A REDOUBTABLE AIRMAN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 255, 16 July 1918, Page 7

A REDOUBTABLE AIRMAN

LATE CAPTAIN M'CUDDEN. <{ A correspondent, "it.F.C.j" writes:— "In Saturday's issue appeared a brief eablo report of the death of Captain M'Gudden. Y.C.. D.5.0.. M.C., tho Allies' most redoubtable airman. Captain M'Cudden was a flight commander in the sGth Squadron, whoso CO. until veiy recently was Major BaleombeBrowne (reported missing last May). There is considerable rivalry between air squadrons, but tho 56th has been conceded pride of place on account of tho number of Hiin scalps to its credit. Captain M'Cudden beat all records when he scored his fifty-sixth victim in March: He was then given a spell in England, but very soon returned and proceeded to add fresh lustre to his already brilliant record by netting a further'bunch of victims. His career has only been a 6hort ono. He started as a mechanic in the It;'F.C. Mechanics do not fly and generally onjoy a pleasant "cushy" time, almost free 'from danger. This did not suit M'Cudden's temperament in the least, and he managed to eocure training as a pilotreceived his commission and started flying on the Western front in October last. During the few months that have since elapsed he has created this amazing record a* 70 victims. On such a man decorations seem to lose, their value, but the authorities did the best they Could by conferring on him successively the Military Cross, the D.5.0., and tho V.C. ' One of his friends, writing home after describing him in terms of unqualified praise and admiration, relates an amusing episode. A dinner was given in Captain M'Cndden's honour at Armenfiers to celebrate one of his many feats. Present were several Frenchmen, also of the air fraternity. Ono of these, in a moment of enthusiasm, mid carried away by emotion, fell upon the Britisher's neck and kissed him fervently on both cheeks. Dinners which included French gnesfes wore afterwards a source of terror to this intrepid hero.