative and service to +France, and for them it must have meant, too, the restoration of +personality lost during those months in the trenches with the Foreign +Legion. Rockwell summed it up characteristically. + +"Well, we're off for the races," he remarked. + + +PILOT LIFE AT THE FRONT + +There is a considerable change in the life of a pilot when he arrives +on the front. During the training period he is subject to rules and +regulations as stringent as those of the barracks. But once assigned +to duty over the firing line he receives the treatment accorded an +officer, no matter what his grade. Save when he is flying or on guard, +his time is his own. There are no roll calls or other military +frills, and in place of the bunk he slept upon as an eleve, he finds a +regular bed in a room to himself, and the services of an orderly. Even +men of higher rank who although connected with his escadrille are not +pilots, treat him with respect. His two mechanicians are under his +orders. Being volunteers, we Americans are shown more than the +ordinary consideration by the ever-generous French Government, which +sees to it that we have the best of everything. + +On our arrival at Luxeuil we were met by Captain Thenault, the French +commander of the American Escadrille--officially known as No. 124, by +the way--and motored to the aviation field in one of the staff cars +assigned to us. I enjoyed that ride. Lolling back against the soft +leather cushions, I recalled how in my apprenticeship days at Pau I +had had to walk six miles for my laundry. + +The equipment awaiting us at the field was even more impressive than +our automobile. Everything was brand new, from the fifteen Fiat trucks +to the office, magazine, and rest tents. And the men attached to the +escadrille! At first sight they seemed to outnumber the Nicaraguan +army--mechanicians, chauffeurs, armourers, motorcyclists, +telephonists, wireless operators, Red Cross stretcher bearers, clerks! +Afterward I learned they totalled seventy-odd, and that all of them +were glad to be connected with the American Escadrille. + +In their hangars stood our trim little Nieuports. I looked mine over +with a new feeling of importance and gave orders to my mechanicians +for the mere satisfaction of being able to. To find oneself the sole +proprietor of a fighting airplane is quite a treat, let me tell you. +One gets accustomed to it, though, after one has used up two or three +of them--at the French Government's expense. + +Rooms were assigned to us in a villa adjoining the famous hot baths of +Luxeuil, where Caesar's cohorts were wont to besport themselves. We +messed with our officers, Captain Thenault and Lieutenant de Laage de +Mieux, at the best hotel in town. An automobile was always on hand to +carry us to the field. I began to wonder whether I was a summer +resorter instead of a soldier. + +Among the pilots who had welcomed us with open arms, we discovered the +famous Captain Happe, commander of the Luxeuil bombardment group. The +doughty bomb-dispenser, upon whose head the Germans have set a price, +was in his quarters. After we had been introduced, he pointed to eight +little boxes arranged on a table. + +"They contain _Croix de Guerre_ for the families of the men I lost on +my last trip," he explained, and he added: "It's a good thing you're +here to go along with us for protection. There are lots of Boches in +this sector." + +I thought of the luxury we were enjoying: our comfortable beds, baths, +and motor cars, and then I recalled the ancient custom of giving a man +selected for the sacrifice a royal time of it before the appointed +day. + +To acquaint us with the few places where a safe landing was possible +we were motored through the Vosges Mountains and on into Alsace. It +was a delightful opportunity to see that glorious countryside, and we +appreciated it the more because we knew its charm would be lost when +we surveyed it from the sky. From the air the ground presents no +scenic effects. The ravishing beauty of the Val d'Ajol, the steep +mountain sides bristling with a solid mass of giant pines, the myriads +of glittering cascades tumbling downward through fairylike avenues of +verdure, the roaring, tossing torrent at the foot of the slope--all +this loveliness, seen from an airplane at 12,000 feet, fades into flat +splotches of green traced with a tiny ribbon of silver. + +The American Escadrille was sent to Luxeuil primarily to acquire the +team work necessary to a flying unit. Then, too, the new pilots +needed a taste of anti-aircraft artillery to familiarize them with the +business of aviation over a battlefield. They shot well in that +sector, too. Thaw's machine was hit at an altitude of 13,000 feet. + + +THE ESCADRILLE'S FIRST SORTIE + +The memory of the first sortie we made as an escadrille will always +remain fresh in my mind because it was also my first trip over the +lines. We were to leave at six in the morning. Captain Thenault +pointed out on his aerial map the route we were to follow. Never +having flown over this region before, I was afraid of losing myself. +Therefore, as it is easier to keep other airplanes in sight when one +is above them, I began climbing as rapidly as possible, meaning to +trail along in the wake of my companions. Unless one has had practice +in flying in formation, however, it is hard to keep in contact. The +diminutive _avions de chasse_ are the merest pinpoints against the +great sweep of landscape below and the limitless heavens above. The +air was misty and clouds were gathering. Ahead there seemed a barrier +of them. Although as I looked down the ground showed plainly, in the +distance everything was hazy. Forging up above the mist, at 7,000 +feet, I lost the others altogether. Even when they are not closely +joined, the clouds, seen from immediately above, appear as a solid +bank of white. The spaces between are indistinguishable. It is like +being in an Arctic ice field. + +To the south I made out the Alps. Their glittering peaks projected up +through the white sea about me like majestic icebergs. Not a single +plane was visible anywhere, and I was growing very uncertain about my +position. My splendid isolation had become oppressive, when, one by +one, the others began bobbing up above the cloud level, and I had +company again. + +We were over Belfort and headed for the trench lines. The cloud banks +dropped behind, and below us we saw the smiling plain of Alsace +stretching eastward to the Rhine. It was distinctly pleasurable, +flying over this conquered land. Following the course of the canal +that runs to the Rhine, I sighted, from a height of 13,000 feet over +Dannemarie, a series of brown, woodworm-like tracings on the +ground--the trenches! + + +SHRAPNEL THAT COULDN'T BE HEARD + +My attention was drawn elsewhere almost immediately, however. Two +balls of black smoke had suddenly appeared close to one of the +machines ahead of me, and with the same disconcerting abruptness +similar balls began to dot the sky above, below, and on all sides of +us. We were being shot at with shrapnel. It was interesting to watch +the flash of the bursting shells, and the attendant smoke +puffs--black, white, or yellow, depending on the kind of shrapnel +used. The roar of the motor drowned the noise of the explosions. +Strangely enough, my feelings about it were wholly impersonal. + +We turned north after crossing the lines. Mulhouse seemed just below +us, and I noted with a keen sense of satisfaction our invasion of real +German territory. The Rhine, too, looked delightfully accessible. As +we continued northward I distinguished the twin lakes of Gerardmer +sparkling in their emerald setting. Where the lines crossed the +Hartmannsweilerkopf there were little spurts of brown smoke as shells +burst in the trenches. One could scarcely pick out the old city of +Thann from among the numerous neighbouring villages, so tiny it seemed +in the valley's mouth. I had never been higher than 7,000 feet and was +unaccustomed to reading country from a great altitude. It was also +bitterly cold, and even in my fur-lined combination I was shivering. +I noticed, too, that I had to take long, deep breaths in the rarefied +atmosphere. Looking downward at a certain angle, I saw what at first +I took to be a round, shimmering pool of water. It was simply the +effect of the sunlight on the congealing mist. We had been keeping an +eye out for German machines since leaving our lines, but none had +shown up. It wasn't surprising, for we were too many. + +Only four days later, however, Rockwell brought down the escadrille's +first plane in his initial aerial combat. He was flying alone when, +over Thann, he came upon a German on reconnaissance. He dived and the +German turned toward his own lines, opening fire from a long distance. +Rockwell kept straight after him. Then, closing to within thirty +yards, he pressed on the release of his machine gun, and saw the enemy +gunner fall backward and the pilot crumple up sideways in his seat. +The plane flopped downward and crashed to earth just behind the German +trenches. Swooping close to the ground Rockwell saw its debris burning +away brightly. He had turned the trick with but four shots and only +one German bullet had struck his Nieuport. An observation post +telephoned the news before Rockwell's return, and he got a great +welcome. All Luxeuil smiled upon him--particularly the girls. But he +couldn't stay to enjoy his popularity. The escadrille was ordered to +the sector of Verdun. + +While in a way we were sorry to leave Luxeuil, we naturally didn't +regret the chance to take part in the aerial activity of the world's +greatest battle. The night before our departure some German aircraft +destroyed four of our tractors and killed six men with bombs, but even +that caused little excitement compared with going to Verdun. We would +get square with the Boches over Verdun, we thought--it is impossible +to chase airplanes at night, so the raiders made a safe getaway. + + +OFF TO VERDUN + +As soon as we pilots had left in our machines, the trucks and tractors +set out in convoy, carrying the men and equipment. The Nieuports +carried us to our new post in a little more than an hour. We stowed +them away in the hangars and went to have a look at our sleeping +quarters. A commodious villa half way between the town of Bar-le-Duc +and the aviation field had been assigned to us, and comforts were as +plentiful as at Luxeuil. + +Our really serious work had begun, however, and we knew it. Even as +far behind the actual fighting as Bar-le-Duc one could sense one's +proximity to a vast military operation. The endless convoys of motor +trucks, the fast-flowing stream of troops, and the distressing number +of ambulances brought realization of the near presence of a gigantic +battle. + +Within a twenty-mile radius of the Verdun front aviation camps abound. +Our escadrille was listed on the schedule with the other fighting +units, each of which has its specified flying hours, rotating so there +is always an _escadrille de chasse_ over the lines. A field wireless +to enable us to keep track of the movements of enemy planes became +part of our equipment. + +Lufbery joined us a few days after our arrival. He was followed by +Johnson and Balsley, who had been on the air guard over Paris. Hill +and Rumsey came next, and after them Masson and Pavelka. Nieuports +were supplied them from the nearest depot, and as soon as they had +mounted their instruments and machine guns, they were on the job with +the rest of us. Fifteen Americans are or have been members of the +American Escadrille, but there have never been so many as that on duty +at any one time. + + +BATTLES IN THE AIR + +Before we were fairly settled at Bar-le-Duc, Hall brought down a +German observation craft and Thaw a Fokker. Fights occurred on almost +every sortie. The Germans seldom cross into our territory, unless on a +bombarding jaunt, and thus practically all the fighting takes place on +their side of the line. Thaw dropped his Fokker in the morning, and on +the afternoon of the same day there was a big combat far behind the +German trenches. Thaw was wounded in the arm, and an explosive bullet +detonating on Rockwell's wind-shield tore several gashes in his face. +Despite the blood which was blinding him Rockwell managed to reach an +aviation field and land. Thaw, whose wound bled profusely, landed in a +dazed condition just within our lines. He was too weak to walk, and +French soldiers carried him to a field dressing-station, whence he was +sent to Paris for further treatment. Rockwell's wounds were less +serious and he insisted on flying again almost immediately. + +A week or so later Chapman was wounded. Considering the number of +fights he had been in and the courage with which he attacked it was a +miracle he had not been hit before. He always fought against odds and +far within the enemy's country. He flew more than any of us, never +missing an opportunity to go up, and never coming down until his +gasolene was giving out. His machine was a sieve of patched-up bullet +holes. His nerve was almost superhuman and his devotion to the cause +for which he fought sublime. The day he was wounded he attacked four +machines. Swooping down from behind, one of them, a Fokker, riddled +Chapman's plane. One bullet cut deep into his scalp, but Chapman, a +master pilot, escaped from the trap, and fired several shots to show +he was still safe. A stability control had been severed by a bullet. +Chapman held the broken rod in one hand, managed his machine with the +other, and succeeded in landing on a near-by aviation field. His wound +was dressed, his machine repaired, and he immediately took the air in +pursuit of some more enemies. He would take no rest, and with bandaged +head continued to fly and fight. + +The escadrille's next serious encounter with the foe took place a few +days later. Rockwell, Balsley, Prince, and Captain Thenault were +surrounded by a large number of Germans, who, circling about them, +commenced firing at long range. Realizing their numerical inferiority, +the Americans and their commander sought the safest way out by +attacking the enemy machines nearest the French lines. Rockwell, +Prince, and the captain broke through successfully, but Balsley found +himself hemmed in. He attacked the German nearest him, only to receive +an explosive bullet in his thigh. In trying to get away by a vertical +dive his machine went into a corkscrew and swung over on its back. +Extra cartridge rollers dislodged from their case hit his arms. He was +tumbling straight toward the trenches, but by a supreme effort he +regained control, righted the plane, and landed without disaster in a +meadow just behind the firing line. + +Soldiers carried him to the shelter of a near-by fort, and later he +was taken to a field hospital, where he lingered for days between life +and death. Ten fragments of the explosive bullet were removed from his +stomach. He bore up bravely, and became the favourite of the wounded +officers in whose ward he lay. When we flew over to see him they would +say: _Il est un brave petit gars, l'aviateur americain_. [He's a brave +little fellow, the American aviator.] On a shelf by his bed, done up +in a handkerchief, he kept the pieces of bullet taken out of him, and +under them some sheets of paper on which he was trying to write to his +mother, back in El Paso. + +Balsley was awarded the _Medaille Militaire_ and the _Croix de +Guerre_, but the honours scared him. He had seen them decorate +officers in the ward before they died. + + +CHAPMAN'S LAST FIGHT + +Then came Chapman's last fight. Before leaving, he had put two bags +of oranges in his machine to take to Balsley, who liked to suck them +to relieve his terrible thirst, after the day's flying was over. There +was an aerial struggle against odds, far within the German lines, and +Chapman, to divert their fire from his comrades, engaged several enemy +airmen at once. He sent one tumbling to earth, and had forced the +others off when two more swooped down upon him. Such a fight is a +matter of seconds, and one cannot clearly see what passes. Lufbery and +Prince, whom Chapman had defended so gallantly, regained the French +lines. They told us of the combat, and we waited on the field for +Chapman's return. He was always the last in, so we were not much +worried. Then a pilot from another fighting escadrille telephoned us +that he had seen a Nieuport falling. A little later the observer of a +reconnaissance airplane called up and told us how he had witnessed +Chapman's fall. The wings of the plane had buckled, and it had dropped +like a stone he said. + +We talked in lowered voices after that; we could read the pain in one +another's eyes. If only it could have been some one else, was what we +all thought, I suppose. To lose Victor was not an irreparable loss to +us merely, but to France, and to the world as well. I kept thinking of +him lying over there, and of the oranges he was taking to Balsley. As +I left the field I caught sight of Victor's mechanician leaning +against the end of our hangar. He was looking northward into the sky +where his _patron_ had vanished, and his face was very sad. + + +PROMOTIONS AND DECORATIONS + +By this time Prince and Hall had been made adjutants, and we corporals +transformed into sergeants. I frankly confess to a feeling of marked +satisfaction at receiving that grade in the world's finest army. I was +a far more important person, in my own estimation, than I had been as +a second lieutenant in the militia at home. The next impressive event +was the awarding of decorations. We had assisted at that ceremony for +Cowdin at Luxeuil, but this time three of our messmates were to be +honoured for the Germans they had brought down. Rockwell and Hall +received the _Medaille Militaire_ and the _Croix de Guerre_, and Thaw, +being a lieutenant, the _Legion d'honneur_ and another "palm" for the +ribbon of the _Croix de Guerre_ he had won previously. Thaw, who came +up from Paris specially for the presentation, still carried his arm in +a sling. + +There were also decorations for Chapman, but poor Victor, who so often +had been cited in the Orders of the Day, was not on hand to receive +them. + + +THE MORNING SORTIE + +Our daily routine goes on with little change. Whenever the weather +permits--that is, when it isn't raining, and the clouds aren't too +low--we fly over the Verdun battlefield at the hours dictated by +General Headquarters. As a rule the most successful sorties are those +in the early morning. + +We are called while it's still dark. Sleepily I try to reconcile the +French orderly's muttered, _C'est l'heure, monsieur_, that rouses me +from slumber, with the strictly American words and music of "When That +Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'" warbled by a particularly +wide-awake pilot in the next room. A few minutes later, having +swallowed some coffee, we motor to the field. The east is turning gray +as the hangar curtains are drawn apart and our machines trundled out +by the mechanicians. All the pilots whose planes are in +commission--save those remaining behind on guard--prepare to leave. +We average from four to six on a sortie, unless too many flights have +been ordered for that day, in which case only two or three go out at a +time. + +Now the east is pink, and overhead the sky has changed from gray to +pale blue. It is light enough to fly. We don our fur-lined shoes and +combinations and adjust the leather flying hoods and goggles. A good +deal of conversation occurs--perhaps because, once aloft, there's +nobody to talk to. + +"Eh, you," one pilot cries jokingly to another, "I hope some Boche +just ruins you this morning, so I won't have to pay you the fifty +francs you won from me last night!" + +This financial reference concerns a poker game. + +"You do, do you?" replies the other as he swings into his machine. +"Well, I'd be glad to pass up the fifty to see you landed by the +Boches. You'd make a fine sight walking down the street of some +German town in those wooden shoes and pyjama pants. Why don't you +dress yourself? Don't you know an aviator's supposed to look _chic?_" + +A sartorial eccentricity on the part of one of our colleagues is here +referred to. + + +GETTING UNDER WAY + +The raillery is silenced by a deafening roar as the motors are tested. +Quiet is briefly restored, only to be broken by a series of rapid +explosions incidental to the trying out of machine guns. You loudly +inquire at what altitude we are to meet above the field. + +"Fifteen hundred metres--go ahead!" comes an answering yell. + +_Essence et gaz!_ [Oil and gas!] you call to your mechanician, +adjusting your gasolene and air throttles while he grips the +propeller. + +_Contact!_ he shrieks, and _Contact!_ you reply. You snap on the +switch, he spins the propeller, and the motor takes. Drawing forward +out of line, you put on full power, race across the grass and take the +air. The ground drops as the hood slants up before you and you seem to +be going more and more slowly as you rise. At a great height you +hardly realize you are moving. You glance at the clock to note the +time of your departure, and at the oil gauge to see its throb. The +altimeter registers 650 feet. You turn and look back at the field +below and see others leaving. + +In three minutes you are at about 4,000 feet. You have been making +wide circles over the field and watching the other machines. At 4,500 +feet you throttle down and wait on that level for your companions to +catch up. Soon the escadrille is bunched and off for the lines. You +begin climbing again, gulping to clear your ears in the changing +pressure. Surveying the other machines, you recognize the pilot of +each by the marks on its side--or by the way he flies. The +distinguishing marks of the Nieuports are various and sometimes +amusing. Bert Hall, for instance, has BERT painted on the left side of +his plane and the same word reversed (as if spelled backward with the +left hand) on the right--so an aviator passing him on that side at +great speed will be able to read the name without difficulty, he says! + +The country below has changed into a flat surface of varicoloured +figures. Woods are irregular blocks of dark green, like daubs of ink +spilled on a table; fields are geometrical designs of different shades +of green and brown, forming in composite an ultra-cubist painting; +roads are thin white lines, each with its distinctive windings and +crossings--from which you determine your location. The higher you are +the easier it is to read. + +In about ten minutes you see the Meuse sparkling in the morning light, +and on either side the long line of sausage-shaped observation +balloons far below you. Red-roofed Verdun springs into view just +beyond. There are spots in it where no red shows and you know what has +happened there. In the green pasture land bordering the town, round +flecks of brown indicate the shell holes. You cross the Meuse. + + +VERDUN, SEEN FROM THE SKY + +Immediately east and north of Verdun there lies a broad, brown band. +From the Woevre plain it runs westward to the "S" bend in the Meuse, +and on the left bank of that famous stream continues on into the +Argonne Forest. Peaceful fields and farms and villages adorned that +landscape a few months ago--when there was no Battle of Verdun. Now +there is only that sinister brown belt, a strip of murdered Nature. It +seems to belong to another world. Every sign of humanity has been +swept away. The woods and roads have vanished like chalk wiped from a +blackboard; of the villages nothing remains but gray smears where +stone walls have tumbled together. The great forts of Douaumont and +Vaux are outlined faintly, like the tracings of a finger in wet sand. +One cannot distinguish any one shell crater, as one can on the +pockmarked fields on either side. On the brown band the indentations +are so closely interlocked that they blend into a confused mass of +troubled earth. Of the trenches only broken, half-obliterated links +are visible. + +Columns of muddy smoke spurt up continually as high explosives tear +deeper into this ulcered area. During heavy bombardment and attacks I +have seen shells falling like rain. The countless towers of smoke +remind one of Gustave Dore's picture of the fiery tombs of the +arch-heretics in Dante's "Hell." A smoky pall covers the sector under +fire, rising so high that at a height of 1,000 feet one is enveloped +in its mist-like fumes. Now and then monster projectiles hurtling +through the air close by leave one's plane rocking violently in their +wake. Airplanes have been cut in two by them. + + +THE ROAR OF BATTLE--UNHEARD + +For us the battle passes in silence, the noise of one's motor +deadening all other sounds. In the green patches behind the brown belt +myriads of tiny flashes tell where the guns are hidden; and those +flashes, and the smoke of bursting shells, are all we see of the +fighting. It is a weird combination of stillness and havoc, the Verdun +conflict viewed from the sky. + +Far below us, the observation and range-finding planes circle over the +trenches like gliding gulls. At a feeble altitude they follow the +attacking infantrymen and flash back wireless reports of the +engagement. Only through them can communication be maintained when, +under the barrier fire, wires from the front lines are cut. Sometimes +it falls to our lot to guard these machines from Germans eager to +swoop down on their backs. Sailing about high above a busy flock of +them makes one feel like an old mother hen protecting her chicks. + + +"NAVIGATING" IN A SEA OF CLOUDS + +The pilot of an _avion de chasse_ must not concern himself with the +ground, which to him is useful only for learning his whereabouts. +The earth is all-important to the men in the observation, +artillery-regulating, and bombardment machines, but the fighting +aviator has an entirely different sphere. His domain is the blue +heavens, the glistening rolls of clouds below the fleecy banks +towering above, the vague aerial horizon, and he must watch it as +carefully as a navigator watches the storm-tossed sea. + +On days when the clouds form almost a solid flooring, one feels very +much at sea, and wonders if one is in the navy instead of aviation. +The diminutive Nieuports skirt the white expanse like torpedo boats in +an arctic sea, and sometimes, far across the cloud-waves, one sights +an enemy escadrille, moving as a fleet. + +Principally our work consists of keeping German airmen away from our +lines, and in attacking them when opportunity offers. We traverse the +brown band and enter enemy territory to the accompaniment of an +antiaircraft cannonade. Most of the shots are wild, however, and we +pay little attention to them. When the shrapnel comes uncomfortably +close, one shifts position slightly to evade the range. One glances up +to see if there is another machine higher than one's own. Low and far +within the German lines are several enemy planes, a dull white in +appearance, resembling sand flies against the mottled earth. High +above them one glimpses the mosquito-like forms of two Fokkers. Away +off to one side white shrapnel puffs are vaguely visible, perhaps +directed against a German crossing the lines. We approach the enemy +machines ahead, only to find them slanting at a rapid rate into their +own country. High above them lurks a protection plane. The man doing +the "ceiling work," as it is called, will look after him for us. + + +TACTICS OF AN AIR BATTLE + +Getting started is the hardest part of an attack. Once you have begun +diving you're all right. The pilot just ahead turns tail up like a +trout dropping back to water, and swoops down in irregular curves and +circles. You follow at an angle so steep your feet seem to be holding +you back in your seat. Now the black Maltese crosses on the German's +wings stand out clearly. You think of him as some sort of big bug. +Then you hear the rapid tut-tut-tut of his machine gun. The man that +dived ahead of you becomes mixed up with the topmost German. He is so +close it looks as if he had hit the enemy machine. You hear the +staccato barking of his mitrailleuse and see him pass from under the +German's tail. + +The rattle of the gun that is aimed at you leaves you undisturbed. +Only when the bullets pierce the wings a few feet off do you become +uncomfortable. You see the gunner crouched down behind his weapon, +but you aim at where the pilot ought to be--there are two men aboard +the German craft--and press on the release hard. Your mitrailleuse +hammers out a stream of bullets as you pass over and dive, nose down, +to get out of range. Then, hopefully, you re-dress and look back at +the foe. He ought to be dropping earthward at several miles a minute. +As a matter of fact, however, he is sailing serenely on. They have an +annoying habit of doing that, these Boches. + +Rockwell, who attacked so often that he has lost all count, and who +shoves his machine gun fairly in the faces of the Germans, used to +swear their planes were armoured. Lieutenant de Laage, whose list of +combats is equally extensive, has brought down only one. Hall, with +three machines to his credit, has had more luck. Lufbery, who +evidently has evolved a secret formula, has dropped four, according to +official statistics, since his arrival on the Verdun front. Four +"palms"--the record for the escadrille, glitter upon the ribbon of the +_Croix de Guerre_ accompanying his _Medaille Militaire_. [Footnote: +This book was written in the fall of 1915. Since that time many +additional machines have been credited to the American flyers.] + +A pilot seldom has the satisfaction of beholding the result of his +bull's-eye bullet. Rarely--so difficult it is to follow the turnings +and twistings of the dropping plane--does he see his fallen foe strike +the ground. Lufbery's last direct hit was an exception, for he +followed all that took place from a balcony seat. I myself was in the +"nigger-heaven," so I know. We had set out on a sortie together just +before noon, one August day, and for the first time on such an +occasion had lost each other over the lines. Seeing no Germans, I +passed my time hovering over the French observation machines. Lufbery +found one, however, and promptly brought it down. Just then I chanced +to make a southward turn, and caught sight of an airplane falling out +of the sky into the German lines. + +As it turned over, it showed its white belly for an instant, then +seemed to straighten out, and planed downward in big zigzags. The +pilot must have gripped his controls even in death, for his craft did +not tumble as most do. It passed between my line of vision and a wood, +into which it disappeared. Just as I was going down to find out where +it landed, I saw it again skimming across a field, and heading +straight for the brown band beneath me. It was outlined against the +shell-racked earth like a tiny insect, until just northwest of Fort +Douaumont it crashed down upon the battlefield. A sheet of flame and +smoke shot up from the tangled wreckage. For a moment or two I watched +it burn; then I went back to the observation machines. + +I thought Lufbery would show up and point to where the German had +fallen. He failed to appear, and I began to be afraid it was he whom I +had seen come down, instead of an enemy. I spent a worried hour +before my return homeward. After getting back I learned that Lufbery +was quite safe, having hurried in after the fight to report the +destruction of his adversary before somebody else claimed him, which +is only too frequently the case. Observation posts, however, +confirmed Lufbery's story, and he was of course very much delighted. +Nevertheless, at luncheon, I heard him murmuring, half to himself: +"Those poor fellows." + +The German machine gun operator, having probably escaped death in the +air, must have had a hideous descent. Lufbery told us he had seen the +whole thing, spiralling down after the German. He said he thought the +German pilot must be a novice, judging from his manoeuvres. It +occurred to me that he might have been making his first flight over +the lines, doubtless full of enthusiasm about his career. Perhaps, +dreaming of the Iron Cross and his Gretchen, he took a chance--and +then swift death and a grave in the shell-strewn soil of Douaumont. + +Generally the escadrille is relieved by another fighting unit after +two hours over the lines. We turn homeward, and soon the hangars of +our field loom up in the distance. Sometimes I've been mighty glad to +see them and not infrequently I've concluded the pleasantest part of +flying is just after a good landing. Getting home after a sortie, we +usually go into the rest tent, and talk over the morning's work. Then +some of us lie down for a nap, while others play cards or read. After +luncheon we go to the field again, and the man on guard gets his +chance to eat. If the morning sortie has been an early one, we go up +again about one o'clock in the afternoon. We are home again in two +hours and after that two or three energetic pilots may make a third +trip over the lines. The rest wait around ready to take the air if an +enemy bombardment group ventures to visit our territory--as it has +done more than once over Bar-le-Duc. False alarms are plentiful, and +we spend many hours aloft squinting at an empty sky. + + +PRINCE'S AERIAL FIREWORKS + +Now and then one of us will get ambitious to do something on his own +account. Not long ago Norman Prince became obsessed with the idea of +bringing down a German "sausage," as observation balloons are called. +He had a special device mounted on his Nieuport for setting fire to +the aerial frankfurters. Thus equipped he resembled an advance agent +for Payne's fireworks more than an _aviateur de chasse_. Having +carefully mapped the enemy "sausages," he would sally forth in hot +pursuit whenever one was signalled at a respectable height. Poor +Norman had a terrible time of it! Sometimes the reported "sausages" +were not there when he arrived, and sometimes there was a +super-abundancy of German airplanes on guard. + +He stuck to it, however, and finally his appetite for "sausage" was +satisfied. He found one just where it ought to be, swooped down upon +it, and let off his fireworks with all the gusto of an American boy on +the Fourth of July. When he looked again, the balloon had vanished. +Prince's performance isn't so easy as it sounds, by the way. If, after +the long dive necessary to turn the trick successfully, his motor had +failed to retake, he would have fallen into the hands of the Germans. + +After dark, when flying is over for the day, we go down to the villa +for dinner. Usually we have two or three French officers dining with +us besides our own captain and lieutenant, and so the table talk is a +mixture of French and English. It's seldom we discuss the war in +general. Mostly the conversation revolves about our own sphere, for +just as in the navy the sea is the favourite topic, and in the army +the trenches, so with us it is aviation. Our knowledge about the +military operations is scant. We haven't the remotest idea as to what +has taken place on the battlefield--even though we've been flying over +it during an attack--until we read the papers; and they don't tell us +much. + +Frequently pilots from other escadrilles will be our guests in passing +through our sector, and through these visitations we keep in touch +with the aerial news of the day, and with our friends along the front. +Gradually we have come to know a great number of _pilotes de chasse_. +We hear that so-&-so has been killed, that some one else has brought +down a Boche and that still another is a prisoner. + +We don't always talk aviation, however. In the course of dinner almost +any subject may be touched upon, and with our cosmopolitan crowd one +can readily imagine the scope of the conversation. A Burton Holmes +lecture is weak and watery compared to the travel stories we listen +to. Were O. Henry alive, he could find material for a hundred new +yarns, and William James numerous pointers for another work on +psychology, while De Quincey might multiply his dreams _ad infinitum_. +Doubtless alienists as well as fiction writers would find us worth +studying. In France there's a saying that to be an aviator one must +be a bit "off." + +After dinner the same scene invariably repeats itself, over the coffee +in the "next room." At the big table several sportive souls start a +poker game, while at a smaller one two sedate spirits wrap themselves +in the intricacies of chess. Captain Thenault labours away at the +messroom piano, or in lighter mood plays with Fram, his police dog. A +phonograph grinds out the ancient query "Who Paid the Rent for Mrs. +Rip Van Winkle?" or some other ragtime ditty. It is barely nine, +however, when the movement in the direction of bed begins. + +A few of us remain behind a little while, and the talk becomes more +personal and more sincere. Only on such intimate occasions, I think, +have I ever heard death discussed. Certainly we are not indifferent to +it. Not many nights ago one of the pilots remarked in a tired way: + +"Know what I want? Just six months of freedom to go where and do what +I like. In that time I'd get everything I wanted out of life, and be +perfectly willing to come back and be killed." + +Then another, who was about to receive 2,000 francs from the American +committee that aids us, as a reward for his many citations, chimed in. + +"Well, I didn't care much before," he confessed, "but now with this +money coming in I don't want to die until I've had the fun of spending +it." + +So saying, he yawned and went up to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +VERDUN TO THE SOMME + + +On the 12th of October, twenty small airplanes flying in a V +formation, at such a height they resembled a flock of geese, crossed +the river Rhine, where it skirts the plains of Alsace, and, turning +north, headed for the famous Mauser works at Oberndorf. Following in +their wake was an equal number of larger machines, and above these +darted and circled swift fighting planes. The first group of aircraft +was flown by British pilots, the second by French and three of the +fighting planes by Americans in the French Aviation Division. It was a +cosmopolitan collection that effected that successful raid. + +We American pilots, who are grouped into one escadrille, had been +fighting above the battlefield of Verdun from the 20th of May until +orders came the middle of September for us to leave our airplanes, for +a unit that would replace us, and to report at Le Bourget, the great +Paris aviation centre. + +The mechanics and the rest of the personnel left, as usual, in the +escadrille's trucks with the material. For once the pilots did not +take the aerial route but they boarded the Paris express at Bar-le-Duc +with all the enthusiasm of schoolboys off for a vacation. They were +to have a week in the capital! Where they were to go after that they +did not know, but presumed it would be the Somme. As a matter of fact +the escadrille was to be sent to Luxeuil in the Vosges to take part in +the Mauser raid. + +Besides Captain Thenault and Lieutenant de Laage de Mieux, our French +officers, the following American pilots were in the escadrille at this +time: Lieutenant Thaw, who had returned to the front, even though his +wounded arm had not entirely healed; Adjutants Norman Prince, Hall, +Lufbery, and Masson; and Sergeants Kiffin Rockwell, Hill, Pavelka, +Johnson, and Rumsey. I had been sent to a hospital at the end of +August, because of a lame back resulting from a smash up in landing, +and couldn't follow the escadrille until later. + +Every aviation unit boasts several mascots. Dogs of every description +are to be seen around the camps, but the Americans managed, during +their stay in Paris, to add to their menagerie by the acquisition of a +lion cub named "Whiskey." The little chap had been born on a boat +crossing from Africa and was advertised for sale in France. Some of +the American pilots chipped in and bought him. He was a cute, +bright-eyed baby lion who tried to roar in a most threatening manner +but who was blissfully content the moment one gave him one's finger to +suck. "Whiskey" got a good view of Paris during the few days he was +there, for some one in the crowd was always borrowing him to take him +some place. He, like most lions in captivity, became acquainted with +bars, but the sort "Whiskey" saw were not for purposes of confinement. + +The orders came directing the escadrille to Luxeuil and bidding +farewell to gay "Paree" the men boarded the Belfort train with bag and +baggage--and the lion. Lions, it developed, were not allowed in +passenger coaches. The conductor was assured that "Whiskey" was quite +harmless and was going to overlook the rules when the cub began to +roar and tried to get at the railwayman's finger. That settled it, so +two of the men had to stay behind in order to crate up "Whiskey" and +take him along the next day. + +The escadrille was joined in Paris by Robert Rockwell, of Cincinnati, +who had finished his training as a pilot, and was waiting at the +Reserve (Robert Rockwell had gone to France to work as a surgeon in +one of the American war hospitals. He disliked remaining in the rear +and eventually enlisted in aviation). + +The period of training for a pilot, especially for one who is to fly a +fighting machine at the front, has been very much prolonged. It is no +longer sufficient that he learns to fly and to master various types of +machines. He now completes his training in schools where aerial +shooting is taught, and in others where he practises combat, group +manoeuvres, and acrobatic stunts such as looping the loop and the more +difficult tricks. In all it requires from seven to nine months. + +Dennis Dowd, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is so far the only American volunteer +aviator killed while in training. Dowd, who had joined the Foreign +Legion, shortly after the war broke out, was painfully wounded during +the offensive in Champagne. After his recovery he was transferred, at +his request, into aviation. At the Buc school he stood at the head of +the fifteen Americans who were learning to be aviators, and was +considered one of the most promising pilots in the training camp. On +August 11, 1916, while making a flight preliminary to his brevet, Dowd +fell from a height of only 260 feet and was instantly killed. Either +he had fainted or a control had broken. + +While a patient at the hospital Dowd had been sent packages by a young +French girl of Neuilly. A correspondence ensued, and when Dowd went to +Paris on convalescent leave he and the young lady became engaged. He +was killed just before the time set for the wedding. + +When the escadrille arrived at Luxeuil it found a great surprise in +the form of a large British aviation contingent. This detachment from +the Royal Navy Flying Corps numbered more than fifty pilots and a +thousand men. New hangars harboured their fleet of bombardment +machines. Their own anti-aircraft batteries were in emplacements near +the field. Though detached from the British forces and under French +command this unit followed the rule of His Majesty's armies in France +by receiving all of its food and supplies from England. It had its own +transport service. + +Our escadrille had been in Luxeuil during the months of April and May. +We had made many friends amongst the townspeople and the French pilots +stationed there, so the older members of the American unit were +welcomed with open arms and their new comrades made to feel at home in +the quaint Vosges town. It wasn't long, however, before the Americans +and the British got together. At first there was a feeling of reserve +on both sides but once acquainted they became fast friends. The naval +pilots were quite representative of the United Kingdom hailing as they +did from England, Canada, New South Wales, South Africa, and other +parts of the Empire. Most of them were soldiers by profession. All +were officers, but they were as democratic as it is possible to be. As +a result there was a continuous exchange of dinners. In a few days +every one in this Anglo-American alliance was calling each other by +some nickname and swearing lifelong friendship. + +"We didn't know what you Yanks would be like," remarked one of the +Englishmen one day. "Thought you might be snobby on account of being +volunteers, but I swear you're a bloody human lot." That, I will +explain, is a very fine compliment. + +There was trouble getting new airplanes for every one in the +escadrille. Only five arrived. They were the new model Nieuport +fighting machine. Instead of having only 140 square feet of +supporting surface, they had 160, and the forty-seven shot Lewis +machine gun had been replaced by the Vickers, which fires five hundred +rounds. This gun is mounted on the hood and by means of a timing gear +shoots through the propeller. The 160 foot Nieuport mounts at a +terrific rate, rising to 7,000 feet in six minutes. It will go to +20,000 feet handled by a skillful pilot. + +It was some time before these airplanes arrived and every one was +idle. There was nothing to do but loaf around the hotel, where the +American pilots were quartered, visit the British in their barracks at +the field, or go walking. It was about as much like war as a Bryan +lecture. While I was in the hospital I received a letter written at +this time from one of the boys. I opened it expecting to read of an +air combat. It informed me that Thaw had caught a trout three feet +long, and that Lufbery had picked two baskets of mushrooms. + +Day after day the British planes practised formation flying. The +regularity with which the squadron's machines would leave the ground +was remarkable. The twenty Sopwiths took the air at precise intervals, +flew together in a V formation while executing difficult manoeuvres, +and landed one after the other with the exactness of clockwork. The +French pilots flew the Farman and Breguet bombardment machines +whenever the weather permitted. Every one knew some big bombardment +was ahead but when it would be made or what place was to be attacked +was a secret. + +Considering the number of machines that were continually roaring above +the field at Luxeuil it is remarkable that only two fatal accidents +occurred. One was when a British pilot tried diving at a target, for +machine-gun practice, and was unable to redress his airplane. Both he +and his gunner were killed. In the second accident I lost a good +friend--a young Frenchman. He took up his gunner in a two-seated +Nieuport. A young Canadian pilot accompanied by a French officer +followed in a Sopwith. When at about a thousand feet they began to +manoeuvre about one another. In making a turn too close the tips of +their wings touched. The Nieuport turned downward, its wings folded, +and it fell like a stone. The Sopwith fluttered a second or two, then +its wings buckled and it dropped in the wake of the Nieuport. The two +men in each of the planes were killed outright. + +Next to falling in flames a drop in a wrecked machine is the worst +death an aviator can meet. I know of no sound more horrible than that +made by an airplane crashing to earth. Breathless one has watched the +uncontrolled apparatus tumble through the air. The agony felt by the +pilot and passenger seems to transmit itself to you. You are helpless +to avert the certain death. You cannot even turn your eyes away at the +moment of impact. In the dull, grinding crash there is the sound of +breaking bones. + +Luxeuil was an excellent place to observe the difference that exists +between the French, English, and American aviator, but when all is +said and done there is but little difference. The Frenchman is the +most natural pilot and the most adroit. Flying comes easier to him +than to an Englishman or American, but once accustomed to an airplane +and the air they all accomplish the same amount of work. A Frenchman +goes about it with a little more dash than the others, and puts on a +few extra frills, but the Englishman calmly carries out his mission +and obtains the same results. An American is a combination of the +two, but neither better nor worse. Though there is a large number of +expert German airmen I do not believe the average Teuton makes as good +a flier as a Frenchman, Englishman, or American. + +In spite of their bombardment of open towns and the use of explosive +bullets in their aerial machine guns, the Boches have shown up in a +better light in aviation than in any other arm. A few of the Hun +pilots have evinced certain elements of honor and decency. I remember +one chap that was the right sort. + +He was a young man but a pilot of long standing. An old infantry +captain stationed near his aviation field at Etain, east of Verdun, +prevailed upon this German pilot to take him on a flight. There was a +new machine to test out and he told the captain to climb aboard. +Foolishly he crossed the trench lines and, actuated by a desire to +give his passenger an interesting trip, proceeded to fly over the +French aviation headquarters. Unfortunately for him he encountered +three French fighting planes which promptly opened fire. The German +pilot was wounded in the leg and the gasoline tank of his airplane was +pierced. Under him was an aviation field. He decided to land. The +machine was captured before the Germans had time to burn it up. +Explosive bullets were discovered in the machine gun. A French +officer turned to the German captain and informed him that he would +probably be shot for using explosive bullets. The captain did not +understand. + +"Don't shoot him," said the pilot, using excellent French, "if you're +going to shoot any one take me. The captain has nothing to do with the +bullets. He doesn't even know how to work a machine gun. It's his +first trip in an airplane." + +"Well, if you'll give us some good information, we won't shoot you," +said the French officer. + +"Information," replied the German, "I can't give you any. I come from +Etain, and you know where that is as well as I do." + +"No, you must give us some worth-while information, or I'm afraid +you'll be shot," insisted the Frenchman. + +"If I give you worth-while information," answered the pilot, "you'll +go over and kill a lot of soldiers, and if I don't you'll only kill +one--so go ahead." + +The last time I heard of the Boche he was being well taken care of. + +Kiffin Rockwell and Lufbery were the first to get their new machines +ready and on the 23rd of September went out for the first flight since +the escadrille had arrived at Luxeuil. They became separated in the +air but each flew on alone, which was a dangerous thing to do in the +Alsace sector. There is but little fighting in the trenches there, but +great air activity. Due to the British and French squadrons at +Luxeuil, and the threat their presence implied, the Germans had to +oppose them by a large fleet of fighting machines. I believe there +were more than forty Fokkers alone in the camps of Colmar and +Habsheim. Observation machines protected by two or three fighting +planes would venture far into our lines. It is something the Germans +dare not do on any other part of the front. They had a special trick +that consisted in sending a large, slow observation machine into our +lines to invite attack. When a French plane would dive after it, two +Fokkers, that had been hovering high overhead, would drop on the tail +of the Frenchman and he stood but small chance if caught in the trap. + +Just before Kiffin Rockwell reached the lines he spied a German +machine under him flying at 11,000 feet. I can imagine the +satisfaction he felt in at last catching an enemy plane in our lines. +Rockwell had fought more combats than the rest of us put together, and +had shot down many German machines that had fallen in their lines, but +this was the first time he had had an opportunity of bringing down a +Boche in our territory. + +A captain, the commandant of an Alsatian village, watched the aerial +battle through his field glasses. He said that Rockwell approached so +close to the enemy that he thought there would be a collision. The +German craft, which carried two machine guns, had opened a rapid fire +when Rockwell started his dive. He plunged through the stream of lead +and only when very close to his enemy did he begin shooting. For a +second it looked as though the German was falling, so the captain +said, but then he saw the French machine turn rapidly nose down, the +wings of one side broke off and fluttered in the wake of the airplane, +which hurtled earthward in a rapid drop. It crashed into the ground in +a small field--a field of flowers--a few hundred yards back of the +trenches. It was not more than two and a half miles from the spot +where Rockwell, in the month of May, brought down his first enemy +machine. The Germans immediately opened up on the wreck with +artillery fire. In spite of the bursting shrapnel, gunners from a +near-by battery rushed out and recovered poor Rockwell's broken body. +There was a hideous wound in his breast where an explosive bullet had +torn through. A surgeon who examined the body, testified that if it +had been an ordinary bullet Rockwell would have had an even chance of +landing with only a bad wound. As it was he was killed the instant the +unlawful missile exploded. + +Lufbery engaged a German craft but before he could get to close range +two Fokkers swooped down from behind and filled his aeroplane full of +holes. Exhausting his ammunition he landed at Fontaine, an aviation +field near the lines. There he learned of Rockwell's death and was +told that two other French machines had been brought down within the +hour. He ordered his gasoline tank filled, procured a full band of +cartridges and soared up into the air to avenge his comrade. He sped +up and down the lines, and made a wide detour to Habsheim where the +Germans have an aviation field, but all to no avail. Not a Boche was +in the air. + +The news of Rockwell's death was telephoned to the escadrille. The +captain, lieutenant, and a couple of men jumped in a staff car and +hastened to where he had fallen. On their return the American pilots +were convened in a room of the hotel and the news was broken to them. +With tears in his eyes the captain said: "The best and bravest of us +all is no more." + +No greater blow could have befallen the escadrille. Kiffin was its +soul. He was loved and looked up to by not only every man in our +flying corps but by every one who knew him. Kiffin was imbued with the +spirit of the cause for which he fought and gave his heart and soul to +the performance of his duty. He said: "I pay my part for Lafayette +and Rochambeau," and he gave the fullest measure. The old flame of +chivalry burned brightly in this boy's fine and sensitive being. With +his death France lost one of her most valuable pilots. When he was +over the lines the Germans did not pass--and he was over them most of +the time. He brought down four enemy planes that were credited to him +officially, and Lieutenant de Laage, who was his fighting partner, +says he is convinced that Rockwell accounted for many others which +fell too far within the German lines to be observed. Rockwell had been +given the Medaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre, on the ribbon of +which he wore four palms, representing the four magnificent citations +he had received in the order of the army. As a further reward for his +excellent work he had been proposed for promotion from the grade of +sergeant to that of second lieutenant. Unfortunately the official +order did not arrive until a few days following his death. + +The night before Rockwell was killed he had stated that if he were +brought down he would like to be buried where he fell. It was +impossible, however, to place him in a grave so near the trenches. His +body was draped in a French flag and brought back to Luxeuil. He was +given a funeral worthy of a general. His brother, Paul, who had +fought in the Legion with him, and who had been rendered unfit for +service by a wound, was granted permission to attend the obsequies. +Pilots from all near-by camps flew over to render homage to Rockwell's +remains. Every Frenchman in the aviation at Luxeuil marched behind +the bier. The British pilots, followed by a detachment of five +hundred of their men, were in line, and a battalion of French troops +brought up the rear. As the slow moving procession of blue and +khaki-clad men passed from the church to the graveyard, airplanes +circled at a feeble height above and showered down myriads of flowers. + +Rockwell's death urged the rest of the men to greater action, and the +few who had machines were constantly after the Boches. Prince brought +one down. Lufbery, the most skillful and successful fighter in the +escadrille, would venture far into the enemy's lines and spiral down +over a German aviation camp, daring the pilots to venture forth. One +day he stirred them up, but as he was short of fuel he had to make for +home before they took to the air. Prince was out in search of a combat +at this time. He got it. He ran into the crowd Lufbery had aroused. +Bullets cut into his machine and one exploding on the front edge of a +lower wing broke it. Another shattered a supporting mast. It was a +miracle that the machine did not give way. As badly battered as it was +Prince succeeded in bringing it back from over Mulhouse, where the +fight occurred, to his field at Luxeuil. + +The same day that Prince was so nearly brought down Lufbery missed +death by a very small margin. He had taken on more gasoline and made +another sortie. When over the lines again he encountered a German with +whom he had a fighting acquaintance. That is he and the Boche, who +was an excellent pilot, had tried to kill each other on one or two +occasions before. Each was too good for the other. Lufbery manoeuvred +for position but, before he could shoot, the Teuton would evade him by +a clever turn. They kept after one another, the Boche retreating into +his lines. When they were nearing Habsheim, Lufbery glanced back and +saw French shrapnel bursting over the trenches. It meant a German +plane was over French territory and it was his duty to drive it off. +Swooping down near his adversary he waved good-bye, the enemy pilot +did likewise, and Lufbery whirred off to chase the other +representative of Kultur. He caught up with him and dove to the +attack, but he was surprised by a German he had not seen. Before he +could escape three bullets entered his motor, two passed through the +fur-lined combination he wore, another ripped open one of his woolen +flying boots, his airplane was riddled from wing tip to wing tip, and +other bullets cut the elevating plane. Had he not been an exceptional +aviator he never would have brought safely to earth so badly damaged a +machine. It was so thoroughly shot up that it was junked as being +beyond repairs. Fortunately Lufbery was over French territory or his +forced descent would have resulted in his being made prisoner. + +I know of only one other airplane that was safely landed after +receiving as heavy punishment as did Lufbery's. It was a two-place +Nieuport piloted by a young Frenchman named Fontaine with whom I +trained. He and his gunner attacked a German over the Bois le Pretre +who dove rapidly far into his lines. Fontaine followed and in turn was +attacked by three other Boches. He dropped to escape, they plunged +after him forcing him lower. He looked and saw a German aviation field +under him. He was by this time only 2,000 feet above the ground. +Fontaine saw the mechanics rush out to grasp him, thinking he would +land. The attacking airplanes had stopped shooting. Fontaine pulled on +full power and headed for the lines. The German planes dropped down on +him and again opened fire. They were on his level, behind and on his +sides. Bullets whistled by him in streams. The rapid-fire gun on +Fontaine's machine had jammed and he was helpless. His gunner fell +forward on him, dead. The trenches were just ahead, but as he was +slanting downward to gain speed he had lost a good deal of height, and +was at only six hundred feet when he crossed the lines, from which he +received a ground fire. The Germans gave up the chase and Fontaine +landed with his dead gunner. His wings were so full of holes that they +barely supported the machine in the air. + +The uncertain wait at Luxeuil finally came to an end on the 12th of +October. The afternoon of that day the British did not say: "Come on +Yanks, let's call off the war and have tea," as was their wont, for +the bombardment of Oberndorf was on. The British and French machines +had been prepared. Just before climbing into their airplanes the +pilots were given their orders. The English in their single-seated +Sopwiths, which carried four bombs each, were the first to leave. The +big French Brequets and Farmans then soared aloft with their tons of +explosive destined for the Mauser works. The fighting machines, which +were to convoy them as far as the Rhine, rapidly gained their height +and circled above their charges. Four of the battleplanes were from +the American escadrille. They were piloted respectively by Lieutenant +de Laage, Lufbery, Norman Prince, and Masson. + +The Germans were taken by surprise and as a result few of their +machines were in the air. The bombardment fleet was attacked, however, +and six of its planes shot down, some of them falling in flames. +Baron, the famous French night bombarder, lost his life in one of the +Farmans. Two Germans were brought down by machines they attacked and +the four pilots from the American escadrille accounted for one each. +Lieutenant de Laage shot down his Boche as it was attacking another +French machine and Masson did likewise. Explaining it afterward he +said: "All of a sudden I saw a Boche come in between me and a Breguet +I was following. I just began to shoot, and darned if he didn't fall." + +As the fuel capacity of a Nieuport allows but little more than two +hours in the air the _avions de chasse_ were forced to return to their +own lines to take on more gasoline, while the bombardment planes +continued on into Germany. The Sopwiths arrived first at Oberndorf. +Dropping low over the Mauser works they discharged their bombs and +headed homeward. All arrived, save one, whose pilot lost his way and +came to earth in Switzerland. When the big machines got to Oberndorf +they saw only flames and smoke where once the rifle factory stood. +They unloaded their explosives on the burning mass. + +The Nieuports having refilled their tanks went up to clear the air of +Germans that might be hovering in wait for the returning raiders. +Prince found one and promptly shot it down. Lufbery came upon three. +He drove for one, making it drop below the others, then forcing a +second to descend, attacked the one remaining above. The combat was +short and at the end of it the German tumbled to earth. This made the +fifth enemy machine which was officially credited to Lufbery. When a +pilot has accounted for five Boches he is mentioned by name in the +official communication, and is spoken of as an "Ace," which in French +aerial slang means a super-pilot. Papers are allowed to call an "ace" +by name, print his picture and give him a write-up. The successful +aviator becomes a national hero. When Lufbery worked into this +category the French papers made him a head liner. The American "Ace," +with his string of medals, then came in for the ennuis of a matinee +idol. The choicest bit in the collection was a letter from +Wallingford, Conn., his home town, thanking him for putting it on the +map. + +Darkness was coming rapidly on but Prince and Lufbery remained in the +air to protect the bombardment fleet. Just at nightfall Lufbery made +for a small aviation field near the lines, known as Corcieux. +Slow-moving machines, with great planing capacity, can be landed in +the dark, but to try and feel for the ground in a Nieuport, which +comes down at about a hundred miles an hour, is to court disaster. Ten +minutes after Lufbery landed Prince decided to make for the field. He +spiraled down through the night air and skimmed rapidly over the trees +bordering the Corcieux field. In the dark he did not see a +high-tension electric cable that was stretched just above the tree +tops. The landing gear of his airplane struck it. The machine snapped +forward and hit the ground on its nose. It turned over and over. The +belt holding Prince broke and he was thrown far from the wrecked +plane. Both of his legs were broken and he naturally suffered internal +injuries. In spite of the terrific shock and his intense pain Prince +did not lose consciousness. He even kept his presence of mind and +gave orders to the men who had run to pick him up. Hearing the hum of +a motor, and realizing a machine was in the air, Prince told them to +light gasoline fires on the field. "You don't want another fellow to +come down and break himself up the way I've done," he said. + +Lufbery went with Prince to the hospital in Gerardmer. As the +ambulance rolled along Prince sang to keep up his spirits. He spoke of +getting well soon and returning to service. It was like Norman. He +was always energetic about his flying. Even when he passed through +the harrowing experience of having a wing shattered, the first thing +he did on landing was to busy himself about getting another fitted in +place and the next morning he was in the air again. + +No one thought that Prince was mortally injured but the next day he +went into a coma. A blood clot had formed on his brain. Captain Haff +in command of the aviation groups of Luxeuil, accompanied by our +officers, hastened to Gerardmer. Prince lying unconscious on his bed, +was named a second lieutenant and decorated with the Legion of Honor. +He already held the Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre. Norman +Prince died on the 15th of October. He was brought back to Luxeuil and +given a funeral similar to Rockwell's. It was hard to realize that +poor old Norman had gone. He was the founder of the American +escadrille and every one in it had come to rely on him. He never let +his own spirits drop, and was always on hand with encouragement for +the others. I do not think Prince minded going. He wanted to do his +part before being killed, and he had more than done it. He had, day +after day, freed the line of Germans, making it impossible for them to +do their work, and three of them he had shot to earth. + +Two days after Prince's death the escadrille received orders to leave +for the Somme. The night before the departure the British gave the +American pilots a farewell banquet and toasted them as their "Guardian +Angels." They keenly appreciated the fact that four men from the +American escadrille had brought down four Germans, and had cleared the +way for their squadron returning from Oberndorf. When the train pulled +out the next day the station platform was packed by khaki-clad pilots +waving good-bye to their friends the "Yanks." + +The escadrille passed through Paris on its way to the Somme front. The +few members who had machines flew from Luxeuil to their new post. At +Paris the pilots were reinforced by three other American boys who had +completed their training. They were: Fred Prince, who ten months +before had come over from Boston to serve in aviation with his brother +Norman; Willis Haviland, of Chicago, who left the American Ambulance +for the life of a birdman, and Bob Soubrian, of New York, who had been +transferred from the Foreign Legion to the flying corps after being +wounded in the Champagne offensive. + +Before its arrival in the Somme the escadrille had always been +quartered in towns and the life of the pilots was all that could be +desired in the way of comforts. We had, as a result, come to believe +that we would wage only a de luxe war, and were unprepared for any +other sort of campaign. The introduction to the Somme was a rude +awakening. Instead of being quartered in a villa or hotel, the pilots +were directed to a portable barracks newly erected in a sea of mud. + +It was set in a cluster of similar barns nine miles from the nearest +town. A sieve was a watertight compartment in comparison with that +elongated shed. The damp cold penetrated through every crack, chilling +one to the bone. There were no blankets and until they were procured +the pilots had to curl up in their flying clothes. There were no +arrangements for cooking and the Americans depended on the other +escadrilles for food. Eight fighting units were located at the same +field and our ever-generous French comrades saw to it that no one went +hungry. The thick mist, for which the Somme is famous, hung like a +pall over the birdmen's nest dampening both the clothes and spirits of +the men. + +Something had to be done, so Thaw and Masson, who is our _Chef de +Popote_ (President of the Mess) obtained permission to go to Paris in +one of our light trucks. They returned with cooking utensils, a stove, +and other necessary things. All hands set to work and as a result life +was made bearable. In fact I was surprised to find the quarters as +good as they were when I rejoined the escadrille a couple of weeks +after its arrival in the Somme. Outside of the cold, mud, and dampness +it wasn't so bad. The barracks had been partitioned off into little +rooms leaving a large space for a dining hall. The stove is set up +there and all animate life from the lion cub to the pilots centre +around its warming glow. + +The eight escadrilles of fighting machines form a rather interesting +colony. The large canvas hangars are surrounded by the house tents of +their respective escadrilles; wooden barracks for the men and pilots +are in close proximity, and sandwiched in between the encampments of +the various units are the tents where the commanding officers hold +forth. In addition there is a bath house where one may go and freeze +while a tiny stream of hot water trickles down one's shivering form. +Another shack houses the power plant which generates electric light +for the tents and barracks, and in one very popular canvas is located +the community bar, the profits from which go to the Red Cross. + +We had never before been grouped with as many other fighting +escadrilles, nor at a field so near the front. We sensed the war to +better advantage than at Luxeuil or Bar-le-Duc. When there is +activity on the lines the rumble of heavy artillery reaches us in a +heavy volume of sound. From the field one can see the line of +sausage-shaped observation balloons, which delineate the front, and +beyond them the high-flying airplanes, darting like swallows in the +shrapnel puffs of anti-air-craft fire. The roar of motors that are +being tested, is punctuated by the staccato barking of machine guns, +and at intervals the hollow whistling sound of a fast plane diving to +earth is added to this symphony of war notes. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PERSONAL LETTERS FROM SERGEANT McCONNELL--AT THE FRONT + + +We're still waiting for our machines. In the meantime the Boches sail +gaily over and drop bombs. One of our drivers has been killed and five +wounded so far but we'll put a stop to it soon. The machines have +left and are due to-day. + +You ask me what my work will be and how my machine is armed. First of +all I mount an _avion de chasse_ and am supposed to shoot down Boches +or keep them away from over our lines. I do not do observation, or +regulating of artillery fire. These are handled by escadrilles +equipped with bigger machines. I mount at daybreak over the lines; +stay at from 11,000 to 15,000 feet and wait for the sight of an enemy +plane. It may be a bombardment machine, a regulator of fire, an +observer, or an _avion de chasse_ looking for me. Whatever she is I +make for her and manoeuvre for position. All the machines carry +different gun positions and one seeks the blind side. Having obtained +the proper position one turns down or up, whichever the case may be, +and, when within fifty yards, opens up with the machine gun. That is +on the upper plane and it is sighted by a series of holes and cross +webs. As one is passing at a terrific rate there is not time for many +shots, so, unless wounded or one's machine is injured by the first +try--for the enemy plane shoots, too--one tries it again and again +until there's nothing doing or the other fellow is dropped. Apart from +work over the lines, which is comparatively calm, there is the job of +convoying bombardment machines. That is the rotten task. The captain +has called on us to act as guards on the next trip. You see we are +like torpedo boats of the air with our swift machines. + +We have the honour of being attached to a bombardment squadron that is +the most famous in the French Army. The captain of the unit once lost +his whole escadrille, and on the last trip eight lost their lives. It +was a wonderful fight. The squadron was attacked by thirty-three +Boches. Two French planes crashed to earth--then two German; another +German was set on fire and streaked down, followed by a streaming +column of smoke. Another Frenchman fell; another German; and then a +French lieutenant, mortally wounded and realizing that he was dying, +plunged his airplane into a German below him and both fell to earth +like stones. + +The tours of Alsace and the Vosges that we have made, to look over +possible landing places, were wonderful. I've never seen such +ravishing sights, and in regarding the beauty of the country I have +missed noting the landing places. The valleys are marvellous. On each +side the mountain slopes are a solid mass of giant pines and down +these avenues of green tumble myriads of glittering cascades which +form into sparkling streams beneath. It is a pleasant feeling to go +into Alsace and realize that one is touring over country we have taken +from the Germans. It's a treat to go by auto that way. In the air, you +know, one feels detached from all below. It's a different world, that +has no particular meaning, and besides, it all looks flat and of a +weary pattern. + + +THE FIRST TRIP + +Well, I've made my first trip over the lines and proved a few things +to myself. First, I can stand high altitudes. I had never been higher +than 7,000 feet before, nor had I flown more than an hour. On my trip +to Germany I went to 14,000 feet and was in the air for two hours. I +wore the fur head-to-foot combination they give one and paper gloves +under the fur ones you sent me. I was not cold. In a way it seemed +amusing to be going out knowing as little as I do. My mitrailleuse +had been mounted the night before. I had never fired it, nor did I +know the country at all even though I'd motored along our lines. I +followed the others or I surely should have been lost. I shall have to +make special trips to study the land and be able to make it out from +my map which I carry on board. For one thing the weather was hazy and +clouds obscured the view. + +We left en escadrille, at 30-second intervals, at 6:30 A.M. I'd been +on guard since three, waiting for an enemy plane. I climbed to 3,500 +feet in four minutes and so started off higher than the rest. I lost +them immediately but took a compass course in the direction we were +headed. Clouds were below me and I could see the earth only in spots. +Ahead was a great barrier of clouds and fog. It seemed like a +limitless ocean. To the south the Alps jutted up through the clouds +and glistened like icebergs in the morning sun. I began to feel +completely lost. I was at 7,000 feet and that was all I knew. Suddenly +I saw a little black speck pop out of a cloud to my left--then two +others. They were our machines and from then on I never let them get +out of my sight. I went to 14,000 in order to be able to keep them +well in view below me. We went over Belfort which I recognized, and, +turning, went toward the lines. The clouds had dispersed by this time. +Alsace was below us and in the distance I could see the straight +course of the Rhine. It looked very small. I looked down and saw the +trenches and when I next looked for our machines I saw clusters of +smoke puffs. We were being fired at. One machine just under me seemed +to be in the centre of a lot of shrapnel. The puffs were white, or +black, or green, depending on the size of the shell used. It struck me +as more amusing than anything else to watch the explosions and smoke. +I thought of what a lot of money we were making the Germans spend. It +is not often that they hit. The day before one of our machines had a +part of the tail shot away and the propeller nicked, but that's just +bum luck. Two shells went off just at my height and in a way that led +me to think that the third one would get me; but it didn't. It's hard +even for the aviator to tell how far off they are. We went over +Mulhouse and to the north. Then we sailed south and turned over the +lines on the way home. I was very tired after the flight but it was +because I was not used to it and it was a strain on me keeping a +look-out for the others. + + +AT VERDUN + +To-day the army moving picture outfit took pictures of us. We had a +big show. Thirty bombardment planes went off like clock-work and we +followed. We circled and swooped down by the camera. We were taken in +groups, then individually, in flying togs, and God knows what-all. +They will be shown in the States. + +If you happen to see them you will recognize my machine by the MAC, +painted on the side. + +Seems quite an important thing to have one's own airplane with two +mechanics to take care of it, to help one dress for flights, and to +obey orders. A pilot of no matter what grade is like an officer in any +other arm. + +We didn't see any Boche planes on our trip. We were too many. The only +way to do is to sneak up on them. + +I do not get a chance to see much of the biggest battle in the world +which is being fought here, for I'm on a fighting machine and the sky +is my province. We fly so high that ground details are lacking. Where +the battle has raged there is a broad, browned band. It is a great +strip of murdered Nature. Trees, houses, and even roads have been +blasted completely away. The shell holes are so numerous that they +blend into one another and cannot be separately seen. It looks as if +shells fell by the thousand every second. There are spurts of smoke at +nearly every foot of the brown areas and a thick pall of mist covers +it all. There are but holes where the trenches ran, and when one +thinks of the poor devils crouching in their inadequate shelters under +such a hurricane of flying metal, it increases one's respect for the +staying powers of modern man. It's terrible to watch, and I feel sad +every time I look down. The only shooting we hear is the tut-tut-tut +of our own or enemy plane's machine guns when fighting is at close +quarters. The Germans shoot explosive bullets from theirs. I must +admit that they have an excellent air fleet even if they do not fight +decently. + +I'm a sergeant now--_sergent_ in French--and I get about two francs +more a day and wear a gold band on my cap, which makes old +territorials think I'm an officer and occasions salutes which are some +bother. + + +A SORTIE + +We made a foolish sortie this morning. Only five of us went, the +others remaining in bed thinking the weather was too bad. It was. When +at only 3,000 feet we hit a solid layer of clouds, and when we had +passed through, we couldn't see anything but a shimmering field of +white. Above were the bright sun and the blue sky, but how we were in +regard to the earth no one knew. Fortunately the clouds had a big +hole in them at one point and the whole mass was moving toward the +lines. By circling, climbing, and dropping we stayed above the hole, +and, when over the trenches, worked into it, ready to fall on the +Boches. It's a stunt they use, too. We finally found ourselves 20 +kilometres in the German lines. In coming back I steered by compass +and then when I thought I was near the field I dived and found myself +not so far off, having the field in view. In the clouds it shakes +terribly and one feels as if one were in a canoe on a rough sea. + + +VICTOR CHAPMAN + +I was mighty sorry to see old Victor Chapman go. He was one of the +finest men I've ever known. He was _too_ brave if anything. He was +exceptionally well educated, had a fine brain, and a heart as big as a +house. Why, on the day of his fatal trip, he had put oranges in his +machine to take to Balsley who was lying wounded with an explosive +bullet. He was going to land near the hospital after the sortie. + +Received letter inclosing note from Chapman's father. I'm glad you +wrote him. I feel sure that some of my letters never reach you. I +never let more than a week go by without writing. Maybe I do not get +all yours, either. + + +A SMASH-UP + +Weather has been fine and we've been doing a lot of work. Our +Lieutenant de Laage de Mieux, brought down a Boche. I had another +beautiful smash-up. Prince and I had stayed too long over the lines. +Important day as an attack was going on. It was getting dark and we +could see the tiny balls of fire the infantry light to show the +low-flying observation machines their new positions. On my return, +when I was over another aviation field, my motor broke. I made for +field. In the darkness I couldn't judge my distance well, and went too +far. At the edge of the field there were trees, and beyond, a deep cut +where a road ran. I was skimming ground at a hundred miles an hour and +heading for the trees. I saw soldiers running to be in at the finish +and I thought to myself that James's hash was cooked, but I went +between two trees and ended up head on against the opposite bank of +the road. My motor took the shock and my belt held me. As my tail went +up it was cut in two by some very low 'phone wires. I wasn't even +bruised. Took dinner with the officers there who gave me a car to go +home in afterward. + + +FIGHTING A BOCHE + +To-day I shared another chap's machine (Hill of Peekskill), and got it +shot up for him. De Laage (our lieutenant) and I made a sortie at +noon. When over the German lines, near _Cote_ 304, I saw two Boches +under me. I picked out the rear chap and dived. Fired a few shots and +then tried to get under his tail and hit him from there. I missed, and +bobbed up alongside of him. Fine for the Boche, but rotten for me! I +could see his gunner working the mitrailleuse for fair, and felt his +bullets darn close. I dived, for I could not shoot from that +position, and beat it. He kept plunking away and altogether put seven +holes in my machine. One was only ten inches in from me. De Laage was +too far off to get to the Boche and ruin him while I was amusing him. + +Yesterday I motored up to an aviation camp to see a Boche machine that +had been forced to land and was captured. On the way up I passed a +cantonment of Senegalese. About twenty of 'em jumped up from the bench +they were sitting on and gave me the hell of a salute. Thought I was a +general because I was riding in a car, I guess. They're the blackest +niggers you ever saw. Good-looking soldiers. Can't stand shelling but +they're good on the cold steel end of the game. The Boche machine was +a beauty. Its motor is excellent and she carries a machine gun aft and +one forward. Same kind of a machine I attacked to-day. The German +pilots must be mighty cold-footed, for if the Frenchmen had airplanes +like that they surely would raise the devil with the Boches. + +As it is the Boches keep well within their lines, save occasionally, +and we have to go over and fight them there. + + +KIFFIN ROCKWELL + +Poor Kiffin Rockwell has been killed. He was known and admired far +and wide, and he was accorded extraordinary honours. Fifty English +pilots and eight hundred aviation men from the British unit in the +Vosges marched at his funeral. There was a regiment of Territorials +and a battalion of Colonial troops in addition to the hundreds of +French pilots and aviation men. Captain Thenault of the American +Escadrille delivered an exceptionally eulogistic funeral oration. He +spoke at length of Rockwell's ideals and his magnificent work. He told +of his combats. "When Rockwell was on the lines," he said, "no German +passed, but on the contrary was forced to seek a refuge on the +ground." + +Rockwell made the _esprit_ of the escadrille, and the Captain voiced +the sentiments of us all when, in announcing his death, he said: "The +best and bravest of us all is no more." + +How does the war look to you--as regards duration? We are figuring on +about ten more months, but then it may be ten more years. Of late +things are much brighter and one can feel a certain elation in the +air. Victory, before, was a sort of academic certainty; now, it's +felt. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW FRANCE TRAINS PILOT AVIATORS + + +France now has thousands of men training to become military aviators, +and the flying schools, of which there is a very great number, are +turning out pilots at an astounding rate. + +The process of training a man to be a pilot aviator naturally varies +in accordance with the type of machine on which he takes his first +instruction, and so the methods of the various schools depend on the +apparatus upon which they teach an _eleve pilote_--as an embryonic +aviator is called--to fly. + +In the case of the larger biplanes, a student goes up in a +dual-control airplane, accompanied by an old pilot, who, after first +taking him on many short trips, then allows him part, and later full, +control, and who immediately corrects any false moves made by him. +After that, short, straight line flights are made alone in a +smaller-powered machine by the student, and, following that, the +training goes on by degrees to the point where a certain mastery of +the apparatus is attained. Then follows the prescribed "stunts" and +voyages necessary to obtain the military brevet. + + +TRAINING FOR PURSUIT AIRPLANES + +The method of training a pilot for a small, fast _avion de chasse_, as +a fighting airplane is termed, is quite different, and as it is the +most thorough and interesting I will take that course up in greater +detail. + +The man who trains for one of these machines never has the advantage +of going first into the air in a double-control airplane. He is alone +when he first leaves the earth, and so the training preparatory to +that stage is very carefully planned to teach a man the habit of +control in such a way that all the essential movements will come +naturally when he first finds himself face to face with the new +problems the air has set for him. In this preparatory training a great +deal of weeding out is effected, for a man's aptitude for the work +shows up, and unless he is by nature especially well fitted he is +transferred to the division which teaches one to fly the larger and +safer machines. + +First of all, the student is put on what is called a roller. It is a +low-powered machine with very small wings. It is strongly built to +stand the rough wear it gets, and no matter how much one might try it +could not leave the ground. The apparatus is jokingly and universally +known as a Penguin, both because of its humorous resemblance to the +quaint arctic birds and its inability in common with them to do any +flying. A student makes a few trips up and down the field in a +double-control Penguin, and learns how to steer with his feet. Then he +gets into a single-seated one and, while the rapidly whirling +propeller is pulling him along, tries to keep the Penguin in a +straight line. The slightest mistake or delayed movement will send the +machine skidding off to the right or left, and sometimes, if the motor +is not stopped in time, over on its side or back. Something is always +being broken on a Penguin, and so a reserve flock is kept at the side +of the field in order that no time may be lost. + +After one is able to keep a fairly straight line, he is put on a +Penguin that moves at a faster rate, and after being able to handle it +successfully passes to a very speedy one, known as the "rapid." Here +one learns to keep the tail of the machine at a proper angle by means +of the elevating lever, and to make a perfectly straight line. When +this has been accomplished and the monitor is thoroughly convinced +that the student is absolutely certain of making no mistakes in +guiding with his feet, the young aviator is passed on to the class +which teaches him how to leave the ground. As one passes from one +machine to another one finds that the foot movements must be made +smaller and smaller. The increased speed makes the machine more and +more responsive to the rudder, and as a result the foot movements +become so gentle when one gets into the air that they must come +instinctively. + + +FIRST FLIGHTS ALONE + +The class where one will leave the ground has now been reached, and an +outfit of leather clothes and casque is given to the would-be pilot. +The machines used at this stage are low-powered monoplanes of the +Bleriot type, which, though being capable of leaving the ground, +cannot rise more than a few feet. They do not run when the wind is +blowing or when there are any movements of air from the ground, for +though a great deal of balancing is done by correcting with the +rudder, the student knows nothing of maintaining the lateral +stability, and if caught in the air by a bad movement would be apt to +sustain a severe accident. He has now only to learn how to take the +machine off the ground and hold it at a low line of flight for a few +moments. + +For the first time one is strapped into the seat of the machine, and +this continues to be the case from this point on. The motor is +started, and one begins to roll swiftly along the ground. The tail is +brought to an angle slightly above a straight line. Then one sits +tight and waits. Suddenly the motion seems softer, the motor does not +roar so loudly, and the ground is slipping away. The class standing at +the end of the line looks far below; the individuals are very small, +but though you imagine you are going too high, you must not push to go +down more than the smallest fraction, or the machine will dive and +smash. The small push has brought you down with a bump from a +seemingly great height. In reality you have been but three feet off +the ground. Little by little the student becomes accustomed to leaving +the ground, for these short hop-skip-and-jump flights, and has learned +how to steer in the air. + +If he has no bad smash-ups he is passed on to a class where he rises +higher, and is taught the rudiments of landing. If, after a few days, +that act is reasonably performed and the young pilot does not land too +hard, he is passed to the class where he goes about sixty feet high, +maintains his line of flight for five or six minutes and learns to +make a good landing from that height. He must by this time be able to +keep his machine on the line of flight without dipping and rising, and +the landings must be uniformly good. The instructor takes a great deal +of time showing the student the proper line of descent, for the +landings must be perfect before he can pass on. + +Now comes the class where the pilot rises three or four hundred feet +high and travels for more than two miles in a straight line. Here he +is taught how to combat air movements and maintain lateral stability. +All the flying up to this point has been done in a straight line, but +now comes the class where one is taught to turn. Machines in this +division are almost as high powered as a regular flying machine, and +can easily climb to two thousand feet. The turn is at first very wide, +and then, as the student becomes more confident, it is done more +quickly, and while the machine leans at an angle that would frighten +one if the training in turning had not been gradual. When the pilot +can make reasonably close right and left turns, he is told to make +figure eights. After doing this well he is sent to the real flying +machines. + +There is nothing in the way of a radical step from the turns and +figure eights to the real flying machines. It is a question of +becoming at ease in the better and faster airplanes taking greater +altitudes, making little trips, perfecting landings, and mastering all +the movements of correction that one is forced to make. Finally one is +taught how to shut off and start one's motor again in the air, and +then to go to a certain height, shut off the motor, make a half-turn +while dropping and start the motor again. After this, one climbs to +about two thousand feet and, shutting off the motor, spirals down to +within five hundred feet of the ground. When that has been practised +sufficiently, a registering altitude meter is strapped to the pilot's +back and he essays the official spiral, in which one must spiral all +the way to earth with the motor off, and come to a stop within a few +yards of a fixed point on the aviation grounds. After this, the +student passes to the voyage machines, which are of almost twice the +power of the machine used for the short trips and spirals. + + +TESTS FOR THE MILITARY BREVET + +There are three voyages to make. Two consist in going to designated +towns an hour or so distant and returning. The third voyage is a +triangle. A landing is made at one point and the other two points are +only necessary to cross. In addition, there are two altitudes of about +seven thousand feet each that one has to attain either while on the +voyages or afterward. + +The young pilot has not, up to this point, had any experience on +trips, and there is always a sense of adventure in starting out over +unknown country with only a roller map to guide one and the gauges and +controls, which need constant attention, to distract one from the +reading of the chart. Then, too, it is the first time that the student +has flown free and at a great height over the earth, and his sense of +exultation at navigating at will the boundless sky causes him to +imagine he is a real pilot. True it is that when the voyages and +altitudes are over, and his examinations in aeronautical sciences +passed, the student becomes officially a _pilote-aviateur_, and he can +wear two little gold-woven wings on his collar to designate his +capacity, and carry a winged propeller emblem on his arm, but he is +not ready for the difficult work of the front, and before he has time +to enjoy more than a few days' rest he is sent to a school of +_perfectionnement_. There the real, serious and thorough training +begins. + +Schools where the pilots are trained on the modern machines--_ecoles +de perfectionnement_ as they are called--are usually an annex to the +centres where the soldiers are taught to fly, though there are one or +two camps that are devoted exclusively to giving advanced instruction +to aviators who are to fly the _avions de chasse_, or fighting +machines. When the aviator enters one of these schools he is a +breveted pilot, and he is allowed a little more freedom than he +enjoyed during the time he was learning to fly. + +He now takes up the Morane monoplane. It is interesting to note that +the German Fokker is practically a copy of this machine. After flying +for a while on a low-powered Morane and having mastered the landing, +the pilot is put on a new, higher-powered model of the same make. He +has a good many hours of flying, but his trips are very short, for the +whole idea is to familiarize one with the method of landing. The +Bleriot has a landing gear that is elastic in action, and it is easy +to bring to earth. The Nieuport and other makes of small, fast +machines for which the pilot is training have a solid wheel base, and +good landings are much more difficult to make. The Morane pilot has +the same practices climbing to small altitudes around eight thousand +feet and picking his landing from that height with motor off. When he +becomes proficient in flying the single- and double-plane types he +leaves the school for another, where shooting with machine guns is +taught. + +This course in shooting familiarizes one with various makes of machine +guns used on airplanes, and one learns to shoot at targets from the +air. After two or three weeks the pilot is sent to another school of +combat. + + +TRICK FLYING AND DOING STUNTS + +These schools of combat are connected with the _ecoles de +perfectionnement_ with which the pilot has finished. In the combat +school he learns battle tactics, how to fight singly and in fleet +formation, and how to extract himself from a too dangerous position. +Trips are made in squadron formation and sham battles are effected +with other escadrilles, as the smallest unit of an aerial fleet is +called. For the first time the pilot is allowed to do fancy flying. He +is taught how to loop the loop, slide on his wings or tail, go into +corkscrews and, more important, to get out of them, and is encouraged +to try new stunts. + +Finally the pilot is considered well enough trained to be sent to the +reserve, where he waits his call to the front. At the reserve he flies +to keep his hand in, practises on any new make of machine that happens +to come out or that he may be put on in place of the Nieuport, and +receives information regarding old and new makes of enemy airplanes. + +At last the pilot receives his call to the front, where he takes his +place in some established or newly formed escadrille. He is given a +new machine from the nearest airplane reserve centre, and he then +begins his active service in the war, which, if he survives the +course, is the best school of them all. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AGAINST ODDS + + +Since the publication of previous editions of "Flying for France" we +have obtained the following letters which add greatly to the interest +and complete the record of McConnell's connection with the Lafayette +Escadrille. + + + +_March 19, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +We are passing through some very interesting times. The boches are in +full retreat, offering very little resistance to the English and +French advance. The boches have systematically destroyed all the towns +and villages abandoned. Where they haven't burned a house, they have +made holes through the roofs with pickaxes. All the cross-roads are +blown up at the junctions, and when the trees bordering the roads +haven't been cut down, barricading the roads, they have been cut half +way through so that when the wind blows they keep falling on the +passing convoys. The inhabitants left in these villages are wild with +delight and are giving the troops an inspiring reception. In one town +the boches raped all the women before leaving, then locked them down +cellar, and carried off all the young girls with them. + +We have been flying low, and watching the cavalry overrunning the +country. The boches are retreating to very strongly fortified +positions, where the advance is going to come up against a stone wall. + +This morning Genet and McConnell flew well ahead of the advancing +army, Mac leading. Genet saw two boche planes maneuvering to get +above them, so he began to climb, too. Finally they got together; the +boche was a biplane and had the edge on Genet. Almost the first shot +got Genet in the cheek. Fortunately it was only a deep flesh wound, +and another shot almost broke the stanchion, which supports the wings, +in two. Genet stuck to the boche and opened fire on him. He knows he +hit the machine and at one time he thought he saw the machine on fire, +but nothing happened. At last the boche had Genet in a bad position, +so he (Genet) piqued down about a thousand meters and got away from +the boche. He looked around for Mac but couldn't find him, so he came +home. Mac hasn't yet shown up and we are frightfully worried. Genet +has a dim recollection that when he attacked the boche, the other +boche piqued down in Mac's direction, and it looks as if the boche got +Mac unawares. Late this afternoon we got a report that this morning a +Nieuport was seen to land near Tergnier, which is unfortunately still +in German hands. This must have been Mac's, in which case he is only +wounded, or perhaps only his machine was badly damaged. There is a +general feeling among us that Mac is all right. The French cavalry are +within ten or fifteen kilometers of Tergnier now and perhaps they will +take the place to-morrow, in which case we will certainly learn +something. This afternoon Lieut. de Laage and Lufbery landed at Ham, +where the advance infantry were, and made a lot of inquiries. It was +near this place where the fight started. Nobody had seen any machine +come down. You may be sure I will keep you informed of everything that +turns up. Genet is going to write you in a day or so. + +Sincerely, + +WALTER (signed Walter Lovell). + +P. S. I apologize for the mistakes and the disconnectedness of this +letter, but I wrote it in frightful haste in order to get it in the +first post. + + + +_March 20, 1917._ + +MY DEAR ROCKWELL: + +I do not know if any of the boys have written you about the +disappearance of Jim, so perhaps you might know something about it +when this letter reaches you. + +He left yesterday at 8:45 a.m. in his machine for the German lines, +and has not returned yet. He and Genet were attacked by two Germans, +the latter, who received a slight wound on the cheek, was so occupied +he did not see what became of Jim, and returned without him. + +The combat took place between Ham and St. Quentin; the territory was +still occupied by the enemy when the combat took place. The worst I +hope has happened to our friend is that perhaps he was wounded and was +forced to land in the enemy's lines and was made prisoner. Nothing +definite is known. I shall write you immediately I get news. + +I am extremely worried. To lose my friend would be a severe blow. I +can't and will not believe that anything serious has happened. + +Best wishes, + +Sincerely, + +E. A. MARSHALL. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182,_ + _March 21, 1917._ + +MY DEAR PAUL: + +Had I been feeling less distressed and miserable on Monday morning, or +during yesterday, I would have written you then, but I told Lovell to +tell you how I felt when he wrote on Monday and that I would try and +write in a day or so. I am not feeling much better mentally but I'll +try and write something, for I am the only one who was out with poor +Mac on Monday morning and it just adds that much more to my distress. + +As you know, we have had a big advance here, due to the deliberate +evacuation by the Germans, without much opposition, of the territory +now in the hands of the French and English. The advance began last +Thursday night and each day has brought the lines closer to Saint +Quentin and the region north and south of it. + +On Monday morning Mac, Parsons, and myself went out at nine o'clock on +the third patrol of the escadrille. We had orders to protect +observation machines along the new lines around the region of Ham. Mac +was leader. I came second and Parsons followed me. Before we had gone +very far Parsons was forced to go back on account of motor trouble, +which handicapped us greatly on account of what followed, but of +course that cannot be remedied because Parsons was perfectly right in +returning when his motor was not running well. We all do that one time +or another. + +Mac and I kept on and up to ten o'clock were circling around the +region of Ham, watching out for the heavier machines doing +reconnoitring work below us. We went higher than a thousand meters +during that time. About ten, for some reason or other of his own, Mac +suddenly headed into the German lines toward Saint Quentin and I +naturally followed close to his rear and above him. Perhaps he wanted +to make observations around Saint Quentin. At any rate, we had gotten +north of Ham and quite inside the hostile lines, when I saw two boche +machines crossing towards us from the region of Saint Quentin at an +altitude quite higher than ours. We were then about 1,600 meters. I +supposed Mac saw them the same as I did. One boche was much farther +ahead than the other, and was headed as if he would dive at any moment +on Mac. I glanced ahead at Mac and saw what direction he was taking, +and then pulled back to climb up as quickly as possible to gain an +advantageous height over the nearest boche. It was cloudy and misty +and I had to keep my eyes on him all the time, so naturally I couldn't +watch Mac. The second boche was still much farther off than his mate. +By this time I had gotten to 2,200, the boche was almost up to me and +taking a diagonal course right in front. He started to circle and his +gunner--it was a biplane, probably an Albatross, although the mist was +too thick and dark for me to see much but the bare outline of his +dirty, dark green body, with white and black crosses--opened fire +before I did and his first volley did some damage. One bullet cut the +left central support of my upper wing in half, an explosive bullet cut +in half the left guiding rod of the left aileron, and I was +momentarily stunned by part of it which dug a nasty gouge into my left +cheek. I had already opened fire and was driving straight for the +boche with teeth set and my hand gripping the triggers making a +veritable stream of fire spitting out of my gun at him, as I had +incendiary bullets, it being my job lately to chase after observation +balloons, and on Saturday morning I had also been up after the +reported Zeppelins. I had to keep turning toward the boche every +second, as he was circling around towards me and I was on the inside +of the circle, so his gunner had all the advantage over me. I thought +I had him on fire for one instant as I saw--or supposed I did--flames +on his fuselage. Everything passed in a few seconds and we swung past +each other in opposite directions at scarcely twenty-five meters from +each other--the boche beating off towards the north and I immediately +dived down in the opposite direction wondering every second whether +the broken wing support would hold together or not and feeling weak +and stunned from the hole in my face. A battery opened a heavy fire on +me as I went down, the shells breaking just behind me. I straightened +out over Ham at a thousand meters, and began to circle around to look +for Mac or the other boche, but saw absolutely nothing the entire +fifteen minutes I stayed there. I was fearful every minute that my +whole top wing would come off, and I thought that possibly Mac had +gotten around toward the west over our lines, missed me, and was +already on his way back to camp. So I finally turned back for our +camp, having to fly very low and against a strong northern wind, on +account of low clouds just forming. I got back at a quarter to eleven +and my first question to my mechanic was: "Has McConnell returned?" + +He hadn't, Paul, and no news of any sort have we had of him yet, +although we hoped and prayed every hour yesterday for some word to +come in. The one hope that we have is that on account of this +continued advance some news will be brought in of Mac through +civilians who might have witnessed his flight over the lines north of +Ham, while they were still in the hands of the enemy, for many of the +civilians in the villages around there are being left by the Germans +as they retire. We can likewise hope that Mac was merely forced to +land inside the enemy lines on account of a badly damaged machine, or +a bad wound, and is well but a prisoner. I wish to God, Paul, that I +had been able to see Mac during his combat, or had been able to get +down to him sooner and help him. The mists were thick, and +consequently seeing far was difficult. I would have gone out that +afternoon to look for him but my machine was so damaged it took until +yesterday afternoon to be repaired. Lieut. de Laage and Lufbery did +go out with their Spads and looked all around the region north of Ham +towards Saint Quentin but saw nothing at all of a Nieuport on the +ground, or anything else to give news of what had occurred. + +The French are still not far enough towards Saint Quentin to be on the +territory where the chances are Mac landed, so we'll still have to +wait for to-day's developments for any possibility of news. I got lots +of hope, Paul, that Mac is at least alive although undoubtedly a +prisoner. I know how badly the news has affected you. We're all +feeling mighty blue over it and as for myself--I'm feeling utterly +miserable over the whole affair. Just as soon as any definite news +comes in I'll surely let you know at once. Meanwhile, keep cheered and +hopeful. There's no use in losing hope yet. If a prisoner Mac may even +be able to escape and return to our lines, on account of the very +unsettled state of the retreating Germans. Others have done so under +much less favorable conditions. + +I hope you are having a very enjoyable trip through the South. Walter +showed me the postal you wrote him, which he received yesterday. +Please give my very warm regards to your wife. Write as soon as you +can, too. + +Very faithfully yours, + +EDMOND C. C. GENET. + + + +_March 22, 1917._ + +MY DEAR ROCKWELL: + +Still no news about Jim. Last night the captain sent out a request to +the military authorities to have our troops advancing in the direction +of Saint Quentin report immediately any particulars about avion 2055. +Even now I cannot reconcile myself concerning Jim's fate. I hope he +has been made prisoner. + +Just a few words about myself. I am awaiting the results of my +friends' actions in the States on my behalf. I am placed in a peculiar +position in the escadrille. I have nothing to do here. Shall I take +care of Jim's belongings? + +Best wishes, + +Sincerely, + +E. A. MARSHALL. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182,_ + _March 23, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +In my letter I promised to send you word as soon as any definite news +came in concerning poor Mac. To-day word came in from a group of +French cavalry that they witnessed our fight on Monday morning and +that they saw Mac brought down inside the German lines towards Saint +Quentin after being attacked by two boche machines and at the same +time they saw me fighting a third one higher than Mac, and that just +as I piqued down Mac fell so there were three boche machines instead +of two, as I supposed, having missed seeing the third one on account +of the heavy clouds and mist around us. + +There is still the hope that Mac wasn't killed but only wounded and a +prisoner. If he is we'll learn of it later. The cavalrymen didn't say +whether he came down normally or fell. Possibly he was too far off +really to tell definitely about that. Certainly he had been already +brought down before I could get down to help him after the boche I +attacked beat it off. Had I known there were three boche machines I +certainly would not have played around that boche at such a distance +from Mac. + +When will Mrs. Weeks return to Paris from the States? Will you write +and tell her about Mac? She'll be mighty well grieved to hear of it, I +know, and you'll be the best one to break it to her. + +Write to me soon. Best regards to Mrs. Rockwell. + +E. GENET. + + + +_March 24th, a. m._ + _C. Aeronatique, Noyon & D. C. 13._ + +MY DEAR ROCKWELL: + +The targe element informs us that it has found, in the environs of the +Bois l'Abbe, a Nieuport No. 2055. The aviator, a sergeant, has been +dead since three days, in the opinion of the doctor. His pockets +appear to have been searched, for no papers were found on him. The +Bois l'Abbe is two kilometers south of Jussy. The above message +received by us at ten o'clock last night. Jussy is on the main road +between Saint Quentin and Chauny. I expect to go back to the infantry +soon. + +Sincerely, E. A. MARSHALL. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182,_ + _March 25, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +The evening before last definite news was brought to us that a badly +smashed Nieuport had been found by French troops, beside which was the +body of a sergeant-pilot which had been there at least three days and +had been stripped of all identification papers, flying clothes and +even the boots. They got the number of the machine, which proved +without further question that it was poor Mac. They gave the location +as being at the little village of Petit Detroit, which is just south +of Flavy-le-Martel, the latter place being about ten kilometers east +of Ham on the railroad running from Ham to La Fere. + +After having made a flight over the lines yesterday morning, I went +down around Petit Detroit to locate the machine. There was no decent +place there on which to land so I circled around over it for a few +minutes to see in which condition it (the Nieuport) was. The machine +was scarcely distinguishable so badly had it smashed into the ground, +and there is scarcely any doubt, Paul, that Mac was killed while +having his fight in the air, as no pilot would have attempted to land +a machine in the tiny rotten field--no more than a little orchard +beside the road--voluntarily. It seems almost certain that he struck +the ground with full motor on. Captain Thenault landed some distance +from there that he might go over there in a car and see just what +could be done about poor Mac's body. When he returned last night he +told us the following: + +Mac, he said, was as badly mangled as the machine and had been +relieved of his flying suit by the damned boches, also of his shoes +and all papers. The machine had struck the ground so hard that it was +half buried, the motor being totally in the earth and the rest, +including even the machine gun, completely smashed. It was just beside +the main road, in a small field containing apple trees cut down by the +retreating boches, and just at the southern edge of the village. + +Mac has been buried right there beside the road, and we will see that +the grave is decently marked with a cross, etc. The captain brought +back a square piece of canvas cut from one of the wings, and we are +going to get a good picture we have of Mac enlarged and placed on this +with a frame. I suppose that Thaw or Johnson will attend to the +belongings of Mac which he had written are to be sent to you to care +for. In the letter which he had left for just such an occasion as this +he concludes with the following words: "Good luck to the rest of you. +God damn Germany and vive la France!" + +All honour to him, Paul. The world will look up to him, as well as +France, for whom he died so gloriously, just as it is looking up to +your fine brother and the rest of us who have given their lives so +freely and gladly for this big cause. + +Warmest regards, etc., + +Faithfully, + +EDMOND C. C. GENET. + +P. S. The captain has already put in a proposal for a citation for +Mac, and also one for me. Mac surely deserved it, and lots more too. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, S. P. 182,_ + _March 27, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +I got your postcard to-day and would have written you sooner about +poor Jim but haven't been up to it, which I know you understand. + +It hit me pretty hard, Paul, for as you know we were in school and +college together, and for the last four or five years have been very +intimate, living in N.C. and New York together. + +It's hell, Paul, that all the good boys are being picked off. The +damned Huns have raised hell with the old crowd, but I think we have +given them more than we have received. The boys who have gone made +the name for the escadrille and now it's up to us who are left +(especially the old Verdun crowd) to keep her going and make the +boches suffer. + +Like old Kiffin, Mac died gloriously and in full action. It was in a +fight with three Germans in their lines. Genet took one Hun (and was +wounded). The last he saw was a Hun on Mac's back. Later we learned +from the cavalry that there were two on Mac and after a desperate +fight Mac crashed to the ground. This was the 19th of March. Three +days later we took the territory Mac fell in and they were unable to +distinguish who he was. The swine Huns had taken every paper or piece +of identification from him and also robbed him--even took his shoes. +The captain went over and was able to identify him by the number of +his machine and uniform. He had lain out there three days and was +smashed so terribly that you couldn't recognize his face. He was +buried where he fell in a coffin made from the door of a pillaged +house. His last resting place (and where he fell) is "Petit Detroit," +which is a village southwest of Saint Quentin and north of Chauney. He +is buried just at the southeast end of the village and in a hell of a +small town. + +Jim left a letter of which I am copying the important parts: + +"In case of my death or made prisoner--which is worse--please send my +canteen and what money I have on me, or coming to me [he had none on +him as the Huns lifted that] to Mr. Paul A. Rockwell, 80 rue, etc. +Shoes, tools, wearing apparel, etc., you can give away. The rest of my +things, such as diary, photos, souvenirs, croix de guerre, best +uniform [he had best uniform on and I think the croix de +guerre--however, you may find the latter in his things, his other +uniform can't be found], please put in canteen and ship along. + +"Kindly cable my sister, Mrs. Followsbee, 65 Bellevue Place, Chicago. +It would be kind to follow same by a letter telling about my death +[which I am doing]. + +"I have a box trunk in Paris containing belongings I would like to +send home. Paul R. knows about it and can attend to the shipping. I +would appreciate it if the committee of the American Escad. would pay +to Mr. Paul Rockwell the money needed to cover express. + +"My burial is of no import. Make it as easy as possible for +yourselves. I have no religion and do not care for any service. If the +omission would embarrass you I presume I could stand the performance. +[Note Jim's keen sense of humour even to death instructions.] + +"Good luck to the rest of you. God damn Germany and vive la France. + +"Signed, + +"J. R. McCONNELL." + +Jim had on the day of his death been proposed for the Croix de Guerre +with palm. When it comes I shall send it to you. + +Well, Paul, I have told you everything I can think of, but if there +are any omissions or questions don't hesitate to ask. + +I think we are now beginning to see the beginning of the end. The +devastation, destruction and misery the Huns have left is a +disgraceful crime to civilization and is pitiful. It drives me so +furious I can't talk about it. + +Best regards to you, old boy, and luck. All join in the above. I shall +wind up the same as Jim. + +As always, + +CHOUT (Charles Chouteau Johnson). + +P. S. Steve Biglow is taking canteen to your place in Paris to-morrow, +so you will find it there upon your return. + +C. C. J. + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, FLYING FOR FRANCE *** + +This file should be named 7fffr10.txt or 7fffr10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7fffr11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7fffr10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext04 + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/7fffr10.zip b/old/7fffr10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..920389e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7fffr10.zip diff --git a/old/8fffr10.txt b/old/8fffr10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0381e69 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8fffr10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2939 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Flying for France, by James R. McConnell + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Flying for France + +Author: James R. McConnell + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6977] +[This file was first posted on February 19, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, FLYING FOR FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Paul Hollander, Juliet Sutherland, Linton Dawe, Charles Franks + +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +FLYING FOR FRANCE + +With the American Escadrille at Verdun + + + + +BY + +JAMES R. McCONNELL + +Sergeant-Pilot in the French Flying Corps + + + + +Illustrated from photographs through the kindness +of Mr. Paul Rockwell + + + + +To + +MRS. ALICE S. WEEKS + +Who having lost a splendid son in the French Army has given to a great +number of us other Americans in the war the tender sympathy and help +of a mother. + + + + +CONTENTS + +Introduction + By F. C. P. + +CHAPTER + + I. Verdun + II. From Verdun to the Somme +III. Personal Letters from Sergeant McConnell + IV. How France Trains Pilot Aviators + V. Against Odds + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +James R. McConnell _Frontispiece_ + +Some of the Americans Who are Flying for France + +Two Members of the American Escadrille, of the French Flying Service, +Who Were Killed Flying For France + +"Whiskey." The Lion and Mascot of the American Flying Squadron in +France + +Kiffin Rockwell, of Asheville, N.C., Who Was Killed in an Air Duel +Over Verdun + +Sergeant Lufbery in one of the New Nieuports in Which He Convoyed the +Bombardment Fleet Which Attacked Oberndorf + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +One day in January, 1915, I saw Jim McConnell in front of the Court +House at Carthage, North Carolina. "Well," he said, "I'm all fixed up +and am leaving on Wednesday." "Where for?" I asked. "I've got a job to +drive an ambulance in France," was his answer. + +And then he went on to tell me, first, that as he saw it the greatest +event in history was going on right at hand and that he would be +missing the opportunity of a lifetime if he did not see it. "These +Sand Hills," he said "will be here forever, but the war won't; and so +I'm going." Then, as an afterthought, he added: "And I'll be of some +use, too, not just a sight-seer looking on; that wouldn't be fair." + +So he went. He joined the American ambulance service in the Vosges, +was mentioned more than once in the orders of the day for conspicuous +bravery in saving wounded under fire, and received the much-coveted +Croix de Guerre. + +Meanwhile, he wrote interesting letters home. And his point of view +changed, even as does the point of view of all Americans who visit +Europe. From the attitude of an adventurous spirit anxious to see the +excitement, his letters showed a new belief that any one who goes to +France and is not able and willing to do more than his share--to give +everything in him toward helping the wounded and suffering--has no +business there. + +And as time went on, still a new note crept into his letters; the +first admiration for France was strengthened and almost replaced by a +new feeling--a profound conviction that France and the French people +were fighting the fight of liberty against enormous odds. The new +spirit of France--the spirit of the "Marseillaise," strengthened by a +grim determination and absolute certainty of being right--pervades +every line he writes. So he gave up the ambulance service and enlisted +in the French flying corps along with an ever-increasing number of +other Americans. + +The spirit which pervades them is something above the spirit of +adventure that draws many to war; it is the spirit of a man who has +found an inspiring duty toward the advancement of liberty and humanity +and is glad and proud to contribute what he can. + +His last letters bring out a new point--the assurance of victory of a +just cause. "Of late," he writes, "things are much brighter and one +can feel a certain elation in the air. Victory, before, was a sort of +academic certainty; now, it is felt." + +F. C. P. + +November 10, 1916. + + + + +FLYING FOR FRANCE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +VERDUN + + +Beneath the canvas of a huge hangar mechanicians are at work on the +motor of an airplane. Outside, on the borders of an aviation field, +others loiter awaiting their aërial charge's return from the sky. Near +the hangar stands a hut-shaped tent. In front of it several +short-winged biplanes are lined up; inside it three or four young men +are lolling in wicker chairs. + +They wear the uniform of French army aviators. These uniforms, and the +grim-looking machine guns mounted on the upper planes of the little +aircraft, are the only warlike note in a pleasantly peaceful scene. +The war seems very remote. It is hard to believe that the greatest of +all battles--Verdun--rages only twenty-five miles to the north, and +that the field and hangars and mechanicians and aviators and airplanes +are all playing a part therein. + +Suddenly there is the distant hum of a motor. One of the pilots +emerges from the tent and gazes fixedly up into the blue sky. He +points, and one glimpses a black speck against the blue, high +overhead. The sound of the motor ceases, and the speck grows larger. +It moves earthward in steep dives and circles, and as it swoops +closer, takes on the shape of an airplane. Now one can make out the +red, white, and blue circles under the wings which mark a French +war-plane, and the distinctive insignia of the pilot on its sides. + +"_Ton patron arrive!_" one mechanician cries to another. "Your boss is +coming!" + +The machine dips sharply over the top of a hangar, straightens out +again near the earth at a dizzy speed a few feet above it and, losing +momentum in a surprisingly short time, hits the ground with tail and +wheels. It bumps along a score of yards and then, its motor whirring +again, turns, rolls toward the hangar, and stops. A human form, +enveloped in a species of garment for all the world like a diver's +suit, and further adorned with goggles and a leather hood, rises +unsteadily in the cockpit, clambers awkwardly overboard and slides +down to terra firma. + +A group of soldiers, enjoying a brief holiday from the trenches in a +cantonment near the field, straggle forward and gather timidly about +the airplane, listening open-mouthed for what its rider is about to +say. + +"Hell!" mumbles that gentleman, as he starts divesting himself of his +flying garb. + +"What's wrong now?" inquires one of the tenants of the tent. + +"Everything, or else I've gone nutty," is the indignant reply, +delivered while disengaging a leg from its Teddy Bear trousering. +"Why, I emptied my whole roller on a Boche this morning, point blank +at not fifteen metres off. His machine gun quit firing and his +propeller wasn't turning and yet the darn fool just hung up there as +if he were tied to a cloud. Say, I was so sure I had him it made me +sore--felt like running into him and yelling, 'Now, you fall, you +bum!'" + +The eyes of the _poilus_ register surprise. Not a word of this +dialogue, delivered in purest American, is intelligible to them. Why +is an aviator in a French uniform speaking a foreign tongue, they +mutually ask themselves. Finally one of them, a little chap in a +uniform long since bleached of its horizon-blue colour by the mud of +the firing line, whisperingly interrogates a mechanician as to the +identity of these strange air folk. + +"But they are the Americans, my old one," the latter explains with +noticeable condescension. + +Marvelling afresh, the infantrymen demand further details. They learn +that they are witnessing the return of the American Escadrille--composed +of Americans who have volunteered to fly for France for the duration +of the war--to their station near Bar-le-Duc, twenty-five miles south +of Verdun, from a flight over the battle front of the Meuse. They have +barely had time to digest this knowledge when other dots appear in the +sky, and one by one turn into airplanes as they wheel downward. +Finally all six of the machines that have been aloft are back on the +ground and the American Escadrille has one more sortie over the German +lines to its credit. + + +PERSONNEL OF THE ESCADRILLE + +Like all worth-while institutions, the American Escadrille, of which I +have the honour of being a member, was of gradual growth. When the war +began, it is doubtful whether anybody anywhere envisaged the +possibility of an American entering the French aviation service. Yet, +by the fall of 1915, scarcely more than a year later, there were six +Americans serving as full-fledged pilots, and now, in the summer of +1916, the list numbers fifteen or more, with twice that number +training for their pilot's license in the military aviation schools. + +The pioneer of them all was William Thaw, of Pittsburg, who is to-day +the only American holding a commission in the French flying corps. +Lieutenant Thaw, a flyer of considerable reputation in America before +the war, had enlisted in the Foreign Legion in August, 1914. With +considerable difficulty he had himself transferred, in the early part +of 1915, into aviation, and the autumn of that year found him piloting +a Caudron biplane, and doing excellent observation work. At the same +time, Sergeants Norman Prince, of Boston, and Elliot Cowdin, of New +York--who were the first to enter the aviation service coming directly +from the United States--were at the front on Voisin planes with a +cannon mounted in the bow. + +Sergeant Bert Hall, who signs from the Lone Star State and had got +himself shifted from the Foreign Legion to aviation soon after Thaw, +was flying a Nieuport fighting machine, and, a little later, +instructing less-advanced students of the air in the Avord Training +School. His particular chum in the Foreign Legion, James Bach, who +also had become an aviator, had the distressing distinction soon after +he reached the front of becoming the first American to fall into the +hands of the enemy. Going to the assistance of a companion who had +broken down in landing a spy in the German lines, Bach smashed his +machine against a tree. Both he and his French comrade were captured, +and Bach was twice court-martialed by the Germans on suspicion of +being an American _franc-tireur_--the penalty for which is death! He +was acquitted but of course still languishes in a prison camp +"somewhere in Germany." The sixth of the original sextet was Adjutant +Didier Masson, who did exhibition flying in the States until--Carranza +having grown ambitious in Mexico--he turned his talents to spotting +_los Federales_ for General Obregon. When the real war broke out, +Masson answered the call of his French blood and was soon flying and +fighting for the land of his ancestors. + +Of the other members of the escadrille Sergeant Givas Lufbery, +American citizen and soldier, but dweller in the world at large, was +among the earliest to wear the French airman's wings. Exhibition work +with a French pilot in the Far East prepared him efficiently for the +task of patiently unloading explosives on to German military centres +from a slow-moving Voisin which was his first mount. Upon the heels +of Lufbery came two more graduates of the Foreign Legion--Kiffin +Rockwell, of Asheville, N.C., who had been wounded at Carency; Victor +Chapman, of New York, who after recovering from his wounds became an +airplane bomb-dropper and so caught the craving to become a pilot. At +about this time one Paul Pavelka, whose birthplace was Madison, Conn., +and who from the age of fifteen had sailed the seven seas, managed to +slip out of the Foreign Legion into aviation and joined the other +Americans at Pau. + +There seems to be a fascination to aviation, particularly when it is +coupled with fighting. Perhaps it's because the game is new, but more +probably because as a rule nobody knows anything about it. Whatever be +the reason, adventurous young Americans were attracted by it in +rapidly increasing numbers. Many of them, of course, never got +fascinated beyond the stage of talking about joining. Among the chaps +serving with the American ambulance field sections a good many +imaginations were stirred, and a few actually did enlist, when, toward +the end of the summer of 1915, the Ministry of War, finding that the +original American pilots had made good, grew more liberal in +considering applications. + +Chouteau Johnson, of New York; Lawrence Rumsey, of Buffalo; Dudley +Hill, of Peekskill, N.Y.; and Clyde Balsley, of El Paso; one after +another doffed the ambulance driver's khaki for the horizon-blue of +the French flying corps. All of them had seen plenty of action, +collecting the wounded under fire, but they were all tired of being +non-combatant spectators. More or less the same feeling actuated me, +I suppose. I had come over from Carthage, N.C., in January, 1915, and +worked with an American ambulance section in the Bois-le-Prêtre. All +along I had been convinced that the United States ought to aid in the +struggle against Germany. With that conviction, it was plainly up to +me to do more than drive an ambulance. The more I saw the splendour of +the fight the French were fighting, the more I felt like an +_embusqué_--what the British call a "shirker." So I made up my mind to +go into aviation. + +A special channel had been created for the reception of applications +from Americans, and my own was favourably replied to within a few +days. It took four days more to pass through all the various +departments, sign one's name to a few hundred papers, and undergo the +physical examinations. Then I was sent to the aviation depot at Dijon +and fitted out with a uniform and personal equipment. The next stop +was the school at Pau, where I was to be taught to fly. My elation at +arriving there was second only to my satisfaction at being a French +soldier. It was a vast improvement, I thought, in the American +Ambulance. + +Talk about forming an all-American flying unit, or escadrille, was +rife while I was at Pau. What with the pilots already breveted, and +the élèves, or pupils in the training-schools, there were quite enough +of our compatriots to man the dozen airplanes in one escadrille. Every +day somebody "had it absolutely straight" that we were to become a +unit at the front, and every other day the report turned out to be +untrue. But at last, in the month of February, our dream came true. We +learned that a captain had actually been assigned to command an +American escadrille and that the Americans at the front had been +recalled and placed under his orders. Soon afterward we élèves got +another delightful thrill. + + +THREE TYPES OF FRENCH AIR SERVICE + +Thaw, Prince, Cowdin, and the other veterans were training on the +Nieuport! That meant the American Escadrille was to fly the +Nieuport--the best type of _avion de chasse_--and hence would be a +fighting unit. It is necessary to explain parenthetically here that +French military aviation, generally speaking, is divided into three +groups--the _avions de chasse_ or airplanes of pursuit, which are used +to hunt down enemy aircraft or to fight them off; _avions de +bombardement_, big, unwieldy monsters for use in bombarding raids; and +_avions de réglage_, cumbersome creatures designed to regulate +artillery fire, take photographs, and do scout duty. The Nieuport is +the smallest, fastest-rising, fastest-moving biplane in the French +service. It can travel 110 miles an hour, and is a one-man apparatus +with a machine gun mounted on its roof and fired by the pilot with one +hand while with the other and his feet he operates his controls. The +French call their Nieuport pilots the "aces" of the air. No wonder we +were tickled to be included in that august brotherhood! + +Before the American Escadrille became an established fact, Thaw and +Cowdin, who had mastered the Nieuport, managed to be sent to the +Verdun front. While there Cowdin was credited with having brought down +a German machine and was proposed for the _Médaille Militaire_, the +highest decoration that can be awarded a non-commissioned officer or +private. + +After completing his training, receiving his military pilot's brevet, +and being perfected on the type of plane he is to use at the front, an +aviator is ordered to the reserve headquarters near Paris to await his +call. Kiffin Rockwell and Victor Chapman had been there for months, +and I had just arrived, when on the 16th of April orders came for the +Americans to join their escadrille at Luxeuil, in the Vosges. + +The rush was breathless! Never were flying clothes and fur coats drawn +from the quartermaster, belongings packed, and red tape in the various +administrative bureaux unfurled, with such headlong haste. In a few +hours we were aboard the train, panting, but happy. Our party +consisted of Sergeant Prince, and Rockwell, Chapman, and myself, who +were only corporals at that time. We were joined at Luxeuil by +Lieutenant Thaw and Sergeants Hall and Cowdin. + +For the veterans our arrival at the front was devoid of excitement; +for the three neophytes--Rockwell, Chapman, and myself--it was the +beginning of a new existence, the entry into an unknown world. Of +course Rockwell and Chapman had seen plenty of warfare on the ground, +but warfare in the air was as novel to them as to me. For us all it +contained unlimited possibilities for initiative and service to +France, and for them it must have meant, too, the restoration of +personality lost during those months in the trenches with the Foreign +Legion. Rockwell summed it up characteristically. + +"Well, we're off for the races," he remarked. + + +PILOT LIFE AT THE FRONT + +There is a considerable change in the life of a pilot when he arrives +on the front. During the training period he is subject to rules and +regulations as stringent as those of the barracks. But once assigned +to duty over the firing line he receives the treatment accorded an +officer, no matter what his grade. Save when he is flying or on guard, +his time is his own. There are no roll calls or other military +frills, and in place of the bunk he slept upon as an élève, he finds a +regular bed in a room to himself, and the services of an orderly. Even +men of higher rank who although connected with his escadrille are not +pilots, treat him with respect. His two mechanicians are under his +orders. Being volunteers, we Americans are shown more than the +ordinary consideration by the ever-generous French Government, which +sees to it that we have the best of everything. + +On our arrival at Luxeuil we were met by Captain Thénault, the French +commander of the American Escadrille--officially known as No. 124, by +the way--and motored to the aviation field in one of the staff cars +assigned to us. I enjoyed that ride. Lolling back against the soft +leather cushions, I recalled how in my apprenticeship days at Pau I +had had to walk six miles for my laundry. + +The equipment awaiting us at the field was even more impressive than +our automobile. Everything was brand new, from the fifteen Fiat trucks +to the office, magazine, and rest tents. And the men attached to the +escadrille! At first sight they seemed to outnumber the Nicaraguan +army--mechanicians, chauffeurs, armourers, motorcyclists, +telephonists, wireless operators, Red Cross stretcher bearers, clerks! +Afterward I learned they totalled seventy-odd, and that all of them +were glad to be connected with the American Escadrille. + +In their hangars stood our trim little Nieuports. I looked mine over +with a new feeling of importance and gave orders to my mechanicians +for the mere satisfaction of being able to. To find oneself the sole +proprietor of a fighting airplane is quite a treat, let me tell you. +One gets accustomed to it, though, after one has used up two or three +of them--at the French Government's expense. + +Rooms were assigned to us in a villa adjoining the famous hot baths of +Luxeuil, where Cæsar's cohorts were wont to besport themselves. We +messed with our officers, Captain Thénault and Lieutenant de Laage de +Mieux, at the best hotel in town. An automobile was always on hand to +carry us to the field. I began to wonder whether I was a summer +resorter instead of a soldier. + +Among the pilots who had welcomed us with open arms, we discovered the +famous Captain Happe, commander of the Luxeuil bombardment group. The +doughty bomb-dispenser, upon whose head the Germans have set a price, +was in his quarters. After we had been introduced, he pointed to eight +little boxes arranged on a table. + +"They contain _Croix de Guerre_ for the families of the men I lost on +my last trip," he explained, and he added: "It's a good thing you're +here to go along with us for protection. There are lots of Boches in +this sector." + +I thought of the luxury we were enjoying: our comfortable beds, baths, +and motor cars, and then I recalled the ancient custom of giving a man +selected for the sacrifice a royal time of it before the appointed +day. + +To acquaint us with the few places where a safe landing was possible +we were motored through the Vosges Mountains and on into Alsace. It +was a delightful opportunity to see that glorious countryside, and we +appreciated it the more because we knew its charm would be lost when +we surveyed it from the sky. From the air the ground presents no +scenic effects. The ravishing beauty of the Val d'Ajol, the steep +mountain sides bristling with a solid mass of giant pines, the myriads +of glittering cascades tumbling downward through fairylike avenues of +verdure, the roaring, tossing torrent at the foot of the slope--all +this loveliness, seen from an airplane at 12,000 feet, fades into flat +splotches of green traced with a tiny ribbon of silver. + +The American Escadrille was sent to Luxeuil primarily to acquire the +team work necessary to a flying unit. Then, too, the new pilots +needed a taste of anti-aircraft artillery to familiarize them with the +business of aviation over a battlefield. They shot well in that +sector, too. Thaw's machine was hit at an altitude of 13,000 feet. + + +THE ESCADRILLE'S FIRST SORTIE + +The memory of the first sortie we made as an escadrille will always +remain fresh in my mind because it was also my first trip over the +lines. We were to leave at six in the morning. Captain Thénault +pointed out on his aërial map the route we were to follow. Never +having flown over this region before, I was afraid of losing myself. +Therefore, as it is easier to keep other airplanes in sight when one +is above them, I began climbing as rapidly as possible, meaning to +trail along in the wake of my companions. Unless one has had practice +in flying in formation, however, it is hard to keep in contact. The +diminutive _avions de chasse_ are the merest pinpoints against the +great sweep of landscape below and the limitless heavens above. The +air was misty and clouds were gathering. Ahead there seemed a barrier +of them. Although as I looked down the ground showed plainly, in the +distance everything was hazy. Forging up above the mist, at 7,000 +feet, I lost the others altogether. Even when they are not closely +joined, the clouds, seen from immediately above, appear as a solid +bank of white. The spaces between are indistinguishable. It is like +being in an Arctic ice field. + +To the south I made out the Alps. Their glittering peaks projected up +through the white sea about me like majestic icebergs. Not a single +plane was visible anywhere, and I was growing very uncertain about my +position. My splendid isolation had become oppressive, when, one by +one, the others began bobbing up above the cloud level, and I had +company again. + +We were over Belfort and headed for the trench lines. The cloud banks +dropped behind, and below us we saw the smiling plain of Alsace +stretching eastward to the Rhine. It was distinctly pleasurable, +flying over this conquered land. Following the course of the canal +that runs to the Rhine, I sighted, from a height of 13,000 feet over +Dannemarie, a series of brown, woodworm-like tracings on the +ground--the trenches! + + +SHRAPNEL THAT COULDN'T BE HEARD + +My attention was drawn elsewhere almost immediately, however. Two +balls of black smoke had suddenly appeared close to one of the +machines ahead of me, and with the same disconcerting abruptness +similar balls began to dot the sky above, below, and on all sides of +us. We were being shot at with shrapnel. It was interesting to watch +the flash of the bursting shells, and the attendant smoke +puffs--black, white, or yellow, depending on the kind of shrapnel +used. The roar of the motor drowned the noise of the explosions. +Strangely enough, my feelings about it were wholly impersonal. + +We turned north after crossing the lines. Mulhouse seemed just below +us, and I noted with a keen sense of satisfaction our invasion of real +German territory. The Rhine, too, looked delightfully accessible. As +we continued northward I distinguished the twin lakes of Gérardmer +sparkling in their emerald setting. Where the lines crossed the +Hartmannsweilerkopf there were little spurts of brown smoke as shells +burst in the trenches. One could scarcely pick out the old city of +Thann from among the numerous neighbouring villages, so tiny it seemed +in the valley's mouth. I had never been higher than 7,000 feet and was +unaccustomed to reading country from a great altitude. It was also +bitterly cold, and even in my fur-lined combination I was shivering. +I noticed, too, that I had to take long, deep breaths in the rarefied +atmosphere. Looking downward at a certain angle, I saw what at first +I took to be a round, shimmering pool of water. It was simply the +effect of the sunlight on the congealing mist. We had been keeping an +eye out for German machines since leaving our lines, but none had +shown up. It wasn't surprising, for we were too many. + +Only four days later, however, Rockwell brought down the escadrille's +first plane in his initial aërial combat. He was flying alone when, +over Thann, he came upon a German on reconnaissance. He dived and the +German turned toward his own lines, opening fire from a long distance. +Rockwell kept straight after him. Then, closing to within thirty +yards, he pressed on the release of his machine gun, and saw the enemy +gunner fall backward and the pilot crumple up sideways in his seat. +The plane flopped downward and crashed to earth just behind the German +trenches. Swooping close to the ground Rockwell saw its débris burning +away brightly. He had turned the trick with but four shots and only +one German bullet had struck his Nieuport. An observation post +telephoned the news before Rockwell's return, and he got a great +welcome. All Luxeuil smiled upon him--particularly the girls. But he +couldn't stay to enjoy his popularity. The escadrille was ordered to +the sector of Verdun. + +While in a way we were sorry to leave Luxeuil, we naturally didn't +regret the chance to take part in the aërial activity of the world's +greatest battle. The night before our departure some German aircraft +destroyed four of our tractors and killed six men with bombs, but even +that caused little excitement compared with going to Verdun. We would +get square with the Boches over Verdun, we thought--it is impossible +to chase airplanes at night, so the raiders made a safe getaway. + + +OFF TO VERDUN + +As soon as we pilots had left in our machines, the trucks and tractors +set out in convoy, carrying the men and equipment. The Nieuports +carried us to our new post in a little more than an hour. We stowed +them away in the hangars and went to have a look at our sleeping +quarters. A commodious villa half way between the town of Bar-le-Duc +and the aviation field had been assigned to us, and comforts were as +plentiful as at Luxeuil. + +Our really serious work had begun, however, and we knew it. Even as +far behind the actual fighting as Bar-le-Duc one could sense one's +proximity to a vast military operation. The endless convoys of motor +trucks, the fast-flowing stream of troops, and the distressing number +of ambulances brought realization of the near presence of a gigantic +battle. + +Within a twenty-mile radius of the Verdun front aviation camps abound. +Our escadrille was listed on the schedule with the other fighting +units, each of which has its specified flying hours, rotating so there +is always an _escadrille de chasse_ over the lines. A field wireless +to enable us to keep track of the movements of enemy planes became +part of our equipment. + +Lufbery joined us a few days after our arrival. He was followed by +Johnson and Balsley, who had been on the air guard over Paris. Hill +and Rumsey came next, and after them Masson and Pavelka. Nieuports +were supplied them from the nearest depot, and as soon as they had +mounted their instruments and machine guns, they were on the job with +the rest of us. Fifteen Americans are or have been members of the +American Escadrille, but there have never been so many as that on duty +at any one time. + + +BATTLES IN THE AIR + +Before we were fairly settled at Bar-le-Duc, Hall brought down a +German observation craft and Thaw a Fokker. Fights occurred on almost +every sortie. The Germans seldom cross into our territory, unless on a +bombarding jaunt, and thus practically all the fighting takes place on +their side of the line. Thaw dropped his Fokker in the morning, and on +the afternoon of the same day there was a big combat far behind the +German trenches. Thaw was wounded in the arm, and an explosive bullet +detonating on Rockwell's wind-shield tore several gashes in his face. +Despite the blood which was blinding him Rockwell managed to reach an +aviation field and land. Thaw, whose wound bled profusely, landed in a +dazed condition just within our lines. He was too weak to walk, and +French soldiers carried him to a field dressing-station, whence he was +sent to Paris for further treatment. Rockwell's wounds were less +serious and he insisted on flying again almost immediately. + +A week or so later Chapman was wounded. Considering the number of +fights he had been in and the courage with which he attacked it was a +miracle he had not been hit before. He always fought against odds and +far within the enemy's country. He flew more than any of us, never +missing an opportunity to go up, and never coming down until his +gasolene was giving out. His machine was a sieve of patched-up bullet +holes. His nerve was almost superhuman and his devotion to the cause +for which he fought sublime. The day he was wounded he attacked four +machines. Swooping down from behind, one of them, a Fokker, riddled +Chapman's plane. One bullet cut deep into his scalp, but Chapman, a +master pilot, escaped from the trap, and fired several shots to show +he was still safe. A stability control had been severed by a bullet. +Chapman held the broken rod in one hand, managed his machine with the +other, and succeeded in landing on a near-by aviation field. His wound +was dressed, his machine repaired, and he immediately took the air in +pursuit of some more enemies. He would take no rest, and with bandaged +head continued to fly and fight. + +The escadrille's next serious encounter with the foe took place a few +days later. Rockwell, Balsley, Prince, and Captain Thénault were +surrounded by a large number of Germans, who, circling about them, +commenced firing at long range. Realizing their numerical inferiority, +the Americans and their commander sought the safest way out by +attacking the enemy machines nearest the French lines. Rockwell, +Prince, and the captain broke through successfully, but Balsley found +himself hemmed in. He attacked the German nearest him, only to receive +an explosive bullet in his thigh. In trying to get away by a vertical +dive his machine went into a corkscrew and swung over on its back. +Extra cartridge rollers dislodged from their case hit his arms. He was +tumbling straight toward the trenches, but by a supreme effort he +regained control, righted the plane, and landed without disaster in a +meadow just behind the firing line. + +Soldiers carried him to the shelter of a near-by fort, and later he +was taken to a field hospital, where he lingered for days between life +and death. Ten fragments of the explosive bullet were removed from his +stomach. He bore up bravely, and became the favourite of the wounded +officers in whose ward he lay. When we flew over to see him they would +say: _Il est un brave petit gars, l'aviateur américain_. [He's a brave +little fellow, the American aviator.] On a shelf by his bed, done up +in a handkerchief, he kept the pieces of bullet taken out of him, and +under them some sheets of paper on which he was trying to write to his +mother, back in El Paso. + +Balsley was awarded the _Médaille Militaire_ and the _Croix de +Guerre_, but the honours scared him. He had seen them decorate +officers in the ward before they died. + + +CHAPMAN'S LAST FIGHT + +Then came Chapman's last fight. Before leaving, he had put two bags +of oranges in his machine to take to Balsley, who liked to suck them +to relieve his terrible thirst, after the day's flying was over. There +was an aërial struggle against odds, far within the German lines, and +Chapman, to divert their fire from his comrades, engaged several enemy +airmen at once. He sent one tumbling to earth, and had forced the +others off when two more swooped down upon him. Such a fight is a +matter of seconds, and one cannot clearly see what passes. Lufbery and +Prince, whom Chapman had defended so gallantly, regained the French +lines. They told us of the combat, and we waited on the field for +Chapman's return. He was always the last in, so we were not much +worried. Then a pilot from another fighting escadrille telephoned us +that he had seen a Nieuport falling. A little later the observer of a +reconnaissance airplane called up and told us how he had witnessed +Chapman's fall. The wings of the plane had buckled, and it had dropped +like a stone he said. + +We talked in lowered voices after that; we could read the pain in one +another's eyes. If only it could have been some one else, was what we +all thought, I suppose. To lose Victor was not an irreparable loss to +us merely, but to France, and to the world as well. I kept thinking of +him lying over there, and of the oranges he was taking to Balsley. As +I left the field I caught sight of Victor's mechanician leaning +against the end of our hangar. He was looking northward into the sky +where his _patron_ had vanished, and his face was very sad. + + +PROMOTIONS AND DECORATIONS + +By this time Prince and Hall had been made adjutants, and we corporals +transformed into sergeants. I frankly confess to a feeling of marked +satisfaction at receiving that grade in the world's finest army. I was +a far more important person, in my own estimation, than I had been as +a second lieutenant in the militia at home. The next impressive event +was the awarding of decorations. We had assisted at that ceremony for +Cowdin at Luxeuil, but this time three of our messmates were to be +honoured for the Germans they had brought down. Rockwell and Hall +received the _Médaille Militaire_ and the _Croix de Guerre_, and Thaw, +being a lieutenant, the _Légion d'honneur_ and another "palm" for the +ribbon of the _Croix de Guerre_ he had won previously. Thaw, who came +up from Paris specially for the presentation, still carried his arm in +a sling. + +There were also decorations for Chapman, but poor Victor, who so often +had been cited in the Orders of the Day, was not on hand to receive +them. + + +THE MORNING SORTIE + +Our daily routine goes on with little change. Whenever the weather +permits--that is, when it isn't raining, and the clouds aren't too +low--we fly over the Verdun battlefield at the hours dictated by +General Headquarters. As a rule the most successful sorties are those +in the early morning. + +We are called while it's still dark. Sleepily I try to reconcile the +French orderly's muttered, _C'est l'heure, monsieur_, that rouses me +from slumber, with the strictly American words and music of "When That +Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'" warbled by a particularly +wide-awake pilot in the next room. A few minutes later, having +swallowed some coffee, we motor to the field. The east is turning gray +as the hangar curtains are drawn apart and our machines trundled out +by the mechanicians. All the pilots whose planes are in +commission--save those remaining behind on guard--prepare to leave. +We average from four to six on a sortie, unless too many flights have +been ordered for that day, in which case only two or three go out at a +time. + +Now the east is pink, and overhead the sky has changed from gray to +pale blue. It is light enough to fly. We don our fur-lined shoes and +combinations and adjust the leather flying hoods and goggles. A good +deal of conversation occurs--perhaps because, once aloft, there's +nobody to talk to. + +"Eh, you," one pilot cries jokingly to another, "I hope some Boche +just ruins you this morning, so I won't have to pay you the fifty +francs you won from me last night!" + +This financial reference concerns a poker game. + +"You do, do you?" replies the other as he swings into his machine. +"Well, I'd be glad to pass up the fifty to see you landed by the +Boches. You'd make a fine sight walking down the street of some +German town in those wooden shoes and pyjama pants. Why don't you +dress yourself? Don't you know an aviator's supposed to look _chic?_" + +A sartorial eccentricity on the part of one of our colleagues is here +referred to. + + +GETTING UNDER WAY + +The raillery is silenced by a deafening roar as the motors are tested. +Quiet is briefly restored, only to be broken by a series of rapid +explosions incidental to the trying out of machine guns. You loudly +inquire at what altitude we are to meet above the field. + +"Fifteen hundred metres--go ahead!" comes an answering yell. + +_Essence et gaz!_ [Oil and gas!] you call to your mechanician, +adjusting your gasolene and air throttles while he grips the +propeller. + +_Contact!_ he shrieks, and _Contact!_ you reply. You snap on the +switch, he spins the propeller, and the motor takes. Drawing forward +out of line, you put on full power, race across the grass and take the +air. The ground drops as the hood slants up before you and you seem to +be going more and more slowly as you rise. At a great height you +hardly realize you are moving. You glance at the clock to note the +time of your departure, and at the oil gauge to see its throb. The +altimeter registers 650 feet. You turn and look back at the field +below and see others leaving. + +In three minutes you are at about 4,000 feet. You have been making +wide circles over the field and watching the other machines. At 4,500 +feet you throttle down and wait on that level for your companions to +catch up. Soon the escadrille is bunched and off for the lines. You +begin climbing again, gulping to clear your ears in the changing +pressure. Surveying the other machines, you recognize the pilot of +each by the marks on its side--or by the way he flies. The +distinguishing marks of the Nieuports are various and sometimes +amusing. Bert Hall, for instance, has BERT painted on the left side of +his plane and the same word reversed (as if spelled backward with the +left hand) on the right--so an aviator passing him on that side at +great speed will be able to read the name without difficulty, he says! + +The country below has changed into a flat surface of varicoloured +figures. Woods are irregular blocks of dark green, like daubs of ink +spilled on a table; fields are geometrical designs of different shades +of green and brown, forming in composite an ultra-cubist painting; +roads are thin white lines, each with its distinctive windings and +crossings--from which you determine your location. The higher you are +the easier it is to read. + +In about ten minutes you see the Meuse sparkling in the morning light, +and on either side the long line of sausage-shaped observation +balloons far below you. Red-roofed Verdun springs into view just +beyond. There are spots in it where no red shows and you know what has +happened there. In the green pasture land bordering the town, round +flecks of brown indicate the shell holes. You cross the Meuse. + + +VERDUN, SEEN FROM THE SKY + +Immediately east and north of Verdun there lies a broad, brown band. +From the Woevre plain it runs westward to the "S" bend in the Meuse, +and on the left bank of that famous stream continues on into the +Argonne Forest. Peaceful fields and farms and villages adorned that +landscape a few months ago--when there was no Battle of Verdun. Now +there is only that sinister brown belt, a strip of murdered Nature. It +seems to belong to another world. Every sign of humanity has been +swept away. The woods and roads have vanished like chalk wiped from a +blackboard; of the villages nothing remains but gray smears where +stone walls have tumbled together. The great forts of Douaumont and +Vaux are outlined faintly, like the tracings of a finger in wet sand. +One cannot distinguish any one shell crater, as one can on the +pockmarked fields on either side. On the brown band the indentations +are so closely interlocked that they blend into a confused mass of +troubled earth. Of the trenches only broken, half-obliterated links +are visible. + +Columns of muddy smoke spurt up continually as high explosives tear +deeper into this ulcered area. During heavy bombardment and attacks I +have seen shells falling like rain. The countless towers of smoke +remind one of Gustave Doré's picture of the fiery tombs of the +arch-heretics in Dante's "Hell." A smoky pall covers the sector under +fire, rising so high that at a height of 1,000 feet one is enveloped +in its mist-like fumes. Now and then monster projectiles hurtling +through the air close by leave one's plane rocking violently in their +wake. Airplanes have been cut in two by them. + + +THE ROAR OF BATTLE--UNHEARD + +For us the battle passes in silence, the noise of one's motor +deadening all other sounds. In the green patches behind the brown belt +myriads of tiny flashes tell where the guns are hidden; and those +flashes, and the smoke of bursting shells, are all we see of the +fighting. It is a weird combination of stillness and havoc, the Verdun +conflict viewed from the sky. + +Far below us, the observation and range-finding planes circle over the +trenches like gliding gulls. At a feeble altitude they follow the +attacking infantrymen and flash back wireless reports of the +engagement. Only through them can communication be maintained when, +under the barrier fire, wires from the front lines are cut. Sometimes +it falls to our lot to guard these machines from Germans eager to +swoop down on their backs. Sailing about high above a busy flock of +them makes one feel like an old mother hen protecting her chicks. + + +"NAVIGATING" IN A SEA OF CLOUDS + +The pilot of an _avion de chasse_ must not concern himself with the +ground, which to him is useful only for learning his whereabouts. +The earth is all-important to the men in the observation, +artillery-regulating, and bombardment machines, but the fighting +aviator has an entirely different sphere. His domain is the blue +heavens, the glistening rolls of clouds below the fleecy banks +towering above, the vague aërial horizon, and he must watch it as +carefully as a navigator watches the storm-tossed sea. + +On days when the clouds form almost a solid flooring, one feels very +much at sea, and wonders if one is in the navy instead of aviation. +The diminutive Nieuports skirt the white expanse like torpedo boats in +an arctic sea, and sometimes, far across the cloud-waves, one sights +an enemy escadrille, moving as a fleet. + +Principally our work consists of keeping German airmen away from our +lines, and in attacking them when opportunity offers. We traverse the +brown band and enter enemy territory to the accompaniment of an +antiaircraft cannonade. Most of the shots are wild, however, and we +pay little attention to them. When the shrapnel comes uncomfortably +close, one shifts position slightly to evade the range. One glances up +to see if there is another machine higher than one's own. Low and far +within the German lines are several enemy planes, a dull white in +appearance, resembling sand flies against the mottled earth. High +above them one glimpses the mosquito-like forms of two Fokkers. Away +off to one side white shrapnel puffs are vaguely visible, perhaps +directed against a German crossing the lines. We approach the enemy +machines ahead, only to find them slanting at a rapid rate into their +own country. High above them lurks a protection plane. The man doing +the "ceiling work," as it is called, will look after him for us. + + +TACTICS OF AN AIR BATTLE + +Getting started is the hardest part of an attack. Once you have begun +diving you're all right. The pilot just ahead turns tail up like a +trout dropping back to water, and swoops down in irregular curves and +circles. You follow at an angle so steep your feet seem to be holding +you back in your seat. Now the black Maltese crosses on the German's +wings stand out clearly. You think of him as some sort of big bug. +Then you hear the rapid tut-tut-tut of his machine gun. The man that +dived ahead of you becomes mixed up with the topmost German. He is so +close it looks as if he had hit the enemy machine. You hear the +staccato barking of his mitrailleuse and see him pass from under the +German's tail. + +The rattle of the gun that is aimed at you leaves you undisturbed. +Only when the bullets pierce the wings a few feet off do you become +uncomfortable. You see the gunner crouched down behind his weapon, +but you aim at where the pilot ought to be--there are two men aboard +the German craft--and press on the release hard. Your mitrailleuse +hammers out a stream of bullets as you pass over and dive, nose down, +to get out of range. Then, hopefully, you re-dress and look back at +the foe. He ought to be dropping earthward at several miles a minute. +As a matter of fact, however, he is sailing serenely on. They have an +annoying habit of doing that, these Boches. + +Rockwell, who attacked so often that he has lost all count, and who +shoves his machine gun fairly in the faces of the Germans, used to +swear their planes were armoured. Lieutenant de Laage, whose list of +combats is equally extensive, has brought down only one. Hall, with +three machines to his credit, has had more luck. Lufbery, who +evidently has evolved a secret formula, has dropped four, according to +official statistics, since his arrival on the Verdun front. Four +"palms"--the record for the escadrille, glitter upon the ribbon of the +_Croix de Guerre_ accompanying his _Médaille Militaire_. [Footnote: +This book was written in the fall of 1915. Since that time many +additional machines have been credited to the American flyers.] + +A pilot seldom has the satisfaction of beholding the result of his +bull's-eye bullet. Rarely--so difficult it is to follow the turnings +and twistings of the dropping plane--does he see his fallen foe strike +the ground. Lufbery's last direct hit was an exception, for he +followed all that took place from a balcony seat. I myself was in the +"nigger-heaven," so I know. We had set out on a sortie together just +before noon, one August day, and for the first time on such an +occasion had lost each other over the lines. Seeing no Germans, I +passed my time hovering over the French observation machines. Lufbery +found one, however, and promptly brought it down. Just then I chanced +to make a southward turn, and caught sight of an airplane falling out +of the sky into the German lines. + +As it turned over, it showed its white belly for an instant, then +seemed to straighten out, and planed downward in big zigzags. The +pilot must have gripped his controls even in death, for his craft did +not tumble as most do. It passed between my line of vision and a wood, +into which it disappeared. Just as I was going down to find out where +it landed, I saw it again skimming across a field, and heading +straight for the brown band beneath me. It was outlined against the +shell-racked earth like a tiny insect, until just northwest of Fort +Douaumont it crashed down upon the battlefield. A sheet of flame and +smoke shot up from the tangled wreckage. For a moment or two I watched +it burn; then I went back to the observation machines. + +I thought Lufbery would show up and point to where the German had +fallen. He failed to appear, and I began to be afraid it was he whom I +had seen come down, instead of an enemy. I spent a worried hour +before my return homeward. After getting back I learned that Lufbery +was quite safe, having hurried in after the fight to report the +destruction of his adversary before somebody else claimed him, which +is only too frequently the case. Observation posts, however, +confirmed Lufbery's story, and he was of course very much delighted. +Nevertheless, at luncheon, I heard him murmuring, half to himself: +"Those poor fellows." + +The German machine gun operator, having probably escaped death in the +air, must have had a hideous descent. Lufbery told us he had seen the +whole thing, spiralling down after the German. He said he thought the +German pilot must be a novice, judging from his manoeuvres. It +occurred to me that he might have been making his first flight over +the lines, doubtless full of enthusiasm about his career. Perhaps, +dreaming of the Iron Cross and his Gretchen, he took a chance--and +then swift death and a grave in the shell-strewn soil of Douaumont. + +Generally the escadrille is relieved by another fighting unit after +two hours over the lines. We turn homeward, and soon the hangars of +our field loom up in the distance. Sometimes I've been mighty glad to +see them and not infrequently I've concluded the pleasantest part of +flying is just after a good landing. Getting home after a sortie, we +usually go into the rest tent, and talk over the morning's work. Then +some of us lie down for a nap, while others play cards or read. After +luncheon we go to the field again, and the man on guard gets his +chance to eat. If the morning sortie has been an early one, we go up +again about one o'clock in the afternoon. We are home again in two +hours and after that two or three energetic pilots may make a third +trip over the lines. The rest wait around ready to take the air if an +enemy bombardment group ventures to visit our territory--as it has +done more than once over Bar-le-Duc. False alarms are plentiful, and +we spend many hours aloft squinting at an empty sky. + + +PRINCE'S AËRIAL FIREWORKS + +Now and then one of us will get ambitious to do something on his own +account. Not long ago Norman Prince became obsessed with the idea of +bringing down a German "sausage," as observation balloons are called. +He had a special device mounted on his Nieuport for setting fire to +the aërial frankfurters. Thus equipped he resembled an advance agent +for Payne's fireworks more than an _aviateur de chasse_. Having +carefully mapped the enemy "sausages," he would sally forth in hot +pursuit whenever one was signalled at a respectable height. Poor +Norman had a terrible time of it! Sometimes the reported "sausages" +were not there when he arrived, and sometimes there was a +super-abundancy of German airplanes on guard. + +He stuck to it, however, and finally his appetite for "sausage" was +satisfied. He found one just where it ought to be, swooped down upon +it, and let off his fireworks with all the gusto of an American boy on +the Fourth of July. When he looked again, the balloon had vanished. +Prince's performance isn't so easy as it sounds, by the way. If, after +the long dive necessary to turn the trick successfully, his motor had +failed to retake, he would have fallen into the hands of the Germans. + +After dark, when flying is over for the day, we go down to the villa +for dinner. Usually we have two or three French officers dining with +us besides our own captain and lieutenant, and so the table talk is a +mixture of French and English. It's seldom we discuss the war in +general. Mostly the conversation revolves about our own sphere, for +just as in the navy the sea is the favourite topic, and in the army +the trenches, so with us it is aviation. Our knowledge about the +military operations is scant. We haven't the remotest idea as to what +has taken place on the battlefield--even though we've been flying over +it during an attack--until we read the papers; and they don't tell us +much. + +Frequently pilots from other escadrilles will be our guests in passing +through our sector, and through these visitations we keep in touch +with the aërial news of the day, and with our friends along the front. +Gradually we have come to know a great number of _pilotes de chasse_. +We hear that so-&-so has been killed, that some one else has brought +down a Boche and that still another is a prisoner. + +We don't always talk aviation, however. In the course of dinner almost +any subject may be touched upon, and with our cosmopolitan crowd one +can readily imagine the scope of the conversation. A Burton Holmes +lecture is weak and watery compared to the travel stories we listen +to. Were O. Henry alive, he could find material for a hundred new +yarns, and William James numerous pointers for another work on +psychology, while De Quincey might multiply his dreams _ad infinitum_. +Doubtless alienists as well as fiction writers would find us worth +studying. In France there's a saying that to be an aviator one must +be a bit "off." + +After dinner the same scene invariably repeats itself, over the coffee +in the "next room." At the big table several sportive souls start a +poker game, while at a smaller one two sedate spirits wrap themselves +in the intricacies of chess. Captain Thénault labours away at the +messroom piano, or in lighter mood plays with Fram, his police dog. A +phonograph grinds out the ancient query "Who Paid the Rent for Mrs. +Rip Van Winkle?" or some other ragtime ditty. It is barely nine, +however, when the movement in the direction of bed begins. + +A few of us remain behind a little while, and the talk becomes more +personal and more sincere. Only on such intimate occasions, I think, +have I ever heard death discussed. Certainly we are not indifferent to +it. Not many nights ago one of the pilots remarked in a tired way: + +"Know what I want? Just six months of freedom to go where and do what +I like. In that time I'd get everything I wanted out of life, and be +perfectly willing to come back and be killed." + +Then another, who was about to receive 2,000 francs from the American +committee that aids us, as a reward for his many citations, chimed in. + +"Well, I didn't care much before," he confessed, "but now with this +money coming in I don't want to die until I've had the fun of spending +it." + +So saying, he yawned and went up to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +VERDUN TO THE SOMME + + +On the 12th of October, twenty small airplanes flying in a V +formation, at such a height they resembled a flock of geese, crossed +the river Rhine, where it skirts the plains of Alsace, and, turning +north, headed for the famous Mauser works at Oberndorf. Following in +their wake was an equal number of larger machines, and above these +darted and circled swift fighting planes. The first group of aircraft +was flown by British pilots, the second by French and three of the +fighting planes by Americans in the French Aviation Division. It was a +cosmopolitan collection that effected that successful raid. + +We American pilots, who are grouped into one escadrille, had been +fighting above the battlefield of Verdun from the 20th of May until +orders came the middle of September for us to leave our airplanes, for +a unit that would replace us, and to report at Le Bourget, the great +Paris aviation centre. + +The mechanics and the rest of the personnel left, as usual, in the +escadrille's trucks with the material. For once the pilots did not +take the aërial route but they boarded the Paris express at Bar-le-Duc +with all the enthusiasm of schoolboys off for a vacation. They were +to have a week in the capital! Where they were to go after that they +did not know, but presumed it would be the Somme. As a matter of fact +the escadrille was to be sent to Luxeuil in the Vosges to take part in +the Mauser raid. + +Besides Captain Thénault and Lieutenant de Laage de Mieux, our French +officers, the following American pilots were in the escadrille at this +time: Lieutenant Thaw, who had returned to the front, even though his +wounded arm had not entirely healed; Adjutants Norman Prince, Hall, +Lufbery, and Masson; and Sergeants Kiffin Rockwell, Hill, Pavelka, +Johnson, and Rumsey. I had been sent to a hospital at the end of +August, because of a lame back resulting from a smash up in landing, +and couldn't follow the escadrille until later. + +Every aviation unit boasts several mascots. Dogs of every description +are to be seen around the camps, but the Americans managed, during +their stay in Paris, to add to their menagerie by the acquisition of a +lion cub named "Whiskey." The little chap had been born on a boat +crossing from Africa and was advertised for sale in France. Some of +the American pilots chipped in and bought him. He was a cute, +bright-eyed baby lion who tried to roar in a most threatening manner +but who was blissfully content the moment one gave him one's finger to +suck. "Whiskey" got a good view of Paris during the few days he was +there, for some one in the crowd was always borrowing him to take him +some place. He, like most lions in captivity, became acquainted with +bars, but the sort "Whiskey" saw were not for purposes of confinement. + +The orders came directing the escadrille to Luxeuil and bidding +farewell to gay "Paree" the men boarded the Belfort train with bag and +baggage--and the lion. Lions, it developed, were not allowed in +passenger coaches. The conductor was assured that "Whiskey" was quite +harmless and was going to overlook the rules when the cub began to +roar and tried to get at the railwayman's finger. That settled it, so +two of the men had to stay behind in order to crate up "Whiskey" and +take him along the next day. + +The escadrille was joined in Paris by Robert Rockwell, of Cincinnati, +who had finished his training as a pilot, and was waiting at the +Reserve (Robert Rockwell had gone to France to work as a surgeon in +one of the American war hospitals. He disliked remaining in the rear +and eventually enlisted in aviation). + +The period of training for a pilot, especially for one who is to fly a +fighting machine at the front, has been very much prolonged. It is no +longer sufficient that he learns to fly and to master various types of +machines. He now completes his training in schools where aërial +shooting is taught, and in others where he practises combat, group +manoeuvres, and acrobatic stunts such as looping the loop and the more +difficult tricks. In all it requires from seven to nine months. + +Dennis Dowd, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is so far the only American volunteer +aviator killed while in training. Dowd, who had joined the Foreign +Legion, shortly after the war broke out, was painfully wounded during +the offensive in Champagne. After his recovery he was transferred, at +his request, into aviation. At the Buc school he stood at the head of +the fifteen Americans who were learning to be aviators, and was +considered one of the most promising pilots in the training camp. On +August 11, 1916, while making a flight preliminary to his brevet, Dowd +fell from a height of only 260 feet and was instantly killed. Either +he had fainted or a control had broken. + +While a patient at the hospital Dowd had been sent packages by a young +French girl of Neuilly. A correspondence ensued, and when Dowd went to +Paris on convalescent leave he and the young lady became engaged. He +was killed just before the time set for the wedding. + +When the escadrille arrived at Luxeuil it found a great surprise in +the form of a large British aviation contingent. This detachment from +the Royal Navy Flying Corps numbered more than fifty pilots and a +thousand men. New hangars harboured their fleet of bombardment +machines. Their own anti-aircraft batteries were in emplacements near +the field. Though detached from the British forces and under French +command this unit followed the rule of His Majesty's armies in France +by receiving all of its food and supplies from England. It had its own +transport service. + +Our escadrille had been in Luxeuil during the months of April and May. +We had made many friends amongst the townspeople and the French pilots +stationed there, so the older members of the American unit were +welcomed with open arms and their new comrades made to feel at home in +the quaint Vosges town. It wasn't long, however, before the Americans +and the British got together. At first there was a feeling of reserve +on both sides but once acquainted they became fast friends. The naval +pilots were quite representative of the United Kingdom hailing as they +did from England, Canada, New South Wales, South Africa, and other +parts of the Empire. Most of them were soldiers by profession. All +were officers, but they were as democratic as it is possible to be. As +a result there was a continuous exchange of dinners. In a few days +every one in this Anglo-American alliance was calling each other by +some nickname and swearing lifelong friendship. + +"We didn't know what you Yanks would be like," remarked one of the +Englishmen one day. "Thought you might be snobby on account of being +volunteers, but I swear you're a bloody human lot." That, I will +explain, is a very fine compliment. + +There was trouble getting new airplanes for every one in the +escadrille. Only five arrived. They were the new model Nieuport +fighting machine. Instead of having only 140 square feet of +supporting surface, they had 160, and the forty-seven shot Lewis +machine gun had been replaced by the Vickers, which fires five hundred +rounds. This gun is mounted on the hood and by means of a timing gear +shoots through the propeller. The 160 foot Nieuport mounts at a +terrific rate, rising to 7,000 feet in six minutes. It will go to +20,000 feet handled by a skillful pilot. + +It was some time before these airplanes arrived and every one was +idle. There was nothing to do but loaf around the hotel, where the +American pilots were quartered, visit the British in their barracks at +the field, or go walking. It was about as much like war as a Bryan +lecture. While I was in the hospital I received a letter written at +this time from one of the boys. I opened it expecting to read of an +air combat. It informed me that Thaw had caught a trout three feet +long, and that Lufbery had picked two baskets of mushrooms. + +Day after day the British planes practised formation flying. The +regularity with which the squadron's machines would leave the ground +was remarkable. The twenty Sopwiths took the air at precise intervals, +flew together in a V formation while executing difficult manoeuvres, +and landed one after the other with the exactness of clockwork. The +French pilots flew the Farman and Breguet bombardment machines +whenever the weather permitted. Every one knew some big bombardment +was ahead but when it would be made or what place was to be attacked +was a secret. + +Considering the number of machines that were continually roaring above +the field at Luxeuil it is remarkable that only two fatal accidents +occurred. One was when a British pilot tried diving at a target, for +machine-gun practice, and was unable to redress his airplane. Both he +and his gunner were killed. In the second accident I lost a good +friend--a young Frenchman. He took up his gunner in a two-seated +Nieuport. A young Canadian pilot accompanied by a French officer +followed in a Sopwith. When at about a thousand feet they began to +manoeuvre about one another. In making a turn too close the tips of +their wings touched. The Nieuport turned downward, its wings folded, +and it fell like a stone. The Sopwith fluttered a second or two, then +its wings buckled and it dropped in the wake of the Nieuport. The two +men in each of the planes were killed outright. + +Next to falling in flames a drop in a wrecked machine is the worst +death an aviator can meet. I know of no sound more horrible than that +made by an airplane crashing to earth. Breathless one has watched the +uncontrolled apparatus tumble through the air. The agony felt by the +pilot and passenger seems to transmit itself to you. You are helpless +to avert the certain death. You cannot even turn your eyes away at the +moment of impact. In the dull, grinding crash there is the sound of +breaking bones. + +Luxeuil was an excellent place to observe the difference that exists +between the French, English, and American aviator, but when all is +said and done there is but little difference. The Frenchman is the +most natural pilot and the most adroit. Flying comes easier to him +than to an Englishman or American, but once accustomed to an airplane +and the air they all accomplish the same amount of work. A Frenchman +goes about it with a little more dash than the others, and puts on a +few extra frills, but the Englishman calmly carries out his mission +and obtains the same results. An American is a combination of the +two, but neither better nor worse. Though there is a large number of +expert German airmen I do not believe the average Teuton makes as good +a flier as a Frenchman, Englishman, or American. + +In spite of their bombardment of open towns and the use of explosive +bullets in their aërial machine guns, the Boches have shown up in a +better light in aviation than in any other arm. A few of the Hun +pilots have evinced certain elements of honor and decency. I remember +one chap that was the right sort. + +He was a young man but a pilot of long standing. An old infantry +captain stationed near his aviation field at Etain, east of Verdun, +prevailed upon this German pilot to take him on a flight. There was a +new machine to test out and he told the captain to climb aboard. +Foolishly he crossed the trench lines and, actuated by a desire to +give his passenger an interesting trip, proceeded to fly over the +French aviation headquarters. Unfortunately for him he encountered +three French fighting planes which promptly opened fire. The German +pilot was wounded in the leg and the gasoline tank of his airplane was +pierced. Under him was an aviation field. He decided to land. The +machine was captured before the Germans had time to burn it up. +Explosive bullets were discovered in the machine gun. A French +officer turned to the German captain and informed him that he would +probably be shot for using explosive bullets. The captain did not +understand. + +"Don't shoot him," said the pilot, using excellent French, "if you're +going to shoot any one take me. The captain has nothing to do with the +bullets. He doesn't even know how to work a machine gun. It's his +first trip in an airplane." + +"Well, if you'll give us some good information, we won't shoot you," +said the French officer. + +"Information," replied the German, "I can't give you any. I come from +Etain, and you know where that is as well as I do." + +"No, you must give us some worth-while information, or I'm afraid +you'll be shot," insisted the Frenchman. + +"If I give you worth-while information," answered the pilot, "you'll +go over and kill a lot of soldiers, and if I don't you'll only kill +one--so go ahead." + +The last time I heard of the Boche he was being well taken care of. + +Kiffin Rockwell and Lufbery were the first to get their new machines +ready and on the 23rd of September went out for the first flight since +the escadrille had arrived at Luxeuil. They became separated in the +air but each flew on alone, which was a dangerous thing to do in the +Alsace sector. There is but little fighting in the trenches there, but +great air activity. Due to the British and French squadrons at +Luxeuil, and the threat their presence implied, the Germans had to +oppose them by a large fleet of fighting machines. I believe there +were more than forty Fokkers alone in the camps of Colmar and +Habsheim. Observation machines protected by two or three fighting +planes would venture far into our lines. It is something the Germans +dare not do on any other part of the front. They had a special trick +that consisted in sending a large, slow observation machine into our +lines to invite attack. When a French plane would dive after it, two +Fokkers, that had been hovering high overhead, would drop on the tail +of the Frenchman and he stood but small chance if caught in the trap. + +Just before Kiffin Rockwell reached the lines he spied a German +machine under him flying at 11,000 feet. I can imagine the +satisfaction he felt in at last catching an enemy plane in our lines. +Rockwell had fought more combats than the rest of us put together, and +had shot down many German machines that had fallen in their lines, but +this was the first time he had had an opportunity of bringing down a +Boche in our territory. + +A captain, the commandant of an Alsatian village, watched the aërial +battle through his field glasses. He said that Rockwell approached so +close to the enemy that he thought there would be a collision. The +German craft, which carried two machine guns, had opened a rapid fire +when Rockwell started his dive. He plunged through the stream of lead +and only when very close to his enemy did he begin shooting. For a +second it looked as though the German was falling, so the captain +said, but then he saw the French machine turn rapidly nose down, the +wings of one side broke off and fluttered in the wake of the airplane, +which hurtled earthward in a rapid drop. It crashed into the ground in +a small field--a field of flowers--a few hundred yards back of the +trenches. It was not more than two and a half miles from the spot +where Rockwell, in the month of May, brought down his first enemy +machine. The Germans immediately opened up on the wreck with +artillery fire. In spite of the bursting shrapnel, gunners from a +near-by battery rushed out and recovered poor Rockwell's broken body. +There was a hideous wound in his breast where an explosive bullet had +torn through. A surgeon who examined the body, testified that if it +had been an ordinary bullet Rockwell would have had an even chance of +landing with only a bad wound. As it was he was killed the instant the +unlawful missile exploded. + +Lufbery engaged a German craft but before he could get to close range +two Fokkers swooped down from behind and filled his aeroplane full of +holes. Exhausting his ammunition he landed at Fontaine, an aviation +field near the lines. There he learned of Rockwell's death and was +told that two other French machines had been brought down within the +hour. He ordered his gasoline tank filled, procured a full band of +cartridges and soared up into the air to avenge his comrade. He sped +up and down the lines, and made a wide détour to Habsheim where the +Germans have an aviation field, but all to no avail. Not a Boche was +in the air. + +The news of Rockwell's death was telephoned to the escadrille. The +captain, lieutenant, and a couple of men jumped in a staff car and +hastened to where he had fallen. On their return the American pilots +were convened in a room of the hotel and the news was broken to them. +With tears in his eyes the captain said: "The best and bravest of us +all is no more." + +No greater blow could have befallen the escadrille. Kiffin was its +soul. He was loved and looked up to by not only every man in our +flying corps but by every one who knew him. Kiffin was imbued with the +spirit of the cause for which he fought and gave his heart and soul to +the performance of his duty. He said: "I pay my part for Lafayette +and Rochambeau," and he gave the fullest measure. The old flame of +chivalry burned brightly in this boy's fine and sensitive being. With +his death France lost one of her most valuable pilots. When he was +over the lines the Germans did not pass--and he was over them most of +the time. He brought down four enemy planes that were credited to him +officially, and Lieutenant de Laage, who was his fighting partner, +says he is convinced that Rockwell accounted for many others which +fell too far within the German lines to be observed. Rockwell had been +given the Médaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre, on the ribbon of +which he wore four palms, representing the four magnificent citations +he had received in the order of the army. As a further reward for his +excellent work he had been proposed for promotion from the grade of +sergeant to that of second lieutenant. Unfortunately the official +order did not arrive until a few days following his death. + +The night before Rockwell was killed he had stated that if he were +brought down he would like to be buried where he fell. It was +impossible, however, to place him in a grave so near the trenches. His +body was draped in a French flag and brought back to Luxeuil. He was +given a funeral worthy of a general. His brother, Paul, who had +fought in the Legion with him, and who had been rendered unfit for +service by a wound, was granted permission to attend the obsequies. +Pilots from all near-by camps flew over to render homage to Rockwell's +remains. Every Frenchman in the aviation at Luxeuil marched behind +the bier. The British pilots, followed by a detachment of five +hundred of their men, were in line, and a battalion of French troops +brought up the rear. As the slow moving procession of blue and +khaki-clad men passed from the church to the graveyard, airplanes +circled at a feeble height above and showered down myriads of flowers. + +Rockwell's death urged the rest of the men to greater action, and the +few who had machines were constantly after the Boches. Prince brought +one down. Lufbery, the most skillful and successful fighter in the +escadrille, would venture far into the enemy's lines and spiral down +over a German aviation camp, daring the pilots to venture forth. One +day he stirred them up, but as he was short of fuel he had to make for +home before they took to the air. Prince was out in search of a combat +at this time. He got it. He ran into the crowd Lufbery had aroused. +Bullets cut into his machine and one exploding on the front edge of a +lower wing broke it. Another shattered a supporting mast. It was a +miracle that the machine did not give way. As badly battered as it was +Prince succeeded in bringing it back from over Mulhouse, where the +fight occurred, to his field at Luxeuil. + +The same day that Prince was so nearly brought down Lufbery missed +death by a very small margin. He had taken on more gasoline and made +another sortie. When over the lines again he encountered a German with +whom he had a fighting acquaintance. That is he and the Boche, who +was an excellent pilot, had tried to kill each other on one or two +occasions before. Each was too good for the other. Lufbery manoeuvred +for position but, before he could shoot, the Teuton would evade him by +a clever turn. They kept after one another, the Boche retreating into +his lines. When they were nearing Habsheim, Lufbery glanced back and +saw French shrapnel bursting over the trenches. It meant a German +plane was over French territory and it was his duty to drive it off. +Swooping down near his adversary he waved good-bye, the enemy pilot +did likewise, and Lufbery whirred off to chase the other +representative of Kultur. He caught up with him and dove to the +attack, but he was surprised by a German he had not seen. Before he +could escape three bullets entered his motor, two passed through the +fur-lined combination he wore, another ripped open one of his woolen +flying boots, his airplane was riddled from wing tip to wing tip, and +other bullets cut the elevating plane. Had he not been an exceptional +aviator he never would have brought safely to earth so badly damaged a +machine. It was so thoroughly shot up that it was junked as being +beyond repairs. Fortunately Lufbery was over French territory or his +forced descent would have resulted in his being made prisoner. + +I know of only one other airplane that was safely landed after +receiving as heavy punishment as did Lufbery's. It was a two-place +Nieuport piloted by a young Frenchman named Fontaine with whom I +trained. He and his gunner attacked a German over the Bois le Pretre +who dove rapidly far into his lines. Fontaine followed and in turn was +attacked by three other Boches. He dropped to escape, they plunged +after him forcing him lower. He looked and saw a German aviation field +under him. He was by this time only 2,000 feet above the ground. +Fontaine saw the mechanics rush out to grasp him, thinking he would +land. The attacking airplanes had stopped shooting. Fontaine pulled on +full power and headed for the lines. The German planes dropped down on +him and again opened fire. They were on his level, behind and on his +sides. Bullets whistled by him in streams. The rapid-fire gun on +Fontaine's machine had jammed and he was helpless. His gunner fell +forward on him, dead. The trenches were just ahead, but as he was +slanting downward to gain speed he had lost a good deal of height, and +was at only six hundred feet when he crossed the lines, from which he +received a ground fire. The Germans gave up the chase and Fontaine +landed with his dead gunner. His wings were so full of holes that they +barely supported the machine in the air. + +The uncertain wait at Luxeuil finally came to an end on the 12th of +October. The afternoon of that day the British did not say: "Come on +Yanks, let's call off the war and have tea," as was their wont, for +the bombardment of Oberndorf was on. The British and French machines +had been prepared. Just before climbing into their airplanes the +pilots were given their orders. The English in their single-seated +Sopwiths, which carried four bombs each, were the first to leave. The +big French Brequets and Farmans then soared aloft with their tons of +explosive destined for the Mauser works. The fighting machines, which +were to convoy them as far as the Rhine, rapidly gained their height +and circled above their charges. Four of the battleplanes were from +the American escadrille. They were piloted respectively by Lieutenant +de Laage, Lufbery, Norman Prince, and Masson. + +The Germans were taken by surprise and as a result few of their +machines were in the air. The bombardment fleet was attacked, however, +and six of its planes shot down, some of them falling in flames. +Baron, the famous French night bombarder, lost his life in one of the +Farmans. Two Germans were brought down by machines they attacked and +the four pilots from the American escadrille accounted for one each. +Lieutenant de Laage shot down his Boche as it was attacking another +French machine and Masson did likewise. Explaining it afterward he +said: "All of a sudden I saw a Boche come in between me and a Breguet +I was following. I just began to shoot, and darned if he didn't fall." + +As the fuel capacity of a Nieuport allows but little more than two +hours in the air the _avions de chasse_ were forced to return to their +own lines to take on more gasoline, while the bombardment planes +continued on into Germany. The Sopwiths arrived first at Oberndorf. +Dropping low over the Mauser works they discharged their bombs and +headed homeward. All arrived, save one, whose pilot lost his way and +came to earth in Switzerland. When the big machines got to Oberndorf +they saw only flames and smoke where once the rifle factory stood. +They unloaded their explosives on the burning mass. + +The Nieuports having refilled their tanks went up to clear the air of +Germans that might be hovering in wait for the returning raiders. +Prince found one and promptly shot it down. Lufbery came upon three. +He drove for one, making it drop below the others, then forcing a +second to descend, attacked the one remaining above. The combat was +short and at the end of it the German tumbled to earth. This made the +fifth enemy machine which was officially credited to Lufbery. When a +pilot has accounted for five Boches he is mentioned by name in the +official communication, and is spoken of as an "Ace," which in French +aërial slang means a super-pilot. Papers are allowed to call an "ace" +by name, print his picture and give him a write-up. The successful +aviator becomes a national hero. When Lufbery worked into this +category the French papers made him a head liner. The American "Ace," +with his string of medals, then came in for the ennuis of a matinee +idol. The choicest bit in the collection was a letter from +Wallingford, Conn., his home town, thanking him for putting it on the +map. + +Darkness was coming rapidly on but Prince and Lufbery remained in the +air to protect the bombardment fleet. Just at nightfall Lufbery made +for a small aviation field near the lines, known as Corcieux. +Slow-moving machines, with great planing capacity, can be landed in +the dark, but to try and feel for the ground in a Nieuport, which +comes down at about a hundred miles an hour, is to court disaster. Ten +minutes after Lufbery landed Prince decided to make for the field. He +spiraled down through the night air and skimmed rapidly over the trees +bordering the Corcieux field. In the dark he did not see a +high-tension electric cable that was stretched just above the tree +tops. The landing gear of his airplane struck it. The machine snapped +forward and hit the ground on its nose. It turned over and over. The +belt holding Prince broke and he was thrown far from the wrecked +plane. Both of his legs were broken and he naturally suffered internal +injuries. In spite of the terrific shock and his intense pain Prince +did not lose consciousness. He even kept his presence of mind and +gave orders to the men who had run to pick him up. Hearing the hum of +a motor, and realizing a machine was in the air, Prince told them to +light gasoline fires on the field. "You don't want another fellow to +come down and break himself up the way I've done," he said. + +Lufbery went with Prince to the hospital in Gerardmer. As the +ambulance rolled along Prince sang to keep up his spirits. He spoke of +getting well soon and returning to service. It was like Norman. He +was always energetic about his flying. Even when he passed through +the harrowing experience of having a wing shattered, the first thing +he did on landing was to busy himself about getting another fitted in +place and the next morning he was in the air again. + +No one thought that Prince was mortally injured but the next day he +went into a coma. A blood clot had formed on his brain. Captain Haff +in command of the aviation groups of Luxeuil, accompanied by our +officers, hastened to Gerardmer. Prince lying unconscious on his bed, +was named a second lieutenant and decorated with the Legion of Honor. +He already held the Médaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre. Norman +Prince died on the 15th of October. He was brought back to Luxeuil and +given a funeral similar to Rockwell's. It was hard to realize that +poor old Norman had gone. He was the founder of the American +escadrille and every one in it had come to rely on him. He never let +his own spirits drop, and was always on hand with encouragement for +the others. I do not think Prince minded going. He wanted to do his +part before being killed, and he had more than done it. He had, day +after day, freed the line of Germans, making it impossible for them to +do their work, and three of them he had shot to earth. + +Two days after Prince's death the escadrille received orders to leave +for the Somme. The night before the departure the British gave the +American pilots a farewell banquet and toasted them as their "Guardian +Angels." They keenly appreciated the fact that four men from the +American escadrille had brought down four Germans, and had cleared the +way for their squadron returning from Oberndorf. When the train pulled +out the next day the station platform was packed by khaki-clad pilots +waving good-bye to their friends the "Yanks." + +The escadrille passed through Paris on its way to the Somme front. The +few members who had machines flew from Luxeuil to their new post. At +Paris the pilots were reënforced by three other American boys who had +completed their training. They were: Fred Prince, who ten months +before had come over from Boston to serve in aviation with his brother +Norman; Willis Haviland, of Chicago, who left the American Ambulance +for the life of a birdman, and Bob Soubrian, of New York, who had been +transferred from the Foreign Legion to the flying corps after being +wounded in the Champagne offensive. + +Before its arrival in the Somme the escadrille had always been +quartered in towns and the life of the pilots was all that could be +desired in the way of comforts. We had, as a result, come to believe +that we would wage only a de luxe war, and were unprepared for any +other sort of campaign. The introduction to the Somme was a rude +awakening. Instead of being quartered in a villa or hotel, the pilots +were directed to a portable barracks newly erected in a sea of mud. + +It was set in a cluster of similar barns nine miles from the nearest +town. A sieve was a watertight compartment in comparison with that +elongated shed. The damp cold penetrated through every crack, chilling +one to the bone. There were no blankets and until they were procured +the pilots had to curl up in their flying clothes. There were no +arrangements for cooking and the Americans depended on the other +escadrilles for food. Eight fighting units were located at the same +field and our ever-generous French comrades saw to it that no one went +hungry. The thick mist, for which the Somme is famous, hung like a +pall over the birdmen's nest dampening both the clothes and spirits of +the men. + +Something had to be done, so Thaw and Masson, who is our _Chef de +Popote_ (President of the Mess) obtained permission to go to Paris in +one of our light trucks. They returned with cooking utensils, a stove, +and other necessary things. All hands set to work and as a result life +was made bearable. In fact I was surprised to find the quarters as +good as they were when I rejoined the escadrille a couple of weeks +after its arrival in the Somme. Outside of the cold, mud, and dampness +it wasn't so bad. The barracks had been partitioned off into little +rooms leaving a large space for a dining hall. The stove is set up +there and all animate life from the lion cub to the pilots centre +around its warming glow. + +The eight escadrilles of fighting machines form a rather interesting +colony. The large canvas hangars are surrounded by the house tents of +their respective escadrilles; wooden barracks for the men and pilots +are in close proximity, and sandwiched in between the encampments of +the various units are the tents where the commanding officers hold +forth. In addition there is a bath house where one may go and freeze +while a tiny stream of hot water trickles down one's shivering form. +Another shack houses the power plant which generates electric light +for the tents and barracks, and in one very popular canvas is located +the community bar, the profits from which go to the Red Cross. + +We had never before been grouped with as many other fighting +escadrilles, nor at a field so near the front. We sensed the war to +better advantage than at Luxeuil or Bar-le-Duc. When there is +activity on the lines the rumble of heavy artillery reaches us in a +heavy volume of sound. From the field one can see the line of +sausage-shaped observation balloons, which delineate the front, and +beyond them the high-flying airplanes, darting like swallows in the +shrapnel puffs of anti-air-craft fire. The roar of motors that are +being tested, is punctuated by the staccato barking of machine guns, +and at intervals the hollow whistling sound of a fast plane diving to +earth is added to this symphony of war notes. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PERSONAL LETTERS FROM SERGEANT McCONNELL--AT THE FRONT + + +We're still waiting for our machines. In the meantime the Boches sail +gaily over and drop bombs. One of our drivers has been killed and five +wounded so far but we'll put a stop to it soon. The machines have +left and are due to-day. + +You ask me what my work will be and how my machine is armed. First of +all I mount an _avion de chasse_ and am supposed to shoot down Boches +or keep them away from over our lines. I do not do observation, or +regulating of artillery fire. These are handled by escadrilles +equipped with bigger machines. I mount at daybreak over the lines; +stay at from 11,000 to 15,000 feet and wait for the sight of an enemy +plane. It may be a bombardment machine, a regulator of fire, an +observer, or an _avion de chasse_ looking for me. Whatever she is I +make for her and manoeuvre for position. All the machines carry +different gun positions and one seeks the blind side. Having obtained +the proper position one turns down or up, whichever the case may be, +and, when within fifty yards, opens up with the machine gun. That is +on the upper plane and it is sighted by a series of holes and cross +webs. As one is passing at a terrific rate there is not time for many +shots, so, unless wounded or one's machine is injured by the first +try--for the enemy plane shoots, too--one tries it again and again +until there's nothing doing or the other fellow is dropped. Apart from +work over the lines, which is comparatively calm, there is the job of +convoying bombardment machines. That is the rotten task. The captain +has called on us to act as guards on the next trip. You see we are +like torpedo boats of the air with our swift machines. + +We have the honour of being attached to a bombardment squadron that is +the most famous in the French Army. The captain of the unit once lost +his whole escadrille, and on the last trip eight lost their lives. It +was a wonderful fight. The squadron was attacked by thirty-three +Boches. Two French planes crashed to earth--then two German; another +German was set on fire and streaked down, followed by a streaming +column of smoke. Another Frenchman fell; another German; and then a +French lieutenant, mortally wounded and realizing that he was dying, +plunged his airplane into a German below him and both fell to earth +like stones. + +The tours of Alsace and the Vosges that we have made, to look over +possible landing places, were wonderful. I've never seen such +ravishing sights, and in regarding the beauty of the country I have +missed noting the landing places. The valleys are marvellous. On each +side the mountain slopes are a solid mass of giant pines and down +these avenues of green tumble myriads of glittering cascades which +form into sparkling streams beneath. It is a pleasant feeling to go +into Alsace and realize that one is touring over country we have taken +from the Germans. It's a treat to go by auto that way. In the air, you +know, one feels detached from all below. It's a different world, that +has no particular meaning, and besides, it all looks flat and of a +weary pattern. + + +THE FIRST TRIP + +Well, I've made my first trip over the lines and proved a few things +to myself. First, I can stand high altitudes. I had never been higher +than 7,000 feet before, nor had I flown more than an hour. On my trip +to Germany I went to 14,000 feet and was in the air for two hours. I +wore the fur head-to-foot combination they give one and paper gloves +under the fur ones you sent me. I was not cold. In a way it seemed +amusing to be going out knowing as little as I do. My mitrailleuse +had been mounted the night before. I had never fired it, nor did I +know the country at all even though I'd motored along our lines. I +followed the others or I surely should have been lost. I shall have to +make special trips to study the land and be able to make it out from +my map which I carry on board. For one thing the weather was hazy and +clouds obscured the view. + +We left en escadrille, at 30-second intervals, at 6:30 A.M. I'd been +on guard since three, waiting for an enemy plane. I climbed to 3,500 +feet in four minutes and so started off higher than the rest. I lost +them immediately but took a compass course in the direction we were +headed. Clouds were below me and I could see the earth only in spots. +Ahead was a great barrier of clouds and fog. It seemed like a +limitless ocean. To the south the Alps jutted up through the clouds +and glistened like icebergs in the morning sun. I began to feel +completely lost. I was at 7,000 feet and that was all I knew. Suddenly +I saw a little black speck pop out of a cloud to my left--then two +others. They were our machines and from then on I never let them get +out of my sight. I went to 14,000 in order to be able to keep them +well in view below me. We went over Belfort which I recognized, and, +turning, went toward the lines. The clouds had dispersed by this time. +Alsace was below us and in the distance I could see the straight +course of the Rhine. It looked very small. I looked down and saw the +trenches and when I next looked for our machines I saw clusters of +smoke puffs. We were being fired at. One machine just under me seemed +to be in the centre of a lot of shrapnel. The puffs were white, or +black, or green, depending on the size of the shell used. It struck me +as more amusing than anything else to watch the explosions and smoke. +I thought of what a lot of money we were making the Germans spend. It +is not often that they hit. The day before one of our machines had a +part of the tail shot away and the propeller nicked, but that's just +bum luck. Two shells went off just at my height and in a way that led +me to think that the third one would get me; but it didn't. It's hard +even for the aviator to tell how far off they are. We went over +Mulhouse and to the north. Then we sailed south and turned over the +lines on the way home. I was very tired after the flight but it was +because I was not used to it and it was a strain on me keeping a +look-out for the others. + + +AT VERDUN + +To-day the army moving picture outfit took pictures of us. We had a +big show. Thirty bombardment planes went off like clock-work and we +followed. We circled and swooped down by the camera. We were taken in +groups, then individually, in flying togs, and God knows what-all. +They will be shown in the States. + +If you happen to see them you will recognize my machine by the MAC, +painted on the side. + +Seems quite an important thing to have one's own airplane with two +mechanics to take care of it, to help one dress for flights, and to +obey orders. A pilot of no matter what grade is like an officer in any +other arm. + +We didn't see any Boche planes on our trip. We were too many. The only +way to do is to sneak up on them. + +I do not get a chance to see much of the biggest battle in the world +which is being fought here, for I'm on a fighting machine and the sky +is my province. We fly so high that ground details are lacking. Where +the battle has raged there is a broad, browned band. It is a great +strip of murdered Nature. Trees, houses, and even roads have been +blasted completely away. The shell holes are so numerous that they +blend into one another and cannot be separately seen. It looks as if +shells fell by the thousand every second. There are spurts of smoke at +nearly every foot of the brown areas and a thick pall of mist covers +it all. There are but holes where the trenches ran, and when one +thinks of the poor devils crouching in their inadequate shelters under +such a hurricane of flying metal, it increases one's respect for the +staying powers of modern man. It's terrible to watch, and I feel sad +every time I look down. The only shooting we hear is the tut-tut-tut +of our own or enemy plane's machine guns when fighting is at close +quarters. The Germans shoot explosive bullets from theirs. I must +admit that they have an excellent air fleet even if they do not fight +decently. + +I'm a sergeant now--_sergent_ in French--and I get about two francs +more a day and wear a gold band on my cap, which makes old +territorials think I'm an officer and occasions salutes which are some +bother. + + +A SORTIE + +We made a foolish sortie this morning. Only five of us went, the +others remaining in bed thinking the weather was too bad. It was. When +at only 3,000 feet we hit a solid layer of clouds, and when we had +passed through, we couldn't see anything but a shimmering field of +white. Above were the bright sun and the blue sky, but how we were in +regard to the earth no one knew. Fortunately the clouds had a big +hole in them at one point and the whole mass was moving toward the +lines. By circling, climbing, and dropping we stayed above the hole, +and, when over the trenches, worked into it, ready to fall on the +Boches. It's a stunt they use, too. We finally found ourselves 20 +kilometres in the German lines. In coming back I steered by compass +and then when I thought I was near the field I dived and found myself +not so far off, having the field in view. In the clouds it shakes +terribly and one feels as if one were in a canoe on a rough sea. + + +VICTOR CHAPMAN + +I was mighty sorry to see old Victor Chapman go. He was one of the +finest men I've ever known. He was _too_ brave if anything. He was +exceptionally well educated, had a fine brain, and a heart as big as a +house. Why, on the day of his fatal trip, he had put oranges in his +machine to take to Balsley who was lying wounded with an explosive +bullet. He was going to land near the hospital after the sortie. + +Received letter inclosing note from Chapman's father. I'm glad you +wrote him. I feel sure that some of my letters never reach you. I +never let more than a week go by without writing. Maybe I do not get +all yours, either. + + +A SMASH-UP + +Weather has been fine and we've been doing a lot of work. Our +Lieutenant de Laage de Mieux, brought down a Boche. I had another +beautiful smash-up. Prince and I had stayed too long over the lines. +Important day as an attack was going on. It was getting dark and we +could see the tiny balls of fire the infantry light to show the +low-flying observation machines their new positions. On my return, +when I was over another aviation field, my motor broke. I made for +field. In the darkness I couldn't judge my distance well, and went too +far. At the edge of the field there were trees, and beyond, a deep cut +where a road ran. I was skimming ground at a hundred miles an hour and +heading for the trees. I saw soldiers running to be in at the finish +and I thought to myself that James's hash was cooked, but I went +between two trees and ended up head on against the opposite bank of +the road. My motor took the shock and my belt held me. As my tail went +up it was cut in two by some very low 'phone wires. I wasn't even +bruised. Took dinner with the officers there who gave me a car to go +home in afterward. + + +FIGHTING A BOCHE + +To-day I shared another chap's machine (Hill of Peekskill), and got it +shot up for him. De Laage (our lieutenant) and I made a sortie at +noon. When over the German lines, near _Côte_ 304, I saw two Boches +under me. I picked out the rear chap and dived. Fired a few shots and +then tried to get under his tail and hit him from there. I missed, and +bobbed up alongside of him. Fine for the Boche, but rotten for me! I +could see his gunner working the mitrailleuse for fair, and felt his +bullets darn close. I dived, for I could not shoot from that +position, and beat it. He kept plunking away and altogether put seven +holes in my machine. One was only ten inches in from me. De Laage was +too far off to get to the Boche and ruin him while I was amusing him. + +Yesterday I motored up to an aviation camp to see a Boche machine that +had been forced to land and was captured. On the way up I passed a +cantonment of Senegalese. About twenty of 'em jumped up from the bench +they were sitting on and gave me the hell of a salute. Thought I was a +general because I was riding in a car, I guess. They're the blackest +niggers you ever saw. Good-looking soldiers. Can't stand shelling but +they're good on the cold steel end of the game. The Boche machine was +a beauty. Its motor is excellent and she carries a machine gun aft and +one forward. Same kind of a machine I attacked to-day. The German +pilots must be mighty cold-footed, for if the Frenchmen had airplanes +like that they surely would raise the devil with the Boches. + +As it is the Boches keep well within their lines, save occasionally, +and we have to go over and fight them there. + + +KIFFIN ROCKWELL + +Poor Kiffin Rockwell has been killed. He was known and admired far +and wide, and he was accorded extraordinary honours. Fifty English +pilots and eight hundred aviation men from the British unit in the +Vosges marched at his funeral. There was a regiment of Territorials +and a battalion of Colonial troops in addition to the hundreds of +French pilots and aviation men. Captain Thénault of the American +Escadrille delivered an exceptionally eulogistic funeral oration. He +spoke at length of Rockwell's ideals and his magnificent work. He told +of his combats. "When Rockwell was on the lines," he said, "no German +passed, but on the contrary was forced to seek a refuge on the +ground." + +Rockwell made the _esprit_ of the escadrille, and the Captain voiced +the sentiments of us all when, in announcing his death, he said: "The +best and bravest of us all is no more." + +How does the war look to you--as regards duration? We are figuring on +about ten more months, but then it may be ten more years. Of late +things are much brighter and one can feel a certain elation in the +air. Victory, before, was a sort of academic certainty; now, it's +felt. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW FRANCE TRAINS PILOT AVIATORS + + +France now has thousands of men training to become military aviators, +and the flying schools, of which there is a very great number, are +turning out pilots at an astounding rate. + +The process of training a man to be a pilot aviator naturally varies +in accordance with the type of machine on which he takes his first +instruction, and so the methods of the various schools depend on the +apparatus upon which they teach an _élève pilote_--as an embryonic +aviator is called--to fly. + +In the case of the larger biplanes, a student goes up in a +dual-control airplane, accompanied by an old pilot, who, after first +taking him on many short trips, then allows him part, and later full, +control, and who immediately corrects any false moves made by him. +After that, short, straight line flights are made alone in a +smaller-powered machine by the student, and, following that, the +training goes on by degrees to the point where a certain mastery of +the apparatus is attained. Then follows the prescribed "stunts" and +voyages necessary to obtain the military brevet. + + +TRAINING FOR PURSUIT AIRPLANES + +The method of training a pilot for a small, fast _avion de chasse_, as +a fighting airplane is termed, is quite different, and as it is the +most thorough and interesting I will take that course up in greater +detail. + +The man who trains for one of these machines never has the advantage +of going first into the air in a double-control airplane. He is alone +when he first leaves the earth, and so the training preparatory to +that stage is very carefully planned to teach a man the habit of +control in such a way that all the essential movements will come +naturally when he first finds himself face to face with the new +problems the air has set for him. In this preparatory training a great +deal of weeding out is effected, for a man's aptitude for the work +shows up, and unless he is by nature especially well fitted he is +transferred to the division which teaches one to fly the larger and +safer machines. + +First of all, the student is put on what is called a roller. It is a +low-powered machine with very small wings. It is strongly built to +stand the rough wear it gets, and no matter how much one might try it +could not leave the ground. The apparatus is jokingly and universally +known as a Penguin, both because of its humorous resemblance to the +quaint arctic birds and its inability in common with them to do any +flying. A student makes a few trips up and down the field in a +double-control Penguin, and learns how to steer with his feet. Then he +gets into a single-seated one and, while the rapidly whirling +propeller is pulling him along, tries to keep the Penguin in a +straight line. The slightest mistake or delayed movement will send the +machine skidding off to the right or left, and sometimes, if the motor +is not stopped in time, over on its side or back. Something is always +being broken on a Penguin, and so a reserve flock is kept at the side +of the field in order that no time may be lost. + +After one is able to keep a fairly straight line, he is put on a +Penguin that moves at a faster rate, and after being able to handle it +successfully passes to a very speedy one, known as the "rapid." Here +one learns to keep the tail of the machine at a proper angle by means +of the elevating lever, and to make a perfectly straight line. When +this has been accomplished and the monitor is thoroughly convinced +that the student is absolutely certain of making no mistakes in +guiding with his feet, the young aviator is passed on to the class +which teaches him how to leave the ground. As one passes from one +machine to another one finds that the foot movements must be made +smaller and smaller. The increased speed makes the machine more and +more responsive to the rudder, and as a result the foot movements +become so gentle when one gets into the air that they must come +instinctively. + + +FIRST FLIGHTS ALONE + +The class where one will leave the ground has now been reached, and an +outfit of leather clothes and casque is given to the would-be pilot. +The machines used at this stage are low-powered monoplanes of the +Blériot type, which, though being capable of leaving the ground, +cannot rise more than a few feet. They do not run when the wind is +blowing or when there are any movements of air from the ground, for +though a great deal of balancing is done by correcting with the +rudder, the student knows nothing of maintaining the lateral +stability, and if caught in the air by a bad movement would be apt to +sustain a severe accident. He has now only to learn how to take the +machine off the ground and hold it at a low line of flight for a few +moments. + +For the first time one is strapped into the seat of the machine, and +this continues to be the case from this point on. The motor is +started, and one begins to roll swiftly along the ground. The tail is +brought to an angle slightly above a straight line. Then one sits +tight and waits. Suddenly the motion seems softer, the motor does not +roar so loudly, and the ground is slipping away. The class standing at +the end of the line looks far below; the individuals are very small, +but though you imagine you are going too high, you must not push to go +down more than the smallest fraction, or the machine will dive and +smash. The small push has brought you down with a bump from a +seemingly great height. In reality you have been but three feet off +the ground. Little by little the student becomes accustomed to leaving +the ground, for these short hop-skip-and-jump flights, and has learned +how to steer in the air. + +If he has no bad smash-ups he is passed on to a class where he rises +higher, and is taught the rudiments of landing. If, after a few days, +that act is reasonably performed and the young pilot does not land too +hard, he is passed to the class where he goes about sixty feet high, +maintains his line of flight for five or six minutes and learns to +make a good landing from that height. He must by this time be able to +keep his machine on the line of flight without dipping and rising, and +the landings must be uniformly good. The instructor takes a great deal +of time showing the student the proper line of descent, for the +landings must be perfect before he can pass on. + +Now comes the class where the pilot rises three or four hundred feet +high and travels for more than two miles in a straight line. Here he +is taught how to combat air movements and maintain lateral stability. +All the flying up to this point has been done in a straight line, but +now comes the class where one is taught to turn. Machines in this +division are almost as high powered as a regular flying machine, and +can easily climb to two thousand feet. The turn is at first very wide, +and then, as the student becomes more confident, it is done more +quickly, and while the machine leans at an angle that would frighten +one if the training in turning had not been gradual. When the pilot +can make reasonably close right and left turns, he is told to make +figure eights. After doing this well he is sent to the real flying +machines. + +There is nothing in the way of a radical step from the turns and +figure eights to the real flying machines. It is a question of +becoming at ease in the better and faster airplanes taking greater +altitudes, making little trips, perfecting landings, and mastering all +the movements of correction that one is forced to make. Finally one is +taught how to shut off and start one's motor again in the air, and +then to go to a certain height, shut off the motor, make a half-turn +while dropping and start the motor again. After this, one climbs to +about two thousand feet and, shutting off the motor, spirals down to +within five hundred feet of the ground. When that has been practised +sufficiently, a registering altitude meter is strapped to the pilot's +back and he essays the official spiral, in which one must spiral all +the way to earth with the motor off, and come to a stop within a few +yards of a fixed point on the aviation grounds. After this, the +student passes to the voyage machines, which are of almost twice the +power of the machine used for the short trips and spirals. + + +TESTS FOR THE MILITARY BREVET + +There are three voyages to make. Two consist in going to designated +towns an hour or so distant and returning. The third voyage is a +triangle. A landing is made at one point and the other two points are +only necessary to cross. In addition, there are two altitudes of about +seven thousand feet each that one has to attain either while on the +voyages or afterward. + +The young pilot has not, up to this point, had any experience on +trips, and there is always a sense of adventure in starting out over +unknown country with only a roller map to guide one and the gauges and +controls, which need constant attention, to distract one from the +reading of the chart. Then, too, it is the first time that the student +has flown free and at a great height over the earth, and his sense of +exultation at navigating at will the boundless sky causes him to +imagine he is a real pilot. True it is that when the voyages and +altitudes are over, and his examinations in aeronautical sciences +passed, the student becomes officially a _pilote-aviateur_, and he can +wear two little gold-woven wings on his collar to designate his +capacity, and carry a winged propeller emblem on his arm, but he is +not ready for the difficult work of the front, and before he has time +to enjoy more than a few days' rest he is sent to a school of +_perfectionnement_. There the real, serious and thorough training +begins. + +Schools where the pilots are trained on the modern machines--_écoles +de perfectionnement_ as they are called--are usually an annex to the +centres where the soldiers are taught to fly, though there are one or +two camps that are devoted exclusively to giving advanced instruction +to aviators who are to fly the _avions de chasse_, or fighting +machines. When the aviator enters one of these schools he is a +breveted pilot, and he is allowed a little more freedom than he +enjoyed during the time he was learning to fly. + +He now takes up the Morane monoplane. It is interesting to note that +the German Fokker is practically a copy of this machine. After flying +for a while on a low-powered Morane and having mastered the landing, +the pilot is put on a new, higher-powered model of the same make. He +has a good many hours of flying, but his trips are very short, for the +whole idea is to familiarize one with the method of landing. The +Blériot has a landing gear that is elastic in action, and it is easy +to bring to earth. The Nieuport and other makes of small, fast +machines for which the pilot is training have a solid wheel base, and +good landings are much more difficult to make. The Morane pilot has +the same practices climbing to small altitudes around eight thousand +feet and picking his landing from that height with motor off. When he +becomes proficient in flying the single- and double-plane types he +leaves the school for another, where shooting with machine guns is +taught. + +This course in shooting familiarizes one with various makes of machine +guns used on airplanes, and one learns to shoot at targets from the +air. After two or three weeks the pilot is sent to another school of +combat. + + +TRICK FLYING AND DOING STUNTS + +These schools of combat are connected with the _écoles de +perfectionnement_ with which the pilot has finished. In the combat +school he learns battle tactics, how to fight singly and in fleet +formation, and how to extract himself from a too dangerous position. +Trips are made in squadron formation and sham battles are effected +with other escadrilles, as the smallest unit of an aërial fleet is +called. For the first time the pilot is allowed to do fancy flying. He +is taught how to loop the loop, slide on his wings or tail, go into +corkscrews and, more important, to get out of them, and is encouraged +to try new stunts. + +Finally the pilot is considered well enough trained to be sent to the +reserve, where he waits his call to the front. At the reserve he flies +to keep his hand in, practises on any new make of machine that happens +to come out or that he may be put on in place of the Nieuport, and +receives information regarding old and new makes of enemy airplanes. + +At last the pilot receives his call to the front, where he takes his +place in some established or newly formed escadrille. He is given a +new machine from the nearest airplane reserve centre, and he then +begins his active service in the war, which, if he survives the +course, is the best school of them all. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AGAINST ODDS + + +Since the publication of previous editions of "Flying for France" we +have obtained the following letters which add greatly to the interest +and complete the record of McConnell's connection with the Lafayette +Escadrille. + + + +_March 19, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +We are passing through some very interesting times. The boches are in +full retreat, offering very little resistance to the English and +French advance. The boches have systematically destroyed all the towns +and villages abandoned. Where they haven't burned a house, they have +made holes through the roofs with pickaxes. All the cross-roads are +blown up at the junctions, and when the trees bordering the roads +haven't been cut down, barricading the roads, they have been cut half +way through so that when the wind blows they keep falling on the +passing convoys. The inhabitants left in these villages are wild with +delight and are giving the troops an inspiring reception. In one town +the boches raped all the women before leaving, then locked them down +cellar, and carried off all the young girls with them. + +We have been flying low, and watching the cavalry overrunning the +country. The boches are retreating to very strongly fortified +positions, where the advance is going to come up against a stone wall. + +This morning Genet and McConnell flew well ahead of the advancing +army, Mac leading. Genet saw two boche planes maneuvering to get +above them, so he began to climb, too. Finally they got together; the +boche was a biplane and had the edge on Genet. Almost the first shot +got Genet in the cheek. Fortunately it was only a deep flesh wound, +and another shot almost broke the stanchion, which supports the wings, +in two. Genet stuck to the boche and opened fire on him. He knows he +hit the machine and at one time he thought he saw the machine on fire, +but nothing happened. At last the boche had Genet in a bad position, +so he (Genet) piqued down about a thousand meters and got away from +the boche. He looked around for Mac but couldn't find him, so he came +home. Mac hasn't yet shown up and we are frightfully worried. Genet +has a dim recollection that when he attacked the boche, the other +boche piqued down in Mac's direction, and it looks as if the boche got +Mac unawares. Late this afternoon we got a report that this morning a +Nieuport was seen to land near Tergnier, which is unfortunately still +in German hands. This must have been Mac's, in which case he is only +wounded, or perhaps only his machine was badly damaged. There is a +general feeling among us that Mac is all right. The French cavalry are +within ten or fifteen kilometers of Tergnier now and perhaps they will +take the place to-morrow, in which case we will certainly learn +something. This afternoon Lieut. de Laage and Lufbery landed at Ham, +where the advance infantry were, and made a lot of inquiries. It was +near this place where the fight started. Nobody had seen any machine +come down. You may be sure I will keep you informed of everything that +turns up. Genet is going to write you in a day or so. + +Sincerely, + +WALTER (signed Walter Lovell). + +P. S. I apologize for the mistakes and the disconnectedness of this +letter, but I wrote it in frightful haste in order to get it in the +first post. + + + +_March 20, 1917._ + +MY DEAR ROCKWELL: + +I do not know if any of the boys have written you about the +disappearance of Jim, so perhaps you might know something about it +when this letter reaches you. + +He left yesterday at 8:45 a.m. in his machine for the German lines, +and has not returned yet. He and Genet were attacked by two Germans, +the latter, who received a slight wound on the cheek, was so occupied +he did not see what became of Jim, and returned without him. + +The combat took place between Ham and St. Quentin; the territory was +still occupied by the enemy when the combat took place. The worst I +hope has happened to our friend is that perhaps he was wounded and was +forced to land in the enemy's lines and was made prisoner. Nothing +definite is known. I shall write you immediately I get news. + +I am extremely worried. To lose my friend would be a severe blow. I +can't and will not believe that anything serious has happened. + +Best wishes, + +Sincerely, + +E. A. MARSHALL. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182,_ + _March 21, 1917._ + +MY DEAR PAUL: + +Had I been feeling less distressed and miserable on Monday morning, or +during yesterday, I would have written you then, but I told Lovell to +tell you how I felt when he wrote on Monday and that I would try and +write in a day or so. I am not feeling much better mentally but I'll +try and write something, for I am the only one who was out with poor +Mac on Monday morning and it just adds that much more to my distress. + +As you know, we have had a big advance here, due to the deliberate +evacuation by the Germans, without much opposition, of the territory +now in the hands of the French and English. The advance began last +Thursday night and each day has brought the lines closer to Saint +Quentin and the region north and south of it. + +On Monday morning Mac, Parsons, and myself went out at nine o'clock on +the third patrol of the escadrille. We had orders to protect +observation machines along the new lines around the region of Ham. Mac +was leader. I came second and Parsons followed me. Before we had gone +very far Parsons was forced to go back on account of motor trouble, +which handicapped us greatly on account of what followed, but of +course that cannot be remedied because Parsons was perfectly right in +returning when his motor was not running well. We all do that one time +or another. + +Mac and I kept on and up to ten o'clock were circling around the +region of Ham, watching out for the heavier machines doing +reconnoitring work below us. We went higher than a thousand meters +during that time. About ten, for some reason or other of his own, Mac +suddenly headed into the German lines toward Saint Quentin and I +naturally followed close to his rear and above him. Perhaps he wanted +to make observations around Saint Quentin. At any rate, we had gotten +north of Ham and quite inside the hostile lines, when I saw two boche +machines crossing towards us from the region of Saint Quentin at an +altitude quite higher than ours. We were then about 1,600 meters. I +supposed Mac saw them the same as I did. One boche was much farther +ahead than the other, and was headed as if he would dive at any moment +on Mac. I glanced ahead at Mac and saw what direction he was taking, +and then pulled back to climb up as quickly as possible to gain an +advantageous height over the nearest boche. It was cloudy and misty +and I had to keep my eyes on him all the time, so naturally I couldn't +watch Mac. The second boche was still much farther off than his mate. +By this time I had gotten to 2,200, the boche was almost up to me and +taking a diagonal course right in front. He started to circle and his +gunner--it was a biplane, probably an Albatross, although the mist was +too thick and dark for me to see much but the bare outline of his +dirty, dark green body, with white and black crosses--opened fire +before I did and his first volley did some damage. One bullet cut the +left central support of my upper wing in half, an explosive bullet cut +in half the left guiding rod of the left aileron, and I was +momentarily stunned by part of it which dug a nasty gouge into my left +cheek. I had already opened fire and was driving straight for the +boche with teeth set and my hand gripping the triggers making a +veritable stream of fire spitting out of my gun at him, as I had +incendiary bullets, it being my job lately to chase after observation +balloons, and on Saturday morning I had also been up after the +reported Zeppelins. I had to keep turning toward the boche every +second, as he was circling around towards me and I was on the inside +of the circle, so his gunner had all the advantage over me. I thought +I had him on fire for one instant as I saw--or supposed I did--flames +on his fuselage. Everything passed in a few seconds and we swung past +each other in opposite directions at scarcely twenty-five meters from +each other--the boche beating off towards the north and I immediately +dived down in the opposite direction wondering every second whether +the broken wing support would hold together or not and feeling weak +and stunned from the hole in my face. A battery opened a heavy fire on +me as I went down, the shells breaking just behind me. I straightened +out over Ham at a thousand meters, and began to circle around to look +for Mac or the other boche, but saw absolutely nothing the entire +fifteen minutes I stayed there. I was fearful every minute that my +whole top wing would come off, and I thought that possibly Mac had +gotten around toward the west over our lines, missed me, and was +already on his way back to camp. So I finally turned back for our +camp, having to fly very low and against a strong northern wind, on +account of low clouds just forming. I got back at a quarter to eleven +and my first question to my mechanic was: "Has McConnell returned?" + +He hadn't, Paul, and no news of any sort have we had of him yet, +although we hoped and prayed every hour yesterday for some word to +come in. The one hope that we have is that on account of this +continued advance some news will be brought in of Mac through +civilians who might have witnessed his flight over the lines north of +Ham, while they were still in the hands of the enemy, for many of the +civilians in the villages around there are being left by the Germans +as they retire. We can likewise hope that Mac was merely forced to +land inside the enemy lines on account of a badly damaged machine, or +a bad wound, and is well but a prisoner. I wish to God, Paul, that I +had been able to see Mac during his combat, or had been able to get +down to him sooner and help him. The mists were thick, and +consequently seeing far was difficult. I would have gone out that +afternoon to look for him but my machine was so damaged it took until +yesterday afternoon to be repaired. Lieut. de Laage and Lufbery did +go out with their Spads and looked all around the region north of Ham +towards Saint Quentin but saw nothing at all of a Nieuport on the +ground, or anything else to give news of what had occurred. + +The French are still not far enough towards Saint Quentin to be on the +territory where the chances are Mac landed, so we'll still have to +wait for to-day's developments for any possibility of news. I got lots +of hope, Paul, that Mac is at least alive although undoubtedly a +prisoner. I know how badly the news has affected you. We're all +feeling mighty blue over it and as for myself--I'm feeling utterly +miserable over the whole affair. Just as soon as any definite news +comes in I'll surely let you know at once. Meanwhile, keep cheered and +hopeful. There's no use in losing hope yet. If a prisoner Mac may even +be able to escape and return to our lines, on account of the very +unsettled state of the retreating Germans. Others have done so under +much less favorable conditions. + +I hope you are having a very enjoyable trip through the South. Walter +showed me the postal you wrote him, which he received yesterday. +Please give my very warm regards to your wife. Write as soon as you +can, too. + +Very faithfully yours, + +EDMOND C. C. GENET. + + + +_March 22, 1917._ + +MY DEAR ROCKWELL: + +Still no news about Jim. Last night the captain sent out a request to +the military authorities to have our troops advancing in the direction +of Saint Quentin report immediately any particulars about avion 2055. +Even now I cannot reconcile myself concerning Jim's fate. I hope he +has been made prisoner. + +Just a few words about myself. I am awaiting the results of my +friends' actions in the States on my behalf. I am placed in a peculiar +position in the escadrille. I have nothing to do here. Shall I take +care of Jim's belongings? + +Best wishes, + +Sincerely, + +E. A. MARSHALL. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182,_ + _March 23, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +In my letter I promised to send you word as soon as any definite news +came in concerning poor Mac. To-day word came in from a group of +French cavalry that they witnessed our fight on Monday morning and +that they saw Mac brought down inside the German lines towards Saint +Quentin after being attacked by two boche machines and at the same +time they saw me fighting a third one higher than Mac, and that just +as I piqued down Mac fell so there were three boche machines instead +of two, as I supposed, having missed seeing the third one on account +of the heavy clouds and mist around us. + +There is still the hope that Mac wasn't killed but only wounded and a +prisoner. If he is we'll learn of it later. The cavalrymen didn't say +whether he came down normally or fell. Possibly he was too far off +really to tell definitely about that. Certainly he had been already +brought down before I could get down to help him after the boche I +attacked beat it off. Had I known there were three boche machines I +certainly would not have played around that boche at such a distance +from Mac. + +When will Mrs. Weeks return to Paris from the States? Will you write +and tell her about Mac? She'll be mighty well grieved to hear of it, I +know, and you'll be the best one to break it to her. + +Write to me soon. Best regards to Mrs. Rockwell. + +E. GENET. + + + +_March 24th, a. m._ + _C. Aeronatique, Noyon & D. C. 13._ + +MY DEAR ROCKWELL: + +The targe element informs us that it has found, in the environs of the +Bois l'Abbe, a Nieuport No. 2055. The aviator, a sergeant, has been +dead since three days, in the opinion of the doctor. His pockets +appear to have been searched, for no papers were found on him. The +Bois l'Abbe is two kilometers south of Jussy. The above message +received by us at ten o'clock last night. Jussy is on the main road +between Saint Quentin and Chauny. I expect to go back to the infantry +soon. + +Sincerely, E. A. MARSHALL. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182,_ + _March 25, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +The evening before last definite news was brought to us that a badly +smashed Nieuport had been found by French troops, beside which was the +body of a sergeant-pilot which had been there at least three days and +had been stripped of all identification papers, flying clothes and +even the boots. They got the number of the machine, which proved +without further question that it was poor Mac. They gave the location +as being at the little village of Petit Detroit, which is just south +of Flavy-le-Martel, the latter place being about ten kilometers east +of Ham on the railroad running from Ham to La Fere. + +After having made a flight over the lines yesterday morning, I went +down around Petit Detroit to locate the machine. There was no decent +place there on which to land so I circled around over it for a few +minutes to see in which condition it (the Nieuport) was. The machine +was scarcely distinguishable so badly had it smashed into the ground, +and there is scarcely any doubt, Paul, that Mac was killed while +having his fight in the air, as no pilot would have attempted to land +a machine in the tiny rotten field--no more than a little orchard +beside the road--voluntarily. It seems almost certain that he struck +the ground with full motor on. Captain Thénault landed some distance +from there that he might go over there in a car and see just what +could be done about poor Mac's body. When he returned last night he +told us the following: + +Mac, he said, was as badly mangled as the machine and had been +relieved of his flying suit by the damned boches, also of his shoes +and all papers. The machine had struck the ground so hard that it was +half buried, the motor being totally in the earth and the rest, +including even the machine gun, completely smashed. It was just beside +the main road, in a small field containing apple trees cut down by the +retreating boches, and just at the southern edge of the village. + +Mac has been buried right there beside the road, and we will see that +the grave is decently marked with a cross, etc. The captain brought +back a square piece of canvas cut from one of the wings, and we are +going to get a good picture we have of Mac enlarged and placed on this +with a frame. I suppose that Thaw or Johnson will attend to the +belongings of Mac which he had written are to be sent to you to care +for. In the letter which he had left for just such an occasion as this +he concludes with the following words: "Good luck to the rest of you. +God damn Germany and vive la France!" + +All honour to him, Paul. The world will look up to him, as well as +France, for whom he died so gloriously, just as it is looking up to +your fine brother and the rest of us who have given their lives so +freely and gladly for this big cause. + +Warmest regards, etc., + +Faithfully, + +EDMOND C. C. GENET. + +P. S. The captain has already put in a proposal for a citation for +Mac, and also one for me. Mac surely deserved it, and lots more too. + + + +_Escadrille N. 124, S. P. 182,_ + _March 27, 1917._ + +DEAR PAUL: + +I got your postcard to-day and would have written you sooner about +poor Jim but haven't been up to it, which I know you understand. + +It hit me pretty hard, Paul, for as you know we were in school and +college together, and for the last four or five years have been very +intimate, living in N.C. and New York together. + +It's hell, Paul, that all the good boys are being picked off. The +damned Huns have raised hell with the old crowd, but I think we have +given them more than we have received. The boys who have gone made +the name for the escadrille and now it's up to us who are left +(especially the old Verdun crowd) to keep her going and make the +boches suffer. + +Like old Kiffin, Mac died gloriously and in full action. It was in a +fight with three Germans in their lines. Genet took one Hun (and was +wounded). The last he saw was a Hun on Mac's back. Later we learned +from the cavalry that there were two on Mac and after a desperate +fight Mac crashed to the ground. This was the 19th of March. Three +days later we took the territory Mac fell in and they were unable to +distinguish who he was. The swine Huns had taken every paper or piece +of identification from him and also robbed him--even took his shoes. +The captain went over and was able to identify him by the number of +his machine and uniform. He had lain out there three days and was +smashed so terribly that you couldn't recognize his face. He was +buried where he fell in a coffin made from the door of a pillaged +house. His last resting place (and where he fell) is "Petit Detroit," +which is a village southwest of Saint Quentin and north of Chauney. He +is buried just at the southeast end of the village and in a hell of a +small town. + +Jim left a letter of which I am copying the important parts: + +"In case of my death or made prisoner--which is worse--please send my +canteen and what money I have on me, or coming to me [he had none on +him as the Huns lifted that] to Mr. Paul A. Rockwell, 80 rue, etc. +Shoes, tools, wearing apparel, etc., you can give away. The rest of my +things, such as diary, photos, souvenirs, croix de guerre, best +uniform [he had best uniform on and I think the croix de +guerre--however, you may find the latter in his things, his other +uniform can't be found], please put in canteen and ship along. + +"Kindly cable my sister, Mrs. Followsbee, 65 Bellevue Place, Chicago. +It would be kind to follow same by a letter telling about my death +[which I am doing]. + +"I have a box trunk in Paris containing belongings I would like to +send home. Paul R. knows about it and can attend to the shipping. I +would appreciate it if the committee of the American Escad. would pay +to Mr. Paul Rockwell the money needed to cover express. + +"My burial is of no import. Make it as easy as possible for +yourselves. I have no religion and do not care for any service. If the +omission would embarrass you I presume I could stand the performance. +[Note Jim's keen sense of humour even to death instructions.] + +"Good luck to the rest of you. God damn Germany and vive la France. + +"Signed, + +"J. R. McCONNELL." + +Jim had on the day of his death been proposed for the Croix de Guerre +with palm. When it comes I shall send it to you. + +Well, Paul, I have told you everything I can think of, but if there +are any omissions or questions don't hesitate to ask. + +I think we are now beginning to see the beginning of the end. The +devastation, destruction and misery the Huns have left is a +disgraceful crime to civilization and is pitiful. It drives me so +furious I can't talk about it. + +Best regards to you, old boy, and luck. All join in the above. I shall +wind up the same as Jim. + +As always, + +CHOUT (Charles Chouteau Johnson). + +P. S. Steve Biglow is taking canteen to your place in Paris to-morrow, +so you will find it there upon your return. + +C. C. J. + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, FLYING FOR FRANCE *** + +This file should be named 8fffr10.txt or 8fffr10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8fffr11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8fffr10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext04 + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8fffr10.zip b/old/8fffr10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..96179cd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8fffr10.zip diff --git a/old/8fffr10h.htm b/old/8fffr10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ad1aa6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8fffr10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3359 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Flying for France, by James +R. McConnell</title> +<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Flying for France, by James R. +McConnell</h1> + +<pre> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Flying for France + +Author: James R. McConnell + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6977] +[This file was first posted on February 19, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, FLYING FOR FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Paul Hollander, Juliet Sutherland, Linton Dawe, Charles Franks + +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +</pre> + +<div align="center"> +<p> </p> + +<h2>FLYING FOR FRANCE</h2> + +<h3><i>With the American Escadrille at Verdun</i></h3> + +<p> <br> + </p> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>JAMES R. McCONNELL</h3> + +<h4><i>Sergeant-Pilot in the French Flying Corps</i></h4> + +<p><a name="photo1"> <br> + </a></p> + +<p><a href="photo1.htm"><img alt="photo1t.png" src="photo1t.png"></a></p> + +<p>James R. McConnell</p> + +<p> <br> + </p> + +<h4>ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS<br> +THROUGH THE KINDNESS OF MR. PAUL ROCKWELL</h4> + +<p> <br> + </p> + +<h4>To<br> +MRS. ALICE S. WEEKS</h4> +</div> + +<p>Who having lost a splendid son in the French Army has given to +a great number of us other Americans in the war the tender +sympathy and help of a mother.</p> + +<p> <br> + </p> + +<table summary="verdun" border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="5"> +<tr> +<td align="center"><b>CONTENTS</b> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td>Introduction<br> + By F. C. P.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td valign="bottom"><font size="-2"><b>CHAPTER</b></font> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<table summary="verdun" border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="5"> +<tr> +<td align="right">I.</td> +<td><a href="#verdun">Verdun</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">II.</td> +<td><a href="#somme">From Verdun to the Somme</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">III.</td> +<td><a href="#letters">Personal Letters from Sergeant +McConnell</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IV.</td> +<td><a href="#train">How France Trains Pilot Aviators</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">V.</td> +<td><a href="#odds">Against Odds</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p> <br> + </p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="center"><b>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</b> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#photo1">James R. McConnell</a> <i>Frontispiece</i> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#photo2">Some of the Americans Who are Flying for +France</a> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#photo3">Two Members of the American Escadrille</a>, +of the French Flying Service, Who Were Killed Flying For +France</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#photo4">"Whiskey."</a> The Lion and Mascot of the +American Flying Squadron in France</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#photo5">Kiffin Rockwell</a>, of Asheville, N.C., +Who Was Killed in an Air Duel Over Verdun</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#photo6">Sergeant Lufbery in one of the New +Nieuports</a> in Which He Convoyed the Bombardment Fleet Which +Attacked Oberndorf</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br> +<br> + + +<p> <br> + </p> + +<div align="center"> +<h4>INTRODUCTION<br> + </h4> +</div> + +<p>One day in January, 1915, I saw Jim McConnell in front of the +Court House at Carthage, North Carolina. "Well," he said, "I'm +all fixed up and am leaving on Wednesday." "Where for?" I asked. +"I've got a job to drive an ambulance in France," was his +answer.</p> + +<p>And then he went on to tell me, first, that as he saw it the +greatest event in history was going on right at hand and that he +would be missing the opportunity of a lifetime if he did not see +it. "These Sand Hills," he said "will be here forever, but the +war won't; and so I'm going." Then, as an afterthought, he added: +"And I'll be of some use, too, not just a sight-seer looking on; +that wouldn't be fair."</p> + +<p>So he went. He joined the American ambulance service in the +Vosges, was mentioned more than once in the orders of the day for +conspicuous bravery in saving wounded under fire, and received +the much-coveted Croix de Guerre.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, he wrote interesting letters home. And his point of +view changed, even as does the point of view of all Americans who +visit Europe. From the attitude of an adventurous spirit anxious +to see the excitement, his letters showed a new belief that any +one who goes to France and is not able and willing to do more +than his share--to give everything in him toward helping the +wounded and suffering--has no business there.</p> + +<p>And as time went on, still a new note crept into his letters; +the first admiration for France was strengthened and almost +replaced by a new feeling--a profound conviction that France and +the French people were fighting the fight of liberty against +enormous odds. The new spirit of France--the spirit of the +"Marseillaise," strengthened by a grim determination and absolute +certainty of being right--pervades every line he writes. So he +gave up the ambulance service and enlisted in the French flying +corps along with an ever-increasing number of other +Americans.</p> + +<p>The spirit which pervades them is something above the spirit +of adventure that draws many to war; it is the spirit of a man +who has found an inspiring duty toward the advancement of liberty +and humanity and is glad and proud to contribute what he can.</p> + +<p>His last letters bring out a new point--the assurance of +victory of a just cause. "Of late," he writes, "things are much +brighter and one can feel a certain elation in the air. Victory, +before, was a sort of academic certainty; now, it is felt."</p> + +<div align="right"> +<p>F. C. P. <br> +November 10, 1916. </p> +</div> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> + </p> + +<h2>FLYING FOR FRANCE</h2> + +<p> <br> + <a name="verdun"></a></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<h4>VERDUN<br> + </h4> +</div> + +<p>Beneath the canvas of a huge hangar mechanicians are at work +on the motor of an airplane. Outside, on the borders of an +aviation field, others loiter awaiting their aërial charge's +return from the sky. Near the hangar stands a hut-shaped tent. In +front of it several short-winged biplanes are lined up; inside it +three or four young men are lolling in wicker chairs.</p> + +<p>They wear the uniform of French army aviators. These uniforms, +and the grim-looking machine guns mounted on the upper planes of +the little aircraft, are the only warlike note in a pleasantly +peaceful scene. The war seems very remote. It is hard to believe +that the greatest of all battles--Verdun--rages only twenty-five +miles to the north, and that the field and hangars and +mechanicians and aviators and airplanes are all playing a part +therein.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there is the distant hum of a motor. One of the +pilots emerges from the tent and gazes fixedly up into the blue +sky. He points, and one glimpses a black speck against the blue, +high overhead. The sound of the motor ceases, and the speck grows +larger. It moves earthward in steep dives and circles, and as it +swoops closer, takes on the shape of an airplane. Now one can +make out the red, white, and blue circles under the wings which +mark a French war-plane, and the distinctive insignia of the +pilot on its sides.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ton patron arrive!"</i> one mechanician cries to another. +"Your boss is coming!"</p> + +<p>The machine dips sharply over the top of a hangar, straightens +out again near the earth at a dizzy speed a few feet above it +and, losing momentum in a surprisingly short time, hits the +ground with tail and wheels. It bumps along a score of yards and +then, its motor whirring again, turns, rolls toward the hangar, +and stops. A human form, enveloped in a species of garment for +all the world like a diver's suit, and further adorned with +goggles and a leather hood, rises unsteadily in the cockpit, +clambers awkwardly overboard and slides down to terra firma.</p> + +<p>A group of soldiers, enjoying a brief holiday from the +trenches in a cantonment near the field, straggle forward and +gather timidly about the airplane, listening open-mouthed for +what its rider is about to say.</p> + +<p>"Hell!" mumbles that gentleman, as he starts divesting himself +of his flying garb.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong now?" inquires one of the tenants of the +tent.</p> + +<p>"Everything, or else I've gone nutty," is the indignant reply, +delivered while disengaging a leg from its Teddy Bear trousering. +"Why, I emptied my whole roller on a Boche this morning, point +blank at not fifteen metres off. His machine gun quit firing and +his propeller wasn't turning and yet the darn fool just hung up +there as if he were tied to a cloud. Say, I was so sure I had him +it made me sore--felt like running into him and yelling, 'Now, +you fall, you bum!'"</p> + +<p>The eyes of the <i>poilus</i> register surprise. Not a word of +this dialogue, delivered in purest American, is intelligible to +them. Why is an aviator in a French uniform speaking a foreign +tongue, they mutually ask themselves. Finally one of them, a +little chap in a uniform long since bleached of its horizon-blue +colour by the mud of the firing line, whisperingly interrogates a +mechanician as to the identity of these strange air folk.</p> + +<p>"But they are the Americans, my old one," the latter explains +with noticeable condescension.</p> + +<p>Marvelling afresh, the infantrymen demand further details. +They learn that they are witnessing the return of the American +Escadrille--composed of Americans who have volunteered to fly for +France for the duration of the war--to their station near +Bar-le-Duc, twenty-five miles south of Verdun, from a flight over +the battle front of the Meuse. They have barely had time to +digest this knowledge when other dots appear in the sky, and one +by one turn into airplanes as they wheel downward. Finally all +six of the machines that have been aloft are back on the ground +and the American Escadrille has one more sortie over the German +lines to its credit.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +PERSONNEL OF THE ESCADRILLE</p> +</div> + +<p>Like all worth-while institutions, the American Escadrille, of +which I have the honour of being a member, was of gradual growth. +When the war began, it is doubtful whether anybody anywhere +envisaged the possibility of an American entering the French +aviation service. Yet, by the fall of 1915, scarcely more than a +year later, there were six Americans serving as full-fledged +pilots, and now, in the summer of 1916, the list numbers fifteen +or more, with twice that number training for their pilot's +license in the military aviation schools.</p> + +<p>The pioneer of them all was William Thaw, of Pittsburg, who is +to-day the only American holding a commission in the French +flying corps. Lieutenant Thaw, a flyer of considerable reputation +in America before the war, had enlisted in the Foreign Legion in +August, 1914. With considerable difficulty he had himself +transferred, in the early part of 1915, into aviation, and the +autumn of that year found him piloting a Caudron biplane, and +doing excellent observation work. At the same time, Sergeants +Norman Prince, of Boston, and Elliot Cowdin, of New York--who +were the first to enter the aviation service coming directly from +the United States--were at the front on Voisin planes with a +cannon mounted in the bow.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Bert Hall, who signs from the Lone Star State and had +got himself shifted from the Foreign Legion to aviation soon +after Thaw, was flying a Nieuport fighting machine, and, a little +later, instructing less-advanced students of the air in the Avord +Training School. His particular chum in the Foreign Legion, James +Bach, who also had become an aviator, had the distressing +distinction soon after he reached the front of becoming the first +American to fall into the hands of the enemy. Going to the +assistance of a companion who had broken down in landing a spy in +the German lines, Bach smashed his machine against a tree. Both +he and his French comrade were captured, and Bach was twice +court-martialed by the Germans on suspicion of being an American +<i>franc-tireur</i>--the penalty for which is death! He was +acquitted but of course still languishes in a prison camp +"somewhere in Germany." The sixth of the original sextet was +Adjutant Didier Masson, who did exhibition flying in the States +until--Carranza having grown ambitious in Mexico--he turned his +talents to spotting <i>los Federales</i> for General Obregon. +When the real war broke out, Masson answered the call of his +French blood and was soon flying and fighting for the land of his +ancestors.</p> + +<p>Of the other members of the escadrille Sergeant Givas Lufbery, +American citizen and soldier, but dweller in the world at large, +was among the earliest to wear the French airman's wings. +Exhibition work with a French pilot in the Far East prepared him +efficiently for the task of patiently unloading explosives on to +German military centres from a slow-moving Voisin which was his +first mount. Upon the heels of Lufbery came two more graduates of +the Foreign Legion--Kiffin Rockwell, of Asheville, N.C., who had +been wounded at Carency; Victor Chapman, of New York, who after +recovering from his wounds became an airplane bomb-dropper and so +caught the craving to become a pilot. At about this time one Paul +Pavelka, whose birthplace was Madison, Conn., and who from the +age of fifteen had sailed the seven seas, managed to slip out of +the Foreign Legion into aviation and joined the other Americans +at Pau.</p> + +<p>There seems to be a fascination to aviation, particularly when +it is coupled with fighting. Perhaps it's because the game is +new, but more probably because as a rule nobody knows anything +about it. Whatever be the reason, adventurous young Americans +were attracted by it in rapidly increasing numbers. Many of them, +of course, never got fascinated beyond the stage of talking about +joining. Among the chaps serving with the American ambulance +field sections a good many imaginations were stirred, and a few +actually did enlist, when, toward the end of the summer of 1915, +the Ministry of War, finding that the original American pilots +had made good, grew more liberal in considering applications.</p> + +<p>Chouteau Johnson, of New York; Lawrence Rumsey, of Buffalo; +Dudley Hill, of Peekskill, N.Y.; and Clyde Balsley, of El Paso; +one after another doffed the ambulance driver's khaki for the +horizon-blue of the French flying corps. All of them had seen +plenty of action, collecting the wounded under fire, but they +were all tired of being non-combatant spectators. More or less +the same feeling actuated me, I suppose. I had come over from +Carthage, N.C., in January, 1915, and worked with an American +ambulance section in the Bois-le-Prêtre. All along I had +been convinced that the United States ought to aid in the +struggle against Germany. With that conviction, it was plainly up +to me to do more than drive an ambulance. The more I saw the +splendour of the fight the French were fighting, the more I felt +like an <i>embusqué</i>--what the British call a +"shirker." So I made up my mind to go into aviation.</p> + +<p>A special channel had been created for the reception of +applications from Americans, and my own was favourably replied to +within a few days. It took four days more to pass through all the +various departments, sign one's name to a few hundred papers, and +undergo the physical examinations. Then I was sent to the +aviation depot at Dijon and fitted out with a uniform and +personal equipment. The next stop was the school at Pau, where I +was to be taught to fly. My elation at arriving there was second +only to my satisfaction at being a French soldier. It was a vast +improvement, I thought, in the American Ambulance.</p> + +<p>Talk about forming an all-American flying unit, or escadrille, +was rife while I was at Pau. What with the pilots already +breveted, and the élèves, or pupils in the +training-schools, there were quite enough of our compatriots to +man the dozen airplanes in one escadrille. Every day somebody +"had it absolutely straight" that we were to become a unit at the +front, and every other day the report turned out to be untrue. +But at last, in the month of February, our dream came true. We +learned that a captain had actually been assigned to command an +American escadrille and that the Americans at the front had been +recalled and placed under his orders. Soon afterward we +élèves got another delightful thrill.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +THREE TYPES OF FRENCH AIR SERVICE</p> +</div> + +<p>Thaw, Prince, Cowdin, and the other veterans were training on +the Nieuport! That meant the American Escadrille was to fly the +Nieuport--the best type of <i>avion de chasse</i>--and hence +would be a fighting unit. It is necessary to explain +parenthetically here that French military aviation, generally +speaking, is divided into three groups--the <i>avions de +chasse</i> or airplanes of pursuit, which are used to hunt down +enemy aircraft or to fight them off; <i>avions de +bombardement,</i> big, unwieldy monsters for use in bombarding +raids; and <i>avions de réglage,</i> cumbersome creatures +designed to regulate artillery fire, take photographs, and do +scout duty. The Nieuport is the smallest, fastest-rising, +fastest-moving biplane in the French service. It can travel 110 +miles an hour, and is a one-man apparatus with a machine gun +mounted on its roof and fired by the pilot with one hand while +with the other and his feet he operates his controls. The French +call their Nieuport pilots the "aces" of the air. No wonder we +were tickled to be included in that august brotherhood!</p> + +<div align="center"> +<a name="photo2"></a> +<a href="photo2.htm"></a> +<img alt="photo2t.png" src="photo2t.png"> + + +<p>Americans Who are Flying for France</p> +</div> + +<p>Before the American Escadrille became an established fact, +Thaw and Cowdin, who had mastered the Nieuport, managed to be +sent to the Verdun front. While there Cowdin was credited with +having brought down a German machine and was proposed for the +<i>Médaille Militaire,</i> the highest decoration that can +be awarded a non-commissioned officer or private.</p> + +<p>After completing his training, receiving his military pilot's +brevet, and being perfected on the type of plane he is to use at +the front, an aviator is ordered to the reserve headquarters near +Paris to await his call. Kiffin Rockwell and Victor Chapman had +been there for months, and I had just arrived, when on the 16th +of April orders came for the Americans to join their escadrille +at Luxeuil, in the Vosges.</p> + +<p>The rush was breathless! Never were flying clothes and fur +coats drawn from the quartermaster, belongings packed, and red +tape in the various administrative bureaux unfurled, with such +headlong haste. In a few hours we were aboard the train, panting, +but happy. Our party consisted of Sergeant Prince, and Rockwell, +Chapman, and myself, who were only corporals at that time. We +were joined at Luxeuil by Lieutenant Thaw and Sergeants Hall and +Cowdin.</p> + +<p>For the veterans our arrival at the front was devoid of +excitement; for the three neophytes--Rockwell, Chapman, and +myself--it was the beginning of a new existence, the entry into +an unknown world. Of course Rockwell and Chapman had seen plenty +of warfare on the ground, but warfare in the air was as novel to +them as to me. For us all it contained unlimited possibilities +for initiative and service to France, and for them it must have +meant, too, the restoration of personality lost during those +months in the trenches with the Foreign Legion. Rockwell summed +it up characteristically.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're off for the races," he remarked.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +PILOT LIFE AT THE FRONT</p> +</div> + +<p>There is a considerable change in the life of a pilot when he +arrives on the front. During the training period he is subject to +rules and regulations as stringent as those of the barracks. But +once assigned to duty over the firing line he receives the +treatment accorded an officer, no matter what his grade. Save +when he is flying or on guard, his time is his own. There are no +roll calls or other military frills, and in place of the bunk he +slept upon as an élève, he finds a regular bed in a +room to himself, and the services of an orderly. Even men of +higher rank who although connected with his escadrille are not +pilots, treat him with respect. His two mechanicians are under +his orders. Being volunteers, we Americans are shown more than +the ordinary consideration by the ever-generous French +Government, which sees to it that we have the best of +everything.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Luxeuil we were met by Captain +Thénault, the French commander of the American +Escadrille--officially known as No. 124, by the way--and motored +to the aviation field in one of the staff cars assigned to us. I +enjoyed that ride. Lolling back against the soft leather +cushions, I recalled how in my apprenticeship days at Pau I had +had to walk six miles for my laundry.</p> + +<p>The equipment awaiting us at the field was even more +impressive than our automobile. Everything was brand new, from +the fifteen Fiat trucks to the office, magazine, and rest tents. +And the men attached to the escadrille! At first sight they +seemed to outnumber the Nicaraguan army--mechanicians, +chauffeurs, armourers, motorcyclists, telephonists, wireless +operators, Red Cross stretcher bearers, clerks! Afterward I +learned they totalled seventy-odd, and that all of them were glad +to be connected with the American Escadrille.</p> + +<p>In their hangars stood our trim little Nieuports. I looked +mine over with a new feeling of importance and gave orders to my +mechanicians for the mere satisfaction of being able to. To find +oneself the sole proprietor of a fighting airplane is quite a +treat, let me tell you. One gets accustomed to it, though, after +one has used up two or three of them--at the French Government's +expense.</p> + +<p>Rooms were assigned to us in a villa adjoining the famous hot +baths of Luxeuil, where Cæsar's cohorts were wont to +besport themselves. We messed with our officers, Captain +Thénault and Lieutenant de Laage de Mieux, at the best +hotel in town. An automobile was always on hand to carry us to +the field. I began to wonder whether I was a summer resorter +instead of a soldier.</p> + +<p>Among the pilots who had welcomed us with open arms, we +discovered the famous Captain Happe, commander of the Luxeuil +bombardment group. The doughty bomb-dispenser, upon whose head +the Germans have set a price, was in his quarters. After we had +been introduced, he pointed to eight little boxes arranged on a +table.</p> + +<p>"They contain <i>Croix de Guerre</i> for the families of the +men I lost on my last trip," he explained, and he added: "It's a +good thing you're here to go along with us for protection. There +are lots of Boches in this sector."</p> + +<p>I thought of the luxury we were enjoying: our comfortable +beds, baths, and motor cars, and then I recalled the ancient +custom of giving a man selected for the sacrifice a royal time of +it before the appointed day.</p> + +<p>To acquaint us with the few places where a safe landing was +possible we were motored through the Vosges Mountains and on into +Alsace. It was a delightful opportunity to see that glorious +countryside, and we appreciated it the more because we knew its +charm would be lost when we surveyed it from the sky. From the +air the ground presents no scenic effects. The ravishing beauty +of the Val d'Ajol, the steep mountain sides bristling with a +solid mass of giant pines, the myriads of glittering cascades +tumbling downward through fairylike avenues of verdure, the +roaring, tossing torrent at the foot of the slope--all this +loveliness, seen from an airplane at 12,000 feet, fades into flat +splotches of green traced with a tiny ribbon of silver.</p> + +<p>The American Escadrille was sent to Luxeuil primarily to +acquire the team work necessary to a flying unit. Then, too, the +new pilots needed a taste of anti-aircraft artillery to +familiarize them with the business of aviation over a +battlefield. They shot well in that sector, too. Thaw's machine +was hit at an altitude of 13,000 feet.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +THE ESCADRILLE'S FIRST SORTIE</p> +</div> + +<p>The memory of the first sortie we made as an escadrille will +always remain fresh in my mind because it was also my first trip +over the lines. We were to leave at six in the morning. Captain +Thénault pointed out on his aërial map the route we +were to follow. Never having flown over this region before, I was +afraid of losing myself. Therefore, as it is easier to keep other +airplanes in sight when one is above them, I began climbing as +rapidly as possible, meaning to trail along in the wake of my +companions. Unless one has had practice in flying in formation, +however, it is hard to keep in contact. The diminutive <i>avions +de chasse</i> are the merest pinpoints against the great sweep of +landscape below and the limitless heavens above. The air was +misty and clouds were gathering. Ahead there seemed a barrier of +them. Although as I looked down the ground showed plainly, in the +distance everything was hazy. Forging up above the mist, at 7,000 +feet, I lost the others altogether. Even when they are not +closely joined, the clouds, seen from immediately above, appear +as a solid bank of white. The spaces between are +indistinguishable. It is like being in an Arctic ice field.</p> + +<p>To the south I made out the Alps. Their glittering peaks +projected up through the white sea about me like majestic +icebergs. Not a single plane was visible anywhere, and I was +growing very uncertain about my position. My splendid isolation +had become oppressive, when, one by one, the others began bobbing +up above the cloud level, and I had company again.</p> + +<p>We were over Belfort and headed for the trench lines. The +cloud banks dropped behind, and below us we saw the smiling plain +of Alsace stretching eastward to the Rhine. It was distinctly +pleasurable, flying over this conquered land. Following the +course of the canal that runs to the Rhine, I sighted, from a +height of 13,000 feet over Dannemarie, a series of brown, +woodworm-like tracings on the ground--the trenches!</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +SHRAPNEL THAT COULDN'T BE HEARD</p> +</div> + +<p>My attention was drawn elsewhere almost immediately, however. +Two balls of black smoke had suddenly appeared close to one of +the machines ahead of me, and with the same disconcerting +abruptness similar balls began to dot the sky above, below, and +on all sides of us. We were being shot at with shrapnel. It was +interesting to watch the flash of the bursting shells, and the +attendant smoke puffs--black, white, or yellow, depending on the +kind of shrapnel used. The roar of the motor drowned the noise of +the explosions. Strangely enough, my feelings about it were +wholly impersonal.</p> + +<p>We turned north after crossing the lines. Mulhouse seemed just +below us, and I noted with a keen sense of satisfaction our +invasion of real German territory. The Rhine, too, looked +delightfully accessible. As we continued northward I +distinguished the twin lakes of Gérardmer sparkling in +their emerald setting. Where the lines crossed the +Hartmannsweilerkopf there were little spurts of brown smoke as +shells burst in the trenches. One could scarcely pick out the old +city of Thann from among the numerous neighbouring villages, so +tiny it seemed in the valley's mouth. I had never been higher +than 7,000 feet and was unaccustomed to reading country from a +great altitude. It was also bitterly cold, and even in my +fur-lined combination I was shivering. I noticed, too, that I had +to take long, deep breaths in the rarefied atmosphere. Looking +downward at a certain angle, I saw what at first I took to be a +round, shimmering pool of water. It was simply the effect of the +sunlight on the congealing mist. We had been keeping an eye out +for German machines since leaving our lines, but none had shown +up. It wasn't surprising, for we were too many.</p> + +<p>Only four days later, however, Rockwell brought down the +escadrille's first plane in his initial aërial combat. He +was flying alone when, over Thann, he came upon a German on +reconnaissance. He dived and the German turned toward his own +lines, opening fire from a long distance. Rockwell kept straight +after him. Then, closing to within thirty yards, he pressed on +the release of his machine gun, and saw the enemy gunner fall +backward and the pilot crumple up sideways in his seat. The plane +flopped downward and crashed to earth just behind the German +trenches. Swooping close to the ground Rockwell saw its +débris burning away brightly. He had turned the trick with +but four shots and only one German bullet had struck his +Nieuport. An observation post telephoned the news before +Rockwell's return, and he got a great welcome. All Luxeuil smiled +upon him--particularly the girls. But he couldn't stay to enjoy +his popularity. The escadrille was ordered to the sector of +Verdun.</p> + +<p>While in a way we were sorry to leave Luxeuil, we naturally +didn't regret the chance to take part in the aërial activity +of the world's greatest battle. The night before our departure +some German aircraft destroyed four of our tractors and killed +six men with bombs, but even that caused little excitement +compared with going to Verdun. We would get square with the +Boches over Verdun, we thought--it is impossible to chase +airplanes at night, so the raiders made a safe getaway.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +OFF TO VERDUN</p> +</div> + +<p>As soon as we pilots had left in our machines, the trucks and +tractors set out in convoy, carrying the men and equipment. The +Nieuports carried us to our new post in a little more than an +hour. We stowed them away in the hangars and went to have a look +at our sleeping quarters. A commodious villa half way between the +town of Bar-le-Duc and the aviation field had been assigned to +us, and comforts were as plentiful as at Luxeuil.</p> + +<p>Our really serious work had begun, however, and we knew it. +Even as far behind the actual fighting as Bar-le-Duc one could +sense one's proximity to a vast military operation. The endless +convoys of motor trucks, the fast-flowing stream of troops, and +the distressing number of ambulances brought realization of the +near presence of a gigantic battle.</p> + +<p>Within a twenty-mile radius of the Verdun front aviation camps +abound. Our escadrille was listed on the schedule with the other +fighting units, each of which has its specified flying hours, +rotating so there is always an <i>escadrille de chasse</i> over +the lines. A field wireless to enable us to keep track of the +movements of enemy planes became part of our equipment.</p> + +<p>Lufbery joined us a few days after our arrival. He was +followed by Johnson and Balsley, who had been on the air guard +over Paris. Hill and Rumsey came next, and after them Masson and +Pavelka. Nieuports were supplied them from the nearest depot, and +as soon as they had mounted their instruments and machine guns, +they were on the job with the rest of us. Fifteen Americans are +or have been members of the American Escadrille, but there have +never been so many as that on duty at any one time.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +BATTLES IN THE AIR</p> +</div> + +<p>Before we were fairly settled at Bar-le-Duc, Hall brought down +a German observation craft and Thaw a Fokker. Fights occurred on +almost every sortie. The Germans seldom cross into our territory, +unless on a bombarding jaunt, and thus practically all the +fighting takes place on their side of the line. Thaw dropped his +Fokker in the morning, and on the afternoon of the same day there +was a big combat far behind the German trenches. Thaw was wounded +in the arm, and an explosive bullet detonating on Rockwell's +wind-shield tore several gashes in his face. Despite the blood +which was blinding him Rockwell managed to reach an aviation +field and land. Thaw, whose wound bled profusely, landed in a +dazed condition just within our lines. He was too weak to walk, +and French soldiers carried him to a field dressing-station, +whence he was sent to Paris for further treatment. Rockwell's +wounds were less serious and he insisted on flying again almost +immediately.</p> + +<p>A week or so later Chapman was wounded. Considering the number +of fights he had been in and the courage with which he attacked +it was a miracle he had not been hit before. He always fought +against odds and far within the enemy's country. He flew more +than any of us, never missing an opportunity to go up, and never +coming down until his gasolene was giving out. His machine was a +sieve of patched-up bullet holes. His nerve was almost superhuman +and his devotion to the cause for which he fought sublime. The +day he was wounded he attacked four machines. Swooping down from +behind, one of them, a Fokker, riddled Chapman's plane. One +bullet cut deep into his scalp, but Chapman, a master pilot, +escaped from the trap, and fired several shots to show he was +still safe. A stability control had been severed by a bullet. +Chapman held the broken rod in one hand, managed his machine with +the other, and succeeded in landing on a near-by aviation field. +His wound was dressed, his machine repaired, and he immediately +took the air in pursuit of some more enemies. He would take no +rest, and with bandaged head continued to fly and fight.</p> + +<p>The escadrille's next serious encounter with the foe took +place a few days later. Rockwell, Balsley, Prince, and Captain +Thénault were surrounded by a large number of Germans, +who, circling about them, commenced firing at long range. +Realizing their numerical inferiority, the Americans and their +commander sought the safest way out by attacking the enemy +machines nearest the French lines. Rockwell, Prince, and the +captain broke through successfully, but Balsley found himself +hemmed in. He attacked the German nearest him, only to receive an +explosive bullet in his thigh. In trying to get away by a +vertical dive his machine went into a corkscrew and swung over on +its back. Extra cartridge rollers dislodged from their case hit +his arms. He was tumbling straight toward the trenches, but by a +supreme effort he regained control, righted the plane, and landed +without disaster in a meadow just behind the firing line.</p> + +<p>Soldiers carried him to the shelter of a near-by fort, and +later he was taken to a field hospital, where he lingered for +days between life and death. Ten fragments of the explosive +bullet were removed from his stomach. He bore up bravely, and +became the favourite of the wounded officers in whose ward he +lay. When we flew over to see him they would say: <i>Il est un +brave petit gars, l'aviateur américain,</i> [He's a brave +little fellow, the American aviator.] On a shelf by his bed, done +up in a handkerchief, he kept the pieces of bullet taken out of +him, and under them some sheets of paper on which he was trying +to write to his mother, back in El Paso.</p> + +<p>Balsley was awarded the <i>Médaille Militaire</i> and +the <i>Croix de Guerre,</i> but the honours scared him. He had +seen them decorate officers in the ward before they died.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +CHAPMAN'S LAST FIGHT</p> +</div> + +<p>Then came Chapman's last fight. Before leaving, he had put two +bags of oranges in his machine to take to Balsley, who liked to +suck them to relieve his terrible thirst, after the day's flying +was over. There was an aërial struggle against odds, far +within the German lines, and Chapman, to divert their fire from +his comrades, engaged several enemy airmen at once. He sent one +tumbling to earth, and had forced the others off when two more +swooped down upon him. Such a fight is a matter of seconds, and +one cannot clearly see what passes. Lufbery and Prince, whom +Chapman had defended so gallantly, regained the French lines. +They told us of the combat, and we waited on the field for +Chapman's return. He was always the last in, so we were not much +worried. Then a pilot from another fighting escadrille telephoned +us that he had seen a Nieuport falling. A little later the +observer of a reconnaissance airplane called up and told us how +he had witnessed Chapman's fall. The wings of the plane had +buckled, and it had dropped like a stone he said.</p> + +<p>We talked in lowered voices after that; we could read the pain +in one another's eyes. If only it could have been some one else, +was what we all thought, I suppose. To lose Victor was not an +irreparable loss to us merely, but to France, and to the world as +well. I kept thinking of him lying over there, and of the oranges +he was taking to Balsley. As I left the field I caught sight of +Victor's mechanician leaning against the end of our hangar. He +was looking northward into the sky where his <i>patron</i> had +vanished, and his face was very sad.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +PROMOTIONS AND DECORATIONS</p> +</div> + +<p>By this time Prince and Hall had been made adjutants, and we +corporals transformed into sergeants. I frankly confess to a +feeling of marked satisfaction at receiving that grade in the +world's finest army. I was a far more important person, in my own +estimation, than I had been as a second lieutenant in the militia +at home. The next impressive event was the awarding of +decorations. We had assisted at that ceremony for Cowdin at +Luxeuil, but this time three of our messmates were to be honoured +for the Germans they had brought down. Rockwell and Hall received +the <i>Médaille Militaire</i> and the <i>Croix de +Guerre,</i> and Thaw, being a lieutenant, the <i>Légion +d'honneur</i> and another "palm" for the ribbon of the <i>Croix +de Guerre</i> he had won previously. Thaw, who came up from Paris +specially for the presentation, still carried his arm in a +sling.</p> + +<p>There were also decorations for Chapman, but poor Victor, who +so often had been cited in the Orders of the Day, was not on hand +to receive them.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +THE MORNING SORTIE</p> +</div> + +<p>Our daily routine goes on with little change. Whenever the +weather permits--that is, when it isn't raining, and the clouds +aren't too low--we fly over the Verdun battlefield at the hours +dictated by General Headquarters. As a rule the most successful +sorties are those in the early morning.</p> + +<p>We are called while it's still dark. Sleepily I try to +reconcile the French orderly's muttered, <i>C'est l'heure, +monsieur,</i> that rouses me from slumber, with the strictly +American words and music of "When That Midnight Choo Choo Leaves +for Alabam'" warbled by a particularly wide-awake pilot in the +next room. A few minutes later, having swallowed some coffee, we +motor to the field. The east is turning gray as the hangar +curtains are drawn apart and our machines trundled out by the +mechanicians. All the pilots whose planes are in commission--save +those remaining behind on guard--prepare to leave. We average +from four to six on a sortie, unless too many flights have been +ordered for that day, in which case only two or three go out at a +time.</p> + +<p>Now the east is pink, and overhead the sky has changed from +gray to pale blue. It is light enough to fly. We don our +fur-lined shoes and combinations and adjust the leather flying +hoods and goggles. A good deal of conversation occurs--perhaps +because, once aloft, there's nobody to talk to.</p> + +<p>"Eh, you," one pilot cries jokingly to another, "I hope some +Boche just ruins you this morning, so I won't have to pay you the +fifty francs you won from me last night!"</p> + +<p>This financial reference concerns a poker game.</p> + +<p>"You do, do you?" replies the other as he swings into his +machine. "Well, I'd be glad to pass up the fifty to see you +landed by the Boches. You'd make a fine sight walking down the +street of some German town in those wooden shoes and pyjama +pants. Why don't you dress yourself? Don't you know an aviator's +supposed to look <i>chic?"</i></p> + +<p>A sartorial eccentricity on the part of one of our colleagues +is here referred to.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +GETTING UNDER WAY</p> +</div> + +<p>The raillery is silenced by a deafening roar as the motors are +tested. Quiet is briefly restored, only to be broken by a series +of rapid explosions incidental to the trying out of machine guns. +You loudly inquire at what altitude we are to meet above the +field.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen hundred metres--go ahead!" comes an answering +yell.</p> + +<p><i>Essence et gaz!</i> [Oil and gas!] you call to your +mechanician, adjusting your gasolene and air throttles while he +grips the propeller.</p> + +<p><i>Contact!</i> he shrieks, and <i>Contact!</i> you reply. You +snap on the switch, he spins the propeller, and the motor takes. +Drawing forward out of line, you put on full power, race across +the grass and take the air. The ground drops as the hood slants +up before you and you seem to be going more and more slowly as +you rise. At a great height you hardly realize you are moving. +You glance at the clock to note the time of your departure, and +at the oil gauge to see its throb. The altimeter registers 650 +feet. You turn and look back at the field below and see others +leaving.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<a name="photo3"></a> +<a href="photo3.htm"></a> +<img alt="photo3t.png" src="photo3t.png"> + + +<p>Two Members of the American Escadrille.</p> +</div> + +<p>In three minutes you are at about 4,000 feet. You have been +making wide circles over the field and watching the other +machines. At 4,500 feet you throttle down and wait on that level +for your companions to catch up. Soon the escadrille is bunched +and off for the lines. You begin climbing again, gulping to clear +your ears in the changing pressure. Surveying the other machines, +you recognize the pilot of each by the marks on its side--or by +the way he flies. The distinguishing marks of the Nieuports are +various and sometimes amusing. Bert Hall, for instance, has BERT +painted on the left side of his plane and the same word reversed +(as if spelled backward with the left hand) on the right--so an +aviator passing him on that side at great speed will be able to +read the name without difficulty, he says!</p> + +<p>The country below has changed into a flat surface of +varicoloured figures. Woods are irregular blocks of dark green, +like daubs of ink spilled on a table; fields are geometrical +designs of different shades of green and brown, forming in +composite an ultra-cubist painting; roads are thin white lines, +each with its distinctive windings and crossings--from which you +determine your location. The higher you are the easier it is to +read.</p> + +<p>In about ten minutes you see the Meuse sparkling in the +morning light, and on either side the long line of sausage-shaped +observation balloons far below you. Red-roofed Verdun springs +into view just beyond. There are spots in it where no red shows +and you know what has happened there. In the green pasture land +bordering the town, round flecks of brown indicate the shell +holes. You cross the Meuse.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +VERDUN, SEEN FROM THE SKY</p> +</div> + +<p>Immediately east and north of Verdun there lies a broad, brown +band. From the Woevre plain it runs westward to the "S" bend in +the Meuse, and on the left bank of that famous stream continues +on into the Argonne Forest. Peaceful fields and farms and +villages adorned that landscape a few months ago--when there was +no Battle of Verdun. Now there is only that sinister brown belt, +a strip of murdered Nature. It seems to belong to another world. +Every sign of humanity has been swept away. The woods and roads +have vanished like chalk wiped from a blackboard; of the villages +nothing remains but gray smears where stone walls have tumbled +together. The great forts of Douaumont and Vaux are outlined +faintly, like the tracings of a finger in wet sand. One cannot +distinguish any one shell crater, as one can on the pockmarked +fields on either side. On the brown band the indentations are so +closely interlocked that they blend into a confused mass of +troubled earth. Of the trenches only broken, half-obliterated +links are visible.</p> + +<p>Columns of muddy smoke spurt up continually as high explosives +tear deeper into this ulcered area. During heavy bombardment and +attacks I have seen shells falling like rain. The countless +towers of smoke remind one of Gustave Doré's picture of +the fiery tombs of the arch-heretics in Dante's "Hell." A smoky +pall covers the sector under fire, rising so high that at a +height of 1,000 feet one is enveloped in its mist-like fumes. Now +and then monster projectiles hurtling through the air close by +leave one's plane rocking violently in their wake. Airplanes have +been cut in two by them.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +THE ROAR OF BATTLE--UNHEARD</p> +</div> + +<p>For us the battle passes in silence, the noise of one's motor +deadening all other sounds. In the green patches behind the brown +belt myriads of tiny flashes tell where the guns are hidden; and +those flashes, and the smoke of bursting shells, are all we see +of the fighting. It is a weird combination of stillness and +havoc, the Verdun conflict viewed from the sky.</p> + +<p>Far below us, the observation and range-finding planes circle +over the trenches like gliding gulls. At a feeble altitude they +follow the attacking infantrymen and flash back wireless reports +of the engagement. Only through them can communication be +maintained when, under the barrier fire, wires from the front +lines are cut. Sometimes it falls to our lot to guard these +machines from Germans eager to swoop down on their backs. Sailing +about high above a busy flock of them makes one feel like an old +mother hen protecting her chicks.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +"NAVIGATING" IN A SEA OF CLOUDS</p> +</div> + +<p>The pilot of an <i>avion de chasse</i> must not concern +himself with the ground, which to him is useful only for learning +his whereabouts. The earth is all-important to the men in the +observation, artillery-regulating, and bombardment machines, but +the fighting aviator has an entirely different sphere. His domain +is the blue heavens, the glistening rolls of clouds below the +fleecy banks towering above, the vague aërial horizon, and +he must watch it as carefully as a navigator watches the +storm-tossed sea.</p> + +<p>On days when the clouds form almost a solid flooring, one +feels very much at sea, and wonders if one is in the navy instead +of aviation. The diminutive Nieuports skirt the white expanse +like torpedo boats in an arctic sea, and sometimes, far across +the cloud-waves, one sights an enemy escadrille, moving as a +fleet.</p> + +<p>Principally our work consists of keeping German airmen away +from our lines, and in attacking them when opportunity offers. We +traverse the brown band and enter enemy territory to the +accompaniment of an antiaircraft cannonade. Most of the shots are +wild, however, and we pay little attention to them. When the +shrapnel comes uncomfortably close, one shifts position slightly +to evade the range. One glances up to see if there is another +machine higher than one's own. Low and far within the German +lines are several enemy planes, a dull white in appearance, +resembling sand flies against the mottled earth. High above them +one glimpses the mosquito-like forms of two Fokkers. Away off to +one side white shrapnel puffs are vaguely visible, perhaps +directed against a German crossing the lines. We approach the +enemy machines ahead, only to find them slanting at a rapid rate +into their own country. High above them lurks a protection plane. +The man doing the "ceiling work," as it is called, will look +after him for us.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +TACTICS OF AN AIR BATTLE</p> +</div> + +<p>Getting started is the hardest part of an attack. Once you +have begun diving you're all right. The pilot just ahead turns +tail up like a trout dropping back to water, and swoops down in +irregular curves and circles. You follow at an angle so steep +your feet seem to be holding you back in your seat. Now the black +Maltese crosses on the German's wings stand out clearly. You +think of him as some sort of big bug. Then you hear the rapid +tut-tut-tut of his machine gun. The man that dived ahead of you +becomes mixed up with the topmost German. He is so close it looks +as if he had hit the enemy machine. You hear the staccato barking +of his mitrailleuse and see him pass from under the German's +tail.</p> + +<p>The rattle of the gun that is aimed at you leaves you +undisturbed. Only when the bullets pierce the wings a few feet +off do you become uncomfortable. You see the gunner crouched down +behind his weapon, but you aim at where the pilot ought to +be--there are two men aboard the German craft--and press on the +release hard. Your mitrailleuse hammers out a stream of bullets +as you pass over and dive, nose down, to get out of range. Then, +hopefully, you re-dress and look back at the foe. He ought to be +dropping earthward at several miles a minute. As a matter of +fact, however, he is sailing serenely on. They have an annoying +habit of doing that, these Boches.</p> + +<p>Rockwell, who attacked so often that he has lost all count, +and who shoves his machine gun fairly in the faces of the +Germans, used to swear their planes were armoured. Lieutenant de +Laage, whose list of combats is equally extensive, has brought +down only one. Hall, with three machines to his credit, has had +more luck. Lufbery, who evidently has evolved a secret formula, +has dropped four, according to official statistics, since his +arrival on the Verdun front. Four "palms"--the record for the +escadrille, glitter upon the ribbon of the <i>Croix de Guerre</i> +accompanying his <i>Médaille Militaire.</i> [Footnote: +This book was written in the fall of 1915. Since that time many +additional machines have been credited to the American +flyers.]</p> + +<p>A pilot seldom has the satisfaction of beholding the result of +his bull's-eye bullet. Rarely--so difficult it is to follow the +turnings and twistings of the dropping plane--does he see his +fallen foe strike the ground. Lufbery's last direct hit was an +exception, for he followed all that took place from a balcony +seat. I myself was in the "nigger-heaven," so I know. We had set +out on a sortie together just before noon, one August day, and +for the first time on such an occasion had lost each other over +the lines. Seeing no Germans, I passed my time hovering over the +French observation machines. Lufbery found one, however, and +promptly brought it down. Just then I chanced to make a southward +turn, and caught sight of an airplane falling out of the sky into +the German lines.</p> + +<p>As it turned over, it showed its white belly for an instant, +then seemed to straighten out, and planed downward in big +zigzags. The pilot must have gripped his controls even in death, +for his craft did not tumble as most do. It passed between my +line of vision and a wood, into which it disappeared. Just as I +was going down to find out where it landed, I saw it again +skimming across a field, and heading straight for the brown band +beneath me. It was outlined against the shell-racked earth like a +tiny insect, until just northwest of Fort Douaumont it crashed +down upon the battlefield. A sheet of flame and smoke shot up +from the tangled wreckage. For a moment or two I watched it burn; +then I went back to the observation machines.</p> + +<p>I thought Lufbery would show up and point to where the German +had fallen. He failed to appear, and I began to be afraid it was +he whom I had seen come down, instead of an enemy. I spent a +worried hour before my return homeward. After getting back I +learned that Lufbery was quite safe, having hurried in after the +fight to report the destruction of his adversary before somebody +else claimed him, which is only too frequently the case. +Observation posts, however, confirmed Lufbery's story, and he was +of course very much delighted. Nevertheless, at luncheon, I heard +him murmuring, half to himself: "Those poor fellows."</p> + +<p>The German machine gun operator, having probably escaped death +in the air, must have had a hideous descent. Lufbery told us he +had seen the whole thing, spiralling down after the German. He +said he thought the German pilot must be a novice, judging from +his manoeuvres. It occurred to me that he might have been making +his first flight over the lines, doubtless full of enthusiasm +about his career. Perhaps, dreaming of the Iron Cross and his +Gretchen, he took a chance--and then swift death and a grave in +the shell-strewn soil of Douaumont.</p> + +<p>Generally the escadrille is relieved by another fighting unit +after two hours over the lines. We turn homeward, and soon the +hangars of our field loom up in the distance. Sometimes I've been +mighty glad to see them and not infrequently I've concluded the +pleasantest part of flying is just after a good landing. Getting +home after a sortie, we usually go into the rest tent, and talk +over the morning's work. Then some of us lie down for a nap, +while others play cards or read. After luncheon we go to the +field again, and the man on guard gets his chance to eat. If the +morning sortie has been an early one, we go up again about one +o'clock in the afternoon. We are home again in two hours and +after that two or three energetic pilots may make a third trip +over the lines. The rest wait around ready to take the air if an +enemy bombardment group ventures to visit our territory--as it +has done more than once over Bar-le-Duc. False alarms are +plentiful, and we spend many hours aloft squinting at an empty +sky.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +PRINCE'S AËRIAL FIREWORKS</p> +</div> + +<p>Now and then one of us will get ambitious to do something on +his own account. Not long ago Norman Prince became obsessed with +the idea of bringing down a German "sausage," as observation +balloons are called. He had a special device mounted on his +Nieuport for setting fire to the aërial frankfurters. Thus +equipped he resembled an advance agent for Payne's fireworks more +than an <i>aviateur de chasse.</i> Having carefully mapped the +enemy "sausages," he would sally forth in hot pursuit whenever +one was signalled at a respectable height. Poor Norman had a +terrible time of it! Sometimes the reported "sausages" were not +there when he arrived, and sometimes there was a super-abundancy +of German airplanes on guard.</p> + +<p>He stuck to it, however, and finally his appetite for +"sausage" was satisfied. He found one just where it ought to be, +swooped down upon it, and let off his fireworks with all the +gusto of an American boy on the Fourth of July. When he looked +again, the balloon had vanished. Prince's performance isn't so +easy as it sounds, by the way. If, after the long dive necessary +to turn the trick successfully, his motor had failed to retake, +he would have fallen into the hands of the Germans.</p> + +<p>After dark, when flying is over for the day, we go down to the +villa for dinner. Usually we have two or three French officers +dining with us besides our own captain and lieutenant, and so the +table talk is a mixture of French and English. It's seldom we +discuss the war in general. Mostly the conversation revolves +about our own sphere, for just as in the navy the sea is the +favourite topic, and in the army the trenches, so with us it is +aviation. Our knowledge about the military operations is scant. +We haven't the remotest idea as to what has taken place on the +battlefield--even though we've been flying over it during an +attack--until we read the papers; and they don't tell us +much.</p> + +<p>Frequently pilots from other escadrilles will be our guests in +passing through our sector, and through these visitations we keep +in touch with the aërial news of the day, and with our +friends along the front. Gradually we have come to know a great +number of <i>pilotes de chasse.</i> We hear that so-&-so has been +killed, that some one else has brought down a Boche and that +still another is a prisoner.</p> + +<p>We don't always talk aviation, however. In the course of +dinner almost any subject may be touched upon, and with our +cosmopolitan crowd one can readily imagine the scope of the +conversation. A Burton Holmes lecture is weak and watery compared +to the travel stories we listen to. Were O. Henry alive, he could +find material for a hundred new yarns, and William James numerous +pointers for another work on psychology, while De Quincey might +multiply his dreams <i>ad infinitum.</i> Doubtless alienists as +well as fiction writers would find us worth studying. In France +there's a saying that to be an aviator one must be a bit +"off."</p> + +<p>After dinner the same scene invariably repeats itself, over +the coffee in the "next room." At the big table several sportive +souls start a poker game, while at a smaller one two sedate +spirits wrap themselves in the intricacies of chess. Captain +Thénault labours away at the messroom piano, or in lighter +mood plays with Fram, his police dog. A phonograph grinds out the +ancient query "Who Paid the Rent for Mrs. Rip Van Winkle?" or +some other ragtime ditty. It is barely nine, however, when the +movement in the direction of bed begins.</p> + +<p>A few of us remain behind a little while, and the talk becomes +more personal and more sincere. Only on such intimate occasions, +I think, have I ever heard death discussed. Certainly we are not +indifferent to it. Not many nights ago one of the pilots remarked +in a tired way:</p> + +<p>"Know what I want? Just six months of freedom to go where and +do what I like. In that time I'd get everything I wanted out of +life, and be perfectly willing to come back and be killed."</p> + +<p>Then another, who was about to receive 2,000 francs from the +American committee that aids us, as a reward for his many +citations, chimed in.</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't care much before," he confessed, "but now with +this money coming in I don't want to die until I've had the fun +of spending it."</p> + +<p>So saying, he yawned and went up to bed.</p> + +<p> <br> + <a name="somme"></a></p> + +<div align="center"> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<h4>VERDUN TO THE SOMME<br> + </h4> +</div> + +<p>On the 12th of October, twenty small airplanes flying in a V +formation, at such a height they resembled a flock of geese, +crossed the river Rhine, where it skirts the plains of Alsace, +and, turning north, headed for the famous Mauser works at +Oberndorf. Following in their wake was an equal number of larger +machines, and above these darted and circled swift fighting +planes. The first group of aircraft was flown by British pilots, +the second by French and three of the fighting planes by +Americans in the French Aviation Division. It was a cosmopolitan +collection that effected that successful raid.</p> + +<p>We American pilots, who are grouped into one escadrille, had +been fighting above the battlefield of Verdun from the 20th of +May until orders came the middle of September for us to leave our +airplanes, for a unit that would replace us, and to report at Le +Bourget, the great Paris aviation centre.</p> + +<p>The mechanics and the rest of the personnel left, as usual, in +the escadrille's trucks with the material. For once the pilots +did not take the aërial route but they boarded the Paris +express at Bar-le-Duc with all the enthusiasm of schoolboys off +for a vacation. They were to have a week in the capital! Where +they were to go after that they did not know, but presumed it +would be the Somme. As a matter of fact the escadrille was to be +sent to Luxeuil in the Vosges to take part in the Mauser +raid.</p> + +<p>Besides Captain Thénault and Lieutenant de Laage de +Mieux, our French officers, the following American pilots were in +the escadrille at this time: Lieutenant Thaw, who had returned to +the front, even though his wounded arm had not entirely healed; +Adjutants Norman Prince, Hall, Lufbery, and Masson; and Sergeants +Kiffin Rockwell, Hill, Pavelka, Johnson, and Rumsey. I had been +sent to a hospital at the end of August, because of a lame back +resulting from a smash up in landing, and couldn't follow the +escadrille until later.</p> + +<p>Every aviation unit boasts several mascots. Dogs of every +description are to be seen around the camps, but the Americans +managed, during their stay in Paris, to add to their menagerie by +the acquisition of a lion cub named "Whiskey." The little chap +had been born on a boat crossing from Africa and was advertised +for sale in France. Some of the American pilots chipped in and +bought him. He was a cute, bright-eyed baby lion who tried to +roar in a most threatening manner but who was blissfully content +the moment one gave him one's finger to suck. "Whiskey" got a +good view of Paris during the few days he was there, for some one +in the crowd was always borrowing him to take him some place. He, +like most lions in captivity, became acquainted with bars, but +the sort "Whiskey" saw were not for purposes of confinement.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<a name="photo4"></a> +<a href="photo4.htm"><img alt="photo4t.png" src="photo4t.png"></a> + +<p>"Whiskey."</p> +</div> + +<p>The orders came directing the escadrille to Luxeuil and +bidding farewell to gay "Paree" the men boarded the Belfort train +with bag and baggage--and the lion. Lions, it developed, were not +allowed in passenger coaches. The conductor was assured that +"Whiskey" was quite harmless and was going to overlook the rules +when the cub began to roar and tried to get at the railwayman's +finger. That settled it, so two of the men had to stay behind in +order to crate up "Whiskey" and take him along the next day.</p> + +<p>The escadrille was joined in Paris by Robert Rockwell, of +Cincinnati, who had finished his training as a pilot, and was +waiting at the Reserve (Robert Rockwell had gone to France to +work as a surgeon in one of the American war hospitals. He +disliked remaining in the rear and eventually enlisted in +aviation).</p> + +<p>The period of training for a pilot, especially for one who is +to fly a fighting machine at the front, has been very much +prolonged. It is no longer sufficient that he learns to fly and +to master various types of machines. He now completes his +training in schools where aërial shooting is taught, and in +others where he practises combat, group manoeuvres, and acrobatic +stunts such as looping the loop and the more difficult tricks. In +all it requires from seven to nine months.</p> + +<p>Dennis Dowd, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is so far the only American +volunteer aviator killed while in training. Dowd, who had joined +the Foreign Legion, shortly after the war broke out, was +painfully wounded during the offensive in Champagne. After his +recovery he was transferred, at his request, into aviation. At +the Buc school he stood at the head of the fifteen Americans who +were learning to be aviators, and was considered one of the most +promising pilots in the training camp. On August 11, 1916, while +making a flight preliminary to his brevet, Dowd fell from a +height of only 260 feet and was instantly killed. Either he had +fainted or a control had broken.</p> + +<p>While a patient at the hospital Dowd had been sent packages by +a young French girl of Neuilly. A correspondence ensued, and when +Dowd went to Paris on convalescent leave he and the young lady +became engaged. He was killed just before the time set for the +wedding.</p> + +<p>When the escadrille arrived at Luxeuil it found a great +surprise in the form of a large British aviation contingent. This +detachment from the Royal Navy Flying Corps numbered more than +fifty pilots and a thousand men. New hangars harboured their +fleet of bombardment machines. Their own anti-aircraft batteries +were in emplacements near the field. Though detached from the +British forces and under French command this unit followed the +rule of His Majesty's armies in France by receiving all of its +food and supplies from England. It had its own transport +service.</p> + +<p>Our escadrille had been in Luxeuil during the months of April +and May. We had made many friends amongst the townspeople and the +French pilots stationed there, so the older members of the +American unit were welcomed with open arms and their new comrades +made to feel at home in the quaint Vosges town. It wasn't long, +however, before the Americans and the British got together. At +first there was a feeling of reserve on both sides but once +acquainted they became fast friends. The naval pilots were quite +representative of the United Kingdom hailing as they did from +England, Canada, New South Wales, South Africa, and other parts +of the Empire. Most of them were soldiers by profession. All were +officers, but they were as democratic as it is possible to be. As +a result there was a continuous exchange of dinners. In a few +days every one in this Anglo-American alliance was calling each +other by some nickname and swearing lifelong friendship.</p> + +<p>"We didn't know what you Yanks would be like," remarked one of +the Englishmen one day. "Thought you might be snobby on account +of being volunteers, but I swear you're a bloody human lot." +That, I will explain, is a very fine compliment.</p> + +<p>There was trouble getting new airplanes for every one in the +escadrille. Only five arrived. They were the new model Nieuport +fighting machine. Instead of having only 140 square feet of +supporting surface, they had 160, and the forty-seven shot Lewis +machine gun had been replaced by the Vickers, which fires five +hundred rounds. This gun is mounted on the hood and by means of a +timing gear shoots through the propeller. The 160 foot Nieuport +mounts at a terrific rate, rising to 7,000 feet in six minutes. +It will go to 20,000 feet handled by a skillful pilot.</p> + +<p>It was some time before these airplanes arrived and every one +was idle. There was nothing to do but loaf around the hotel, +where the American pilots were quartered, visit the British in +their barracks at the field, or go walking. It was about as much +like war as a Bryan lecture. While I was in the hospital I +received a letter written at this time from one of the boys. I +opened it expecting to read of an air combat. It informed me that +Thaw had caught a trout three feet long, and that Lufbery had +picked two baskets of mushrooms.</p> + +<p>Day after day the British planes practised formation flying. +The regularity with which the squadron's machines would leave the +ground was remarkable. The twenty Sopwiths took the air at +precise intervals, flew together in a V formation while executing +difficult manoeuvres, and landed one after the other with the +exactness of clockwork. The French pilots flew the Farman and +Breguet bombardment machines whenever the weather permitted. +Every one knew some big bombardment was ahead but when it would +be made or what place was to be attacked was a secret.</p> + +<p>Considering the number of machines that were continually +roaring above the field at Luxeuil it is remarkable that only two +fatal accidents occurred. One was when a British pilot tried +diving at a target, for machine-gun practice, and was unable to +redress his airplane. Both he and his gunner were killed. In the +second accident I lost a good friend--a young Frenchman. He took +up his gunner in a two-seated Nieuport. A young Canadian pilot +accompanied by a French officer followed in a Sopwith. When at +about a thousand feet they began to manoeuvre about one another. +In making a turn too close the tips of their wings touched. The +Nieuport turned downward, its wings folded, and it fell like a +stone. The Sopwith fluttered a second or two, then its wings +buckled and it dropped in the wake of the Nieuport. The two men +in each of the planes were killed outright.</p> + +<p>Next to falling in flames a drop in a wrecked machine is the +worst death an aviator can meet. I know of no sound more horrible +than that made by an airplane crashing to earth. Breathless one +has watched the uncontrolled apparatus tumble through the air. +The agony felt by the pilot and passenger seems to transmit +itself to you. You are helpless to avert the certain death. You +cannot even turn your eyes away at the moment of impact. In the +dull, grinding crash there is the sound of breaking bones.</p> + +<p>Luxeuil was an excellent place to observe the difference that +exists between the French, English, and American aviator, but +when all is said and done there is but little difference. The +Frenchman is the most natural pilot and the most adroit. Flying +comes easier to him than to an Englishman or American, but once +accustomed to an airplane and the air they all accomplish the +same amount of work. A Frenchman goes about it with a little more +dash than the others, and puts on a few extra frills, but the +Englishman calmly carries out his mission and obtains the same +results. An American is a combination of the two, but neither +better nor worse. Though there is a large number of expert German +airmen I do not believe the average Teuton makes as good a flier +as a Frenchman, Englishman, or American.</p> + +<p>In spite of their bombardment of open towns and the use of +explosive bullets in their aërial machine guns, the Boches +have shown up in a better light in aviation than in any other +arm. A few of the Hun pilots have evinced certain elements of +honor and decency. I remember one chap that was the right +sort.</p> + +<p>He was a young man but a pilot of long standing. An old +infantry captain stationed near his aviation field at Etain, east +of Verdun, prevailed upon this German pilot to take him on a +flight. There was a new machine to test out and he told the +captain to climb aboard. Foolishly he crossed the trench lines +and, actuated by a desire to give his passenger an interesting +trip, proceeded to fly over the French aviation headquarters. +Unfortunately for him he encountered three French fighting planes +which promptly opened fire. The German pilot was wounded in the +leg and the gasoline tank of his airplane was pierced. Under him +was an aviation field. He decided to land. The machine was +captured before the Germans had time to burn it up. Explosive +bullets were discovered in the machine gun. A French officer +turned to the German captain and informed him that he would +probably be shot for using explosive bullets. The captain did not +understand.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot him," said the pilot, using excellent French, "if +you're going to shoot any one take me. The captain has nothing to +do with the bullets. He doesn't even know how to work a machine +gun. It's his first trip in an airplane."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you'll give us some good information, we won't shoot +you," said the French officer.</p> + +<p>"Information," replied the German, "I can't give you any. I +come from Etain, and you know where that is as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"No, you must give us some worth-while information, or I'm +afraid you'll be shot," insisted the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"If I give you worth-while information," answered the pilot, +"you'll go over and kill a lot of soldiers, and if I don't you'll +only kill one--so go ahead."</p> + +<p>The last time I heard of the Boche he was being well taken +care of.</p> + +<p>Kiffin Rockwell and Lufbery were the first to get their new +machines ready and on the 23rd of September went out for the +first flight since the escadrille had arrived at Luxeuil. They +became separated in the air but each flew on alone, which was a +dangerous thing to do in the Alsace sector. There is but little +fighting in the trenches there, but great air activity. Due to +the British and French squadrons at Luxeuil, and the threat their +presence implied, the Germans had to oppose them by a large fleet +of fighting machines. I believe there were more than forty +Fokkers alone in the camps of Colmar and Habsheim. Observation +machines protected by two or three fighting planes would venture +far into our lines. It is something the Germans dare not do on +any other part of the front. They had a special trick that +consisted in sending a large, slow observation machine into our +lines to invite attack. When a French plane would dive after it, +two Fokkers, that had been hovering high overhead, would drop on +the tail of the Frenchman and he stood but small chance if caught +in the trap.</p> + +<p>Just before Kiffin Rockwell reached the lines he spied a +German machine under him flying at 11,000 feet. I can imagine the +satisfaction he felt in at last catching an enemy plane in our +lines. Rockwell had fought more combats than the rest of us put +together, and had shot down many German machines that had fallen +in their lines, but this was the first time he had had an +opportunity of bringing down a Boche in our territory.</p> + +<p>A captain, the commandant of an Alsatian village, watched the +aërial battle through his field glasses. He said that +Rockwell approached so close to the enemy that he thought there +would be a collision. The German craft, which carried two machine +guns, had opened a rapid fire when Rockwell started his dive. He +plunged through the stream of lead and only when very close to +his enemy did he begin shooting. For a second it looked as though +the German was falling, so the captain said, but then he saw the +French machine turn rapidly nose down, the wings of one side +broke off and fluttered in the wake of the airplane, which +hurtled earthward in a rapid drop. It crashed into the ground in +a small field--a field of flowers--a few hundred yards back of +the trenches. It was not more than two and a half miles from the +spot where Rockwell, in the month of May, brought down his first +enemy machine. The Germans immediately opened up on the wreck +with artillery fire. In spite of the bursting shrapnel, gunners +from a near-by battery rushed out and recovered poor Rockwell's +broken body. There was a hideous wound in his breast where an +explosive bullet had torn through. A surgeon who examined the +body, testified that if it had been an ordinary bullet Rockwell +would have had an even chance of landing with only a bad wound. +As it was he was killed the instant the unlawful missile +exploded.</p> + +<p>Lufbery engaged a German craft but before he could get to +close range two Fokkers swooped down from behind and filled his +aeroplane full of holes. Exhausting his ammunition he landed at +Fontaine, an aviation field near the lines. There he learned of +Rockwell's death and was told that two other French machines had +been brought down within the hour. He ordered his gasoline tank +filled, procured a full band of cartridges and soared up into the +air to avenge his comrade. He sped up and down the lines, and +made a wide détour to Habsheim where the Germans have an +aviation field, but all to no avail. Not a Boche was in the +air.</p> + +<p>The news of Rockwell's death was telephoned to the escadrille. +The captain, lieutenant, and a couple of men jumped in a staff +car and hastened to where he had fallen. On their return the +American pilots were convened in a room of the hotel and the news +was broken to them. With tears in his eyes the captain said: "The +best and bravest of us all is no more."</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p><a name="photo5" href="photo5.htm"><img alt="photo5t.png" src="photo5t.png"> +</a></p> + +<p>Kiffin Rockwell.</p> +</div> + +<p>No greater blow could have befallen the escadrille. Kiffin was +its soul. He was loved and looked up to by not only every man in +our flying corps but by every one who knew him. Kiffin was imbued +with the spirit of the cause for which he fought and gave his +heart and soul to the performance of his duty. He said: "I pay my +part for Lafayette and Rochambeau," and he gave the fullest +measure. The old flame of chivalry burned brightly in this boy's +fine and sensitive being. With his death France lost one of her +most valuable pilots. When he was over the lines the Germans did +not pass--and he was over them most of the time. He brought down +four enemy planes that were credited to him officially, and +Lieutenant de Laage, who was his fighting partner, says he is +convinced that Rockwell accounted for many others which fell too +far within the German lines to be observed. Rockwell had been +given the Médaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre, on +the ribbon of which he wore four palms, representing the four +magnificent citations he had received in the order of the army. +As a further reward for his excellent work he had been proposed +for promotion from the grade of sergeant to that of second +lieutenant. Unfortunately the official order did not arrive until +a few days following his death.</p> + +<p>The night before Rockwell was killed he had stated that if he +were brought down he would like to be buried where he fell. It +was impossible, however, to place him in a grave so near the +trenches. His body was draped in a French flag and brought back +to Luxeuil. He was given a funeral worthy of a general. His +brother, Paul, who had fought in the Legion with him, and who had +been rendered unfit for service by a wound, was granted +permission to attend the obsequies. Pilots from all near-by camps +flew over to render homage to Rockwell's remains. Every Frenchman +in the aviation at Luxeuil marched behind the bier. The British +pilots, followed by a detachment of five hundred of their men, +were in line, and a battalion of French troops brought up the +rear. As the slow moving procession of blue and khaki-clad men +passed from the church to the graveyard, airplanes circled at a +feeble height above and showered down myriads of flowers.</p> + +<p>Rockwell's death urged the rest of the men to greater action, +and the few who had machines were constantly after the Boches. +Prince brought one down. Lufbery, the most skillful and +successful fighter in the escadrille, would venture far into the +enemy's lines and spiral down over a German aviation camp, daring +the pilots to venture forth. One day he stirred them up, but as +he was short of fuel he had to make for home before they took to +the air. Prince was out in search of a combat at this time. He +got it. He ran into the crowd Lufbery had aroused. Bullets cut +into his machine and one exploding on the front edge of a lower +wing broke it. Another shattered a supporting mast. It was a +miracle that the machine did not give way. As badly battered as +it was Prince succeeded in bringing it back from over Mulhouse, +where the fight occurred, to his field at Luxeuil.</p> + +<p>The same day that Prince was so nearly brought down Lufbery +missed death by a very small margin. He had taken on more +gasoline and made another sortie. When over the lines again he +encountered a German with whom he had a fighting acquaintance. +That is he and the Boche, who was an excellent pilot, had tried +to kill each other on one or two occasions before. Each was too +good for the other. Lufbery manoeuvred for position but, before +he could shoot, the Teuton would evade him by a clever turn. They +kept after one another, the Boche retreating into his lines. When +they were nearing Habsheim, Lufbery glanced back and saw French +shrapnel bursting over the trenches. It meant a German plane was +over French territory and it was his duty to drive it off. +Swooping down near his adversary he waved good-bye, the enemy +pilot did likewise, and Lufbery whirred off to chase the other +representative of Kultur. He caught up with him and dove to the +attack, but he was surprised by a German he had not seen. Before +he could escape three bullets entered his motor, two passed +through the fur-lined combination he wore, another ripped open +one of his woolen flying boots, his airplane was riddled from +wing tip to wing tip, and other bullets cut the elevating plane. +Had he not been an exceptional aviator he never would have +brought safely to earth so badly damaged a machine. It was so +thoroughly shot up that it was junked as being beyond repairs. +Fortunately Lufbery was over French territory or his forced +descent would have resulted in his being made prisoner.</p> + +<p>I know of only one other airplane that was safely landed after +receiving as heavy punishment as did Lufbery's. It was a +two-place Nieuport piloted by a young Frenchman named Fontaine +with whom I trained. He and his gunner attacked a German over the +Bois le Pretre who dove rapidly far into his lines. Fontaine +followed and in turn was attacked by three other Boches. He +dropped to escape, they plunged after him forcing him lower. He +looked and saw a German aviation field under him. He was by this +time only 2,000 feet above the ground. Fontaine saw the mechanics +rush out to grasp him, thinking he would land. The attacking +airplanes had stopped shooting. Fontaine pulled on full power and +headed for the lines. The German planes dropped down on him and +again opened fire. They were on his level, behind and on his +sides. Bullets whistled by him in streams. The rapid-fire gun on +Fontaine's machine had jammed and he was helpless. His gunner +fell forward on him, dead. The trenches were just ahead, but as +he was slanting downward to gain speed he had lost a good deal of +height, and was at only six hundred feet when he crossed the +lines, from which he received a ground fire. The Germans gave up +the chase and Fontaine landed with his dead gunner. His wings +were so full of holes that they barely supported the machine in +the air.</p> + +<p>The uncertain wait at Luxeuil finally came to an end on the +12th of October. The afternoon of that day the British did not +say: "Come on Yanks, let's call off the war and have tea," as was +their wont, for the bombardment of Oberndorf was on. The British +and French machines had been prepared. Just before climbing into +their airplanes the pilots were given their orders. The English +in their single-seated Sopwiths, which carried four bombs each, +were the first to leave. The big French Brequets and Farmans then +soared aloft with their tons of explosive destined for the Mauser +works. The fighting machines, which were to convoy them as far as +the Rhine, rapidly gained their height and circled above their +charges. Four of the battleplanes were from the American +escadrille. They were piloted respectively by Lieutenant de +Laage, Lufbery, Norman Prince, and Masson.</p> + +<p>The Germans were taken by surprise and as a result few of +their machines were in the air. The bombardment fleet was +attacked, however, and six of its planes shot down, some of them +falling in flames. Baron, the famous French night bombarder, lost +his life in one of the Farmans. Two Germans were brought down by +machines they attacked and the four pilots from the American +escadrille accounted for one each. Lieutenant de Laage shot down +his Boche as it was attacking another French machine and Masson +did likewise. Explaining it afterward he said: "All of a sudden I +saw a Boche come in between me and a Breguet I was following. I +just began to shoot, and darned if he didn't fall."</p> + +<p>As the fuel capacity of a Nieuport allows but little more than +two hours in the air the <i>avions de chasse</i> were forced to +return to their own lines to take on more gasoline, while the +bombardment planes continued on into Germany. The Sopwiths +arrived first at Oberndorf. Dropping low over the Mauser works +they discharged their bombs and headed homeward. All arrived, +save one, whose pilot lost his way and came to earth in +Switzerland. When the big machines got to Oberndorf they saw only +flames and smoke where once the rifle factory stood. They +unloaded their explosives on the burning mass.</p> + +<p>The Nieuports having refilled their tanks went up to clear the +air of Germans that might be hovering in wait for the returning +raiders. Prince found one and promptly shot it down. Lufbery came +upon three. He drove for one, making it drop below the others, +then forcing a second to descend, attacked the one remaining +above. The combat was short and at the end of it the German +tumbled to earth. This made the fifth enemy machine which was +officially credited to Lufbery. When a pilot has accounted for +five Boches he is mentioned by name in the official +communication, and is spoken of as an "Ace," which in French +aërial slang means a super-pilot. Papers are allowed to call +an "ace" by name, print his picture and give him a write-up. The +successful aviator becomes a national hero. When Lufbery worked +into this category the French papers made him a head liner. The +American "Ace," with his string of medals, then came in for the +ennuis of a matinee idol. The choicest bit in the collection was +a letter from Wallingford, Conn., his home town, thanking him for +putting it on the map.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<a name="photo6"></a> +<a href="photo6.htm"><img alt="photo6t.png" src="photo6t.png"></a> + +<p>Sergeant Lufbery in One of the New Nieuports.</p> +</div> + +<p>Darkness was coming rapidly on but Prince and Lufbery remained +in the air to protect the bombardment fleet. Just at nightfall +Lufbery made for a small aviation field near the lines, known as +Corcieux. Slow-moving machines, with great planing capacity, can +be landed in the dark, but to try and feel for the ground in a +Nieuport, which comes down at about a hundred miles an hour, is +to court disaster. Ten minutes after Lufbery landed Prince +decided to make for the field. He spiraled down through the night +air and skimmed rapidly over the trees bordering the Corcieux +field. In the dark he did not see a high-tension electric cable +that was stretched just above the tree tops. The landing gear of +his airplane struck it. The machine snapped forward and hit the +ground on its nose. It turned over and over. The belt holding +Prince broke and he was thrown far from the wrecked plane. Both +of his legs were broken and he naturally suffered internal +injuries. In spite of the terrific shock and his intense pain +Prince did not lose consciousness. He even kept his presence of +mind and gave orders to the men who had run to pick him up. +Hearing the hum of a motor, and realizing a machine was in the +air, Prince told them to light gasoline fires on the field. "You +don't want another fellow to come down and break himself up the +way I've done," he said.</p> + +<p>Lufbery went with Prince to the hospital in Gerardmer. As the +ambulance rolled along Prince sang to keep up his spirits. He +spoke of getting well soon and returning to service. It was like +Norman. He was always energetic about his flying. Even when he +passed through the harrowing experience of having a wing +shattered, the first thing he did on landing was to busy himself +about getting another fitted in place and the next morning he was +in the air again.</p> + +<p>No one thought that Prince was mortally injured but the next +day he went into a coma. A blood clot had formed on his brain. +Captain Haff in command of the aviation groups of Luxeuil, +accompanied by our officers, hastened to Gerardmer. Prince lying +unconscious on his bed, was named a second lieutenant and +decorated with the Legion of Honor. He already held the +Médaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre. Norman Prince died +on the 15th of October. He was brought back to Luxeuil and given +a funeral similar to Rockwell's. It was hard to realize that poor +old Norman had gone. He was the founder of the American +escadrille and every one in it had come to rely on him. He never +let his own spirits drop, and was always on hand with +encouragement for the others. I do not think Prince minded going. +He wanted to do his part before being killed, and he had more +than done it. He had, day after day, freed the line of Germans, +making it impossible for them to do their work, and three of them +he had shot to earth.</p> + +<p>Two days after Prince's death the escadrille received orders +to leave for the Somme. The night before the departure the +British gave the American pilots a farewell banquet and toasted +them as their "Guardian Angels." They keenly appreciated the fact +that four men from the American escadrille had brought down four +Germans, and had cleared the way for their squadron returning +from Oberndorf. When the train pulled out the next day the +station platform was packed by khaki-clad pilots waving good-bye +to their friends the "Yanks."</p> + +<p>The escadrille passed through Paris on its way to the Somme +front. The few members who had machines flew from Luxeuil to +their new post. At Paris the pilots were reënforced by three +other American boys who had completed their training. They were: +Fred Prince, who ten months before had come over from Boston to +serve in aviation with his brother Norman; Willis Haviland, of +Chicago, who left the American Ambulance for the life of a +birdman, and Bob Soubrian, of New York, who had been transferred +from the Foreign Legion to the flying corps after being wounded +in the Champagne offensive.</p> + +<p>Before its arrival in the Somme the escadrille had always been +quartered in towns and the life of the pilots was all that could +be desired in the way of comforts. We had, as a result, come to +believe that we would wage only a de luxe war, and were +unprepared for any other sort of campaign. The introduction to +the Somme was a rude awakening. Instead of being quartered in a +villa or hotel, the pilots were directed to a portable barracks +newly erected in a sea of mud.</p> + +<p>It was set in a cluster of similar barns nine miles from the +nearest town. A sieve was a watertight compartment in comparison +with that elongated shed. The damp cold penetrated through every +crack, chilling one to the bone. There were no blankets and until +they were procured the pilots had to curl up in their flying +clothes. There were no arrangements for cooking and the Americans +depended on the other escadrilles for food. Eight fighting units +were located at the same field and our ever-generous French +comrades saw to it that no one went hungry. The thick mist, for +which the Somme is famous, hung like a pall over the birdmen's +nest dampening both the clothes and spirits of the men.</p> + +<p>Something had to be done, so Thaw and Masson, who is our +<i>Chef de Popote</i> (President of the Mess) obtained permission +to go to Paris in one of our light trucks. They returned with +cooking utensils, a stove, and other necessary things. All hands +set to work and as a result life was made bearable. In fact I was +surprised to find the quarters as good as they were when I +rejoined the escadrille a couple of weeks after its arrival in +the Somme. Outside of the cold, mud, and dampness it wasn't so +bad. The barracks had been partitioned off into little rooms +leaving a large space for a dining hall. The stove is set up +there and all animate life from the lion cub to the pilots centre +around its warming glow.</p> + +<p>The eight escadrilles of fighting machines form a rather +interesting colony. The large canvas hangars are surrounded by +the house tents of their respective escadrilles; wooden barracks +for the men and pilots are in close proximity, and sandwiched in +between the encampments of the various units are the tents where +the commanding officers hold forth. In addition there is a bath +house where one may go and freeze while a tiny stream of hot +water trickles down one's shivering form. Another shack houses +the power plant which generates electric light for the tents and +barracks, and in one very popular canvas is located the community +bar, the profits from which go to the Red Cross.</p> + +<p>We had never before been grouped with as many other fighting +escadrilles, nor at a field so near the front. We sensed the war +to better advantage than at Luxeuil or Bar-le-Duc. When there is +activity on the lines the rumble of heavy artillery reaches us in +a heavy volume of sound. From the field one can see the line of +sausage-shaped observation balloons, which delineate the front, +and beyond them the high-flying airplanes, darting like swallows +in the shrapnel puffs of anti-air-craft fire. The roar of motors +that are being tested, is punctuated by the staccato barking of +machine guns, and at intervals the hollow whistling sound of a +fast plane diving to earth is added to this symphony of war +notes.</p> + +<p> <br> + <a name="letters"></a></p> + +<div align="center"> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<h4>PERSONAL LETTERS FROM SERGEANT McCONNELL--AT THE FRONT<br> + </h4> +</div> + +<p>We're still waiting for our machines. In the meantime the +Boches sail gaily over and drop bombs. One of our drivers has +been killed and five wounded so far but we'll put a stop to it +soon. The machines have left and are due to-day.</p> + +<p>You ask me what my work will be and how my machine is armed. +First of all I mount an <i>avion de chasse</i> and am supposed to +shoot down Boches or keep them away from over our lines. I do not +do observation, or regulating of artillery fire. These are +handled by escadrilles equipped with bigger machines. I mount at +daybreak over the lines; stay at from 11,000 to 15,000 feet and +wait for the sight of an enemy plane. It may be a bombardment +machine, a regulator of fire, an observer, or an <i>avion de +chasse</i> looking for me. Whatever she is I make for her and +manoeuvre for position. All the machines carry different gun +positions and one seeks the blind side. Having obtained the +proper position one turns down or up, whichever the case may be, +and, when within fifty yards, opens up with the machine gun. That +is on the upper plane and it is sighted by a series of holes and +cross webs. As one is passing at a terrific rate there is not +time for many shots, so, unless wounded or one's machine is +injured by the first try--for the enemy plane shoots, too--one +tries it again and again until there's nothing doing or the other +fellow is dropped. Apart from work over the lines, which is +comparatively calm, there is the job of convoying bombardment +machines. That is the rotten task. The captain has called on us +to act as guards on the next trip. You see we are like torpedo +boats of the air with our swift machines.</p> + +<p>We have the honour of being attached to a bombardment squadron +that is the most famous in the French Army. The captain of the +unit once lost his whole escadrille, and on the last trip eight +lost their lives. It was a wonderful fight. The squadron was +attacked by thirty-three Boches. Two French planes crashed to +earth--then two German; another German was set on fire and +streaked down, followed by a streaming column of smoke. Another +Frenchman fell; another German; and then a French lieutenant, +mortally wounded and realizing that he was dying, plunged his +airplane into a German below him and both fell to earth like +stones.</p> + +<p>The tours of Alsace and the Vosges that we have made, to look +over possible landing places, were wonderful. I've never seen +such ravishing sights, and in regarding the beauty of the country +I have missed noting the landing places. The valleys are +marvellous. On each side the mountain slopes are a solid mass of +giant pines and down these avenues of green tumble myriads of +glittering cascades which form into sparkling streams beneath. It +is a pleasant feeling to go into Alsace and realize that one is +touring over country we have taken from the Germans. It's a treat +to go by auto that way. In the air, you know, one feels detached +from all below. It's a different world, that has no particular +meaning, and besides, it all looks flat and of a weary +pattern.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +THE FIRST TRIP</p> +</div> + +<p>Well, I've made my first trip over the lines and proved a few +things to myself. First, I can stand high altitudes. I had never +been higher than 7,000 feet before, nor had I flown more than an +hour. On my trip to Germany I went to 14,000 feet and was in the +air for two hours. I wore the fur head-to-foot combination they +give one and paper gloves under the fur ones you sent me. I was +not cold. In a way it seemed amusing to be going out knowing as +little as I do. My mitrailleuse had been mounted the night +before. I had never fired it, nor did I know the country at all +even though I'd motored along our lines. I followed the others or +I surely should have been lost. I shall have to make special +trips to study the land and be able to make it out from my map +which I carry on board. For one thing the weather was hazy and +clouds obscured the view.</p> + +<p>We left en escadrille, at 30-second intervals, at 6:30 A.M. +I'd been on guard since three, waiting for an enemy plane. I +climbed to 3,500 feet in four minutes and so started off higher +than the rest. I lost them immediately but took a compass course +in the direction we were headed. Clouds were below me and I could +see the earth only in spots. Ahead was a great barrier of clouds +and fog. It seemed like a limitless ocean. To the south the Alps +jutted up through the clouds and glistened like icebergs in the +morning sun. I began to feel completely lost. I was at 7,000 feet +and that was all I knew. Suddenly I saw a little black speck pop +out of a cloud to my left--then two others. They were our +machines and from then on I never let them get out of my sight. I +went to 14,000 in order to be able to keep them well in view +below me. We went over Belfort which I recognized, and, turning, +went toward the lines. The clouds had dispersed by this time. +Alsace was below us and in the distance I could see the straight +course of the Rhine. It looked very small. I looked down and saw +the trenches and when I next looked for our machines I saw +clusters of smoke puffs. We were being fired at. One machine just +under me seemed to be in the centre of a lot of shrapnel. The +puffs were white, or black, or green, depending on the size of +the shell used. It struck me as more amusing than anything else +to watch the explosions and smoke. I thought of what a lot of +money we were making the Germans spend. It is not often that they +hit. The day before one of our machines had a part of the tail +shot away and the propeller nicked, but that's just bum luck. Two +shells went off just at my height and in a way that led me to +think that the third one would get me; but it didn't. It's hard +even for the aviator to tell how far off they are. We went over +Mulhouse and to the north. Then we sailed south and turned over +the lines on the way home. I was very tired after the flight but +it was because I was not used to it and it was a strain on me +keeping a look-out for the others.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +AT VERDUN</p> +</div> + +<p>To-day the army moving picture outfit took pictures of us. We +had a big show. Thirty bombardment planes went off like +clock-work and we followed. We circled and swooped down by the +camera. We were taken in groups, then individually, in flying +togs, and God knows what-all. They will be shown in the +States.</p> + +<p>If you happen to see them you will recognize my machine by the +MAC, painted on the side.</p> + +<p>Seems quite an important thing to have one's own airplane with +two mechanics to take care of it, to help one dress for flights, +and to obey orders. A pilot of no matter what grade is like an +officer in any other arm.</p> + +<p>We didn't see any Boche planes on our trip. We were too many. +The only way to do is to sneak up on them.</p> + +<p>I do not get a chance to see much of the biggest battle in the +world which is being fought here, for I'm on a fighting machine +and the sky is my province. We fly so high that ground details +are lacking. Where the battle has raged there is a broad, browned +band. It is a great strip of murdered Nature. Trees, houses, and +even roads have been blasted completely away. The shell holes are +so numerous that they blend into one another and cannot be +separately seen. It looks as if shells fell by the thousand every +second. There are spurts of smoke at nearly every foot of the +brown areas and a thick pall of mist covers it all. There are but +holes where the trenches ran, and when one thinks of the poor +devils crouching in their inadequate shelters under such a +hurricane of flying metal, it increases one's respect for the +staying powers of modern man. It's terrible to watch, and I feel +sad every time I look down. The only shooting we hear is the +tut-tut-tut of our own or enemy plane's machine guns when +fighting is at close quarters. The Germans shoot explosive +bullets from theirs. I must admit that they have an excellent air +fleet even if they do not fight decently.</p> + +<p>I'm a sergeant now--<i>sergent</i> in French--and I get about +two francs more a day and wear a gold band on my cap, which makes +old territorials think I'm an officer and occasions salutes which +are some bother.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +A SORTIE</p> +</div> + +<p>We made a foolish sortie this morning. Only five of us went, +the others remaining in bed thinking the weather was too bad. It +was. When at only 3,000 feet we hit a solid layer of clouds, and +when we had passed through, we couldn't see anything but a +shimmering field of white. Above were the bright sun and the blue +sky, but how we were in regard to the earth no one knew. +Fortunately the clouds had a big hole in them at one point and +the whole mass was moving toward the lines. By circling, +climbing, and dropping we stayed above the hole, and, when over +the trenches, worked into it, ready to fall on the Boches. It's a +stunt they use, too. We finally found ourselves 20 kilometres in +the German lines. In coming back I steered by compass and then +when I thought I was near the field I dived and found myself not +so far off, having the field in view. In the clouds it shakes +terribly and one feels as if one were in a canoe on a rough +sea.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +VICTOR CHAPMAN</p> +</div> + +<p>I was mighty sorry to see old Victor Chapman go. He was one of +the finest men I've ever known. He was <i>too</i> brave if +anything. He was exceptionally well educated, had a fine brain, +and a heart as big as a house. Why, on the day of his fatal trip, +he had put oranges in his machine to take to Balsley who was +lying wounded with an explosive bullet. He was going to land near +the hospital after the sortie.</p> + +<p>Received letter inclosing note from Chapman's father. I'm glad +you wrote him. I feel sure that some of my letters never reach +you. I never let more than a week go by without writing. Maybe I +do not get all yours, either.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +A SMASH-UP</p> +</div> + +<p>Weather has been fine and we've been doing a lot of work. Our +Lieutenant de Laage de Mieux, brought down a Boche. I had another +beautiful smash-up. Prince and I had stayed too long over the +lines. Important day as an attack was going on. It was getting +dark and we could see the tiny balls of fire the infantry light +to show the low-flying observation machines their new positions. +On my return, when I was over another aviation field, my motor +broke. I made for field. In the darkness I couldn't judge my +distance well, and went too far. At the edge of the field there +were trees, and beyond, a deep cut where a road ran. I was +skimming ground at a hundred miles an hour and heading for the +trees. I saw soldiers running to be in at the finish and I +thought to myself that James's hash was cooked, but I went +between two trees and ended up head on against the opposite bank +of the road. My motor took the shock and my belt held me. As my +tail went up it was cut in two by some very low 'phone wires. I +wasn't even bruised. Took dinner with the officers there who gave +me a car to go home in afterward.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +FIGHTING A BOCHE</p> +</div> + +<p>To-day I shared another chap's machine (Hill of Peekskill), +and got it shot up for him. De Laage (our lieutenant) and I made +a sortie at noon. When over the German lines, near +<i>Côte</i> 304, I saw two Boches under me. I picked out +the rear chap and dived. Fired a few shots and then tried to get +under his tail and hit him from there. I missed, and bobbed up +alongside of him. Fine for the Boche, but rotten for me! I could +see his gunner working the mitrailleuse for fair, and felt his +bullets darn close. I dived, for I could not shoot from that +position, and beat it. He kept plunking away and altogether put +seven holes in my machine. One was only ten inches in from me. De +Laage was too far off to get to the Boche and ruin him while I +was amusing him.</p> + +<p>Yesterday I motored up to an aviation camp to see a Boche +machine that had been forced to land and was captured. On the way +up I passed a cantonment of Senegalese. About twenty of 'em +jumped up from the bench they were sitting on and gave me the +hell of a salute. Thought I was a general because I was riding in +a car, I guess. They're the blackest niggers you ever saw. +Good-looking soldiers. Can't stand shelling but they're good on +the cold steel end of the game. The Boche machine was a beauty. +Its motor is excellent and she carries a machine gun aft and one +forward. Same kind of a machine I attacked to-day. The German +pilots must be mighty cold-footed, for if the Frenchmen had +airplanes like that they surely would raise the devil with the +Boches.</p> + +<p>As it is the Boches keep well within their lines, save +occasionally, and we have to go over and fight them there.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +KIFFIN ROCKWELL</p> +</div> + +<p>Poor Kiffin Rockwell has been killed. He was known and admired +far and wide, and he was accorded extraordinary honours. Fifty +English pilots and eight hundred aviation men from the British +unit in the Vosges marched at his funeral. There was a regiment +of Territorials and a battalion of Colonial troops in addition to +the hundreds of French pilots and aviation men. Captain +Thénault of the American Escadrille delivered an +exceptionally eulogistic funeral oration. He spoke at length of +Rockwell's ideals and his magnificent work. He told of his +combats. "When Rockwell was on the lines," he said, "no German +passed, but on the contrary was forced to seek a refuge on the +ground."</p> + +<p>Rockwell made the <i>esprit</i> of the escadrille, and the +Captain voiced the sentiments of us all when, in announcing his +death, he said: "The best and bravest of us all is no more."</p> + +<p>How does the war look to you--as regards duration? We are +figuring on about ten more months, but then it may be ten more +years. Of late things are much brighter and one can feel a +certain elation in the air. Victory, before, was a sort of +academic certainty; now, it's felt.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> + <a name="train"></a></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<h4>HOW FRANCE TRAINS PILOT AVIATORS<br> + </h4> +</div> + +<p>France now has thousands of men training to become military +aviators, and the flying schools, of which there is a very great +number, are turning out pilots at an astounding rate.</p> + +<p>The process of training a man to be a pilot aviator naturally +varies in accordance with the type of machine on which he takes +his first instruction, and so the methods of the various schools +depend on the apparatus upon which they teach an +<i>élève pilote</i>--as an embryonic aviator is +called--to fly.</p> + +<p>In the case of the larger biplanes, a student goes up in a +dual-control airplane, accompanied by an old pilot, who, after +first taking him on many short trips, then allows him part, and +later full, control, and who immediately corrects any false moves +made by him. After that, short, straight line flights are made +alone in a smaller-powered machine by the student, and, following +that, the training goes on by degrees to the point where a +certain mastery of the apparatus is attained. Then follows the +prescribed "stunts" and voyages necessary to obtain the military +brevet.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +TRAINING FOR PURSUIT AIRPLANES</p> +</div> + +<p>The method of training a pilot for a small, fast <i>avion de +chasse,</i> as a fighting airplane is termed, is quite different, +and as it is the most thorough and interesting I will take that +course up in greater detail.</p> + +<p>The man who trains for one of these machines never has the +advantage of going first into the air in a double-control +airplane. He is alone when he first leaves the earth, and so the +training preparatory to that stage is very carefully planned to +teach a man the habit of control in such a way that all the +essential movements will come naturally when he first finds +himself face to face with the new problems the air has set for +him. In this preparatory training a great deal of weeding out is +effected, for a man's aptitude for the work shows up, and unless +he is by nature especially well fitted he is transferred to the +division which teaches one to fly the larger and safer +machines.</p> + +<p>First of all, the student is put on what is called a roller. +It is a low-powered machine with very small wings. It is strongly +built to stand the rough wear it gets, and no matter how much one +might try it could not leave the ground. The apparatus is +jokingly and universally known as a Penguin, both because of its +humorous resemblance to the quaint arctic birds and its inability +in common with them to do any flying. A student makes a few trips +up and down the field in a double-control Penguin, and learns how +to steer with his feet. Then he gets into a single-seated one +and, while the rapidly whirling propeller is pulling him along, +tries to keep the Penguin in a straight line. The slightest +mistake or delayed movement will send the machine skidding off to +the right or left, and sometimes, if the motor is not stopped in +time, over on its side or back. Something is always being broken +on a Penguin, and so a reserve flock is kept at the side of the +field in order that no time may be lost.</p> + +<p>After one is able to keep a fairly straight line, he is put on +a Penguin that moves at a faster rate, and after being able to +handle it successfully passes to a very speedy one, known as the +"rapid." Here one learns to keep the tail of the machine at a +proper angle by means of the elevating lever, and to make a +perfectly straight line. When this has been accomplished and the +monitor is thoroughly convinced that the student is absolutely +certain of making no mistakes in guiding with his feet, the young +aviator is passed on to the class which teaches him how to leave +the ground. As one passes from one machine to another one finds +that the foot movements must be made smaller and smaller. The +increased speed makes the machine more and more responsive to the +rudder, and as a result the foot movements become so gentle when +one gets into the air that they must come instinctively.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +FIRST FLIGHTS ALONE</p> +</div> + +<p>The class where one will leave the ground has now been +reached, and an outfit of leather clothes and casque is given to +the would-be pilot. The machines used at this stage are +low-powered monoplanes of the Blériot type, which, though +being capable of leaving the ground, cannot rise more than a few +feet. They do not run when the wind is blowing or when there are +any movements of air from the ground, for though a great deal of +balancing is done by correcting with the rudder, the student +knows nothing of maintaining the lateral stability, and if caught +in the air by a bad movement would be apt to sustain a severe +accident. He has now only to learn how to take the machine off +the ground and hold it at a low line of flight for a few +moments.</p> + +<p>For the first time one is strapped into the seat of the +machine, and this continues to be the case from this point on. +The motor is started, and one begins to roll swiftly along the +ground. The tail is brought to an angle slightly above a straight +line. Then one sits tight and waits. Suddenly the motion seems +softer, the motor does not roar so loudly, and the ground is +slipping away. The class standing at the end of the line looks +far below; the individuals are very small, but though you imagine +you are going too high, you must not push to go down more than +the smallest fraction, or the machine will dive and smash. The +small push has brought you down with a bump from a seemingly +great height. In reality you have been but three feet off the +ground. Little by little the student becomes accustomed to +leaving the ground, for these short hop-skip-and-jump flights, +and has learned how to steer in the air.</p> + +<p>If he has no bad smash-ups he is passed on to a class where he +rises higher, and is taught the rudiments of landing. If, after a +few days, that act is reasonably performed and the young pilot +does not land too hard, he is passed to the class where he goes +about sixty feet high, maintains his line of flight for five or +six minutes and learns to make a good landing from that height. +He must by this time be able to keep his machine on the line of +flight without dipping and rising, and the landings must be +uniformly good. The instructor takes a great deal of time showing +the student the proper line of descent, for the landings must be +perfect before he can pass on.</p> + +<p>Now comes the class where the pilot rises three or four +hundred feet high and travels for more than two miles in a +straight line. Here he is taught how to combat air movements and +maintain lateral stability. All the flying up to this point has +been done in a straight line, but now comes the class where one +is taught to turn. Machines in this division are almost as high +powered as a regular flying machine, and can easily climb to two +thousand feet. The turn is at first very wide, and then, as the +student becomes more confident, it is done more quickly, and +while the machine leans at an angle that would frighten one if +the training in turning had not been gradual. When the pilot can +make reasonably close right and left turns, he is told to make +figure eights. After doing this well he is sent to the real +flying machines.</p> + +<p>There is nothing in the way of a radical step from the turns +and figure eights to the real flying machines. It is a question +of becoming at ease in the better and faster airplanes taking +greater altitudes, making little trips, perfecting landings, and +mastering all the movements of correction that one is forced to +make. Finally one is taught how to shut off and start one's motor +again in the air, and then to go to a certain height, shut off +the motor, make a half-turn while dropping and start the motor +again. After this, one climbs to about two thousand feet and, +shutting off the motor, spirals down to within five hundred feet +of the ground. When that has been practised sufficiently, a +registering altitude meter is strapped to the pilot's back and he +essays the official spiral, in which one must spiral all the way +to earth with the motor off, and come to a stop within a few +yards of a fixed point on the aviation grounds. After this, the +student passes to the voyage machines, which are of almost twice +the power of the machine used for the short trips and +spirals.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +TESTS FOR THE MILITARY BREVET</p> +</div> + +<p>There are three voyages to make. Two consist in going to +designated towns an hour or so distant and returning. The third +voyage is a triangle. A landing is made at one point and the +other two points are only necessary to cross. In addition, there +are two altitudes of about seven thousand feet each that one has +to attain either while on the voyages or afterward.</p> + +<p>The young pilot has not, up to this point, had any experience +on trips, and there is always a sense of adventure in starting +out over unknown country with only a roller map to guide one and +the gauges and controls, which need constant attention, to +distract one from the reading of the chart. Then, too, it is the +first time that the student has flown free and at a great height +over the earth, and his sense of exultation at navigating at will +the boundless sky causes him to imagine he is a real pilot. True +it is that when the voyages and altitudes are over, and his +examinations in aeronautical sciences passed, the student becomes +officially a <i>pilote-aviateur,</i> and he can wear two little +gold-woven wings on his collar to designate his capacity, and +carry a winged propeller emblem on his arm, but he is not ready +for the difficult work of the front, and before he has time to +enjoy more than a few days' rest he is sent to a school of +<i>perfectionnement.</i> There the real, serious and thorough +training begins.</p> + +<p>Schools where the pilots are trained on the modern +machines--<i>écoles de perfectionnement</i> as they are +called--are usually an annex to the centres where the soldiers +are taught to fly, though there are one or two camps that are +devoted exclusively to giving advanced instruction to aviators +who are to fly the <i>avions de chasse,</i> or fighting machines. +When the aviator enters one of these schools he is a breveted +pilot, and he is allowed a little more freedom than he enjoyed +during the time he was learning to fly.</p> + +<p>He now takes up the Morane monoplane. It is interesting to +note that the German Fokker is practically a copy of this +machine. After flying for a while on a low-powered Morane and +having mastered the landing, the pilot is put on a new, +higher-powered model of the same make. He has a good many hours +of flying, but his trips are very short, for the whole idea is to +familiarize one with the method of landing. The Blériot +has a landing gear that is elastic in action, and it is easy to +bring to earth. The Nieuport and other makes of small, fast +machines for which the pilot is training have a solid wheel base, +and good landings are much more difficult to make. The Morane +pilot has the same practices climbing to small altitudes around +eight thousand feet and picking his landing from that height with +motor off. When he becomes proficient in flying the single- and +double-plane types he leaves the school for another, where +shooting with machine guns is taught.</p> + +<p>This course in shooting familiarizes one with various makes of +machine guns used on airplanes, and one learns to shoot at +targets from the air. After two or three weeks the pilot is sent +to another school of combat.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> +TRICK FLYING AND DOING STUNTS</p> +</div> + +<p>These schools of combat are connected with the +<i>écoles de perfectionnement</i> with which the pilot has +finished. In the combat school he learns battle tactics, how to +fight singly and in fleet formation, and how to extract himself +from a too dangerous position. Trips are made in squadron +formation and sham battles are effected with other escadrilles, +as the smallest unit of an aërial fleet is called. For the +first time the pilot is allowed to do fancy flying. He is taught +how to loop the loop, slide on his wings or tail, go into +corkscrews and, more important, to get out of them, and is +encouraged to try new stunts.</p> + +<p>Finally the pilot is considered well enough trained to be sent +to the reserve, where he waits his call to the front. At the +reserve he flies to keep his hand in, practises on any new make +of machine that happens to come out or that he may be put on in +place of the Nieuport, and receives information regarding old and +new makes of enemy airplanes.</p> + +<p>At last the pilot receives his call to the front, where he +takes his place in some established or newly formed escadrille. +He is given a new machine from the nearest airplane reserve +centre, and he then begins his active service in the war, which, +if he survives the course, is the best school of them all.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> + <a name="odds"></a></p> + +<h3>AGAINST ODDS<br> + </h3> +</div> + +<p>Since the publication of previous editions of "Flying for +France" we have obtained the following letters which add greatly +to the interest and complete the record of McConnell's connection +with the Lafayette Escadrille.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p> <br> + </p> + +<h3>CHAPTER V<br> + </h3> +</div> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>March 19, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>DEAR PAUL:</p> + +<p>We are passing through some very interesting times. The boches +are in full retreat, offering very little resistance to the +English and French advance. The boches have systematically +destroyed all the towns and villages abandoned. Where they +haven't burned a house, they have made holes through the roofs +with pickaxes. All the cross-roads are blown up at the junctions, +and when the trees bordering the roads haven't been cut down, +barricading the roads, they have been cut half way through so +that when the wind blows they keep falling on the passing +convoys. The inhabitants left in these villages are wild with +delight and are giving the troops an inspiring reception. In one +town the boches raped all the women before leaving, then locked +them down cellar, and carried off all the young girls with +them.</p> + +<p>We have been flying low, and watching the cavalry overrunning +the country. The boches are retreating to very strongly fortified +positions, where the advance is going to come up against a stone +wall.</p> + +<p>This morning Genet and McConnell flew well ahead of the +advancing army, Mac leading. Genet saw two boche planes +maneuvering to get above them, so he began to climb, too. Finally +they got together; the boche was a biplane and had the edge on +Genet. Almost the first shot got Genet in the cheek. Fortunately +it was only a deep flesh wound, and another shot almost broke the +stanchion, which supports the wings, in two. Genet stuck to the +boche and opened fire on him. He knows he hit the machine and at +one time he thought he saw the machine on fire, but nothing +happened. At last the boche had Genet in a bad position, so he +(Genet) piqued down about a thousand meters and got away from the +boche. He looked around for Mac but couldn't find him, so he came +home. Mac hasn't yet shown up and we are frightfully worried. +Genet has a dim recollection that when he attacked the boche, the +other boche piqued down in Mac's direction, and it looks as if +the boche got Mac unawares. Late this afternoon we got a report +that this morning a Nieuport was seen to land near Tergnier, +which is unfortunately still in German hands. This must have been +Mac's, in which case he is only wounded, or perhaps only his +machine was badly damaged. There is a general feeling among us +that Mac is all right. The French cavalry are within ten or +fifteen kilometers of Tergnier now and perhaps they will take the +place to-morrow, in which case we will certainly learn something. +This afternoon Lieut. de Laage and Lufbery landed at Ham, where +the advance infantry were, and made a lot of inquiries. It was +near this place where the fight started. Nobody had seen any +machine come down. You may be sure I will keep you informed of +everything that turns up. Genet is going to write you in a day or +so.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>Sincerely,</p> + +<p>WALTER (signed Walter Lovell).</p> +</div> + +<p>P. S. I apologize for the mistakes and the disconnectedness of +this letter, but I wrote it in frightful haste in order to get it +in the first post.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>March 20, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>MY DEAR ROCKWELL:</p> + +<p>I do not know if any of the boys have written you about the +disappearance of Jim, so perhaps you might know something about +it when this letter reaches you.</p> + +<p>He left yesterday at 8:45 a.m. in his machine for the German +lines, and has not returned yet. He and Genet were attacked by +two Germans, the latter, who received a slight wound on the +cheek, was so occupied he did not see what became of Jim, and +returned without him.</p> + +<p>The combat took place between Ham and St. Quentin; the +territory was still occupied by the enemy when the combat took +place. The worst I hope has happened to our friend is that +perhaps he was wounded and was forced to land in the enemy's +lines and was made prisoner. Nothing definite is known. I shall +write you immediately I get news.</p> + +<p>I am extremely worried. To lose my friend would be a severe +blow. I can't and will not believe that anything serious has +happened.</p> + +<p>Best wishes,</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>Sincerely,</p> + +<p>E. A. MARSHALL.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182, <br> + March 21, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>MY DEAR PAUL:</p> + +<p>Had I been feeling less distressed and miserable on Monday +morning, or during yesterday, I would have written you then, but +I told Lovell to tell you how I felt when he wrote on Monday and +that I would try and write in a day or so. I am not feeling much +better mentally but I'll try and write something, for I am the +only one who was out with poor Mac on Monday morning and it just +adds that much more to my distress.</p> + +<p>As you know, we have had a big advance here, due to the +deliberate evacuation by the Germans, without much opposition, of +the territory now in the hands of the French and English. The +advance began last Thursday night and each day has brought the +lines closer to Saint Quentin and the region north and south of +it.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning Mac, Parsons, and myself went out at nine +o'clock on the third patrol of the escadrille. We had orders to +protect observation machines along the new lines around the +region of Ham. Mac was leader. I came second and Parsons followed +me. Before we had gone very far Parsons was forced to go back on +account of motor trouble, which handicapped us greatly on account +of what followed, but of course that cannot be remedied because +Parsons was perfectly right in returning when his motor was not +running well. We all do that one time or another.</p> + +<p>Mac and I kept on and up to ten o'clock were circling around +the region of Ham, watching out for the heavier machines doing +reconnoitring work below us. We went higher than a thousand +meters during that time. About ten, for some reason or other of +his own, Mac suddenly headed into the German lines toward Saint +Quentin and I naturally followed close to his rear and above him. +Perhaps he wanted to make observations around Saint Quentin. At +any rate, we had gotten north of Ham and quite inside the hostile +lines, when I saw two boche machines crossing towards us from the +region of Saint Quentin at an altitude quite higher than ours. We +were then about 1,600 meters. I supposed Mac saw them the same as +I did. One boche was much farther ahead than the other, and was +headed as if he would dive at any moment on Mac. I glanced ahead +at Mac and saw what direction he was taking, and then pulled back +to climb up as quickly as possible to gain an advantageous height +over the nearest boche. It was cloudy and misty and I had to keep +my eyes on him all the time, so naturally I couldn't watch Mac. +The second boche was still much farther off than his mate. By +this time I had gotten to 2,200, the boche was almost up to me +and taking a diagonal course right in front. He started to circle +and his gunner--it was a biplane, probably an Albatross, although +the mist was too thick and dark for me to see much but the bare +outline of his dirty, dark green body, with white and black +crosses--opened fire before I did and his first volley did some +damage. One bullet cut the left central support of my upper wing +in half, an explosive bullet cut in half the left guiding rod of +the left aileron, and I was momentarily stunned by part of it +which dug a nasty gouge into my left cheek. I had already opened +fire and was driving straight for the boche with teeth set and my +hand gripping the triggers making a veritable stream of fire +spitting out of my gun at him, as I had incendiary bullets, it +being my job lately to chase after observation balloons, and on +Saturday morning I had also been up after the reported Zeppelins. +I had to keep turning toward the boche every second, as he was +circling around towards me and I was on the inside of the circle, +so his gunner had all the advantage over me. I thought I had him +on fire for one instant as I saw--or supposed I did--flames on +his fuselage. Everything passed in a few seconds and we swung +past each other in opposite directions at scarcely twenty-five +meters from each other--the boche beating off towards the north +and I immediately dived down in the opposite direction wondering +every second whether the broken wing support would hold together +or not and feeling weak and stunned from the hole in my face. A +battery opened a heavy fire on me as I went down, the shells +breaking just behind me. I straightened out over Ham at a +thousand meters, and began to circle around to look for Mac or +the other boche, but saw absolutely nothing the entire fifteen +minutes I stayed there. I was fearful every minute that my whole +top wing would come off, and I thought that possibly Mac had +gotten around toward the west over our lines, missed me, and was +already on his way back to camp. So I finally turned back for our +camp, having to fly very low and against a strong northern wind, +on account of low clouds just forming. I got back at a quarter to +eleven and my first question to my mechanic was: "Has McConnell +returned?"</p> + +<p>He hadn't, Paul, and no news of any sort have we had of him +yet, although we hoped and prayed every hour yesterday for some +word to come in. The one hope that we have is that on account of +this continued advance some news will be brought in of Mac +through civilians who might have witnessed his flight over the +lines north of Ham, while they were still in the hands of the +enemy, for many of the civilians in the villages around there are +being left by the Germans as they retire. We can likewise hope +that Mac was merely forced to land inside the enemy lines on +account of a badly damaged machine, or a bad wound, and is well +but a prisoner. I wish to God, Paul, that I had been able to see +Mac during his combat, or had been able to get down to him sooner +and help him. The mists were thick, and consequently seeing far +was difficult. I would have gone out that afternoon to look for +him but my machine was so damaged it took until yesterday +afternoon to be repaired. Lieut. de Laage and Lufbery did go out +with their Spads and looked all around the region north of Ham +towards Saint Quentin but saw nothing at all of a Nieuport on the +ground, or anything else to give news of what had occurred.</p> + +<p>The French are still not far enough towards Saint Quentin to +be on the territory where the chances are Mac landed, so we'll +still have to wait for to-day's developments for any possibility +of news. I got lots of hope, Paul, that Mac is at least alive +although undoubtedly a prisoner. I know how badly the news has +affected you. We're all feeling mighty blue over it and as for +myself--I'm feeling utterly miserable over the whole affair. Just +as soon as any definite news comes in I'll surely let you know at +once. Meanwhile, keep cheered and hopeful. There's no use in +losing hope yet. If a prisoner Mac may even be able to escape and +return to our lines, on account of the very unsettled state of +the retreating Germans. Others have done so under much less +favorable conditions.</p> + +<p>I hope you are having a very enjoyable trip through the South. +Walter showed me the postal you wrote him, which he received +yesterday. Please give my very warm regards to your wife. Write +as soon as you can, too.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>Very faithfully yours,</p> + +<p>EDMOND C. C. GENET.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>March 22, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>MY DEAR ROCKWELL:</p> + +<p>Still no news about Jim. Last night the captain sent out a +request to the military authorities to have our troops advancing +in the direction of Saint Quentin report immediately any +particulars about avion 2055. Even now I cannot reconcile myself +concerning Jim's fate. I hope he has been made prisoner.</p> + +<p>Just a few words about myself. I am awaiting the results of my +friends' actions in the States on my behalf. I am placed in a +peculiar position in the escadrille. I have nothing to do here. +Shall I take care of Jim's belongings?</p> + +<p>Best wishes,</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>Sincerely,</p> + +<p>E. A. MARSHALL.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182, <br> + March 23, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>DEAR PAUL:</p> + +<p>In my letter I promised to send you word as soon as any +definite news came in concerning poor Mac. To-day word came in +from a group of French cavalry that they witnessed our fight on +Monday morning and that they saw Mac brought down inside the +German lines towards Saint Quentin after being attacked by two +boche machines and at the same time they saw me fighting a third +one higher than Mac, and that just as I piqued down Mac fell so +there were three boche machines instead of two, as I supposed, +having missed seeing the third one on account of the heavy clouds +and mist around us.</p> + +<p>There is still the hope that Mac wasn't killed but only +wounded and a prisoner. If he is we'll learn of it later. The +cavalrymen didn't say whether he came down normally or fell. +Possibly he was too far off really to tell definitely about that. +Certainly he had been already brought down before I could get +down to help him after the boche I attacked beat it off. Had I +known there were three boche machines I certainly would not have +played around that boche at such a distance from Mac.</p> + +<p>When will Mrs. Weeks return to Paris from the States? Will you +write and tell her about Mac? She'll be mighty well grieved to +hear of it, I know, and you'll be the best one to break it to +her.</p> + +<p>Write to me soon. Best regards to Mrs. Rockwell.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>E. GENET.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>March 24th, a. m. <br> + C. Aeronatique, Noyon & D. C. 13. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>MY DEAR ROCKWELL:</p> + +<p>The targe element informs us that it has found, in the +environs of the Bois l'Abbe, a Nieuport No. 2055. The aviator, a +sergeant, has been dead since three days, in the opinion of the +doctor. His pockets appear to have been searched, for no papers +were found on him. The Bois l'Abbe is two kilometers south of +Jussy. The above message received by us at ten o'clock last +night. Jussy is on the main road between Saint Quentin and +Chauny. I expect to go back to the infantry soon.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>Sincerely, E. A. MARSHALL.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>Escadrille N. 124, Secteur Postal 182, <br> + March 25, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>DEAR PAUL:</p> + +<p>The evening before last definite news was brought to us that a +badly smashed Nieuport had been found by French troops, beside +which was the body of a sergeant-pilot which had been there at +least three days and had been stripped of all identification +papers, flying clothes and even the boots. They got the number of +the machine, which proved without further question that it was +poor Mac. They gave the location as being at the little village +of Petit Detroit, which is just south of Flavy-le-Martel, the +latter place being about ten kilometers east of Ham on the +railroad running from Ham to La Fere.</p> + +<p>After having made a flight over the lines yesterday morning, I +went down around Petit Detroit to locate the machine. There was +no decent place there on which to land so I circled around over +it for a few minutes to see in which condition it (the Nieuport) +was. The machine was scarcely distinguishable so badly had it +smashed into the ground, and there is scarcely any doubt, Paul, +that Mac was killed while having his fight in the air, as no +pilot would have attempted to land a machine in the tiny rotten +field--no more than a little orchard beside the +road--voluntarily. It seems almost certain that he struck the +ground with full motor on. Captain Thénault landed some +distance from there that he might go over there in a car and see +just what could be done about poor Mac's body. When he returned +last night he told us the following:</p> + +<p>Mac, he said, was as badly mangled as the machine and had been +relieved of his flying suit by the damned boches, also of his +shoes and all papers. The machine had struck the ground so hard +that it was half buried, the motor being totally in the earth and +the rest, including even the machine gun, completely smashed. It +was just beside the main road, in a small field containing apple +trees cut down by the retreating boches, and just at the southern +edge of the village.</p> + +<p>Mac has been buried right there beside the road, and we will +see that the grave is decently marked with a cross, etc. The +captain brought back a square piece of canvas cut from one of the +wings, and we are going to get a good picture we have of Mac +enlarged and placed on this with a frame. I suppose that Thaw or +Johnson will attend to the belongings of Mac which he had written +are to be sent to you to care for. In the letter which he had +left for just such an occasion as this he concludes with the +following words: "Good luck to the rest of you. God damn Germany +and vive la France!"</p> + +<p>All honour to him, Paul. The world will look up to him, as +well as France, for whom he died so gloriously, just as it is +looking up to your fine brother and the rest of us who have given +their lives so freely and gladly for this big cause.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>Warmest regards, etc.,</p> + +<p>Faithfully,</p> + +<p>EDMOND C. C. GENET.</p> +</div> + +<p>P. S. The captain has already put in a proposal for a citation +for Mac, and also one for me. Mac surely deserved it, and lots +more too.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<div align="right"> +<p><i>Escadrille N. 124, S. P. 182, <br> + March 27, 1917. </i></p> +</div> + +<p>DEAR PAUL:</p> + +<p>I got your postcard to-day and would have written you sooner +about poor Jim but haven't been up to it, which I know you +understand.</p> + +<p>It hit me pretty hard, Paul, for as you know we were in school +and college together, and for the last four or five years have +been very intimate, living in N.C. and New York together.</p> + +<p>It's hell, Paul, that all the good boys are being picked off. +The damned Huns have raised hell with the old crowd, but I think +we have given them more than we have received. The boys who have +gone made the name for the escadrille and now it's up to us who +are left (especially the old Verdun crowd) to keep her going and +make the boches suffer.</p> + +<p>Like old Kiffin, Mac died gloriously and in full action. It +was in a fight with three Germans in their lines. Genet took one +Hun (and was wounded). The last he saw was a Hun on Mac's back. +Later we learned from the cavalry that there were two on Mac and +after a desperate fight Mac crashed to the ground. This was the +19th of March. Three days later we took the territory Mac fell in +and they were unable to distinguish who he was. The swine Huns +had taken every paper or piece of identification from him and +also robbed him--even took his shoes. The captain went over and +was able to identify him by the number of his machine and +uniform. He had lain out there three days and was smashed so +terribly that you couldn't recognize his face. He was buried +where he fell in a coffin made from the door of a pillaged house. +His last resting place (and where he fell) is "Petit Detroit," +which is a village southwest of Saint Quentin and north of +Chauney. He is buried just at the southeast end of the village +and in a hell of a small town.</p> + +<p>Jim left a letter of which I am copying the important +parts:</p> + +<p>"In case of my death or made prisoner--which is worse--please +send my canteen and what money I have on me, or coming to me [he +had none on him as the Huns lifted that] to Mr. Paul A. Rockwell, +80 rue, etc. Shoes, tools, wearing apparel, etc., you can give +away. The rest of my things, such as diary, photos, souvenirs, +croix de guerre, best uniform [he had best uniform on and I think +the croix de guerre--however, you may find the latter in his +things, his other uniform can't be found], please put in canteen +and ship along.</p> + +<p>"Kindly cable my sister, Mrs. Followsbee, 65 Bellevue Place, +Chicago. It would be kind to follow same by a letter telling +about my death [which I am doing].</p> + +<p>"I have a box trunk in Paris containing belongings I would +like to send home. Paul R. knows about it and can attend to the +shipping. I would appreciate it if the committee of the American +Escad. would pay to Mr. Paul Rockwell the money needed to cover +express.</p> + +<p>"My burial is of no import. Make it as easy as possible for +yourselves. I have no religion and do not care for any service. +If the omission would embarrass you I presume I could stand the +performance. [Note Jim's keen sense of humour even to death +instructions.]</p> + +<p>"Good luck to the rest of you. God damn Germany and vive la +France.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>"Signed,</p> + +<p>"J. R. McCONNELL."</p> +</div> + +<p>Jim had on the day of his death been proposed for the Croix de +Guerre with palm. When it comes I shall send it to you.</p> + +<p>Well, Paul, I have told you everything I can think of, but if +there are any omissions or questions don't hesitate to ask.</p> + +<p>I think we are now beginning to see the beginning of the end. +The devastation, destruction and misery the Huns have left is a +disgraceful crime to civilization and is pitiful. It drives me so +furious I can't talk about it.</p> + +<p>Best regards to you, old boy, and luck. All join in the above. +I shall wind up the same as Jim.</p> + +<div align="center"> +<p>As always,</p> + +<p>CHOUT (Charles Chouteau Johnson).</p> +</div> + +<p>P. S. Steve Biglow is taking canteen to your place in Paris +to-morrow, so you will find it there upon your return.</p> + +<div align="right"> +<p>C. C. J. </p> +</div> + +<p> <br> + </p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<pre> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, FLYING FOR FRANCE *** + +This file should be named 8fffr10h.htm or 8fffr10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8fffr11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8fffr10ah.htm + + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext04 + +Or /etext03, 02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart [hart@pobox.com] + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* +</pre> +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/old/8fffr10h.zip b/old/8fffr10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2eddc7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8fffr10h.zip |