A NOTABLE AIRMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1926, Page 1

A NOTABLE AIRMAN

Captain Bene Fonck, whose narrow escape was recorded a day or two ago in a monster biplane accident, belonged to tbe most famous of the French fiediting air squadrons, and, before the war ended held tlio French record for successes in air duels. Captain Fonck was then aged twenty-three. The famous fighting escadrille to which he belonged was commanded by Guynenier at the time of his' death in September, 1917. Curiously enough, Lieut. Fonck, who was then attached to another squadron, was G-uynemer’s avenger. He shot down ten days later the German pilot, Lieutenant Wissemann, who had written home to his mother in Cologne, boasting that he liad been victorious over Guynenier and now need fear no one. Up to April 3rd., 1918, Fonck bad shot down officially thirty-two enemy aircraft, engaged in upwards of 200 combats, flown 1000 hours over tho enemy lines, yet had never received a bullet in his aeroplane. Before the war finished he liad added many more victories to his list, was acclaimed as the French ace of aces, and the most polished aerial duelist tbe world had ever seen. Most of his combats were against formations of five or more enemies. "While delivering the coup de grace to one lie had to prevent surprise from the others. He was a master in manoeuvring and rapid and almost infallible of aim. Guynemer returned daily with his ’plane, and even his clothing, riddled with bullet holes. Fonck brought down six enemy aircraft in one day, and he did it with the expenditure of ten cartridges per machine.

The aeroplane in which Fonck intended to cross the Atlantic was designed by Igor Sikorsky. It was built entirely of dura uminum, excepting the fabric coverings and mahogany veneer in the cabin. It was equipped with three Jupiter radial tyjio motors of 425 horse-power each, and had a wing spread of 112 feet. Its cruising range was to be 4300 miles. The distance between New York and Paris is 30GO miles.