DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919 | 1918-05-10 Clipping: ""Yankee Airmen get Five Huns, Our Losses Two"" Page 1

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Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919

1918-05-10 Clipping: ""Yankee Airmen get Five Huns, Our Losses Two"" Page 1

YANKEE AIRMEN GET FIVE HUNS, OUR LOSSES TWO

Four Other Enemy Planes Have Probably Been Brought Down

CAPTAIN J.N. HALL MISSING

Quintet of German Flyers Put to Rout by American Formation
May 10 -16
Five to two, or six to two-perhaps even nine to two, according to how you count, is the score registered in less than a month by American flyers against the German airmen in the Lorraine country.
The more recent of our two losses in the one month's record is the loss of Captain James Norman Hall, who has been missing since last Monday evening, when he and two other American flyers encountered four German machines in the clouds some ten miles within the enemy's lines.
Captain Hall was in hot pursuit of a Boche flyer when the latter dropped, turned, shot upward and cam smashing into the American's machine. An artillery observer reports that Hall's craft righted itself before it struck the ground, and on this is based the hope that he is still alive.
Of the other three German planes in this engagement, one finally took flight and two others dropped, but whether they were destroyed in their fall the American witnesses cannot say, as visibility was poor.
Captain Hall enlisted in the British Army when the outbreak of the war caught him in the midst of a lazy walking trip through England. He is widely known for his book, "Kitchener's Mob" and for his verse. He was a member of the famous Lafayette Escadrille and he has won the D.S.C. 
Captain Peterson's Victory
To Captain D.N.K. Peterson goes credit for the latest victory.  It was one result of the encounter last Friday morning between a patrol of five Allied machines and five Huns.
All the members of the Allied patrol were Americans. They were scouting at dawn along the German lines when they saw five Germans coming toward them. The Americans immediately sallied out over the German held territory to get a battle.
Peterson engaged a biplane Albatross and after some maneuvering succeeded in puncturing the petrol tank and setting it on fire. It fell flaming and crashed behind the German lines.
Meantime, another biplane Albatross had been engaged by Chapman. Many rounds were exchanged from the machine guns before Chapman was charged from a bad quarter and Boche bullets raked his plane with deadly fire. It burst into flames and fell.
One of Chapman's comrades saw the whole fight and tried to save his pal, but was unable to get his fire on the Boche in time. It is feared that Chapman was killed.  Inquiries are being made through Switzerland to determine definitely what was his fate in his fall into the German lines.
Back Toward Berlin.
The four Albatross machines after only a few minutes were winging as rapidly as their motors would take them, in the general direction of Berlin.  The Americans pursued them for some distance, then returned to their own field. 
Chapman's comrades were saddened at his loss, but took it as one of the inovitable consequences of the contest for supremacy of the air.  At the same time that they had lost one of their number, they had evened the score by bringing down a Boche. And the four previous victories credited to Americans still stood in their favor.
One of the four had been achieved the day before by Lieutenant James Meissner of Brooklyn.  Meissner was poking around in the atmosphere over the German lines just at noon Thursday when along came a Boche. Miessner started for him. The Boche went into a vrille, ended it, and straightened out on a straightaway race for home.  From above, the Brooklyn lieutenant peaked on the Boche machine, firing as he came. The Boche made a turn and his machine caught and ripped a wing of Meissner's plane. The German then began to fall. With flames pouring out, he crashed down behind his own lines in the forest south of Thiaucourt.
No Doubt of Boche's Fate
There was no doubt in the minds of observers who had watched the fight from the American trenches that the Boche machine was destroyed and the pilot killed. As for Meissner, he got away without even a limp.  Knowing his plane had been damaged, however, he landed on the first level field he sighted.  It was then found that if the rip had been only a little longer he would probably have fallen with his opponent.  But he didn't, and the machine was soon repaired for further ventures. 
Preceding had been the victory of Captain Norman Hall and Lieutenant E. A. Rickenbacker, the Monday before over a German biplane. And several days before that incident the memorable fight had occurred in which Lieutenants Campbell and Winslow had scored their victories over two Huns in eight minutes from start to finish.  Of these exploits the story has been already written.
Before all, Major Lufberry had shot down a plane in "Germany," as the airmen for brevity call everything the other side of the German lines.  But its complete fall had not been observed and Major Lufberry was not given the official credit that would make the score six, instead of five, to two.

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YANKEE AIRMEN GET FIVE HUNS, OUR LOSSES TWO Four Other Enemy Planes Have Probably Been Brought Down CAPTAIN J.N. HALL MISSING Quintet of German Flyers Put to Rout by American Formation May 10 -16 Five to two, or six to two-perhaps even nine to two, according to how you count, is the score registered in less than a month by American flyers against the German airmen in the Lorraine country. The more recent of our two losses in the one month's record is the loss of Captain James Norman Hall, who has been missing since last Monday evening, when he and two other American flyers encountered four German machines in the clouds some ten miles within the enemy's lines. Captain Hall was in hot pursuit of a Boche flyer when the latter dropped, turned, shot upward and cam smashing into the American's machine. An artillery observer reports that Hall's craft righted itself before it struck the ground, and on this is based the hope that he is still alive. Of the other three German planes in this engagement, one finally took flight and two others dropped, but whether they were destroyed in their fall the American witnesses cannot say, as visibility was poor. Captain Hall enlisted in the British Army when the outbreak of the war caught him in the midst of a lazy walking trip through England. He is widely known for his book, "Kitchener's Mob" and for his verse. He was a member of the famous Lafayette Escadrille and he has won the D.S.C. Captain Peterson's Victory To Captain D.N.K. Peterson goes credit for the latest victory. It was one result of the encounter last Friday morning between a patrol of five Allied machines and five Huns. All the members of the Allied patrol were Americans. They were scouting at dawn along the German lines when they saw five Germans coming toward them. The Americans immediately sallied out over the German held territory to get a battle. Peterson engaged a biplane Albatross and after some maneuvering succeeded in puncturing the petrol tank and setting it on fire. It fell flaming and crashed behind the German lines. Meantime, another biplane Albatross had been engaged by Chapman. Many rounds were exchanged from the machine guns before Chapman was charged from a bad quarter and Boche bullets raked his plane with deadly fire. It burst into flames and fell. One of Chapman's comrades saw the whole fight and tried to save his pal, but was unable to get his fire on the Boche in time. It is feared that Chapman was killed. Inquiries are being made through Switzerland to determine definitely what was his fate in his fall into the German lines. Back Toward Berlin. The four Albatross machines after only a few minutes were winging as rapidly as their motors would take them, in the general direction of Berlin. The Americans pursued them for some distance, then returned to their own field. Chapman's comrades were saddened at his loss, but took it as one of the inovitable consequences of the contest for supremacy of the air. At the same time that they had lost one of their number, they had evened the score by bringing down a Boche. And the four previous victories credited to Americans still stood in their favor. One of the four had been achieved the day before by Lieutenant James Meissner of Brooklyn. Meissner was poking around in the atmosphere over the German lines just at noon Thursday when along came a Boche. Miessner started for him. The Boche went into a vrille, ended it, and straightened out on a straightaway race for home. From above, the Brooklyn lieutenant peaked on the Boche machine, firing as he came. The Boche made a turn and his machine caught and ripped a wing of Meissner's plane. The German then began to fall. With flames pouring out, he crashed down behind his own lines in the forest south of Thiaucourt. No Doubt of Boche's Fate There was no doubt in the minds of observers who had watched the fight from the American trenches that the Boche machine was destroyed and the pilot killed. As for Meissner, he got away without even a limp. Knowing his plane had been damaged, however, he landed on the first level field he sighted. It was then found that if the rip had been only a little longer he would probably have fallen with his opponent. But he didn't, and the machine was soon repaired for further ventures. Preceding had been the victory of Captain Norman Hall and Lieutenant E. A. Rickenbacker, the Monday before over a German biplane. And several days before that incident the memorable fight had occurred in which Lieutenants Campbell and Winslow had scored their victories over two Huns in eight minutes from start to finish. Of these exploits the story has been already written. Before all, Major Lufberry had shot down a plane in "Germany," as the airmen for brevity call everything the other side of the German lines. But its complete fall had not been observed and Major Lufberry was not given the official credit that would make the score six, instead of five, to two.